Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1832-01-05
THE LEGISLATURE.
FROM orr coRREsPoNDE.NT
RICHMOND. DEC. ~.

n mere journal of legislative pro
ceedings. ~ this stage Of the session,
is so dull and monotonous, that none
but those v no are in search Of some 10.
cal topic can patiently wade through
them. After the round Of petitions,
then follow the resolutions Of inquiry
few of which produce debate, aud ma
ny of them attract very little attention.
Reports at Committees are then hand
ed IN. Bills engrossed for third read.
ing. are next taken up, and dozens IF
them pas. without either aye or no be
ing sounded Bills on their first and
second readings are despatched, and
reports are considered. Efforts are
frequently made Ia reverse the reports
of committees, but not one motion in
tive OF ihi, sort is successful.
The house did not sit on Hondoy.
On Tuesday, the hall was thinly at
tended. and nothing Of importance was
agitated, except a resolution to refer.
to select committee, the resolutions
OF several other states, ON the subject
Of AN amendment of the u. 5. Consti
tuition. so ss to limit the eligibility II
|
On "Wednesday. after the presenta.
ton OF petitions, reports, &c. the con
tested election from the county Of
Monroe, was taken up. and occupied
the remainder Of the day. Mr.. VAw-
TER, the contesting candidate, was. ar.
ter some debate, declared entitled TO a
seat, IN the room Of Mr.. KELLY, the
returned member. This is the last
case OF the sort which will occupy the
attention Of the house, unless, perhaps.
the people Of Richmond city and Hen
rico may think proper TO send back Mr..
John q. Williams, who was elected a
bout ten days ago. The election takes
place on Monday. and poll is to be
opened for Mr.. Williams.
On Thursday, the clerks table was
cleared Of all the business ready for
action. No subject of general cha
racter was sgi,ated.
The com mittees which have in charge
subjects Of the greatest Importance,
ar: not yet ready to report. The com
mittee upon the question of free me-
groes, slaves, &c. have not yet even
commenced their labours; probably a.
waiting all the memorials and eviden.
ces Of public sentiment that are vet to
be presented.
The committee on roads. &c. have
been pretty busily employed but have
not yet prepared any general scheme
oil improvement. As usual, great di.
verslty Of opinion exists as to the pro.
per objects for state patronage; and |
begin TO fear that this ciash;np of inte-
rests will again defeat any scheue tina,
may be presented.
The committee Of finance will pext
week have under consideration, the re
solutions Of inquiry concerning the
land tax, &C.; and the hope is strong
ly cherished. that a plan will be de
vised, which, while IL will settle the
land titles in the West, will be effec
tuai IN preventing delinquencies of
forty years standing from being raised
up IN trrrorem before the appalled, vi.
sion OF innocent and unsuspe C ting land .
holders IN other portions Of the state.
! think we shall take especial care, in
THIS case. that while We administer
physic TO the Trans Allegany country,
We do not deal out poison TO the ba
lance of the Old Dominion.
The business of FridGy presented
little Of public interest. No disposi.
ton Tor debate was manifested, and the
bills and reports, ready for action,
wet" despatched. The report Of the
committee OF courts Of justice, adrerse
to taking dispositions before q single
magistrate. was considered; and Mr.
Berry, upon whose motion the inoui.
~ was made, moved To nd the re
port, so as to declare il ezpedieaf to
take dispositions before single Justice.
Upon this motion, some debate oc-
Cured between MIR. Brodnax and Mr..
Berry, and the proposed amendment
failed.
On Saturday. q variety Of local bills
passed through their regular stages
and the bill, forming a new county out
OF parts Of the counties of Frederick
and Shenandoah, eeeiv ed its (irstread.
Jog. IL is not an easy matter 10 pre.
dict accurately the fate Of auch a mea.
surej but my impression is, that il will
pass.
The committee on the subject Of
slaves, free negroes, and muIattoss,
was, on motion Of Mr.. BrOdnax, en-.
laiged from thirteen to ,wenty-one. "a
a. to represent larger portion Of the
public sentiment Of the state. To the
Investigations Of this committee. the
public eye will be turned With intense
interests and Il would be we'll IL the
delegates from each county could BE-
particularly instructed upoa that sub
ject, either by way Of public mestines.
or BY memorials expressing the feel
'ngs OF the community. II l. "a subjesl
not less delicate than important, and
one upon which deep and calm reflec
| ton shsnId be bad. Ihe Mrrfnrn rnn.,.