Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-20


those funds affords conspicuous, irresistible, aud
perpetual proof of the necessity of firm adherence
to the true federal principles of our national system
IL our state government had been redaced before the
period OF the late war, 10 that iiisignirance in the
eyes OF our own citizens, which many of US now
SO sincerely apprehcnd may he its fate hereafter
our territory must have been thoroughly ravaged hv
the enemy, and this building itself, the name Of
which inspires the most elevated republican feelings
would have met that destruction which certainly
averted only by the imposing attitude of defence ia
Ken al the time with resources.
| have the honor 10 be
| yourmost ohedicnt servant,
! The Honorable dc Speaker Of
the House Of Delegates.
The resolutions of the Legislature of Yer
mont completely accord with those o. Mary
land, relating to the appropriation Of public
ianas lor Me purposes Of education; as may be
gathered by the following resolution
ReSoired by Me General isSenbLy of The State of
P8mom, That each of the United States has an
equal right To participate in the benefit OF the public
| lands, as the common property of the Union and
| mat the states, in whose favor Congress have no,
made appropriations of land, for The purposes of
are entitled to such appropriations will
be IN just proportion with those heretofore made
| IN favor OF the other States"
On Mr.. Grlllin's motion, these papers were
| referred to the e. OF Schools and Colleges.
The Speaker laid before the House letter
| from the Governor, inclesng a " list of such
lands and lots escheated 10 the Common
wealth, as have been certified by escheators to
the Register of the Land Office, and authea-
tIcated by him to the Executive" &c. SC.
The Speaker also laid before the House n
letter from the Treasurer, enclosing cores
pondence with the Presidents of the State
Banks Ia this city, touching the deposit of the
pubic monies. The question discussed was,
whether these Banks would receive the notes
oil the Western Banks of Virginia, paid into
the public treasury, and upon what terms they
would receive them. Finally the Banks closed
with the following proposition made by the
treasurer IN his letter of 22d October: 81 beg
leave to enquire whether you will receive and
put to the credit of the Treasury generally, all
the monies ofthe Commonwealth, on condition
that you shall only be required to pay the
checks of the Treasurer generally so long as
you have fands of the Commonwealth con
sstinS OF your own notes and that the other
notes deposited by the Treasurer shall be re-
turned to the Treasury when checked for to
be disbursed by the Treasuror-The charac-
ter and amount of the notes deposited, other
than those of your banks, to be noted on the
deposit books of the Treasurer
MIR. CrumP of G. in pursuance of the notice
given by him, NOV ed TO take up the report and
resolutions of the Committee of Finance.
touching the pay of the members of the legs-
lature He said the resolution had been laid
on the table with the view of giving members
| time Tor examination and reflection on the sub
Ject and that sufficient time had elapsed for
! the purpose. Mr.. c. had never called for the
! ayes and noes before but on this question he
ieit 1t his duty to do so. The question before
TIE House, was one of extremely delicate cha
ractcr, upon which the people should be in
/ formed OF the votes of their representatives.
For his part, he thought members ought to
ertheir names before they put their hands
| into The public treasury
ME- Btdc66u'n was not afraid of recording
his name. He hoped the resolution had been
put upon the table never to rise again.
Mr.. GraueS was opposed TO letting the ques-
ton sleep in this manner; it ought to be met
fairly and openly, and not disposed of BY a
s'de-btoio. If the House was disposed to re-
lect the resolution, it ought to be rejected open
| y upon its merits
Mr.. blackburn said he never gave men or
things side-bIoic His motive in voting against
| taking up the subject was the same as that of
Mr.. G.-ecOnORlV.
Mr.. EppS remarked that as his vote on this,
would differ from that which he had given on
a former occasion, it was proper he should ex-
plain it. He thought delicacy ought not to in
iiuence the decision OF the House. He advert
ed TO the pressure upon the people last year !;
thought IL was not so great at present, and
that the people were now Indifferent about the
1 : II.
he thought the experience of the last session
proved that economy would be consulted by
permitting the resolution to lie on the table
for IT the investigation proceeded, he believed
Ii would cost the state not less than $4,000.
| Mr.. Crump did not expect, after the long
notice he had given, to be compelled to enter
into arguments upon the merits of the ques-
ton. The remarks which he should make
grew out of the opposition of gentlemen. Mr..
Z. cared not for the opinions any one here {:
he was responsible to his constituents alone
The gentleman (Mr. Epps) had founded his
opposition to the resolution OH the fate of the
retrenchment bill of the last session Mr.. C..
did not think the objection good one. The
bill OF the last session instead of merely regu-
lating the subsistence allowance ofthe members
OF the legislature, embraced all the officers of
the government, some of whom were starving
within the doorsof their Office. 1t was this blcn-
ding ofso many different and distinct questions
which occasioned the loss Ofthe bill. Mr. G.. de-
MED thatthe people were satisfied with the re-
suit ofthat measure; for ifthey were, why were
somaDy strange faces seen in the House? He
Thought from the opposition of gentlemen, that
the question was not merely upon taking up
the resolution, but was virtually upon its me-
rits.
The motion to take up the resolution pre-
vailed, ayes 98, noes 81.
Mr.. GrGres then offered the petition of sun
dry persons residing i'm different counties,
which was read. The petition represented
the pecuuiary embarrassments of the people :;
the necessity for economy in the public ex-
| penditures, and the propritty of commencing
with cTtailment of legislative expenses
| 1t referred to the reasons which were alleged
for raising the pay of the members; and con