Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-26
eicncreE assembly o. Virginia.
HOUSE OF DELEGATE:
IhurSInu .Lnn u.

1huTS"ny Jan 81.
A message received from The Senlte stating that
they have passed the hills entitled fpnraing
the Petersburg Exchange ian act concerning Emma,
person of colo Tan act to authorize separate cleo
ton at The averu house Of John Radcliffe, Senr, in the
county If New KENT and act to amend the act emit
tied .''an act providing for supply Of water in the
! town Of Pearesbur;, in he county Of Giles.
On motion of Mr.. SouTAALL,
Resoirrd That The Committee Of Agriculture and Ma.
nnfsclures inquire into the cxpedency u amending the
laws concerning the toll OF flIlIers
Mr. SournALL presented letter on the subject from
one Of his constituents, which was referred TO the said
| Committee.
| On motion or Mr.. STEPHENSON,
| | Rcso'ctd, That the Committee Of Courts OF Justice
inquire into the expeGiency Of amending the laws in
relation bail in criminal aso adn!i ell persons
10 bail the discretion Of The Courts except such as arc
CHARGED With treason murder.
. RcsaIred That the said committee also inquire into
the exprdency providing by law that whensaerer two
or more persons are ,inily charged indicted for the
same offence. they may be examined as Witnesses tor
| or against each other.
Petitions were pEcsrntcd:-By Mr.. SERVANT from the
people Of WARWICK for act 10 prevent the destruction
Of oyslcrs-By Nh MAHrlH, from Daniel Stone and
Others OF Henry county for the construction OF Rail:
road State account from some point on lhe Roanoke
10 The Tennessee line-By Mr.. Mccoy, from William
Hinchman Of Cabe for the passage Of a law authorlz
ing the payment 10 hIin o! sum OF money. as cnmpcn
salion for services rendered in mastering the IAiia Of
the l2! crirncnt. Also, from Jefferson Bowen, late
Deputy Sheriff Of Cabe county, praying lha, certain
sum of money by him paid into the Treasury may be
funded "a him Also from WIN. alcCom1S, Frederick
CT |. Brurins and others, praying that law may BE-
passed, releasing them from the payment of certain udg
menls rendered aganS, them in the Circuit Superior
Court of Law and Chancrry for Cabrll county,
rly Of Bos,ic, Brumlield-By Mr.. MCCnY, from Joel
Ferguson Of Cabrll, for divorce from bis wife EIz1
beth These petitions presented by Mr.. McCoy.
at The request Of Mr.. Thornburg, the dele cate from Ca
bell, detained by adisPoson BY Mr.. CAHsoS, from
citizens Of Clarke for an extension Of the Northwestern
road from Winchester TO Berry Fcry--i1y Mr. Goes
from citizens Of CampbeI Bedford, Pt.y lvana and
Franklin, for county
THE PUBLIC LA%DS.s
On motion Of Mr.. EDMUSDS OF H., the House r5sum
ed the consideration OF tn. Report of The Select Com
mtce on the subject Of the Public Lands :
The 1th Resolution under consideration, in the
following words
a. Resoired Tina, not only the experience Of The past
but wise forecast requires The speedy adoption of some
equitable plan providing for the distribution among the
States just proportions Of the proceeds OF the sales Of
the public lands, and this General Assembly doth there
fore earnestly urge upon Congress the immediate ndop
iinu Of such viii be best calculated 10 obtain
this most desirable object.
| Mr. BAYLY OF a. offered 10 amend the resolution as
follows
Strike out all after the word Rcsoired and insert
" That Congress ough, 10 adopt equitable plan pro
yding Cor the distribution among the ,ales IN Just pro
portions Of the proceeds of the sales of the public
lands, much thereof as may not be necessary taken
in conjunction with the customs as regulated by the act
of Congress of the I'd Of March, 1888 aud other sources
of revenue, delIay the expenditures Of The Govern
meml economically administered.
I After the fourth resolution insert,
"5 Etsoircd Thn, the ad ustmcnt Ct The tariff con-
tanned in the act Of the ID of March, ISIS, commonly
called the compromise act ought 10 lie held sacred and
in iolabe
Mr. Epmrxus asked division Of the motion, so to
take the question first striking out, being opposed 10
the insertion OF any resolution in lieu of the lth.
Mr. f delivered his views at length, reviewing the
several acts and treaties by which title had been acqu
,.,I,,. DAT, | H..
the authority of Congress 10 make any distribution Of
their proceeds.
Mr. YrRHY sustained the fourth resolution, citing the
deeds of c"ssvn from Virginia and other States 10 show
that the public lands were a common fund. Mr.. Y ad
med that up to the time Of the payment Of the public
drb the appropriations Of the proceeds had hecn eg
mate but that since that period there had been unequal
wns'cul and cxravaGant appropriations, 10 haTbors.
docks and schools. in which Virginia had participated
| only To the amount of ter thousand dollars Mr. !. j..
nratrd his by reference TO the documents
pnnvnr the Presidents Message and other statistics
and cnntended that the fund had not been properly
apped according 10 the design Of the donors. but
! in violation thereof The graduation hill review
ed, and its cross inequality GXpnsPd-and Mr. fEREY
cited reports from the Treasury Department, TO show
that the revenue from thr customs and other in
dependeny Of the public lands were generally suih
cien TO meet the proper demands OF the Government
The wear 1874 was an exception, but there had been
| gross extravaganza, &c.
Mr. YEREY declared his preference for The amendment
| OF The gentleman
cenllemans position that the tariff OF lclG was for re
venue aIonp it avowedly for protectionbut being
reminded that this not strictly in order the cues
lion now stood Mr. Y. dcssled He concluded by main.
nininp that il the duty OF Congress to act faithful
" in conformity to the deeds Of the cesson, and that al
temptation 10 exravagan expenditure ought 10 be with
draw from the Federal Government.
TVery few of the points embraced BY Mr. Y. are here
given for when animated his rapid delivery prevented
any effort to follow him-exPecng, too as Is usual IN
| sucb cases n report from himself.
Mr. WrrcHER favored striking out the 9TH resolution
principally with u view Of allowing room for compa-
rson OF opinion, and some compromise @hich might en-
sure full vote --
| Mr. Robertson adverted TO the importance and mag
nilude of the question before the House. and thought
care should BE- taken attain unanmiiy in any express
sion which Virginia might make. tie would iaVer Tue
motion to strike out with view to the substitution OF
series of resolutions which he thought would be accept
| able 10 members generally.
Mr. R then read the following resolutions, which be
should propose in lieu Of the 4ih, it that should oe
stricken oui, and that of Mr. Bayly be neGatived:
l. Rcsolred That the lands coded by Virginia 10 the
u S Except far applicable to other purposes sPe
cited in the deed Of cesson were ceded on the express
condition that they should he considered as common
fund for the use and benefit Of such of the w. s. as had
became should become members Of The Con; oeraioh
or Federal alliance of said States (Virgina inclnsivej
according 10 their usual respective proportions III '
general charge and expenditure, and on the iuriher eH
press condition, that they should he faithfully ana O0"A
dc disposed Of for that purpose, and for no o'her use OF
| purpose whatsoever ,.
2 Resoired, That Congress- by accepting said cess'on
came under the most solemn obligation 10 oosetFc a"9
| fulfil the said conditions.
8 Resoircd, That the force of said obligation was IN
no wise impaired by the adoption of the tedsra oon,
slitu,on but expressly recognised and e'ahfneu
BY the ST section of the 9Th article ol The CONSTRUCTOR
| Of the U. S
4 Rcsolred, That from the period when the MODE oil
raising revenue for Federal purposes was changed rom
that whch obtained at the date Of the cessIon Inc oo
| dispose OF SAID Ianus OH
nrincplc that would as nearly might be- fuih Inc
condition of the grant, not less imperative lhan II
had previously BEEN pursue strictly its require
5 Resolred, That any and every disposition ol sau
lands not in pursuance of such prime Ple except "hee
the object was tona fde 10 enhance the value OF me
fpnd or where lust equivalent received mas oeen,