Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-16

at the House ofJos. Roy, in Rancolph; that they
had rejected the bill authosising sale of certain
lands belonging to the heirs OF Ephram Dunbar,
decd: and have disagreed 10 the resolutions ex-
pressing the opinion, that the General Assembly of
Virginia is not responsible for damages done TO the
property OF individuals by the assent given by this
State, TO the act Of Congress for making road
rom me Potomac river TO the state af Ohio. The
Senate IS amendments were concurrcd in
Reports were presented from the Committees
by Messrs Gordon, Bryce, Hill and White.
On Mr.. Gordan's motion, the Committee, TO
whom was referred the communication of Chancel-
Tor Taylor, was Invested with power 10 send for
persons and papers; and had leave 10 sit during the
setting Of the House.
On MIR. Bryce's motion, the Committee Of FL
nance were instructed to enquire into the expeden-
cy OF amending the several acts prescribing the
mode of granting licences to merchants, ordinary
Keepers, and others.
ERgrOSsed Bills PdSsed--Provding for the
location and establishment and completion of pub
lie road from Ohio river by Manchester in Brooke
county, TO the Pennsylvania lne-to amend the
act concerning the town of Weston-to revive The
tobacco inspection at Brooknca, in Campbell, and
Tor other purposes.
On Mr.. Bryce's motion, the revenue bills were
taken up, and made the order of the day for Wednes
| day next, aud ordered to be printed.
On MIR. Witcher's motion, the bill concerning
the proceedings OF the county courts in chancery,
was taken up, read aud comnitted on Mr.. Ander-
sons motion, ordered TO be printed.
~ iSSViutlOI Oi SOlnnfsLeS Ol courts Oh JUS
tice was read and concurred in, declaring reasona
Die the petition from Amelia, for the repeal Of the
act oil the last session, changing the time of holding
the Superior Court in that County.
On MIR. Eppes motion, the rule was suspended
Tor re-consderng the votes rejecting the bills con-
corning Joseph Glasgow and Peter Sailing. The
iirst bill was again rejected tayes r. noes 75 az
ter some discussion he bill concerning Peter Sal
! ling was also rejected.
An Engrossed bill TO invest the Washington
/ Monument Eund hpinp read no Mr.
tiordon rose and said, that he opposed to the
Diii. lie had always been against monuments of
every description. The Monument of W ashington
was in the hearts and affections of the American
people; nay, OF the whole world! No Combination
OF bricks and mortar could add to his fame or per-
| petuate the memory of his virtues and services.
The money belonged to the individual subscribers
and the Legislature, he said, had no authority to
put It out to interest. The only bill he had ever
voted for, on this subject, was, TO permit the sub
scribers TO withdraw their money.
MIR. Carter replied that the principle had been
settled A similar bill had formerly passed the
House; but the Senate, from an anxiety TO estab
lish public Library, amended the BILL and divert
ed the fund to that object. The House rejected
the amendment, and TIE bill was lost: He did not
consider 1t necessary 10 show the moral effects OF
monuments & statues.
| The question was taken and the bill passed.
| report from the Committee of Roads & Canals,
was read and concurred in, in response to a reso-
! luton directing the Committee to enquire into the
expediency OF repealing, after complying with ex-
isting engagements so much Of any law now in
force, as authorises the board of Public Works. to
subscribe on behalf of the public, any portion of
the revenue OF the fund for Internal improvement,
IN aid OF Joint Stock Companies. The Committee
say-"The receipts of the fund including the sur
plus of the James River tolls and the tolls on the
| hanaWha Road, cannot be safely estimated at a
sum much exceeding SIP, 900 annu aly-and the
disbursements at not much less than 000s-so
| thft, when existing engagements shall have been
SATISFIED, there viii be an annual surplus subject
TO appropriation of about S35 900. With this sum-
about sufficient to construct fifty miles of Turnpike
annually, at the rate OF 800 per mile, which the
! Committee believe fair average, so much could
be done towards improving the State in few
years, II regularly and constantly applied; and so
little that II 1t be cut up by partnerships with Joint
stock companies, that your committee cannot hes-
tate to recommend for the future that they may be
applied TO impro vements exclusively on State ac-
count. And il to this surplus, be added reasonable
estimate for tells on the kasawha river, and the
roads which may be annually constructed, together
with the diminution in price, which we may look
for from Improvements in the mode of construc-
ton, and an increasing acquaintance with the sub
Ject, your committee conceive, that in less than
ten years, seventy miles OF turnpike may be annIl-
! ally constructed.
Your Committee, therefore, anxiouslv recon-
mend this course, at least until more comprehen-
sive plan be resorted 10.
a resolution from the same committee was read,
q
further appropriation of money to complete the
road from Staunton 10 Parkersburg, and disagreed
\ to.
A further resolution from the same committee.
was read, declaring reasonable the memorial OF
sundry citizens of Lynchburg; and declaring it, as
the opinion Of the committee, that an act ought 70
pass, authorship the Improvement of the naviga-
ton of James River, from Maiden's Adventure
Falls TO Lynchburg, by locks and dams, accord
| ing 10 the last report of the Principal Engineer
/ Mr. Bryce offered the following resolutions, by
way of amendment, to the resolution of the com
rnittee:
ResolUe9, That the said improvements ought
not TO be commenced until it is certainly ascertain
cd that contracts, whose faithful execution are
well assured, can be made for the whole line for a
sum within the estimates of the Principal Engi-
neer.
RESOLVED, That, 10 ensure a.iudicious and eco
nomical completion OF the said improvements the
plans and estimates sof the Principal Engineer.
should be submitted to the revision of som ,otter
skilful and able Engineer, and the contracts con-
corning the same, should not be entered into un-
less they are within the estimates resulting from
such revision
Mr. White OF II. moved to divide the question
on these resolutions. He was in favor of the first;
but opposed to the last. He said we had had enei-
neeTing enough already.
Mr.. Bryce was anxious to avoid squandering
further sums Of money--and to avoid doing So he
contcnded, that the best information should be OBJ
timed He did not propose further surveys, but
he DESTROYS that the estimates Of the Engineer
should be carefully revised by some skfu person.
We ought to embark in such a scheme upon prin-
cipes Of the strictest economy, and after the Sc
verest scrutiny.
Mr.. Mayo objected to the ID resolution He
thought the Principal Engineer Of Virginia was
perhaps, the ablest in the Union and he was un-
willing to submit his estimates In fhc rcvso ~