Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-07
VIRGINIA. LEGISLATURE.
House. OF DEI.EGArEs.

A1"tWudy, OeC. 4.-NT ldncey from tile
Committee Ut ltosds and Internal Navigation
reported a bill incorporating company for
the purpose OF improving tho nav igation of the
Appomatox river from Pocahontas bridge 10
broadway" with an amendment which was
agreed to by the House.-The bill was then
ordered 10 be ergfSssed and read "A third time.
nir. GOrdun from the t;ommntee Tor Con,,s
Of Justice, reported two resolutions - u. that
the petition Of Eliza =. S. Bailey, Of Sussex
county, praying thai part al the real estate of
her deceased husband he sold for the payment
OF MS debts, ~ rensona6ie-and cd. that the
petition of John Wilson of Berkeley county.
praying tor divorce from ...s vic Patty. be
rejected. The LIST resolution was agI etd To by
the house; and the Cd amended, on Mr.. Col
stoo's motiUn, So as To declare the pe,ition
reasonable.
Thomas Richie was reelected Public
Printer. (by joint ballot Of both houses) with
out opposiliun.
A petition was read from John A. Fowlkes
OF Halifax, praying fuf a divorce from his wife
Mary-RJeetea. - : -
MIR. Haym offered the following Reso-
luton:
RESOLVED, That hereafter it shall be the duty
OF members presenting petitions To this House.
10 state the object ofthe petition upon its pre-
seniaton, except called fOf by some member
but shall be referred 10 the proper committee.
u not objected 10 and the me mber presenting
any petition shall endorse ON its back his
natne' as guarantee that the language is de-
corous and respectful towards the House.
Mr. II. Thought this course would b. saving
Of time, and could produce no Inconvenience.
Mr.. barvie, Of Richmond, opposed the Re-
solution as infringing on the rights of the pvo
PIE To petition. TIE House he thought oupht
toJudSe OF the petition, rather than indn idual
members.
MIR. Raymond explained that the resolution
would not, on examination, be found liable IN
the oblrt ton.
NJ. Coislon supported the resolution. and
referred TO the experience of members to
Grove the waste Of time in reading petitions.
IL the resolution were adopted, he though,
mat the House might meet at one o'clock,
giving The Committees one hour more each
uay ID mature their business-and that by
ornsinG on all The elections pf public officers
al an early fIne The lesgih Of the Session
might be- shortened.
mr. uarnet. suggested the propriety of an
amendment, to winch Mr.. Col,tou realized.
Dir. Yancey offe, ed the f,,l,w;ns az sub.
stIiute 10 the resolution, and exclaimed the
difference between the resolutions, TO be. thai
the member presenting the petition might call
Tor the reading oil IT, 10 preference to eDdors-
ingit
heso'ced, That hencaforth, no petition shall
be read by the Clerk in the Hons. uel,ss mar.
icularly required by the member presentingi,
that the member presenting the uett,on shall
name the petitioner. the nature nf fhp ao,l;c..
ton, and endorse his name in a fair hand. an
the back Of the petition, which shall he consi.
dered as pledge that the petition is drawD in
respectful and decorous language. and ought
70 De %xam'ned ADD reported upon by a Com
ini'iee oil this House, whrreupop the petition
snali be handed To the Clerk, and by him. b.
Iaio before the proper committee.
Va Mr.. Bfyce's motion, this resolution was
amenneo ny s'rking out The words the mem
per prosecuting IT,. and substituting the words
Mr. Raymond proposed to withdraw his
resolution.
Mr.. Rutherford expressed his nrsfsre,cs .f
the first resolution, because il psr,n;,,sd .,y
member to call for the reading Of = pet;t,on.
Mr.. Bryce preferred the second Resolution.
| and proposed an amendment to obyia,e fine
objection Of MIR. Rutherford, and the House
| amended the resolution so as to permit any
member 10 call for The reading Of a petition.
| DIR. Haryie OF Richmond, then expressed
| his concurrence IN the resolution.
| Nh. Bowyer thought, that the innovation
proposed would occasion greater consume.
ton Of time than the present practice. as /,
would take some members a greater length
Of time 10 explain the object Of petitioo than
for the Clerk to read it..
MIR. Psltesoo Of Il. thought the propos;tior
before the house was but an experienced N
shorten the Sessions, and he thought !, worthy
OF being tried, II il failed, it could be altered