Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-26
VIRGINIA LHGIsLATURE.

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
pRocEHpINGs or THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Tuesday, Jan -. Bills were presented, Au-
'horisi"g The Courts of certain countless to provide
a mode OF opening and repairing roads and bull
ding bridges within the same Authorizing an in
crease OF the capital of the Falls Bridge Turnpike
Company, and 10 authorize the Board of Public
Works, 10 subscribe 10 part of the Stock -incur-
roratihg the Trustees Of Wickiiffe Academy in
Frederick,
On motion of Mr.. Patteson of Augusta. so much
OF the proceedings of the b. of Public Works. M
relates to The Stanton and James River Turnpike
Company, were referred TO the Committee of Road.
sc,
Engrossed bills amending the act incorporating
the Chesapeake Ohio Canal Company /; ncorpo-
rating the DanvilIe Toll-bridge Company, were
read the third time and passed.
MIR Rufner offered substitute for the bin all
thorsing the appointment OF an additional Chancel
Tor. Laid Oh the table.
resolution oil the Committee OF Claims reec-
ting the petition of Reuben Burton, Tailor of Hen
rico, for the balance due him Tor maintaining rupa
way slave was concuryed in, after an unsuccessful
effort on the par, OF Mr.. Harvie, TO reverse the
same. Il further resolution of the same COMMITTEES
rejecting the petition of d. p. Chichester to be re-
funded fine imposed on him by the Court of
Fairfax, was concurred in after an Intellectual mo-
tion of Mr. Briggs to erse it.
The Speaker laid before the House letter
from the President Of the Board of Public Works
enclosing letter from the principal Engineer to a
member ofthe Board on the subject Of the improve
ment OF Jackson's River from the mouth of the
Cowpasture TO the mouth of Dunlap's Creek
On motion of MIR. Cook the House resolved to
proceed on Wednesday the 25th jointly with the
Senate, 10 the election of Store Keeper and Sin,
perintendent of the Penitentiary.
The report on the subject of the tobacco inspec
lions was ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Saunders, OF N. X, offered a resolution to
give leave 10 bring in bill so TO amend the law on
the subject OF the fund for Internal Improvement as
20 dispense with the Board of Public Works. Mr..
Harvie made unsuccessful motion to lay the res
olution on the table.
Mr.. Rires opposed the leave. The duties now
performed by the board to be performed by
| some one, and he wished TO know to whom
they were 10 be sned
MIR. Saunders indueemeut was TO get rid of
| the expence. The Committee of the House were
competent TO perform the duties.
Mr.. Winst0ns only objections to the motion.
was to the lateness of the session, He had al
ways thought the Board useless body. They were
merely to Recommend measures, and he thought a
committee Of one member from each Senatorial
district, would be equally competent, and were
as well acquainted with the wants and interests OF
| the People.
Mr.. OyomgooIe remarked, that the failures of
| former efforts to abolish the board, had been ow
ing to an impression that Inc friends of that mea-
sure were opposed to the fund for Internal I'm.
provement. He was not opposed to that fund, nor
did he think the people were They objected TO
the fund.- only as having given rise multiplicity
| OF officers They were attached to a plain and
simple government. The Board OF r. Works
ne considered mere council Board. the duties OF
which might as well be performed by the ey- ofcio
members. Mr.. ID. gave an account of the routine
OF business to and from that body.
/ mr.. Haruie of Richmond, remarked, that for
several years, attempts had been made to abolish
this Board; but they had failed, as he hoped thi.
would. The Board was necessary now as e vel
il had been. From the moment the fund for Inter
nal Improvement had been put under their care, i,
had been annually increasing, notwithstanding the
, heavy advances that had been MAIDS TO various
public works. The integrity OF its capital had been
preserved. This could not be said Of the other
great public fund owned by the state he meant
the Literary Fund. Mr.. Fl. drew a parallel be-
tween the management Of the two funds. The
Literary Fund had suffered by the defslcstion OF
the late Treasurer. And it would be recollectsi
that at time, $50, 900 Of its capital was voted
to the University, and it was now understood that
some S25, 900 more were wanted. He commended
that il that fund had been well organized as the
iunu iOI fH'eindi iUpiOFeiHsHts THESE enCFOdCIl-
ments upon its capital would probably not have
taken place. The Board Of Public Works, he
thought destined yet to be of great service to the
public. Blu, IL IL was, had been said, no more
than council board, it might be necessary 10 give
it more povsr, that il might he more useful. He
was convinced THAI when the House snnhilated
that Board, 1t would take the first step towards
snnhilating the fund itself.
Mr.. BouidiB supported the resolution, merely
that the subject might be investigated; if the Board
was not Necessary II ought not TO be continued.
Both funds were fruitful sources Of legislation and
discussion, and prolonged the Sessions Of the
House. He had understood that the state, land
and all, were uortgsged to the old James River
Company, for some 20 or 30, 900 dollars annually
for ever, and he was anxious TO enquire into what
| ever was connected with the subject,
Mr.. May was opposed to adopting the resolu-
tion on account of the lateness Of The Session. The
subject was important and would give rise to much
debate sad he had no idea that If the house should
not be willing to sbolish the Board, that they
would agree upon any particular measure. The
Board at but once year end the Session beng