Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-12-23

D@rBt9lta AcgssIatmre.
house 0FDELEG.4TES, Tuesday, Dec. 20.
Various Reports were received from Srandinr COM

HOOSL OF OELEG.4TES, TUeSdtty, Dec. 20.
Various Reports received from Standing Com
'nittcss, and petitions presented.
.H|. !Fh'tc offered tic following Resolution
Ihat the Committee of Roads and Internal Navigation
be Instructed to enquire the expedency Of bringing ia
oil Tor the payment Of money due made m
clearing and improving the Navigation OF James River
and in uniting the Eastern aud Western waters hv the
James aud kannwha Riyers.-Adop,ed
mr. B''5cf$ asked that leave be given 20 bring in
bill To encourage the killing Of Unconstitutional
EnyroSsed BW.-Thc bill divorcinr Ishmaci Mood,
from his wife Eliza Ann, read % time and passed
me bill 10 restore TO the Executive the power OF par
doning Pcniten;iary offences, being on its passage
Mr. P'ftcSOa, of Buckingham, regretted, that this bin
had been inatured before the Report of the Pentcntiar
tornnttee-With view IL await the Iscpurt of tta,
Committee, he moved to lay the bill on the table
Mr. Hr'oic, of Richmond, not opposed to this
course, but he reminded the House of The necessity of
speedy decision it, from the extreme cases that some
times occurred in the Peniienary.
mr. C00e stated that certain queries had been pro-
pounded 10 the Keeper of the "entenary--anJ Inc pre-.
auned the Report OF that Committee would recommend
restoration under certain mOiica tons.
mr.. May was opposed TO the course. The question
involved was enc of principle, and he thought il might
be DECIDED without the aid of any Committees The
power OF pardon mus, exist somewhere and he Il oirt
uere was no doubt that the Executive was the proper
tribunal In the long intervals between the Sessions Ut
The General Assembly, extreme cases might occur call
ing Tor the instant exercise Of this pIerogave Ii had
been recommended by the Governor two successive
Executive
always on the spot, and familiar with the operation Of
The Penentary, were better qualified than this House
to exercise the power of pardoning.
.hF vuo'riS, OF ood also opposed to the course
Legislative exercise OF the prerooat,v, ,f rarIon
seemed To hun anomaly
Mr. Paf'eSon, Of buckingham, chairman of the
tenl'eniiary 'omrntee) replied TO I!c,srs Mia, and
'iorrs--2nd nrg the Importance OF awaiting I in
formation on tins SUBJECT He also friendly To re
S>iIC The power TO the Executives bul un, cr strict
,iOns-and his motive for tins was his conyictio,
tra tine power had been formclnabIscd not corrupy
oni rninteniUnaly, by tl:c Executive. he rencd fol
VT HoTri>'s remark, by stating that the Constitution
ha. lei the exercise OF the power at the discretion o.
the Legislature
The motto t. iay the table was also supported BY
III trump, Of umb,fland
HT .i!9y rel in .ni contende! that the T.cr:s!a
turr cIn Ivy sub:ct Tlh the Executive 10 mora
per influence IN pardonng Offences The Executive
could pardon all other the cuprt under The gal
lows AMI the one on whom stripes about be IN
nic'cd throughout the Commonwealth, and vet IN
PcnicnIiary offences occurring i,nhediatclv under
Their csc, and whore from the Pententiary 3oarI ami
other sources thcy could mcguire C0mpetc Information
touching the worhincss of the subject they were FRO
hH"d IRON exc c'sing the preogative. he could see
no reason for TINS difference. and he hoped that the row
er would nj once DC restored TO the Executive as the,
natural and IN IS; cum otant tribunal to exercise it
The bill was laid the table.
The bills, gathering the times of holding elections in
the Counties Of Montgomery and GiIes"--..divorcing
john 4. Foukcs from his wife Mary ''-.nd ..arlhori-
z'g the sale ofthe lands tie dcyecs Of Alex Boyd
dec'd"--were read a Sd time and asscd
On motion q .dr. .i!1coa. the Pcnilentarv Keepar
was instructed TO inform, TIE House how many rcrscns
were pardoned by tine Executive and discharged from
that Institution during the years 22 and o. for what
length OF time they citing sentenced ;o con.
nement, and 10Y what odcaces-y nuch OF their time
was RENTED, no" many of them pardonci were recon
mended 10 parlou by ie lard oi Directors and how
manr being principals le their accessories 10 serve cut
the whole erm o! confinement