Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-02-14
1sfrgfmta Hegfslatmre.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1885,
The following Report was taken up:
"The Committee Of Finance, TO
whom were referred sundry petitions
from various counties and borougbs in
the Commonwealth, asking a continu-
alton of the appropriation heretofore
made for colonizIng free blacks on the
Coast Of Africa, under such modifica.
tions, as may render it more efficient,
beg leave to Report:
That they have regarded with
pleasing concern the evidence oil avn
kened public interest upon this subject,
afforded by the number of these petit
tons, and the anxious solicitude which
they display, for alternating the grow.
ing evil Of free black population in
this State. The policy, which the
General Assembly, at an early period,
wisely and humanely established upon
this subject, and has since consistently
pursued, will scarcely be abandoned
under such decided indications of pop.
ular appreciation and supper, -
Resolred, therefore, as the opinion
Of this Committee, That the prayer of
said petition is reasonable"
Mr.. Venable moved 10 amend the
Report by striking out all after the
word Committee, and inserting "that
the prayer ofsaid petition be rejected"
Mr.. Venable referring to the present
condition Of the Revenue Of the Com.
monwealth, urged the adoption of his
motion chiefly on the ground of econo.
my.
Mr.. Rives entered into some expla-
nations relating TO the nature and OBJ.
ject of the appropriation, and enlarged
upon the good results to be obtained
from the action of the Society he
deprecated as niggardly, an economy
which went to impede and obstruct
great public advantage.
MIR. Venable replied. He consider.
ed it as an enormous tax upon the peo-
pie Of this Commonwealth. He was
in favor of colonization as a missiona.
ny scheme, or as charity, and no
more. Let it, therefore, be left to the
efforts of charity, instead .of taxing the
people.
Mr.. Peyton regarded the free ne.
groes as perfect cancers in the midst
Of the community, and he regretted
much that the object Of the Colonial.
ton Society should meet with any op.
pos,tion-an object, which appeared
to him eminently advantageous in its
results to the slave.holding interest.
Mr.. Bolts protested himself to have
been surrounded with difficulties in
bringing his mind to q determination
on this question. He should now vote
against the motion, holding himself,
however, as not pledged hereafter to
sustain any further demands on the be.
half of the Society.
The question was then taken on the
motion to reject, and was decided in
the negative.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1S3S.-Mr.
Beard submitted the following resolu.
ton:
Resotced, That the Committee on
Propositions and Grievances be in.
structed TO enquire into the expsdiency
of changing the day on which Elec.
lions for members Of the General As.
'embly, and Of Congress. are now re.
luired by law TO be held.
A division being called for, the reso.
ution was rejected-Ayes SO. Noes
10.
The bill to repeal the law ofthe last
esslon, relative to poor debtors, CON- I
ng on at its second reaing. &,
Mr.. Watkins moved to lay it on the
able for the present, in order to afford
nm the opportunity Of preparing an i
amendment.
Mr.. Smith Of !. of w. hoped the t
aw would be repealed, as it had been