Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-01-07
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
HOUSE OE DEF 70 11IEC
THURSDAy Ian e 1901

THURSDAY, Jan g.. 1881.
communication from the Senate stated they had
passed the bul concerning Samuel Kincaid's n,jmr
with amendments, which concurred in by the
House. - ~
On motion of Mr.. Miller. of Powhatan. the House
proceeded to the election of Treasurer of the Com
monweath for one wear.
MIR Miller nominated Lawson Burfoot ESQ the
incumbent ofthe Office who elected una nnous-
Vas were the First Auditor Mr.. ] e Heath the
Second Mr. James Brown, and the Repister of tho
Land Office, Mr.. WIN. 'Seden
Mr. Bnrbour offered the following resolutions:
l. Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee,
'Fhat the law ought to be so amended ms to exempt
the person of female from arrest for debt
q Resolved as the opinion of this Committee,
That The law ought to be amended as that no man
should be imprisoned for debt on mesne processes ar
execution. unless probable cause of a DESIGN to
eVade the laws, or traudueEtly secreinr his proper
ty.
3 Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee.
Ihat tho future earnings of debtor fter an honest
surrender Of all his property should not no liable G
pre- existing debts
a. Resolved, That it such surrender, and in all
cases whatever the only horse, the only cow and The
only bed, together with the Implements of tina cal
ling of such Individual sha, be reserved to the debtor
If husband or father and be exempt from distress Of
every kind
-, 3. Resolved, as the opinion of this Committee,
nat 1t shall be competent to the Grand Juries of
the Superior Court of each county, to present any
individual who is husband or father, and who habit
uaIiy Is drunkard, shall be fonnd lurking about tho
Sios9 oiuS, tipping houses from uay daV
wasting his substance, by which his family are in
danger OF being reduced to Distress and in such
PFesehment the court may take such steps as will
save TO the family the property YET unwased, by the
appointment of curator.
6. Resolved, Phat is is questionable whether for
ced contributions for the support of the poor are be
Dehcia to society and therefore that the Door laws
should De so amended as to leave the people OF each
county the absolute power of modifying those laws as
TO their Judgment may seem best,
z. EesoiVed, Phat the delay in the administration
OF criminal Justice is of the Injurious tendency
that examining ought to be aboli hed-that ro
deal change in selecting Grand Jur1es and Petit Ju
ries is highly necessary, and that provision should he
made for the discharge of the Jury, when thew can
not agree IN reasonable time in criminal prosccu-
tons, and another forthwith impannalled to irv the
case.
MIR. Barbour moved to refer the resolutions TO \
COMMITTEE OF the whole on the state of the Com
monwealth, and the motion negatived-ayes 10
noes So. ~
Mr. Barbour expressed himself nj a loss 70 know,
whether the vote was given against the princinles of
the resolutions. or the direction which he had pro-
posed to give them: F
Mr. WHit@ms of Harrison suggested tho Com
mtce nf Courts Of Justice as suitable direction IN
give the resolutions expressing at the saD,s lime his
impression that the courtesy of the House would not
allow 1t TO refuse TO make the inquiry invited by the
resolutions
NIS Leigh declaring that he had voted aroinst tho
reference, not from opposition to the resolutions Sc
vevai OF which he thought important, but because he
uIsdPp'oFeu 'heH reference to Committee of the
Whole, suggested Select Committee
SIR. Williams Of Harrison, then Withdrew his nro
position.
Mr. WUiiamS of ShenaDhoah asked that the ones
ton OF reference should be taken on The resolutions
sepaTately--which course was followed
The third and seventh resolution, created \ oood
deal Of discussion, liz which uessrs Atkinson Bar
bour, Williams Of Harrison, Green of Halifax. vii
llams Of Shenandoah, and Brodnax GENERALIZATION
finally. all the resolutions were referred cxcept the
'hird-which was reiected--nyes DO, noes 5g-Nr.
Giincr subsequently moved to reconsider the vote
but il negatiy"d 4G TO SO.
The Select Committee consists Of Messrs Par
bour, Williams Of Harrison, Williams Of Shenandoah
Leigh, Green, DrodrnX, Glmer. VVifcher. Lewis
Claiborne, Poindcx'er and Maxwell
Mr.. Morris from the Committee Of PtiviIeres and
Elections, made repnrt the memorial of Robert
Shield cOnteg'i1@ the return Of The member from
the district of York, James City end WT!ianlsburr-
Mr.. Scinple-wi''ch We VIII notice hereafter
Mr.. Morris. minimizing HAT It vas be wish Of Mr.
Leigh and Mr.. Chambcrayuo moved to assign Mon
day next, as the day for considering the Hcnrico
Mr.. Lsigt dcclaTSd that HAT day, or any other
was entirely agreeable 70 him. lie bepged while he
was NJ, toadd single word. From the time the
memorial was prcsca,ed, to this hour ne had never
uttered worJ touching it, 10 bis uoss familiar friends