Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-02-23

was recene ed from the Senate, stating
that they had passed the bill concerning
eontempts OF court, with an amendment
--that they bad passed the resolution
for procuring, of X. Peal, likeness OF
Gen. Washington; with amendmehts--
And rejected the bill allowing John, a
free man oil colour, to remain IN the
State.
The amendment TO the bill concern
ing contempts of court. was, on motion
OF Mr.. Mason, OF 5. LAID on the table.
The amendment, to the resolution re-
lating to the porrrate of Gen. Washing
ton being taken UP, Mr.. Watkins, of z.
B. moved rs lay the same on the table.
lie thought that many members, when
they voted on tnat resolution, expected
bill to grow out of it. They did not
expect that an expenditure Of money
was to be made by resolution. MIR.
Blackburn coneurred in the motion At
ter some conversation in which Messrs
Blackburn. Miller, oil II. May, Mason,
of =. and Patteson, of Il. took part, the
amendments were laid on the table.
Mr.. Powell called UP the engrossed
bill establishing the boundary line be-
tween Loudoun aud Fauquire; and, al
ter discussion, it was rejected.
MIR. May called up the engrossed bill
to incorporate the Petersburg Manufac-
turing Company. Sunjry blanks were
filed And the bill passed 81 to 10.
On Mr.. Blackburn's motion, the con-
si,leration Of the Divorce bill was re-
sumed, the original bill the amendment
proposed by tibet ommttee of the whole;
the substitute offered by Mr.. Taylor,
aad that offered BY Mr.. Bryce were all
before the House. The question being
on the adoption Of the latter.
Mr.. Bryce made comparison of the
provisions of the several plans, and sup
ported the one presented by himself.
Mr., Briggs opposed 1t. He thought
the House had already shown a most
decided determination not to transfer,
even sub modo. the subject of divorces
60 anv other body. The argument that
applications of this character consumed
the time of the House, was answered by
the fact, that there had been about twen-
iy such applications this winter, and he
thought their had pot been Consumed
more than 90 hours of its time. The
only objection which had any weight, a
gainst retaining the power. was, that the
Testimony upon which they were called
on to act, was frequently er-Parfe, and
not collected in the most proper manner
If this evil were remedied, he thought
the House the proper tribunal 1t in
VOWED no expense to the party, who was
frequently too poor to meet any. hr.
BIS substitute gave the jurisdiction to
the chancery courts in particular cases,
where they could not be acted on with
out great expense to the parties,
MIR Taylor said, if the object of the
House was only to provide for procur-
ing correct testimony, then the amend
ment of the Committee was the best
plan. But if it was the desire of the
House to transfer the jurisdiction to the
courts. that plan would not answer. He
went into an examination of the details
of the several propositions
MIR Bryce answered the obJectionst to
his substitute.
Mr.. Blackburn, (who introduced the
original bin felt himself called on to
say something on the subject He ad-
yocated the substitute offered by Mr..
Bryce: and enumerated his objections
70 the amendment proposed by the com
mittee. 1t created too many officers for
the collection of the testimony; and con-
4erred on them the power of selecting
what witnesses should be examined
This power was too great; and its exer-
else would. in MANY cases, induce the
commissioners to take such an interest
as to make them parties, as 1t were, in
the cause. lie commented on the i'm
policv of retaining the power in the
hands of the legislature; and compared
,{he manner in which the House decided
upop annlications for divorce, with the
manner in which they would be invest-
gated and decided in the courts OF chan
cery. Rather than permit things to re-
main as they now are, he would accept
any one of the many propositions that
had been made.
The question was taken. and Nr.
Brvce's substitute was adopted 79 to ~;
and it was ordered to be engrossed, by
vote Of 90 to 81.
The Speaker laid before the House a
letter from the Governor, covering iur-
sher ranorts from the PRINCIPAL Engineer