Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-23

that il intends TO MAKE W 'hS"le"
insolvent tacit remittance OF The deo'
which he is unable to pay as his con-
,ributue share Of the currentex expenses
of the community; spirit OF indai-
eence which is an ornament TO leglsla-
tion. and cherished l trust by every Vir-
rinian. Then, sir, does the common,
wealth, whilst it processes to extend
the right hand Of humane liberality to
the destitute delinquent, propose by a
sinister silence to give the sheriff kind
of permission right to profit by its O.
missions; TO buy the sums, for which
he has received a perpetual credit, on
the victim of his rapacity, whenever he
can find mite Of property in his pos
session, and to pocket the proceeds!
am sure, sir, that no one here will make
a question oft. The sheriff's perqui-
sites are expressed in the law, and he
should not dare to put his hands in the
pocket of the citizen without its com
mands. And yet, sir, ! am driven to
the conviction, from sources Of infor-
nation which l cannot reject, that this
species ofnefarious peculation has long
been, and still continues to be practic-
ed more or less throughoutthe State,
and that whilst well have scrutinized
with minute exactness every item in
the accounts Of the high Erecutirc, we
have passed in silence leakage of or
10000 dollars, a greater portion OF
which, probably, goes annually to the
benefit of the sheri6's private exche-
uuer. Do not these abuses call for the
most rigid remedial interference Of
this body? Who will deny it? 1t is not
matter Of mere financial interest, 1t
is not to- increase the ways and means,
to swell the treasury of the common
wealth, that this resolution is offered to
the notice of the house: but it is to
give light to the d5rk paths OF the otfl'
ciai evil doer, and that we may detect
the harpie. who would wiring from the
insolvent the hard earnings ofpoverty,
and take from the destitute, "that hath
not even that which he hath" l do
not believe, sir, that this is an uniform
and universal practice in every county.
I know there are some, l hope not a
few, of our acting sheriffs who are be,
yond the reach of corruption, & would
disdain 10 take advantage ofleglsiative
omissions. Bur, sir, the fact is, these
mal.prac tees do exist to very great
extent, and it is enough that am con-
scious of the fact to determine me whe-
Their shall fold my arms in listiessnes
and shrink from the performance OF
my duty, or meet the responsibility OF
the task. With regard TO the subject
of the second branch ofthis resolution,
the last seems to be still more defec-
tive, and its evasive violations still
more extensive than in relation to that
of which l have already spoken, res
pec,ing the collection Of the public re-
venue. ] trust, then, that the house
will not resist an appeal in behalf OF
that class in the republic, whose moral
condition, and political relationship TO
the community so peculiarly demand
our guardian superintendent; whose
rights can claim no other representa-
ton on this floor than in the honour,
integrity, the magnanimity Of Virgin
ians. would make one more remark
sir: 1t is that the objects OF this resoiu-
ton do not strictly come within the
pale of the duties of the committee OF
Finance, as l have already hinted. Inc
legal classification Of the two SUBJECTS
is different. but their object is the
same, TO provide for the remedy, aye
sir, and the punishment of official NAL
the moral turpitude OF when
I venture to say i, little short OF the
guilt of robbery and theft trpst
therefore, that they will receive a com
mon direction, and / hope the house
will grant the leave which ask.
Upon Mr.. Brigg's motion to refer them
to the committee ofFinance, Mr., Mac
rae insisted on their special reference,
on the ground Of their unity OF pur-
pose, and that one of the subjects could
not be properly examined by the COM
mittee of Finance. But Mr.. B. saSse
quently agreed, on the suggestion OF
Mr.. Mason, of S. to division OF the
question, by which they were referred
10 the Financial and Special committee
respectively.
SATURDAY, Dec. IL.
Mr.. Harvie, Of Richmond, presented
the petition Of John II. Peasants, pray
ing for himself and others, to be reliey-
ed of the disabilities of the Anti-Duel-
ling Law.
MIR. Witcher opposed the reference
of the petition, on the ground that the
minds OF members were made up on
the subject, and that the question had
as we'll be decided al once.
The reference was advocated by
Messrs. Harvie of Richmond, Jackson
of Wood, and May Of Pe,ersburg-on
the grounds that enquiry was due to
all petitioners seeking redress at the
hands of the Legislature; that there
,.,o ro,,,y paw me- n,bers whose minds