Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-22

'"' ~. VI Dcuiotu, pTdviify, TIE lscglSli-
.,re To declare valid his marriage with In,
sister of lis first wife, being ignorant at the
i'me OF said marriage (e5th Jan. last,) that
such marriages We're unlawful and petition
rom Lucy Wright and Lucy Claiborne, black
women who had been cmancipatcd by the will
VI Elizabeth Wright, praying the Legislature
To remit the forfeiture of their freedom which
they had incurred from not having the means
10 leave the state, and that they may be per-
mnied To reside within the state as free per-
sons :-Re.erred to the G. for C.. of j.
a petition was presented from the Slate Ri
yer Company praying that the Board of Pub
llc Works may subscribe 2-5ths OF their stock :
the other S-5ihs (Sl2,Oool being subscribed by
individuals :-Referred to the c. of r. and
(. n.
fetltions were presented from sundry IN
ha0itants "i Orange, praying that small Sec
u"n o. tiiat county, lying above Conway's
saw mii on the Conway river may be annex
Ell To the county of Madison and from sun
dry otirer inhabitants of both counties in on
position thereto Referred To the e. OF l..
and 6.
A petition was read from s,indry citizens of
Ureenbrier county praying some change in
the direction of the road as now located be-
tween the two navigable points on the James
and kanawha rivers The reference of this
petition was refused.
This being the last day for receiving petit
tons, according TO the rules OF the House, u
variety of them were offered and laid upon the
table.
On the motion of Mr.. C,pmp of C.. the
House took up the bill for reducing the pay
of the members Of the Legislature, (Which the
commute of finance had on yesterday report
ed to the House, with an amendment elnbrac-
ing all the officers of government whose saa-
RES could be consttutionally reduced.
Mr.. 'Serton expecting TIE bin To occupy
much of the time of the House, moved its
postponement To the 3lst March aud on this
question he called for the ayes and noes.
Mr.. Crump presumed the gentleman was
induced to make this motion from the idea
that the pay of the members was mseparably
connected in the bill with the salaries of the
officers, and hoped he would withdraw it
lie SAID the bill was on its second reading and
open to amendment. 1t was his intention TO
move To strike out so much Oft as related to
the officers of government
MIR. Mallory of o. had understood the
House to decide that the two subjects should
be connected land presuming they would adj
here to that decision, he should vote for the
postponement. He was opposed to reduc-
ton In the pay of the members, because he
believed the people were satisfied with Its pre-
sent amount. IL any dissatisfaction should
exist among them, it would arise from the
agitation of the question here. If the people
complain at all, 1t would be at the expenses
incurred by the legislature in acting on the
subject. He thought the pay as at present
hXed by law was neither so high us Ia intre-
duce avarce in the House, nor SO low as TO
exclude disintcrested and meritorious men. who
could not afford to sacrifice their time and
attention.
MI Menus said as he was in favor of the
postponement, he would explain the motive of
the vote he should give. He was Disposed to
reduce The pay of the members, but not thai
oil the officers. The House had determined
to reduce both, and to unite them in one bill
1t was an unnatural union and he was anx-
Ious to dispose Oft them together
Mr.. Christian said if lie was to be com
PEELED to vote on the bill as it now stands, he
should vote for the posiponement He tho't
that the majority who voted it expedient to
reduce the pay of the members, could not
now vote for indefinite postponement, nor
could the majority who voted for curiaiiing
the salaries of the officers.-Notwiths outstanding
the bills had been united, Mr.. G.. contendcd If
was competent for the House 10 separate
them. There was Il majority in favor of both
measures, if gentlemen had been candid in
the votes they had Siyen.-He could not
see how any member could vote for an in
definite postponement unless he entertained
the opinions of the member from Orange
Should there be ma jority ofthat opinion, the
bill would be postponed. But there was a
recorded majority ola different opinion. Mr..
u. would not for the sake of retrenching the
pay OF the legislature little do an act by
winch the officers would be driven from the
government.
Mr.. blackburn hoped the bill wonld be post
poned. He would vote in favor of the motion,
from the conviction of his.own mind, of the in
eXpedleDcy of reducing either the pay of the
members or ofthe officers. The House had by
a determined vote, united these subjects, & he
presumedtheyiwouldn not now agree tOa division
lie called on the advocates of economy, the
guardians of the treasury, to consult their own
doctrines, and put this question to rest by a
vote Tor postponement
Mr.. Madison expressed himself opposed to
postpOnement.
Mr.. Crump was surprised at the mistake
which gentlemen had made. The vote of the
House instructnS the committee OF Finance
to amend the bill, so as to embrace the officers
OF the government, was not an ulequvocal
expression of the will of the House that the
bills should be indssolubly united. 1t was
merely an instruction, TO brin. the matter be-
fore the House, vino would then exercise its
discretion.
MIR. Mallory explained himself He did
not think the House precluded from disuni;ing
the bills but upon the expediency ofreduc-
ing the pay of both members and officers
they had expressed a decided vote.
Mr.. CrupP thought that if the arguments of
gentlemen he correct, the object might yet be
got at. He had heard nothing from the peo-
pie of his county on the subject of pay (; bat
that was no reason that he should not do
what appeared TO him Just and proper-it was
no reason he should not consult their interest
ny economizlng the expenses Of the House.