Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-04-07
THE LEGISLATURE.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.

committees. and six were passed. A
mongst the latter. there were two Of
a very Important character; ono at
them directing. that in all future al
ministrations Of personal assets. bonds.
notes under seal. ptomissory notes, &c.
should be considered as Of equal dig
nifty. This act. IL eoncurrcd in by the
Senate, will do much to facilitate the
settlement Of estates, by depriving
executors and administrators Of their
plausible reasons for DELAY, and will
place just claims upon that equality
which justice demands. Indeed, I am
surprised that the change WAS not long
since effected. Why. in this cnlight.
ened age, we should keep up dis,inc-
tion between a sealed instrument, "a
mere scroll ard one bearing a sigma.
ture without seal, has been To NE an
uraccountabIe circumstance. The re.
solution. from which the bill sprung.
was introduced by Mr.. Hcnshaw Of
Berkeley. The important bill, con.
corning the general elections, occupied
about three hours. Ii embodie, all the
valuable provisions Of former Laws. in
relation TO contests and separate cleo
tons. and many new sections simplify
ing and regulating the proceedings IN
such cases. The elections this year,
are to be held in .7ugusf, and hereai-
ter in aprii, rs usual. An immense
majority were opposed to any change.
The particular objection TO having the
elections on the same day ,hroug hout
the State, VAS. that IL would be unsafe
and inexPe,lient lin the lower country
TO withdraw all the voters from home
on the same day, lest the slaves might,
take advantage OF the absence Of their
masters to massacre the women and
children.
The Senate we're engaged nearly the
whale day upon the Judiciary Bill, or
rather IN discussing the relative merits
OF that bill and a Substitute proposed
by select committee.
On Tuesday, the Senate passed the
bill creating a new county out Of parts
Of Shenandoah and Rockingham. The
Judiciary Bill was resumed, and Mr..
Morgan Of Nonongalia spoke about
two hours IN defence of the substitute
In the House, all the bills on their
second readin: we're disposed Of, and
ordered TO be engrossed. On motion
of MIR. Leigh, a resolution was adopt.
ed. proposing a simple conference with
the Senate upon bill concerning de 4.
iinquent lands. The Senate had in D..
troduced some amendments TO the bill.
and had omitted TO carry out all the
consequential alterations, by which Sc
'erai incongruous provisions were re-
tanned. BY the rules Of parliamentary
proceeding, the lower house is preclud.
ed from making any amendments TO
the text of the bill, and are confined
to amendments to those Of the Senate
only. BY this conference of commit.
tees Zone from each house, the Senate.
" they accept the suggestions Of the
managers on the part Of the house. can
make the proposed amendments, and
send them to the lower house for appro,.
al. Managers were nc corsiiDgly appoint.
ed by each house. This bill is Of great
aud almost inc alculable Importance to
the people Of the Trans Allegany coun
try. whose lands. as Mr.. Leigh said.
20 use a Kentucky metaphor, but a
very appropriate one are shingied
over with patents. This bill, If il be.
come law, will quiet their titles, and
greatly promote the settlement and
ImPrO' ement Of the country. Mr..
Leigh has earned for himself, by hi.
devotion to this sui beet, a warm place
IN The affections of the people Of the
West. Perhaps no man in the state is
80 thoroughly acquainted with the ope
ration OF the land laws, as he is.
Several local bills were read the Cd
time and passed; and an importan,
bill to provide q method for making
I partition Of real estate held in io,nI
tenancy, tenancy in common, &c.
vas read the third tune, and after an
expedition OF its principles by MIR.
Leigh, was passed.
To-day, (Hfdnesday.) after much
debate, the question was taken, in the
Ntpdfs, upon the substitute 10 the Ju.
dietary Ball. The vote was &c 20 10;
40 the substitute failed. The question
was then put upon the number IL cir.
cults; the word - was stricken out.
aud 10 with a single Judge 10 each
inserted. The vote upon this motion
was u to ~. After the suggestion Of
various amendments. The bill was re-.
committed. with view To arrange the
circuits and other details in eoniorn.i.
~ with the onejudge system. Under
The present system. there are IS Law
Judges and 4 chaneellors-being 10 in
all-and the Senate now e1pect 1G
Judges. vested with both Law and eav;.
~ powers. To- 20 into 10 courts snd
perfofm the duties. This ~ ysJo,m
with vengeance. IL may save a lit.
tle money 10 the state; bat the people
vii most pioblbiy find, that IL vii be