Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-12-02
RICHMOND, DECEMBER ,
VIRGINIA. LEGLSL.9I'UR!.


PIRGLNIA LEGLSL.8TURA
Yesi,nuay oo.. "a is..d in their
respective chamhv tg To law.
IN SENATE
Nineteen members appeared. Nh. I'm. C..
Holt, from the District OF Norfolk, was elected
Speaker without opposition.
The appointment Of Sergeant ut Arms was
postponed until this day. The other officers
ofthe last session were again appointed with
out opposition, viz: Theo. Hansford, Clerk ;
John WaIrock. Printer; and l.. Allen and J !.
Martin, Door Keepers.
IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES,
Linn Banks, esq. VAS reelected Speaker,
and WitiiGm .Hun|ord, ESQ., Clerk. without Oh
position. Mr.. Banks was nominated by Gen.
blackburn. Being conducted to the chair,
he expressed ia becoming terms his acknow
Judgments for the honor conferred upon him.
For the Office of Sergeant at Arms, MIR.
Gordon, supported by Mr. Blackburn, nomina-
ted Col. John Jordan, of Alb. and MIR. Goggin,
supported by Mr. Cdbctl, nominated Major
lanes Saioyers, of Putsylv. The ballots were,
for Jordan I14-Sawyers 50. So that Col.
John Jordan was declared duly elected.
On the motioa of Mr.. .4rmisiead, Messrs.
John Bro,on, John SiubJtsfsid, and Fl. II.
Southda were elected LIST, Ed, and Sd Door
Keepers, without opposition. For the APP
nominated Mr.. r. Darts, aad Mr.. .norriss, of
q Mr.. Tn. Whifing. The votes were, Davis
I35-Whiting IL.
Writs of election were issued TO the county
OF Southampton for the election of two mem
bers TO supply the places of John G. Gray
and f. Williamson, drc.ased-io the county
of Henry for the election of member in the
place of BENIN. Dyer, deceased and to the
county of Nansemond. 10 supply the place of
the late General john c. Cohuon.
A communication was received from the
Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth, ac-
companicd by sundry Recommendation copies
We're ordered TO be printed for the use of the
legislature.
The annual reports from the Treasurer
Auditor, and Adjulant General, directed by
an act of the last Legislature to he laid on the
liable on the FIRST day of the session. were r..
ceived, read, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Christian stated, that as the name of
one of The members from Greensville, (Mr.
Lundy) was on the petition submitted to the
last legislature for relief against the operation
of the anti-duellisg law, it was due to that
gentleman that it should be known, not only
that his name had been placed on the petition
without his knowledge hut that hc was not
ineligible to a seat in the House In pxplana
iion of this subject, he submitted to The House,
a letter from Robert Douthat, esq. which was
read, explanatory of The mistake by which
MIR. LIS name bad been placed on the petition.
Adjourned ill This day IL O'Clock.
GOV. PLEASANTS' COMMUNICATION
TO BOTH HOUSES OF THE VIRGINIA LEGisLAruRE
Feitow- CaiSens Of The Senote,
and Of The Homse Of Delegates
Ii is subject of great pleasure to ma
upon meeting The representatives of the pep
pile IN General Assembly, 10 have it in my
power 10 congratulate them, rad through
them the people at large, on that prospect Of
abundance afforded by our state in particular,
and by the United States ia general Seldom
nave we seen the Efforts of industry crowned
with greater success than during the late sea-
son. Under the Smiles of benicent Pro,i-
dence. our crops 0f grain of all kinds have
been unusually grea; IN quantity and excellent
80 quaiity; and though our agricultural industry
has been clntaiied IN one branch of cunsid
cradle part of lis expected products, upon the
whole we have abundant cause to be thankful.
Jbis pleasing prospect has been counter
balanced 10 some degree, but trust in com
paraiveiy small one, by loss sustained in
tiIs city, IN the course of the last summer.
aliude to the burning of the Penitentary
building. On the night Of the 9Th of August
last, near midnight, the alarm of fire was given.
II was soon discovered To be- the Penitentsry
MES IN particular and the citizens in general
TO arrest the calamity, by promptly repairing
10 the spot and using all the means in their
power To Fxngush the flames; but they had
proceeded too rapidly and progressed too far,
before the people reached the place. TO enable
them To accomplish their object. Upon the
first alarm the public guard had repaired TO
the spot. The prompltude and alacrny OF
Their movement, and their good conduct dur
ing The night, gave proof OF the good order and
excellent discipline Of the company. As soon
as the alarm was given, the prisoners except
few, had been turned into the yard, by un-
locking the doors of thu inner apartments. and
when the public guard arri, ed, the outer doors
were opened, and they were permitted to pass
out, where they remained under the care of
the guard. Four or five, however, the doors
oil whose cells 10 the hurry and confusion OF
the moment had not been unlocked, ran the
most imminent risque of perishing, aud would
certainly have beeO lost had il not been for
The exerliOns of some of the citizens, who re-
leased them by cutting through the outer wall
and dragging them through the aperures, at
considerable hazard to themselves from the
burning ruins falling about them; and it was
soon ascerlained that Of two hundred and
iorty-fOur then in confinement, all were forth
coming. A little before day they were reno.
we'd To the Capitol, where they were retained
about fifteen hours, and on the evening Of the
day succeeding the fire were removed TO the
srnory, that being the only place belonging to
the public sufficiently large TO keep them, ex-
cept the Capitol, where it was not considered
proper for them to stay longer than till the
rooms IN the armOry could be prepared for
Their reception. In this place it was found me-
ce'sary TO ensure their safe keeping, to employ
an ~, additional force in aid Of the public guard.
This was done by calling into service a com
Pany of militia for several days, and accept
ing the services Of the volunteer companies