Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-09

to the Valley and Eastern
and the necessity of some measure of imln,d;,t,
rehei disclosed upon tho face of that report itself
hoped that the House would act upon il without
delay.
The law of the last session u,op tho sub;ect Of
the lands returned delinquent Tor the on-paymcnt
oil taxes was designed mainly he had understood,
to subserve the purpose Of Trans Allegheny pol
icy. Its provisions, however, whether inodvcrt
emily or not, had extended the penalty or ;mmc
date forfeiture TO large class of lands in tb,
Valley Region Such he satisfied was not tho
intention OF the last General Assembly. lilo was
not disposed upon the present OCCASION to interfere
with the favorite policy of the West-but he would
resist an extension of the principles of that law
to the Valley Country.
The facts disclosed in the Auditors Report CA.
hibitcd the necessity OF some immediate Legislative
provision, suspending the period of forfeiture He
had not made out the lists for many counties east
OF the Allegheny Mountains, and those which have
peeh MADE out for the Valley, have been too recent
" transmitted to give any adequate notice. If no
amendment OF the law made he was satisfied
IRON the cases of unparalleled hardship and on
preston, which he had been presented with. in tho
course of his investigation, less than six weeks
the table of the House would groan with petitions
from every part of the Vallcy-appcations for RI,
iei, to which they would not turn deaf ear and
whose examination would alone occupy the time of
the House until late i'll the spring.
He preferred its reference to a Select Commit
tee, from the importance of tho subject and tho
urgency of the relief required.
NIX PRESTON agreed with the gentleman
from Berkeley, (Mr. Faukner,) in the proprictv of
the suspension of the period of forfeiture, but not
IN the remarks upon the principle of the bill itself
lie came there instructed to maintain the prnci
bic OF that law He was opposed to every thing like
interfering with IT. The policy of that measure no
contended to be sound He could not orrco with
the gentleman from Berkeley, his structures upon
the UNJUST and oppressive character of the law IL
there were cases of hardship the bill itself contain
ed provisions affording relief
MIR WILLIAMS of Harrison, did not under
stand the gentleman from Berkeley, as asking for
repeal OF tho law, but only a suspension of tho
time of forfeiture. He was himself in favor of -
suspension OF the time, and of its reference to n
Select Committee. The friends of that bill wero
not afraid OF examination of it upon prnciplo
lie believed they were fully prepared to support it,
MIR. FAULKNER thought he had eynrossod
himself with sufficient distnctness and did nos
perceive how the gentleman from MONTGOMERY
MT: freston) had failed TO comprehend the true
bearing of his remarks. The gentleman from U,r
rlson, had rightly understood him. He soupht no
repeal of the law upon the present OCCASION Ho
meant not to interfere with the operation of that
law, upon tho country West of the Aeghanv
Mountains 1t they found the act essential to their
prosperity, he had no wish to disturb them in tho
enjoyment of all the benefits they could derive
| from it. What he asked for at present was n most
ponemont of the time of forfeiture, which was now
near at hand.
But still he; thought the operation of the law ON
the Valley Country, oppressive. There it was
calculated to unSettle land titles to the same OK
tent, that its effect might be to settle them in tho
Irans-Alleghany Country. 1t operated beneficial
| ly West of the Mountains, upon the actual occu
piers of the land-a class which that act intended
| to favor. In the Valley its operation upon the ac
| tual holder and bona fde purchaser, was harsh and
oppressive. There large nonresident
patentees in the Valley, against whom it was me-
cessary to legslate.
lie adverted to the operation of the law on the
county OF Berkeley. The list transmitted by the
Auditor, and received late in October, contained
the names OF more than 1900 persons char
ged with delinquency, and embraced upwards
OF 3o,OOO acres of land, and near 400 lots i'm
towns. These delinquences had been accruing
Tor the last half century, under most wretchcd
and relaxed system of Revenue Laws. He was
satisfied that fully one half of the delinauences
might be traced to the frauds and mistakes of De-
putty Sherifs, and the mistakes and neglect of
Clerks and Commissioners. 1t imposing, for
a patry consideration, incredible labor cost and
trouble upon the people.
MIX PRESTON still thought, if any portion of
the gailey country was aggreved by the Law,
they mad an ample remedy, and designated certain
sections which he thought would afford competent
relief Those provisions designed to meet the
very cases of hardship and oppression, alluded to
by the gentleman from Berkeley. He however was
not opposed to a reference. He repeated his cheer
tui acqueScence IN suspension of the time of for
teture but expressed his determination TO resist all
encrodchments upon the principle of the bill itself
NIX. SUMMERS concurrcd in the remarks
made by the gentleman from Montgomery. He
also was instructed to sustain the principle of the
law of the last session. He was however, in favor
OF suspending the time of forfeiture, although it
depended upon the construction of the 21s section
whether any suspension Of the time was neccssa-
ry. If the Auditor wrong in his construction
OF the section, it was not necessary-if right then
1T was necessary. 1t being a doubtful case he was
IN favor OF the reference of the subject to Select
Committee. He perfectly satisfied to cntrust
the subject to the charge of the gentleman from
Berkeley.
The communication of the Auditor was then
referred to Select Committee, composed of tho
following gentlemcn: Messrs Faulkner, Preston
Williams of Harrison, Summers, Wilson of Bote-
tourt, Pendeton, Robinson, Bayse, McCue, Persin-
ger, Billingsly, and Crockct-with leave to report
by bill otherwise.