Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-12-04

/ pos alton, tot the CoDslttuliontitty OF Inc
| lam having been doubted, case has been
| & ed in he General Court on Tia point.
Ii is understood to have been the unani-
nous opinion oil the Judges al the last june
| term that the law does not violate the con-
siiuiion Whatever may be us character
m reference 10 the constitution, 1t IS GER
tsialy on abstract grounds very harsh
law, and departs much from the general
character OF our criminal code, which 10
| mildness and something like tenderness To-
| wards hat unfortunate as well as criminal
part of our population, the persons CON.
| ing under the penalties OF the criminal
code. AS Tar as have been able to ob.
serve these two laws Tor whipping free
while persons and transporting and selling
as slaves freeSpersons of coloHr,} are more
in conflict with public feeling and aenti-
meat than il is common for the acts OF
our Legislature to be therefore respect.
fully invite the attention OF the General
Assembly 10 these subjects
In compliance with the act OF The last
session directing the board OF pubic works
to appoint an able engineer of another
a.ate. and three experienced commissions
ers from this state. TO assist the civil eogi
peer of this s,a,e 10 making a nav survey
of the James and ]ackson's river, from
Mai8ep's Adventure falls to Dunlsp's
creek the board was convened tor that
purpose and met in the month OF May last,
when BENJAMIN Wright, esq. OF the state
OF New-York, was chosen as assistant en-.
o;neer. and Col. Philip K Thompson.
Co,. gorge Love. AMI Richard n. kena.
be. esq as commissioners tor the purpose
aforesaid II was understood by previous
correspondence with Judge Wright that
hrs engagements would not admit of his
coming to this state before the month OF
October when he would review the line
which had been previously surveyed by
an enginee, and commissioner. The high
character OF Judge Wright induced the
board to accept bis services on those con
ditions. though his personal assistance
throughout was desirable. Mr.. Venable,
one nt the commissioners, declined accept.
ing his appo,n'ment. The board of pub
lie works had adjourned before this tact
was xnowp, and the II officio mem bers
thinking they had not power 10 supply ms
place. gave il as their opinion To the engi
neer, that the public interest would be
promoted by his proceeding on the survey
with the assistance Of the two COMMISSIONS
ers, though perhaps the r'ct letter OF the
law required the presence OF all three. In
consequence OF i'll health Judge Wright
was una BILE to reach this place TIL the ear
" part Of the present month. when he
proceeded with he engineer and commits
sioners TO the eYamiD4 Atom in which they
are now engaged, The report OF their
procet 1ings will be made known TO the
legislature as soon as II Is received by the
board OF public works. to whom they are
directed by law to report.
The loan authorized by the last legisla-
ture of p4o 900 tor carrying on The I'M
movements on the James and Jackson's
r;vers and the Kenawna road and DsvIga-
,;on was contracted tor in the month OF
msy last, by The James River Company.
The loan was advertised long enough, it
was supposed to give 10 those capitalists
who might be disposed TO bld fort, an
,poor,unily TO do so Several proposals
w.. re torw arded to The company, but that
made by the Farmers Bank being most
advantageous, was accepted. ibis was
effected al 6 per cent per annum in'ere t..
with premium 10 the state OF i-2 per
cent making the age egate amount of
premium ten thousand dollars VI these
sums lag 800 per quarter was put The
credit OF the company, to be paid 10 the
orders Of the commissioners agreeaoly 10
law. with The privilege OF calling tor
larger amount provided the wants OF the
commissioners should make !, necessary
Ry this mode OF advancing the money The
interest upon the whole amount gong on
At once has been prevented. Il being the
duty of the commissioners to report their
proceedings To the leg stature, rtspeCt-
fully refer them To those reports tor intor-
nation of the actual situation OF those i'm
portant works remsrking that the opening
a canal through the Blue Ridge has been
contracted tor by The commissioners OF the
Kanawha road aud navigation, under
whose direction, that part OF the work IS
placed by law.
Il was duly not fed to the executive
within the tune prescribed, that TIE r arr
mers' Bank accepted The extension OF their
charter on the terms preScrl'ed by the act
of Assembly. The bonus OF fifty thou and
dollars was accordingly paid InIo the trea.
sury 10 the credit OF the fund Tor Internal
lnnroyement A loan II this sum was All.
tborized to be made TO the University,
provided our claim on the United States
had been so far sanctioned by that go.
yerpment as to have insured reimburse
ment Of the loan to The University from
that source Nothing final however wa
done by Congress on The subject OF our
claim during The last session, Document
C accompany tins comm uDlcallon,
contains a letter from our Senators IN con
gress, together with sundry documents re-