Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-24
Virginia Legislature.
HOUSEOF nELEGATES.--V ednesday- Dec. 81.
DELINQUENT LAr.Ds.

Virginia Legislature.
HOUSE OF EGATES.-Wednesdayr Dec 81
DELINQUENT LArDs.
Mr.. Broadus presented the following resolution
Resofred, That the Commitce.of Finance
TO inquire into the cxpcdiency of amending Deln
quen Land Law, passed April LIST; 1881, confine it
operation to tho counties West of the Allegheny Noun
Gains.
Mr. Broadus said that the passed during the last scs
son. on the subject OF Delinquent Lands considered
by the people oil Cupcper oppressive un them
There about hundred deinquences on the list
In that county, most of which, would probably found
had been caused by. the negligence of Sherfs and Cocc
tors The people thought that the relief granted by the
2ist and 22d sections of the act would be totally
other act passed for the benefit of those of the
country, which would be advanaged by such a law
MIR: Williams OF Harrison, considered.h the request
unreasonable one. There was good reason why any
one section of the country should he relieved from the
penalties OF delinquency Ii the list of orleiturcs wa.
correct the operation of the law ought TO be the same in
one section as i'm another.
Mr. Broadus said that the for this request were
easily given The law had been asked for by the people
of section of the State who willing 10 endure its
Inconvenience, in consideration of advantages thew
were to derive from it-n that section of country,
uues oil the lands were very generally disputed but
there were.no disputed titles in Culpcper-and therefore
the people of that county derived benefit the act
Ihey were unwilling to the inconv OF
the law with no corresponding advantage although thew
were willing that the law should extend TO
of the State which its provisions would nrove bene;aI
Very little would, he.beievcd, be received into the Trca-
suy from the payment OF the taxes in the list of bis
y IN which there were 600 casesn nearly all of which
would be in the power of the people shew that thew
were not liable to payment; but in all which they
must go to the expense of representing the facts the
proper authorities While the people of his county wish.
ed to be exempted from these burthens, thew were per
tecy willing that the people of the West should enjoy all
the benefits which the bill would confer upon them.
Mr.. Williams of HARRISON said the gencmans reasons
not satisfactory his mind If there were 600 tracts
OF forfeited lands on the list for the county of Culp6per
and it affirmed that they not liable to forfeiture
the propctors ought TO be made to show the facts III
this was inconvcnient ii Inconvenience TO which
all were subjected in obedience TO the laws, and must
bear it, If there was any stronger than ano-
ther Tor refusing 70 pass law it existed in this
and it that the request of the people of Culpepet
opposed TO established policy of this Legislature
in regard to local legislation 1t be inquired
what law governed the people of the tide water country
aud what law the Trans-A cghany section-but what
was the Jaw of the whele State IL was true that thi.
law was asked for more particularly by the people of
Trans Allegheny section But il it did disturb the
rights OF the people of other sections ought to be al
lowed to remainc at present. If the Incorporated fairly
those sections, they had cause of complaint and Il
did not operate upon them at ALL they need have nothing
TO do with it.
Mr. Wood of Albcmarle said thai the people of that
county were similarly situated with those of Cupeper
large body OF his constituents had held meeting and de
cided to ask for the repeal OF the last session But
he dill not think the repeal OF that have any be-
ncicia effect The lands would still remain forfeited and
tho time extended by that would be revoked He did
believe that could be consistently repealed or with
out cxhonoratDg set OF who had acted i'm good
faith But he wished TO relieve the people regard to
fees and legal formalies, as much possible There
peal of the law would have bad effect but its operation
on the Allegheny people, and those Culpeper and
Albcmarle was very different There might be many mo
DrO-
vision OF the last years act WHICH deserved notice wa,
that lands should fall within operaon of that law
which were granted previous to the year 1779 He be.
hcvcd II would be found that most of the lands Cu
pepper county had been granted previous THAI period
and would not fall under The provisions of that law
Much might be done he did not doubt to and pre-
vent the mistakes of collectors and other officers and tho
negligence oil the holders of land Buff the law were
repealed, former laws would still be in force and the c
feet desired would not be produced
Mr.. Wicher agreed entirely with the gentleman from
1upcper, and wholly dsscnied from the opipion of the
the law oil last session repealed, the lands would re.
main forfeited That law could be confined to the Trans
Allegheny country, as it should have been originally
was repee'cdly asserted last year that it local mea
inteoded only for the settlement of disputed files In
the western section OF the State He rccoeced that after
severe ihdiSposion he moved the indefinite postpone
men OF that bill, and that time assured dat Il wa.
only to extend to the Western country What was the fact
60 TO the Office OF the Auditor and ask whether il affect
cd alcRc the ghany country and would he
sund that there was large list of forfciturcs in the
Eastern counties the borders of thc Bluc RIDGE ThS
gentleman from Albcmare said that if there were taxc
due, the people ought to pay them. But he (AIr w !
supposed case, in which, for failure pay these
an individual might be declared nsolvcnt and drew an
Inference from the supposon which the reporter did moi
precisely comprehend. IIc had received letter from
gs , IN Tue county OF Franklin who wished him
lMr D) to settle his tax. This individual was wcIl-in
formed and intelligent, and believed that nc could ccaI,
sxoncrac himself from the payment of the tax; but such
was the patched legislation Of this State on this subject
that intelligent people knew nothing about IT, was in
voivcd IN so much incacy that the difficulty in comprc
bending almost inspcrabc TO men of the best ntor
NATION IA to its being intended that this should be
financial measure he had heard it even SUGGESTED
ne was VIKING to conine It's operation 10 the Western
Counuy' pt us operation in other sections highly in
furious lie knew that the denqucncies in his own coun
y'me ist OF which he had not yet seem were mostly oc
caioncd by the negligence Of sheriff. collectors &c
and that they were mostly for small a,oono NcarIy ~
the lands forfeited those absent individuals wild
woud perhaps know nothing Of the Legislation on ibis sub
un hey discovered that their lands were forfeited
lie ana not agree with the gentleman from Albenarc tina
we ought not to disturb the settled policy of the State
mr; thought The policy regard 10 the land system
in AZ,
pressvc system. II creating great excitement viii
me people; and he knew that gentleman in the Hous
han received more letters on this subject than he cou,
read and answer in days lie hoped fl,e Uonse VOL,
roer the resolution, and permit inquiry so that N,
tu'yect might be brought fairly before the House.