Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-02

entered on the Commissioners Books. Russell con
tans SI6slO acres; l26S ,27S acres assessed the
county oil Scott contains S99 800 acres 600 GA are as
sessed Tyler aims SAT 200 scres 935 SIT
entered on the hooks Of the assessors. The lands in
this region, TO familiar phrase singled with
patents The quantity Of land in these counties alone
according to the maps 6,2,7 $50 The quantity
on the Commissioner books is POI ,4S6 making
cess oil S0S3,SO6 Of land patented aud csssed
over and above actual Of the counties We have
been told both in and Of this house that for the
purpose Of turning county election, feehoids have
been manufactured by the hundred out Of the wild
lends OF this mountain region The pages of your sta
TUE book shew us that II has been deemed necessary
enact laws to prevent frauds OF this character in all
parts oil the State IL such frauds are committed for
the trivial purpose oil vectng member Of the House
oil Delegates, what may not expect when thSy are
Vest
MIR. President: The best reflection which I have
teen able to besow this subject has confirmed
in the opinion, that in The existing state Of things 10
best to adopt the plan Of the gentleman from A,hemare,
anu leave the future to take care OF Itself. consider
happy feature in that plan, that il does not look
the future. feel well assured, that any attempt
amend il, with that view only to divide and
distract US. No body OF men he in a
temper to perform that important task than we
The peorle cannot well be In iph.med state /
trust and believe that after those heats have had time
TO subsde, the People will be satisfied. The know.
ledge, that the present arrangement unchap abp
except bya revolutionary movement Of the p op-, will
20 far TO preserve us in quiet II tho House shall dit
Ter with me in opinion on this point aud determine to
that the plan Of my friend from Richmond county,
should not furnish that rule.
(.h. .Neale's proposition tVas rejected by a large
maority.)
DEBATE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF CLERKS.
Remarks " Mr.. .Neaie Of Richmond County. On
THURSDAY, Nov. "a.
Mr.. President: rise 10 make a single remark.
The character which the gentleman from Mononga'ia
(Mr Mogap) ha, given Of the Clerks OF Courts OF his
1T H..
He says they make large iertunes by dishonest me.n,
they fleece the people-that their shears work
before the fleece be full grown This to me is most
extraordinary Tor fear that people at distance
may really believe that this is the true character Of the
Clerks generally in Virginia, ask Of you and this
Convention 10 bear me out. when declsrs that they
are among the most careful and honorable men any
where to be found Most sincerely do | deplore the
CO niiiion oil the people from among whom the gentle
man comes, in having such rogues for their Clerks
Ii is certainly not the in those parts Of Virgil
mia with which am acquainted, and trust that the
gen-uIa has mistaken the character Of the Clerks
with whom he Is acqusin'ed.
SKETCH OF THE PROCEEDINGS Of the Convention
on Wednesday, last days sitting.
"WEDNESDAY, DEC. 80.
The Convention met at IL O'clock, and opened
with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Armstl ong OF the Pres
byteran Church.
The following gentlemen were announced com
posing the SELECT COMMITTEES appointed TO drafl
the ne,1 Constitution, ant! submit it TO the Con-
ven,ion, viz:
Messrs. Doddridge, Madison, Marshall, Johnson,
| Leigh Of Chesterfield, Tazeweil and Cooke.
MIR. STUART OF Patrick called up the Resolution he
had some days since offered, and which had been laid
upon the table: and ssid that at the suggestion oil
friend, for whose judgment he entertained the hghes
respect, he had modified his Resolution to read a.
follows
"Resoived, That the Legislature have power 10 pro
vide by law, that person rhall be capable OF hold
ing or being elected any post Of profit, trust O.
| emolument, civil or military, under the Government
N ,yhn .tolI -. 10
duel or send accept challenge to 6ght duel the
probable issue of which may might be the death OF
the challenger challenged, or who shall be second
TO either party or shall in any manner aid assist In
such duel, or shall be knowingly the bearer Of such
challenge or acceptance: and every person who shall
be elected or appointed aforesaid, shall tore he
enters upon the duties Of his office, take such oath as
or may be prescsbed by law declaring that he has not
violated the provision OF the constitutions but no per
son shall be disqualified by reason of his HAVING
heretofore fought such duel sent or accepted sue
challenge, or been second in such duel or been the
bearer OF such challenge sccepance; or been Sc.
cond, or been the bearer OF such challenge or accent
ance."
Mr.. STUART observed that the good efTec q of the
existing anti Duellng Law universally admitted
and were TO be attributed 10 the act that il addressed
itself TO the ambition OF that class of persons who were
most frequently engaged in this practice. The reason
he had modified the resolution as 10 include Sc
conds az well as principals was ibis that many high
inded man would disregard any evil quences in
terposed in his way if they extended to kimsef alone
while the same man, under the proyoc on mig h,
hesitate at involving friend in the punishme nj of dis.
Enlightenment by asking him TO accompany him to tie
field.
Mr. Leigh said that in part Of the object soug
to be attained by this resolution, he most fully and
heartily concurred: il that clause which went To
extend an amnesty to those, generally very young and
inconsdereis men, who had become DISTINGUISHED by
the operation OF the act Of 1910. But he was opposed
to the other part oil which referred TO that act (now
in the power Of the Legislature and liable 10 be repea.
ed) and made Constitutional provision, disaualify-
ing those on whom IL had taken effect for all time 10
come. He considered this IN utter conrarety to all
correct notions OF political qstice which required that
there should he crime Tor the pardon of which somc
provision should not be provided by law.
Even treason, crime which aimed at the existence
OF government and Of society ITSELF not ola ced be
yond the scope OF this principle: for the Constitution
oil the United States, snd indeed tho government Of
every civilized nation in the world had provided some
authority by which il might be pardoned And II must
necessarily be So For, az the purpose Of punishment
was in no csae the infection Of pain or grat6ca-
lion OF personal vengeance, but alone the public good
by The prevention OF crimes II might often he ss essen
a 10 the public good that treason should be pardoned
a. that II should be punished. Punishment when in
hced deliberately by rational and rejecting men, and
pronounced by Judge, a. the organ Of the law was
intended as an example and warning 10 deter Others
from the commission Of the like of-nces. This was
its object, and the whole Of lite legitimate object: and
there not crime in the decalogne, neither trea-
son, murder, arson, or any other heinous offence, 10
which there was not authority in the government to
extend the hand Of pardon. Yet this single crime was
TO be made an exception! The pursuit Of notions Of
honor, (alse honor, and mistaken notions IL gen,-
men would have IL SOY 10 which the young the mex
perenced, and the hgh-spiriied the most naturally
exposed, this was 10 be pronounced offence Tor
which no mercy was 10 be provided by any authority
in the Commonwealth Mr. J.. said he was not going 10
imPsach the policy Of the Anti DUelliDg Law. He had
on that subject his own fixed opinions but thew were