Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-02-24
LEGISLATURES.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.
nIcnMoxD. FEE. Is, 1881.

RICHMOND, FEB. IS, 1891.
Here we are. i'm the wsne If the
month Of February, and the most i'm
portant subjects at the session yet to
dispose at. The business Of the week,
.o far, has placed US but little in adj
vance. On Monday, after the adop.
ton Of few resolutions, a bill, divorce
ing Felix Frrte from his wif.-or. in
other words. multiplying their marriage
compact--causrd a short debate upon
the propriety Of Legislative in,erfrr-
rnce, and Was eventually passed. The
next topic Of discussion, ~as the petit.
ton Of sundry inhabitants Of Shenan-
doah and Rockingham, for the for,na.
ton Of new county. The report Of
The committee, which WAS adverse Ia
the pet,iioD, was reversed, on motion
Of Mr.. Harris, so that bill will he ae-
cordiDgIy brought in. This, If grant.
ed. will make the nm new county this
session. a bull, concerning dciin-
quent lands--very important to the
western section OF the State--was con.
sidered and smendcd in committee Of
the whole and a bill concerning the
solcmnization OF marriages, and one TO
prevent the destruction Of oysters,
pheasant subjects for the contempIa.
ton III lads and lasscs, constituted
the finale of the days proceedings.
Tn Tuesday. several reports Of com
mittees we're made, and some acted
upon. The antidueilins bill, howe
yer, occupied the larger portion Of the
day, bu, passed TO its third reading.
MIR. Burfoot. of Chesterfield. made "A
very earnest and able argument, in ia
vOr Of striking out the test oath, AMI a
.ainst the propriety Of legislating upon
the subject at all. Mr.. Brodnax, Of
Dinw iddie, advocated the re-cnact
ment Of the law. and urged that IL not
only had produced salutary effects, but
was required by public opinion. The
vote upon striking out the test oath,
stood ayes %. noes IS. A decisive
majority. MIR. Leigh made a report
OF bills organizing the judiciary,
which were ordered to be printed. II
IS probable they will be made the order
of the day for Monday. and il is con.
fidently hoped, will be disposed of dur
ing the week.
To-day, wednesday, sundry bills
OF n local nature were passed. A bill,
granting the power to the county
courts To establish and abolish election
precincts, was debated and indefinitely
postponed. The confederation of the
loan bill was postponed until Friday.
! This IL subject which excites g.eat
interest; and u is To be regretted, tina,
II had not been brought up at an ear
iier day. The anti dueil,ng bill was
passed, after an unsuccessful effort to
limit the Disqualification. created bv
the second section, to a period of 6f.
teen years.
Mr.. Barbour arose. and stated "a
the house, that il was his purpose To
redeem the pledge he had gwen early
IN the contest between himself and
Mr.. DaSfs--to wit, that as soon as he
was convinced that he had not reeei,
ed majority Of the constitutions
votes OF the people Of Orange, he would
voluntarily surrender his seat. lie
was now convinced such was the case.
from the examination made by the
committee ct privileges aud elections /;
AMI TO save that committee the trouble
and necessity Of making out a detailed
report, he would now bid the House =
respectful farewell. His aiiusions Ia
The past scenes of his political life, aud
to the time of his entry INFO the hall
oi delegates thirty years sgo, in The
aay'sPring of life, were deeply affect
ing and eloquent. The respectful 81.
ienee which was observed during his
Vaiedictory. etiDccd that lie had n
strong hold upon the affections, and
enjoyed the personal Kind feelings Of
almost every member. Mr.. Morris.
"i Hanover, paid handsome compli.
'nrnt to the gallant aud manly bearing
OF Mr.. Barbour IN all his conduct be-
lore The committee, aud presented re-
solution declaring Mr.. Davis entitled
to the seat.