Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-01


IL in o,hers--the Court sometimes not able to
Dispatch the business at one sitting.
The House then agreed to the amendment
| Mr.. Leigh moved that the House take UP the
second resolution, that contained the main principle
and il had been sufficiently indeaer,hst il ought to
be discussed before the settlement Il the details
/ Mr.. Mcfarland requested that the gen,l would
withdraw his motion, to allow him to offer end-
meut TO the third resolution, to sxerd the system
towns and corporation in weisp Superior Courts OF
Law were now established.
MIR. Leigh would give way II the gentleman wished
II; but he did not think IL now necessary to offer tho
amendment, a. IT was understood in the Committee
that this matter OF detail to be settled after the
decision on the main principle
| Mr.. Maxwell hoped the gentleman would not pre.s
the amendment, as il was well understood in the Com
mt.ee from which the resolutions reported that
the snhee OF the corporations would be considered af
ter the settlement OF the general principle
Mr.. Leigh observed tho, the gentleman from Peters,
burg would perceive hatihe House had not yet agreed
to The third resolution and that would therefore, be
open 20 amendment hereafter.
Mr.. Macfarland would not prs,s the motion, if h,
entertained the same opinion with the gentleman But
he apprehended that the same Arguments would be
ed against u, that had BEEN against the amendment
adopted He Jid not ask that any addition should be
made 10 the Superior Courts but that the Superior
Courts already established in towns and corporations.
should be suffered TO remain and that, as ChaDcery
uri'dc'ion to be given to the Superior Courts n
the counties, might be given to those in the corpo
raions also Ii evde that those courts
tblshed in the towns and corpor aons, because thew
were essential to the convenience OF the inhabitants
Those claims had ncreased-,he business If the courts
I
injustice. He moved to amend the third resolution by
adding these words" and in the towns and corpora.
tions in which established Superior Courts Of Law"
| Mr.. Maxwell said he would trouble the House with
an amendme Mt to the amendment, in these werdssnd
in The Borough o: Norfolk
MIR. Gilmer asked in what and ationp SUI
perior Courts were established
Mr.. Leigh replied, the towns OF Petersburg and
| LyDchburg.
| Mr.. Macfarlsnd observed. that the County Cont
houses both Of Petersburg and Lvnchburg were at q
great ds'auce from the towns, and that for the
nience OF the people OF the town. Superior Courts had
been given them. They had stronger claims than
the small counties, the courts had been established
and great ANNOYANCE would arise from their removal
The people OF Petersburg in that case would be ohs-
ed to 20 is miles to the Courthouse Of Dnwidde for
which they had not facilities
Mr.. Maxwell agreed to the proposition of retaining
The Courts in the towns where they had be
ed-and hoped the gentleman would agree with him
in extending the convenience the old Boroug h Of
Norfolk. There were strong reasons why this re-
quest should be granted The citizens Of Norfolk had
hithero been forced to the Elizabeth River 10
Portmouh, to transact their business In boisterou.
weather this very difficult IL would doubtless h.
more conve nient for the majority of the county TO have
the court in Norfolk But Portsmouth being the coun
ty town, and having no corporation privileges, was
viewed with more favor by the people OF the county,
petition had formerly heen got up tor the re vaI
OF the Superior Court 10 Norfolk and wa. signed by
large number oil citizens but the Jaior at Portsmouth,
tearing that he should be deprived OF the profits arising
from those OF his boarders, who came from Norfolk
actually raised caba Against the petition, by which
the object was defeated III the plan of com bned in
rsdiction went into effect w great reason WHY
separate Court in Norfolk should be established IL
vas peculiarly mercantile place-and out OF it's mer
canlie transactions seven-eighths OF the chancery
SUITS In the country erose. And would il he reasona-
bIe that the citizens OF Norfolk no supplied such
proportion OF the business, .houd sn.sct across
river. ~ another town He hoped that the House
would aecede to the motion of the gen,Iem from
Petersburg aud that they would not refuse separate
court TO the old Is rough OF NoIfolk-not a rotten b.
rough-but true and loyal to the Common a,,h
Mr.. Atkinson said, he was opposed to the amend
neht UiS,eu oy me gentleman from the Borough Of
o. s adoPon.-At this time, Superior Court OF Law
was bo'dsn for the County OF Norfolk in Porfsmouth
dstarce not more than one mile. There was a Fer
nv or Iesm-Boat plying constantly between the two
iow0s am the expencs OF going from the other
was Ia cts II, from any cause difficulty exists
In crossing the Ferry, the people OF Norfolk have on
ly TO cross The Bridge, which render, the J;s,aoe
within miles The Grand Jury pass free of toll and
the witnesses lose nothing because their ferrage is
taxed IN The bill OF costs, 10 the suit in which thew
are called to give evidence The nee /. real
iy 30 great in going from place TO the o,ber that
Tue suors 10 Norfolk can usually to Court, and
'urn 10 their dnners-He opposed to fnerea ,inp
the number Of Courts beyond those now in existence
Give separate Court 10 Norfolk rough and the ex-
pences TO the Common alth are as much as those in
! couDty-and Richmond City would have the same
| caims.-Agan IL was known that, some YEAR ayo
petition was ed to this House. asking for sepa.
rate Superior Court 20 be located in Norfolk II was
then rel cted aud he understood, for the tia,
the people OF the county opposed TO il; and he
hoped the amendment offered by the gentleman from
Norfolk. would be rejected.
MIR. MscfarlaDd said, il would be easy to point out
the difference OF The claims OF Norfolk and the town.
OF Petersburg and LyDchburg. When the details of
the system were under consideration, ii but proper
TO claim Tor those Towns, where Superior Courts
been established. that which should be retaned, To
deprive them of those Courts would be- an nins,ica
which he. as member Of one Of them could not .ub.
NIT TO- AZ to Petersburg, the civil docket was larger
Than that OF any of the surrounding counties Each
and ALL he thought, would admit the Justice of his d.
maDd for that town, which contained a popuIa,ion nj
about nine thousand, and eighteen miles from tho
County Courthouse. He could not suppose .b.t any
ons would deny the justice of bis proposition lille
there might be differences of olinon, in relation 10
me estaoi Shment OF separate Court at Norfolk
MI Maxwell siriher supported his motion.
MIR. Goode opposed the motion of Mr. Maxwell on
the ground that the facilities OF communication between
Norolk and Portsmouth, were such, that the inconve-
n ence spoken of was trivial
Mr. Maxwell replied, and in support Of b;. forr,.r
positions.
The amendment moved by Mr. Maxwell was re-
iected. " ~ "
Mr. Rves OF Campbell, believed il was the intention
oil Ue committee from which this report emanated To
extend Its provisions TO those Courts which were now
established They had already been extended to coun
Ties with populations much smaller than those of Peters
burg and Lynchburgh The Courts in those towns
o1ght, therefore, 10 be retained.
The motion of Mr.. Macfarland was then agreed to-
On motion of Mr.. Leigh, the LIST and Sd resolution,
were laid on the table, and the I'd taken up.
Mr. Leigh then commenced an argument against the
proposed system and concluded by remarking that with
the leave Of the House, he would continue bis speecb
Tomorrow NfN
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