Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-31
VYRGLNL7 LEGISLATURE.

the Senate, that they had passed the bills
" concerning Thomas Racket ln,aiic -
" concerning the town of Dunfries -" To-
amend the act, entitled AN act forming batta-
hon district on the south side ei the Pilot
mountain IN the countv Of Montgomery :"
and Z" changing the quarterly court of Charles
City county :"-;lso that they had PASSED,
with amendments, the bills--i. 4" autborisiuS
the county courts of Grayson and TazrweIl
to appoint persons 10 celebrate tine rites OF
marriage therein - and Q. s. TO omend an act
reducing into one the several acts concerning
slaves, free negroes aud mulattUes."- u
mendmepts proposed To the lst bill were a.
dopted: and the ed bill was finally, on motion
OF MIR. Pattesun OF Augusta. indefinitely
postponed.
Engrossed bills " authorizing the sale of
certain property conveyed to the trustees of
the Hygeia Academy at Haymarket in the
county Of Prince William :''-"placing john
Parkinson on the pension list" Sc 90 plac-
ing Isaac Oldham on The pension Es,,'' &C.
were read IA Sd time and passed.
On Mr. Garland's motion the report Of the
Pcnitenuary Committee was taken up and
read. The LIST resolution is MS follows:
ReSofre,f, thai confinement in the public jail and
pentcntiary for less period than two Years, oug TO
he abolished by law and that all offences
meriting such confinement for two years, ought be
punished ia some other mode.
Mr. Geridnd remarked that this resolution
addressed itself In the understanding of the
house. Every one must be satisfied that con-
iinrment for short periods was attended with
considerable expense-it worked no reiornia-
tinn ia offenders, who are generally turned
out greater adopts in vice. He thought so.ne
other mode of punishment ought to BE adopt
ed.
Mr.. Crunip enqured what mode of punish
ment was intended to BIZ substituted Was
II cnSitgdtion He had thought this mode of
punishment had been too long neglected
He did not approve of incarcerating e man
for fiiching "A few pence from anviiit.r. Was
It more degrading, he asked, 10 Il free man TO
be imprisoned W here ne would certainly be
whipped, than To he whipped AT once and
discharged? This course would be great
saving of expense, and was, AT least, entitled
! To the consideration OF the house.
| Mr.. GcridnG did not know what mode of
punishment the committee intended 10 substi-
tnte. His own op;niun was, that corporal
punishment, IN some shape ar other, ought TO
he provided fcr. Instead of Imprisonment, in
s,ich casts
The House coacN2rd in The resolution.
| The Cd resolution WAS read recommending
the punishment OF free negroes and niuIalioes,
by confinement in the Pcitcntiary, Iu be- a.
bO:ishcd, sc.
| Mr.. CTump moved Ia lay this resolution on
the liable. He had moi had time to examine the
report infinitely. The confinement of free
| neSroes, Oh the same footing with wl.ite men,
he thought, seemed To furnish soi,,c ground
of objection. But, he asked would Won pun
rsh captaily, free negro, for AN offence, for
which you would only imprison white man !?
He could not make this discrimination. lie
was aware that to the white man and the man
OF color, thu sam" punishment presented diff
terent considerations. But upon the great
principles of justice, and in The eye of the
CreAor, they stood upon the same ground
! and he could not shed tile blond of the one,
whilst he only Imprisoned the ether He
| hoped the resolution would be laid on the ta-
bic to give time la consider its merits
Mr. Garland would have no objection ia
laying the resolve on the tahr, hut for the
latencss of the session and ht necessity which
existed for the Introduction OF the I'LL into the
ilousc.--lle acknowledged that his mind was
laborlnS under some difficulty Oh th.. subject
Sut he though; the Pcnitcntiary had no ter
| rors Ia Tree negroes and n!ulnlluts-thcy had
1 not sufficient pride of character they lived
better during their confinement ana whcr
released, felt no degradation from having
been in the Pcutcniiary. he thought tn,
hlli o ught 10 be brought in it would elici
discussion, and lie most cxprdicnt mode %
punishment might he then devised
Mr. Crump Withdrew his melton, and hat
no objection To the hills hcihg brought in
But he would remark, that so far AS pcnitcn
tiary Punishment was intended to fora, often
ders, it was hut the idle chimcCa OF "A phIo
sophie dream.
The rcsoinilon was then agrpcd to. 'Fh
other resolutions relating 20 lie encourage,
ment of job work allowing the agent a ~.
! centage compensation instead uf an anpua
salary, and placing the keeper and agent un
der the control oi, innl subject tn be remove,
by Tie directors, were seycrally read and n
greed 10.
Tuesday, jan. 29.Various bills were pre-
stntcd by the com nIittreS, which will bt. no
! iced hereafter.
Mr.. Boiling Of b. submitted resolution. 4
instruct flir Clerk of tie House 90 furnis
each member, at the end of iIie session, wit
u sketch ni the laws oi a general character, an
! win list of ayes and noes OH All INNS,
tant questions :-Rjtdtcd by the House,
| Mr.. Stralton asked leave 70 bring in y hi
to amend The gcncraI law for the csfaI
l'Shment and regulation .f frries''- r. fpsef
| On motion of Mr.. Dickinson OF Caroline. III
| following resolution WIS adopted
i " heNofrcd, That The Psrsdrnt and Bircrtor.
The Eo"d Of Pol lie Works dirrcf lhcr cn,inccr
survey The Alliu'pomy river from, Dnutrl IN If
county of King aud Queen To ihc hpi,,, ,o, Of l,n
navigation, aud report the probable rNprn,c of ia
proving lie same"
The BIZ making compensation to thu A
torncy General fQr extraordinary services.
was taken up with tHe amendment offhr Ser
ate and on motion Of Mr.. Graves, was ind,
fnitrly postponed.
The bill 6 concerning the Museum in III
City of Richmond" was read the LIST tim
and rejected:
communication was received from II
Governor, as President of thr Literary Finn