Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-01-01
Virginia Legislature.

Ffudy Lee l5-On mr.. ZInn'S mo-
tion, leave was given to bring ia bill
ito change the tine of holding the coun-
ty court of Preston:' - nd on Mr. New
mans motion, bill for the purpose Of
establishingtwo separate elections in the
county Of Mason
The eBgrossed bill Concerning Elvi-
ra Jones a woman of colour was rejec-
ted
The engrossed bil!s-'Changing the
time OF holding courts in the county OF
Nicholas ITO amend an act, entitled
an act incorporating a company to es-
tabiish a turnpike road from Shepherds
town to Winchester'-and Giving fur
Their time to the New Shenandoah Com
pany TO comply vita the conditions of
their charter'--were read Sd time and
passed
MIR. Thomas Of Mason submitted the
following Preamble and Resolution i:
Whereas, experience, the best of all
human teachers, has satisfactorily pro-
| ven, that the present penitenttary sys-
TEN of punishment, has not answered
NOR is there reasonable prospect that it
| everwill answer, any OF the ben eVolea t
purposes supposed by its 20 vnders, nor
IS its discipline a sufficient punishment
/ 10 deter even its own victims from the
| preparation of even more horrid crimes,
soon, very soon, after their liberation
from the confines of the Penitentiary
and SO far from lettering these who never
nave experienced probationary disci-
pine within lis walls, it rather holds out
inducements to the poor vagrant, to try
his skill at converting his neigbbor's pro-
perry to his own use, certain to profit
by the adventure, fine escapes detection
and, conscious if detected, of finding
within the Penitentary that substance
| which he is too indolent TO labor for,
without ste. neols excitement Thus,
instead of holding, as it were, the rod of
correction over the vicious part of the
community, our present system of pun
lshment offer premium to the perpe-
traitors of crime And instead Of punish
ment falling upon the wicked, we find
by contested experience, that it is the
moral and useful classes Of our citizens
who are daily suffering, by continued
depredations of those wellraught fellows
who do not fear the consequences of
second conde mnaton in the public jail;
and, indeed, in many instances, they have
all to gain and nothing to loose, by be-
ing sent bsck to the society Of their for
mer iiendlike companions And beiey-
ing that more propicous time to make
a change in our criminal code, may not
occuragain; Be it Therefore
Resolved, That the Committee OPP
pointed to examine more of the psnten-
tiary Institution, be instructedto inquire
into the expediency of abohshing the
Penitentiary system ofpunishment, at this
time, SO that they report their opinion
thereon by bill or otherwise.l
On Mr.. Blackburn's melton, this
Preamble and resolution were laid upon
the table.
Resolutions were read, from the C.
Of Propositions and Grievences list,
cceeding to petition of sundry inhabi-
tants OF Lewis county, who pray for
seperate election I'D. in favor of in
cooperating the Hat Creek Library So
cicty agreed to by he House.
Two resolutions ofthe c. for c. of
Justice were read:-lst, for granting to
John Ward of Cabell county the Com
monwealth's rights to such portion of
tract of land as has escheated:-2d,
for authorizing the overseers of the poor
OF Norfolk county, or some constituted
commissioner to sell certain slaves and
vest the proceeds in a productive fund
for the benefit of the poor The LIST
Resolution was on Mr. Garland's motion.
lad upon The table the cd was agreed
10 By The House.
a'urdeH Dee. s0.-Mr. Custin offered
the following resolution which was
rejected
Resoi7ed, That the Committee of
Roads and Internal Navigation be in
Structed to enquire into the expediency
of SO aItering or amending the act emit
tied the an act to reduce into one, the Sc
vera acts concerning public roads and
for establishing public landings, passed
Fo5. Cd. 1915, so that the surveyors of
roads in this commonwealth may be en-
t.,iea TO all or so much Of the fines speci-
ted in the 5th section of said act, as may
seem expedient, in place ofthe compen-
sation now allowed by law for their SER
vices, and that they report by bill or
otherwise.
Dir Carrier of X George, submitted
H. eli al,tfi1n