Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-16
RIOHMoMD, FEB I6.
VIRGINIA 1EaIsLArvRE

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE, OF DELEGATES.
Tuesday. Feb. H. communication WINS re-.
ceived from The Senate, that they had passed The
bills dvorcng Ishmael Moody from his wife Eliza
Ann and the bill establishing a town on III.
lands OF VIM Z. Queen, with amendnents-and
that they had rejected the bill allowing Lucy Ann
Dnnsie to reside in the State. The amendments
OF the Senate were concurred in
.Hr. FIedsdnfs called up the engrossed bill, re-
leasing to Jas. .. Council the Commonw eaI,h's
right 10 piece of land, and it was passed.
CHANCELLOR BROWN.
ne Speaker laid before the House the following
letter from Chancellor Brown
Spring Farm, Feb. 10Th. 1926
SIR have seen published in the Richmond
Enquirer OF the 18th ultimo, immediately undo,
the words " Chancellor Brown'' in capitals M,
doubt with the view of calling the public a,ten
ton more 10 the subject, tho copy of preamble
and resolutions said to have been submitted 10 the
iiouse over whose deliberations you preside on
the i+th OF that month. by an honorable member
(Mr. Gossin) from Bedford county.
Mr. Goggin and are perfec, strangers tn e,ch
other, and sincerely regret that our acquaintance
commences under such dsagrecabe circumstances
Our residence Is from 50 TO 100 miles distant from
each other, in parts of the State. between which
there Is very little, ii any, communication. He
lives IN county not within any of nv judicial lis
courts; must therefore conclude, that he has no
personal knowledge Of the facts on which his pre.
ambie aud resolutions are bottomed, and no perso-
nal interest IN them, and It is 10 me n ma,t,r og
deep modification, that before he felt il his duty
to exhibit me to the public in such an oaious lieht
he hau not awaited himself of the information
which he might have received, from other men,
bers OF the House, some of them residing near me
IN habits oil seeing and conversing with me FREE
quehtiy, ara OF attending my courts since INV pa
raiyIc attack From my knowledge of those gen
tiemen' a'd the facts which they could and would
have stated, feed confident that the Hon. MEM
Der would have been sensible that some az the fact
which he has assumed, as the basis of his preamble
and resolutions, did not exist, at all, and none of
them TO the extent assumed. WHY he did na,
pursue this course know not. Perhaps il il no.
parliamentary 10 enquire into the truth of facts be-
fore you report them. Perhaps in such a case
public duty goes no farther, than to bring forward
the accused, bound and gagged, that the punish
meni due TO his supposed offence can be inflicted
on him, not only without struggle, but without q
complaint. Or, in justice 10 the Hon. member. we
niay sup: ose that he had received information
from some quarter, which was satisfactory to him
self OF the truth OF the facts which he has
and without enquiring infinitely into the correetness
OF mat information, or whether il was not opposed
by iacts,whch proved that il could not be correct
aud hurried away by of public duty. ht.
assumed upon himself the responsibility to mo
nounce TO ali the people of the commonwealth
and to me IN particular, that in the opinion of Tho.
Assembly OF Virginia, was constitutionalIv inca.
pacitated from longer holding the Office of Chan
ceiior' and that the said office was vacant, and
ought to be filed II the facts now bee Iesveto
state and am prep red to prove, had been known
TO the Hon. mover, (and they nigh, have been.
had eve regard Tor private feeling, private cha
racer and private right entered into the estimate
OF his public duty, as Legislator l would bey
leave TO ask him, would he have thought himself
compelled by his sense of that duty, ard his oath
TO support the constitution, TO have reported his
resolutions, and the preamble on which ,hev ara
based! Should the Hon. member decline m ar
swer this plain question: lest might lead To an
other which would be more difficult for him to
| answer, then submit it to any man of honor. to
answer Tor him. The following are the facts al
iuded to: On the Both day of July, 1924, clos
ed my court, after session of more than five
weeks ana early the next morning was visitet.
with my present msIsdy. In the month of Oeto-
Der following, had so far recovered as TO be abb.
to walk about my plantation, and in February 10
rlde cut, and to attend a survey for two days and
remain from four to FIVE hours each dav on bo,sr,
back.-ADd though was unable 10 attend tho
Wythe, Lew isburg, and S,aunton Courts in Oc,o-
per and November OF that year, yet as had never
tor twenty two years, failed to hold nv courts reg
ularly Except that, once before was so nucb
injured by the falling of my horse when on nv
way TO Lewisbmg, | was unable TO attend the
court there,) did not think the public had much
cause to complain, and the opinion of INV pbvs;
cian and the hsttering anticipatons of NV friends
Strengthening my own hopes Of speedy recovery
concluded not 10 resign my Commission. ruhiie
such well grounded hope remained, that + sbonJ
soon DC enabled to resume my public duties. Bu,
though did not hold my fall courts, I was NOT
wholly disengaged from my official duties Aftor
the month oil November, in that year, was in tho
habit OF granting injunctions, &c. &c. and attend
ing TO such other duties as could be done an, of
court, as usual. In May last had Determined ,o
SET Out on my circuit, being convinced in nv own
mind, that my bodily strength was equal TO tho
task; and as TO mental incapacty I never thought
about IT, I'LL the Honorable Members preamble and
resolutions brought 1t TO my mind But well
knowing that would be the last TO discover s,eb
calamity and toreseeing the evil consequences of
IT, ootb 10 the public and myself had entreated
my friends, In whose judgment and integrity I had
confidence, and with whom was in the habits OF
frequent intercourse, 70 apprize me of the fact az
soon as they should discover it,, in order that I
Night, at once resign.--They have not given me
the Information, from which conclude thew have
not made the discovery; though il seems the Ho-
noraole Member has lately made il in Bcbmopd-
rom report alone presume. Two days eniy be,
tore was TO have set out. my physician rsynon-
s'Ta'ed w'Ii' me on lbe improperly Of such an IN