Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-28
esEYsGHs!AA. Ass u M aSA Y.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

tain acts of the Rcgistcr of the Land Oifce--and,
10 repeal so much ofan act changing the days Of
the County Courts of Hampshire and Hardy, us
concerns the county Of Hampshire.
Also, with amendments, an act consolidating
the certificates of seven per cent. stock held by
the Literary Fund-and, to raise money, by Lot.
terry, for paving the roads at Orange Court House;
which amendments were agreed 10.
On motion of MIR. Cd-SkddOn, leave was given
to bring in a bill authorizing a change Of the To-
cation Of the North Western road through Rom
ncv.
Ir. carter of p. w, from theSolcct Committee
on the subject, presented Il bill providing for the
erection OF a monument to George Washington,
which wa, read twice, and r~c-committcd
On motion of Mr. Mciihancy, a bill requiring
A classification of the Justices If the Peace, was
taken up, and having been amended, Mr.. Helms
moved the indefinite poS,Poncmcnt of the bill,
| which motion, after discussion, in which MesSrS.
MUcr, Poiudcricr, and Fifchrgh took part, was
agreed to-Aycs 81, Noes 81.
The following engrosscd bills were read n third
time and passcd:-Authorizing the Guyandolte
Turnpike Company To extend their road-amond-
iny an act establishing certain ferries across the
the Biz Sandy and Ohio rivers-to enact, with
amendments, the act passed by the Legislature of
North Carolina for extending the Lake Drum
mnnd and Orapcakc Canal-ohanging the
mode of appointing overscers of tho poor in
the town of Pctcrsburg-to amend the act
for the extension AND Improvement of the naviGa-
tor OF the Rappahannock and its branchcs-to
b''S " ~ ~ "'i'S WV ~ Va hhS
town Of Fairfax, in tho county of Culpeper.
On motion of Mr. Rutherford, a report of the
Committee of Finance, declaring it incxpcdient
SO to amend the revenue law as to make it the du-
ty of the Sergeant of the City of Richmond, to-
collect and pay into the Treasury of the State,
that portion of the public revenue, assessed upon
the citizens ofRichmond, was taken up.
Mr.. X. moved to amend the repor', by striking
out tho word iHcrpcdjeRt and inserting in It's stead,
the word crpedicnt, which was rejected, and the
report agreed TO.
Mr.. P~arriott, from tho Select Committee on the
subject, reported a bill making appropriations TO
certain counties, to be expended in the repair of
roads and bridges, destroy ed by the late frcshet.
On motion of Mr.. Allen, the House adjourned.
SATURDAY, Feb. %.
The Senate have passed the bills, Concern
ing the Farmers Bank Of Virginia; 3, Authorizing
convcvanccs of certain lots sold by N. Tomlinson,
decd; 3, Authorizing the Common Council of
fredericksburg to subscribe for stock in the Rap
plhannock Canal Company; 4, To provide for
opening and improving the Monongalia River; 5,
Amending the Act incorporating a Company to
construct a Turnpike from Fredericksburg to Po-
tomac Creek.
On motion of Mr.. Jones, leave was given to
bring i'll a bill to incorporate n Company to CON-
struct a Rail Road from Richmon to York Town.
Re ferrcd to Messrs. Jones, Shield, Rutherford,
HnlYbuTton, Crump, Hudgins, Fisher, and G1inadls.
MIR. Battle-Ground presented the petition of p.
HaXall & CO., 10 be incorporated for purposes Of
Iron Manufacturing.
The Speaker presented The following letter to
the House, from Thos. Nelson, Esq, Principal
Agent of the Penitcntiary.
PENITEnrrARY STORE, Feb. 4, 1882.
To the Speaker
of tie House of Delegates:
SR-Learning that charges and insinuations
prejudicial to inc asa Public agent, have been
made, and are now going the rounds, injuring me
no doubt in the estimation of gentlemen unac-
quaintcd with me; justice to myself requires, that
| should appeal to the justice s. magnaniniity ofthe
Legislature of my native State, which has SO of
ten evidenced its confidence in me, by rejoicing
me to the Office | now fill--and | mako the APP
peal with the more confidence, as / am satisfied
IL will not condemn any man, without affording
him the opportunity of repcliing unjust charges
and groundless insinuations; TO afford which OPP
pnrtunity 1 most earnestly request, that n Com
mittee be appointed as soon as may be TO inves-
tigatc my official conduct. If upon the stricte ST
scrutiny | do not satisfy the Committee and the
Legislature, that have faithfully and honestly,
discharged all the duties required of me, account
ed for all the goods received, and monies collect
ed, on account of sales, and have done no more
than was my duty in regard to the Supcrintend.
ent, then | will submit without Il murmur, to he
turned out of my Office, and consigned to that de.
graduation, which l should have deserved if | had
pursued any other course than that l have pursued,
Respectfully,
Your Fellow Citizen,
THOMAS NELSON, p. A. P.
Mr.. Galaher, Chairman Of Penitcntiary Com.
mittcc,) prcsuping that the letter had grown on
remarks used by him, expressed his astonishment
at the letter, and disclaimed having made any re.
mark dcrogatory to the Agent; on the contrary, Inc
had borne evidence to his fidelity and honesty. He
had indeed said that the Pcnitentiary Store was
negligently attended to-if this was slanderou., he
was guilty. That Officer had made the crosses,
charge against the Chairmen of the Committees
of the two Houses; namely, that they were the
creatures of the Superintendent of the Penitentia.
ry. This charge so false and contcmptible. had
provoked him, but he should dcspisc himself if Inc
we're capable of using his official station to CRAFTY
personal rescntments. He hoped the Agent would
be gratiiied with having 4 Committee, in which
event, he pledged himself to prove the only charge
he had made-that of negligence.
Mr.. Fisher, %aNcdging that no charge had been
made which justified the course of appointing a
Committee, moved to lay the letter on the table
which was done accordingly.
On motion Of Mr.. Miller, the House took M
the bill returned from the Senate with amendments
amending the act of last Session, regulating the
mode OF granting licenses to retail ardent spirits
The amendments were concurred in, except this
last, which subjects the master to a penalty for his
slaves trading in spirits, &c. with tho masters
knowledge.
This amendment was opposed on the ground thai
1t ara not define the masters responsibility, with
sufficient clearncss-and amendments were propo
Sod 10 TINS effect, and to exempt him except where
the slave acts with the masters knowIedpe.
Mr.. chandler moved to postpone the bill indie.
hnltcly, Directing TO 1T on the grounds that it i'm.
properly "dIscrIminated between incorporated and
unincOrporatcd towns, and infrinpcd upon liberty
The bill was warmly supported by MIR. Fisher
Mr.. Miller of Powhatan (thc latter gentleman dc
tailed the advantages which had resulted from the
law of the last session, which was similar to this
though confined to James River from Richmond tc
The Balcony Falls, and mentioned the remarkable
fact, that to such an extent was trading with ne
grocs carried on by means of ardent spirit at tho
little groceries and tavcrns, that ono individua
who had not raised Il leaf of tobacco, and was no
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