Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-12-23

Neville.
MIR. ship presented petition from
Frederick county, praying that sepe-
rate election district may be established
in that county Referred.
UNIT ID ST STES SENATOR.
Mr.. Everett called up the resolution
on the table for proceeding By joint bal.
lot with the Senate, 10 the election OF a
Senator in the room OF the late Col.
John Taylor Of Caroline
Mr.. Armistead, the original mover Of
the resolution, advocated the call. and
Mr.. Patteson opposed it. The House
consented to take it up.
MIR. Sexton moved to strike out the
Sd, and inserted the 10Th, of the month
as the day for making the choice be
asked for so much delay, that gentle
men who lived al distance, and who
had been consulted as TO their willing
10 be brought forward, might be
heard from.
MIR. Morris of Wood, moved Tuesday
the 9TH instant, anu to this amendment
the House agreed.
Mr.. George asked for a suspension of
the 27lh rule of the House, requiring mo-
tee to be given of petitions OF certain
description, that he might present one,
OF which the notice required by the rule
had not been gwen. The House refus-
ed to suspend the rule, and then on
motion Of Mr. Goggin- Adjourned.
Saturday Reports were received
from standing committees.
Ga motion OF MIR. Sexton, the House
proceeded to execute The JOINT order of
the day, for the election of public
printer, when Thomas Richie, Esq. was
reelected without opposition.
Mr.. Raymond offered the following
resolution, IN amendment OF the rules
Of the House. In eifect--that mem
Der presenting petition should state
itspBJ 81 % prevent the necessity OF its
beng 'ead--that the name of such mem
bars should be endorsed BY him, and
tha ne petition should be referred to
tie proper committee as a matter OF
course.
d. lIayrie Of Richmond opposed The
resolution as infringing the right Of pc
titiohins, and as imposing a disagreea-
bic duty on members.
Mir. Coiston said he should vote for
the resolution. lie thought much time
was unnecessarily CONSUME Il in reading
portions. was inpnssibe for members
to redIembef them All, and the couse-
quence was when they were finally ac-
tel upon, the House either acted in the
dark, or il was necessary for them to
be read again. The public complained
Of the great and increasing length of the
sessions. they would be much shor-
tened by this course for the early days
of the session which were now taken
up in the reading and disposition of pc
titions, would then be devoted 10 the e.
lection of public ,fficers, and such other
affairs as could be transacted without tie
of committees.
Mr.. Garnet thought the resolution as
il stood, nugatory-if amended he should
be in its favour.
Mr.. Yancy said thathe had on yester-
d > prepared a similar resolution, and
was waiting an opportunity of Offering
il, when Mir. Raymond presented his.
He thought it more explicit than the
other, and he would offer it, by way Of
amendment. II was THAT no petition
should be read b, the clerk, at the time
Of lis presentment, un,ess its reading
was required by some member, that the
offering ii should state its OBJ
ect, that the name OF the petitioner en-
iorse his name, as a guarantee Of its
and respectful language, and that il
should be handed by the clerk to the
proper committee.n
/ he resolution was oppos ed by
Messrs. Bowyer and Gordon, on the
ground Of lis NEEDING with the right Of
petition, deemed so sacred by our insti-
Iutions--a as altering the old and establish
ed rules of the House, and as likely to
prclong. instead of curtaiing the session.
Mr., Gordon explained the reason of the
congressional rule, (where petitions are
of'course, without being first
read and said that il was inappIicable
to the Legislature OF Virginia.
hr. Patteson offered an amendment
the same views, in fewer
words--Rejected.
Mr.. Carter of King George, asked for
information as to the course petitions
would take before the committees. He
did not for himself fell wiilingto be con-
cluded by their reports, and should feel
it his duty il unaequainted with the sub
ject to ealI for the reading of petitions