Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-12
Tuesday. Dec. 10.


On motion OF Mr.. Brown the bill laid the table
Tuesday, Dec. 10.
message was received from the Senate, stating tina,
they had passed act to incorporate company
struc toll bridge the North Fork of James River
Rockford-aso, with amendments, 10 construct tunpike
road from Harrsonburg Thornons Cap and to change
the all terms OF the Superior Courts OF the first Judicial
Crenitaso that they had agreed the resolution for pro-
cecding TO the election Of Brgadier General fill the
vacancy occasioned by the promotion Of Gen iarc. The
amendments were agreed to-
On motion OF Mr.. Spurlock, il was
hesoeed, That the Committee OF Courts of Justice in
qure into the expedency OF reducing the upon which
AN appeal from the Judgment of single magistrate may
taken FROM five dollars; into the proprcty OF in
vcsung the magistrates with the power of granting re-
nearing OF warrant where the amount in controversy
Is less than five dollars. upon good cause shewn.
On motion OF Mr.. Wicher, the Committee of Claims was
discharged from further OF the petition Of vii.
son o. Selden, which his motion, referred the
Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Allen presented petition Of John ID. Sharp and
others Tor permission TO erect dam Powels River
in the neghborhood Of Anderson's Spring.
r. SLAVES FREE NEGROES, Sc
DIR Usode oil Meckenburg, TO ask the Chairman
oil the Select Committee Slaves Free Negroes and Mu
latces what progress that Committee had made in its in
vestiSaons and at what time Report upon the interest
ing subjects submitted 10 il might be expected
Mr.. Brodnax remarked that, in reply to the enquiry
which had been propounded to him, Chairman of the Sc
lect committee, the subject referred he gra
cd to have II in his power 10 give an answer which he
hoped would be entirely satisfactory the House. IL
would be remembered that considerable of business
had been referred to that Committee its consideration
or this there was class, consisting of numerous me-
morals and petitions praying the enactment of laws of
private Character and subjects general interest 10
the community, on all of which, with the exception of
particular one which deemed by It's friends expo
dent yet tobng before the Committee reports had alrea
dy been made to the House. There were two other
subjects before them general in their character and all
absorbing in their interest. One related to the removal
oil free persons OF colour from the and the
other arose on certain memorials which prayed the aop
ton oil system for the gradual extinction of slavery
thc former oil which, alone, calculated from lis
TO involve much OF the time or labor of the Committee.
system was to be devised TO attain this great and desirable
object consisting of numerous details picated delicate
and difficult in their character. These difficulties and en-
barrasments Of necessity resulted from the novelty of the
SUBJECT IL was indeed ordinary subject egislaon
aid waste be derived from the lights Of former experience
The Committee had 10 feel its every step Of its pre-
ceedngs the views OF different members would be various
and often dscrcpant not only each of the general pn
cpes involved but each of the numbcrless details es-
senially necessary 10 work out comprehensive plan All
t%ese were 10 be considered and compared and decided
In doing IL often became necessary retracc step
found TO be defective in consequential pro-
Visions and 10 direction All this had been
patiently, and he would add most aboriously effected
The committee had during that very morning concluded
Its series of resolutions, which contained its opinions
and decisions on every subject necessary TO enter
into the composition of bill, and having instructed
Chairman 10 draft one, had risen with a determination
not to sit again until Friday morning. next, when
no doubt, the bill would be reported TO the House
hat this course had been decided on only for the pur
pose OF allowing time for the preparation of bill
~ long, but also to present opportunities TO two other very
Justce and that OF Finance TO hold intermediate SESSIONS
on some subjects of pressing importance before thcm
cessy that while the Select Committee sitting sui-
cent nsmber OF the members Of neither of the other
could be obtained 10 form quorum. While the sub
ject he remarked that he knew the inquiries propoundcd by
his friend from Meckenburg did proceed from an i'm.
preston OF any improper taness nattcntion on the
part oil this Committee to their dues but suggestions
had found their way into some Of newspapers whose
Edttors he knew had not attended the Committee
and could know nothing Of the character of their
dehoerauons tending to such imputa,ion, and cacu-
lated to produce dissatisfaction among the people at
distance, who possessed means of knowing their
injustice, he would take it on himself say and it in
volved no inlecacy compliment himself, as the
humble organ OF that Committee because was his duty
TO be ever presently what but act of sheer Justice
10 the members who composed it, that they had devoted
the most laborious devotion TO their duticsthe most ax
ious solicde TO work out plan which would be &C.
ceptablc to the Legislature, and beneficial the country
which he had ever evinced That the only re-
naming subject OF general interest that which related
our slave populaion-t obviously subject which,
however important in its bearings, could not from its ma
lure, occupy much OF lifetime of the Committee. Ii did
not, like the other, involve minute numerous details
IL presented only simple question. portion of the
Committee no doubt, like a portion of the House was on
posed to any legislation at present the subject while
another portion he induced TO believe would propose
that a plan OF gradual emancipation, some specific
principle of future application should be recommended
The Committee could only have TO decide between The
two, which would but little time as was COM
pretended i'll single question: that there would be little
doubt that on this subject alsO report would be made
within week.
Mr. Goode was aware of the arduous duties which had
devoved upon the chairman of the committee and the
siduy with which he had applied himself those duties
and he had no doubt the praise TO every
member oil that committee. 1t with no disposition 10
derogate from the mertoous services of those gentemen
mat he rose TO put the Undergraduates TO the chairman
which he had just replied But he did believe that the
course which the subject had taken here would be pouc
tive oil dangerous consequences He did think that il was
the duty oil this House to let the country know specifically
ITS views on the subject oil emancipation lie thought also
That The editors oil the Commonwealth ought instruct
ed In the opinion OF the Legislature this subject
They had already put forth sentiments likely to produce
teract the effects of the impressions made by them on the
public They were, in sense, the organs of the
House, and they had conveyed the people views which
he did not believe were entertained by majority of that
body Finding from the remarks of the Chairman of the
Committee, that report the main subject of their in
vesugaons not to be expected for several davs-
considering that the work would have TO be done over
again in the Houseand conceving his duty TO endea-
to obtain the of the House. so as TO put the
ton OF emancipation TO rest, he now gave notice. that
he should Tomorrow submit resolution which would
ecit The opinions OF the House, and probably save the
committee The trouble ofnyesgang further the subject
Of emancipation
Mr. Jones said that having obtained leave of absence he
should not be Here during the discussion of the subject to-
norrow he would therefore, take occasion TO saw that he
looked with pleasure upon the present agitation OF this
subject and that he would heartily in any judcious
plan oil gradual emancipaton,/
Mr.. Powell announced IS the House the demise OF
Charles Tod, Esq late Delegate from the county of Ca
rolne, and on his motion, ii
ReS0iUed, unGnin'ttsy, token of respect for the
memory oil Charles Tod Esq late member OF this BODY
from the county of Caroline that the members OF the House
will wear Grape upon the left arm fer thirty DAYS
HcSOlUed. House 10 nOxya adj