Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-09

l % WheeunK.t Reierreo 10 the COMMITTEE OF IIo-
| positions and Grievances.
| BY Mr.. Keiiy-for the raising Of a sum Of mo-
| ney TO complete the Little River Turnpike road.
by Mr.. Uiiiioms for the construction of road
from Winchester by Romney and Clarksbuig to
the Ohio. By Mr.. Nc Cul!och- of Samuel Hen
derson for a ferry over the Kanawha. Also, of
| sundry persons for extending the Kanawha road TO
the mouth of the River. BY Mr. Wahace-of ].
Wheatly TO erect toll bridge over the Kappa.
hammock BY Mr. Neville of Adam Harness to
| be authorised TO erec, dsm New river. BY
| Mr. Rufner- Of suudry citizens of kanawha to
reduce the tolls on the turnpike and to extend the
navigation of James and ISanswha Rivers also
Tor the extension OF the turnpike road the mouth
! OF Sandy or Guyandoue. BY MI .4imond to raise
sum OF money by lottery to erect toll bridge
over the Shenandoah Referred to the Committee of
Roads and Internal Navigation. BY Mr.. Wallace |
.ot T. Bragg By Mr.. .Nacyae of Patrick |
McCuin and Thomas Hartford for pensions. BY |
Mr.. Goode OF Mecklenburg- from Major j. Mel |
| son, for Communication pay and from A. Hol. |
brooke BY Mr.. F.1ks- of Jas. Huffman and John |
Gerald for pensions BY Mr.. Stiiinan of w. |
Cooper for pension. BY Mr.. Segar- Of A.
Montague. By Mr.. Stephenson -of b. Hamrck
ior pensiot. BY Mr.. WiHianss, of w. Wamsby.
| BY Mr.. While -of ]. Paxton, aud of Jno. Hen
son. BY MIR. Hiison of John Sanderson. By
Mr. .fImond Of Il. Cane. Referred TO Committee
OF Claims.
| ~ NnI. ~ yHV- OIL the trustees OF Mount Plea
SAINT Academy to be incorporated. BY Mr. Sloan
- of the Literary Society of Romney Referred
| 10 the Committee OF Schools aud Colleges.
| YESTERDAY On motion of Mr.. Mason of
King s Queen, the following resolutions were
| agreed to:
| Resolred, That SO much Of The Governors
Message as recommends the organization of plan
better calculated 10 secure the more efectua and
general diffusion OF the benefits of the Literary
Fund, be referred to the Committee of Schools and
| Colleges with directions to report thereon.
| ReSo!ueS, That the portion of the Governors
Message which relates to the system of Internal
| ImIa ovement, be referred TO the Committee OF
Roads and Internal Navigation, with directions to
| report, SC.
| Mr. .Haerae obtained leave TO bring in bill 10
amend the acr changing the time of holding the
fall term of the Superior Courts in the third cir
| cult.
/ On Mr.. Brigss's motion the Committee fer
Courts OF Justice were instructed to enquire into
the expediency of amending the act relating to the
| authorization of deeds.
| On Mr.. Winston's motion, leave was given to
bring in bill to amend the law directing the
mode OF laying and collecting the county levy.
MI. LETTER offered the following resolution
Resolued. That leave be given to bring in bill
to take the vote Of the freeholders of this Com
monweal,h, on the subject of calling Convention
to amend the Constitution.
In support of this resolution Mr.. L. remarked,
that it would be perceived that the sense of the
lfreehotders only was proposed TO be taken. 1t
| was subject of deep interes. to the people, and
they had manifested that interest ever since 1901
| In some parts of the state the sentiments of the
people the call of Convention had been ia
KEN but there existed no data by which the general
opinion could be known. 1t was. confidently be-
lieved, however, that at least half If not major
i'y OF the freehoders were for Cow ention. The
people, he conteaded, were the sovereign power
OF the stale, and not the legisature--and il was
surely not asking too much that the will of the
freeholdsrs should be ascertained in the manner
proposed. He declined going into discussion Of
the merits al that time
| Mr.. Page thought the subject one on which the
House had no right 10 legisiate: they had been
clothed with no such power, and il would not be
proper 70 exercise it. Such law was not now
asked for by the people; and the House ought 10
wait until they were first clothed with the power |,
AID called upon TO exercise it.
| MIR. Colst0n did not know what was meant bv
waiting until the power was specially delegated.
If the friends of Convention were to circulate
petitions and get numerous subscribers 10 them,
| they were denounced as agit0fors OF the public
mind; and if they came before The House withou,
petitions, it said that there was no power to
act upon the subject. If the table was not groan-
ing under the weight OF petitions, il was but
and brought along with them their sentiments and
wishes. He thought that the objection OF Mr.
Paga would be correct, ii the proposition was to
pass law calling Convention This was rot
Its character. IL merely TO ascertain what was
| the sense OF the ireehoders.
Mr.. Page remarked, that Tie fact that many
petitions had been presented at former sessions and
bean rejected, and tina, there were now no petit
lions, proved that the people were satisfied on the
| subject. He called for the ayes and noes.
| Gen. Taylor asked the Chair if the adoption
of the resolution would settle any thing' He was
replied to by the Speaker that it woIld not; as it
did not involve the merits of the bill: But if il be
rejected, the question would then he considered as
settled for the session. Gen. +. then remarked
that be would not Disguise his sentiments on this
or any other subject. In voting on the biz he
should consider himself bound by the will of his
| constituents, who were not friendly 10 Conyen-
| ton. His duty TO them he should most un1ues-
ionably perform; but he should take tit occasion
to state that that would not be the test of hi,
| dividua opinion.
| MIR. Urine considered the objection of Mr.
Page unsubstantsl. He drew distinction between
a law proposing TO amend the Constitution or TO
call Convention for that purpose, and the propc-
sition merely to take the of the people.
| Mr.. Mallory explained the vote he should give
on the resolution, knowing the will of his con-
stituents, and feeling bound by it, he should vote
against the resolutions, whatever were his private
opinions
| Mr.. Ghoison thought il uacandid 10 say that the
people were satisfied on the subject Of Conyen-
ton From the number Of petitions at a late ses-
sion, and the occurrences OF the last few years he
was induced to think tina, many OF them wanted
| Convention. His constituents were decidedly op-
posed to one but he could not give vote that