Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-20

would be Of mo service These letters contained nothing
Of which the House could advantageousy avail itself
the present occasion Tho printing would be an unneces
sary expense He had often heard OF these documents
but had never before Of their import They
did not, il true, contain thing dangerous inn
proper be prined but, all the necessary could
be made OF them without printing he moved to lay them
on the table.
Mr.. Summers said that the remarks of the gentleman
from Dinwiddc bear him out In the proposition
to print. Much had been heard Of these documents
throughout the State and their constituents anxious
feeling would be set at rest and that was an important OBJ
lject.
fer the correspondence the Committee the subject OF
Free Negroes. He knew well, when the gentleman
from kanawha (Mr Summers) moved Tor these papers,
that they did contain what expected TO be found in
them. IL the general opinion that they contained
suggestions relative TO the abolition Of savery But
il appeared that they merely suggested method OF get
ting rid Of the free Blacks and such nsurgen slaves it
necessary send out Of the State He thought it
unnecessary print them, and moved their reference
Mr. Wilson OF Botetourt, expressed wish that the cor
rcspondcncc should be printed.
The motion 10 lay the table rejected. 80 to 49,
| The motion TO refer carried; and Mr.. Summers
having renewed his motion print it agreed to- 4G to
10.
The resolution relating to a recess of the Senate
concurred in.
Petitions were presented-by Mr.. Chiffon, of Edward
Dgge for compensation for the support of certain slaves
by Mr.. Mcmahon, of sundry citizens of Rockingham,
for the construction of road from Harrsonburg 10 Thorn
tons Gapby Mr. Rves, of citizens Of the county of
Campbell, for new county-by Mr. Boiling of citizens
of Buckingham Campbell, Charlotte and Prince Edward
for couny-by Mr. Hiner of citizens Of Pcnde-
ton, for road from lIarrisonbug Thornons Gap-by
Mr. Keller from Washington, the subject of Free Ne
groes; for an appropriation for the benefit Of Abingdon
Academy; and of the citizens of Washngton against the
Loyal Compahy-oy MIR; CabeiI, oil citizens OF Nelson,
relative TO the subject OF Free Ncgrocsby Mr.. Grnads
of s. C. White for the establishment of ferry from AGO.
mac to Norok-by Mr.. Dupuy, ofcitizens OF Prince Ed
ward, for new county-by Mr.. Pat,eson OF Bucking-
ham, of Allen Jones, TO have refunded Of money
INsoLvENT DEBTORS.
| On motion of Mr.. Shell, il was
Resolred Committee IF Courts NJ Jus,icc ha
directed enquire into the expedency of amending the
law in relation TO principal surrendered by their special
bail after Judgment rendered.
On motion OF Mr.. GhOlson. twas
Resoired That the Committee of Courts of Justice
of any debtor on his Offering TO take the nolvent debtors
oath and also TO allow the court magistrate before whom
such debtor is brought TO exercise sound discretion in
administering said oath not.
On motion of Mr.. REYNOLDS, il was
Resolved That committee be appointed to inquire
Commonwealth to cede to the u s. the jurisdiction over
certain lot OF land of fifty acres, Asacague Island in
the county of Accomac, for the purpose obuildng agh
On motion OF Mr.. Cr,mp, it was
Resolved That leave be given TO bring in bill, re-
Fluvanno, from all liabilities which they NAV have incur
red for failing to appoint Processoners required by
law and auhoising said courts TO make the appointments
ut their next January February term
On motion of Mr.. Caldwell, it was
Resolved That the Committee tho Penitentiary be
instructed inquire into the expedccy of altering the
mode of selling articles manufactured in that institution
by authorsng the Directors thereof sales
on at stated periods, TO place them in commission
stores, or TO have them disposed OF in such shall
make the compensation depend on per centagc
! On motion of Mr.. Williams, OF Henrico, il was
ReSOired, That the Committee of Courts Of Justice be
instructed TO inquire into the expediency of providing by
law for the payment rendering Witnesses in civil
of the mileage derriage to which they would be
entitled in going to- and returning FROM the court, before
any Judgement for iine perempory judgment shall
be awarded against such witness.
On motion OF Mr. Summers, ii
i ReSoIred, That leave be given bring a bill, 10
change the time of holding May October terms OF
tho Quarterly Court of Kanawha county.
ELECTION LAWS.
Mr. Haryie said that various had been gil
ven TO the section of the Election Law which fixed the
period of time during which the polls should held open
In counties it had been Interpreted to conne the
term three dayn others they had kept open four
days The Senate had sustained the former construction
but as there respectable minority were of OPT
Mon, that the term intended by the law four
days, it well worthy of investigation There was
no law, the provisions of which ought be more plain
and fully understood than the Election Law-And as diff
cues and embarasSnents the present unccr
tany purpor of the act il was highly important
that the matter should be placed beyond or dispute
Win this view, he presented the following resolution,
which was agreed to:
Resoiped That the Committee of Privileges and Elec-
tons be instructed to enquire into the cxpedency of amend
ing explaining the 17t an act concerning
general elections in this Commonwealth passed April ID
1881 so as TO provide that when the polls any election
shall he kept open than day. they shall be kept
open certain number of days.
On molten of Mr.. Rvcs, il was
Resolved That the Committee Of Roads and Internal
Navigation be instructed enquire into the expedency
oil authorizing the transfer of shares Joint stock compa
Mes incorporated for purposes of internal improvements
belonging To the estates of residents without the ne
cesSty OF an administration of said within this Com
mcnwcalth
LAND LAWS.
Mr. Galaher said in presenting these re solutions that he
believed what had been said in this House. that there was
but one man in the State who thoroughly understood the
Land Laws OF this Commonwealth. He had lived in the
county oil Jefferson for many years and had heard
sale OF land for taxes yet much anxiety recently
been experienced He wished that the whole subject
should he settled and that The anxiety and trouble laerv
experienced might be put at rest.
ReSored, That the Committee of Finance be instruct
ed TO enquire into the expedency of revising the land
laws OF this Commonwealth, and of reducing into one the
several acts providing for the collection of taxes upon
lands so as TO simplify the whole system.
2 ResOiced, That said committee be instructed TO in
qire into the expediency of amending the law for the
collection OF land taxes as to provide that when personal
property cannot be found portion OF the land itself shall
be made liable to sale upon the premises.
D. Hesofped, That the same committee be instructed TO
enquire into the eNpedency OF reducing the rate of da-
images upon the delinquent lands to six per cent
f. ResOIped, That said committee enquire into the cx-
pedency of providnga period of limitation, after which the
commonwealth failing TO avail itself of the legal method of
collecting taxes upon land, shall be barred from further
proceedings against delinqucnts.
REPORTS COMMITTEES
Mr. Fitzhugh, from the Select Committee on the sub
Ject, reported bill concerning the national road auho-
lzing the Governor whenever the of the United
States be obtained, 10 take under the jurisdiction
OF this State, much of the national road as lies with
in its limits and erect toll gates thereon Read twice
and committed.