Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-04-07
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
DEFERRED DEBiTE.


HOUSE OF DELEGATEs-Feb: a.;
DIVISION OF ROCKINGHAM AND shENANn pe, ~ tho
Mr.. McPHERsoS moved to take up the fePoi' VI TIC
committee the above subject
Mr. CooTEs opposed the motion, and saio tne PeoP'e
Of Rockingham were opposed to TINS proposeu us a,
1t being neither matter OF interest nor VI ~
to them he hoped the subject would not be taken up
the exclusion of other and necessary business oe'
fore the House. H.;
The motion to take up then agreed 10 on o''''
sion-Ayes 81 noes So. RI
the committee by striking out unreasonable anu '"'
serting reasonable.
Mr.. SMITH of Kanawha had no disposition to prevent
any gentleman from making speech upon this SUI
iect if they wished to do he should however, move
The indefinite postponement of the whole subject.
Mr. McPHxksoN in reply said, the people had been
pet,ioninu for this division at intervals Tor the last ao
he therefore hoped the subject would not be post
noned but that he might be allowed to present some
Important testimony the subject before The House
MIR CooTrs said he was willing that all the testimony
of 40 years should be brought forward oy the gentleman
fom Page and he would himself present such testimony
Us he believed the House would receive win eqna con
sideration.
MIR McPHERsox called for The reading Of the several
documents and expressed hope that the application
would he fairly cons jdered Mr. Mr.. McP proceeded
10 argue at 9Th the before the House and endea
vored to show lst that there was decided majority OF
the people within the bounds playing for tins dvison
3D. tina, proper localon aud 3d thal Inc division
into an argument founded upon these Proposlons-go
ing substance show that the division was both des
Fable in itself desired by the people MIR McP insist
ed great length these several points, and said that
the people would continue to petition until the Leglsla
ture would fairly consider their appicatlon anu grant
them redress Of their grievances.
MIR Thomas followed in opposition 10 DIVISION MI
T. said he would not have detained the House one mo-
ment on this subject but for the very extraordinary
course that had been taken by the gentleman from Page
As one of the representatives from Rockingham, he was
compelled from sense OF duty to correct some errors
into which that gentleman had, no doGo unhlentionay,
fallen and 10 make plain statement Of facts IN ela"n
to this matter. Mr.. Thomas said he had lived in the
immediate neghborhood for years and he hat'eTed him.
self he knew Of the wants and wishes n the peo.
pie in the lower end of Rockingham, than the gentle.
man from Page could possibly know. The gentleman
has boldly asserted that these people have been petition.
ing at intervals for the last 40 years Sir, this is only
the second petition that has from them on tins
subec, since the formation Of Page county They mate
powerful struggle al that session. but the Legislature
disregarded their prayer, and very wisely formed the
county Of Page Mr.. r. then went into Typographical
description of the relative situations Of Timberve and
New MARKET she wing that the division proposed was con-
trary 10 The phca requirements and convenience
Of the people Sir said Mr. 4 the gentleman from Page
SAYS he nothing he should succeed IN this
matter but you know Sir thai il he succeeds there will
be host of Offices fill such as among others, Common.
weahs Attorney and Clerk of the Court and no Doubt
the gentleman from Page, and his colleague, the lobby
member, will think themselves entitled at least, to SONS
little ard for their trouble and ardunus exertons
They propose to off from to 5000 citizens Of Rock
ipghan and yet he cannot show the signatures of 100
from that county, who have an interest IN petit
tionng for this division. But Sir the gentleman from
Pspe asserts that they have thousand sgners.
admit they have gordy number but let Inc inform The
House they did not get them in the proposed new county
No Sir they secured the whole Valley OF Virginia. and
penetrsed deeply into the Eastern part Of the State of
Eenness.e within 40 miles of Knoxville in order get
these signatures Only very small portion OF my wor-
Inv friends constituents have also signed this petition;
hence his extreme anxiety for the welfare Of my people
Mr. Speaker, do not recognize the right OF the gentle
man from Page thrust himself between my conslu.
ents and myself Sir. am accountable 10 them and not
the gentleman from Psge-and shnil at all times stand
ready to defend and assert their rights whenever In
frneed upon, by the gentleman from Page, his col
league or any other gentleman whomsoever MIR. Tho
mas said the gentleman from Page has gone into sta.
tisca statement to show the population of Rocking
ham in 1880, the strength OF our militia our extended
terri,ory &c Sir, never have denied nor do
now deny that population is numerous that the
strength of militia by no means TO be despised,
and tba, our territory is OF some extent. No, Sir;
,lo,v in our strength as well in extended terrific.
~ and do hope that this House, whom confident
" depend will consent, at the mere request of the
gentleman from Puge, that we should give up portion
Of our citizens and territory crafty the selfish vie VS.
of the people Of Newmarket, Of the gentleman from
Pape and his worthy colleague. They have already
spe two winters, making use OF extraordinary diligence
10 strip of that which we are not willing part WITH
and it is my hope, Sir, they will be disappointed In
-
the people of Rockingham would act wisely and with
sound policy. They will not be willing TO import from
the county Of Page their They have not
depued the gentleman from Page to represent them
this OCCASION He ie selfconstitued representative,
and see ms 10 have peculiar tact Of knowing what would
he their best interests; than their chosen
representatives He had doubt the House would this
day speak in q voice not to be misunderstood and put
this partial and vexed question al rest
Mr. CooTrs said that the gentleman from Page, had
stated he INT C) at heart in favor Of this division
Mr. C. could inform the gentleman from Page, that he
never desired or thought Of division He was, there.
for. mistaken in supposing that he knew Of his
mind Than he did himself The people he represented
in mart upon that hoor opposed to division Of
their county and he could say with truth that large
msiori,y residing within the limits Of the proposed new
copO,v desired no such division He would speak for
the people of Rockingham he would not say any thing
that related to the wishes feelings Of the people Of
Shenandoah. Their representatives. were on tina. floor
and they could speak for themselves and he hoped he
shoud always have modesiy enough to refrain from any
interference between gentlemen and their constituents
The lines Of the proposed division were artfuy drawn
and in such an unsuitable shape That is manifest to
all who know any thing about the geographical position
o those countless that this msshepen affair had been cut
ont with single eye 10 the location Of the county seat
Newmarket and not he conceived for the convent
.nce of the community at large. Indeed, the people
looked upon the sche,e perfectly idle and visionary
and not worthy of serious attention, the trouble Of
,n.,ra,ino agaipst it. until they told that the ap
r,,,iop would certainly be pressed at this session. and
that The lobby member who in attendance last year.
would again throw his influence in the scale of the pc
tiioners What motives the gentleman from Page could
have in interfering with the local concerns of their
.,tnsnts he (Mr C) could not tell IL might be, that
he gentleman was prompted by spirit Of phauthrophy
u, 81 late hst.p