Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-23

saved years every A. and that of the property boob
every other year. besides the amount of whatever de
ducton might be proper from the compensation of the
Commissioner ofthe Revenue for the omission of the
land book II those years. in which the property book
alone would have to be prepared
As the effect of the plan would be to reduce the pro-
hts OF the office of Commissioner Of the Revenue, he
further proposed to make the duration of that office
four years, instead of one. The land book would thus
be preserved through term of service of the Com
mssioners and through two terms of the Sherlifaty
There were other minor and consequential amendments
with which he would not trouble the House; but
moved that the bill, with oil his proposed amendments,
be recommitted to the Committee of Finance He
also stated that perhaps it night be proper exclude
of the larger towns lin which property so fire.
quenty changed hands as to require that be annual
y lised from the proposed bill; and therefore of
the amendments prepared with view to such ex-
clusiOn
On Mr.. MAYS motion, the bill, with the amend
ments, was re-commtted to the Committee of Finance.
Mr.. ToLER called up the resolution, with the amend
ment of the Senate, fixing day for the election OF
Judge in the Sth Judicial Circuit to supply the vacan-
cy occasioned by the death of Judge Daniel.
The Senate proposed to change the day from the 18th
10 the 9th inst
Mr. YERBY suggested that the day might be too ear
ly, as Judging by the past, the election OF Senator
might interfere with that of the Judge
Mr.. ToLER replied, in that event, the execution of
the Joint order might be postponed
The amendment of the Senate was then agreed to-
On Mr.. ERsKISEs motion the Committee on Claims
instructed to inquire into the cXpedcncy and JUS
ticc of allowing the claims OF Thos. G. Burwell OF
Grccnbricr, and Octavius A. Harvey of Wesmorcland,
for transporting unatics to the hospitals at Staunton
and Williamsburg, and who refused admission in
consequence of misrepresentation of the requirements
of the law.
On Mr. HIpESs motion, the Committee for Courts
of Justice instructed to inquire into the expeden
cy of providing by law, that when femme covert is
deserted by her husband she be authorized institute
and maintain actions at law in chancery, in her
name for services rendered. or for egacies
and requests accruing to her, after she has been de-
serted, as she could do if she sole
On Mr.. RoBERTToS's motion, the House adopted a
resolution requesting the Executive to lay its journal
before them.
On Mr. ARMSTRONG; notion leave given to
bring in bill to incorporate the town of Williams
port in Harrison county.
The bill changing the days Of the general elections
in this Commonwealth, came up.
Mr. RIDLEY opposed the amendment of MIR. Byrd,
suggested yesterday for changing the day of election
to the ith Thursday of May He showed the ncon-
vcnicnces TO which the people of the East might be
subjected by holding the elections in the month of
May. Mr. R. hoped that every amendment to the bill
would he voted down, until the House could take
question on the bill itself.
Mr.. BYRD replied 10 Mr. Ridley, and explained the
great Inconvenience to which the people ois country
are subjected BY holding the elections in pril Mr.
b. proceeded to reply to some remarks made Yesterday
by Mr. Gregory. He entered into argument TO show
that by holding the elections on one day, much unne-
ccssary and protractcd excitement IN the Common
wealth would be avoided; that the last county which
voted in district should not have the advantage over
other countless and that Judging by the results of the
election in his county, the number of voters who went
to the polls was reduced by not holding the election
on the court day of the county
Mr. GREGoRY replied to some of the remarks Of Mr..
Byrd after which, the question was taken on Mr. BIS
oh taI thnnt IttcI
Mr.. ALhERsoS proposed proviso, changing the
time of holding the county courts OF Fayette and Nj
choas, which was rejected.
Mr.. BYRD then proposed an amendment, viz: To
strike the st section Of the BILL and substitute the
following:
"The general election of Delegates for the several
countless cities towns and boroughs, and election dis
tricts entitled representation, and the election OF
Senator's for OF the four classes of Senatorial Dis
trcts East of the Blue Ridge in the room of those who
will be hereafter annually disp placed shall be held in
the several countless cities, towns and boroughs in that
part of the State East of the Blue Ridge, the re-
spectve court days in the month of April of every
year. and the regular general election of Representa-
tvcs from the portion of the State in the Con-
gress of the United States, shall also be held the
respective days in April of each year, in which,
by law, they directed to be held.
This proposition gave rise to some discussion
Messrs. MCoxSELL and CRuTcHrIELn opposed any
scheme for appointing different day of election for the
East and West Of the Blue Ridge.
Mr. BYgo supported the amendment. After some
further remarks from McssrS. NESABLE, RIDLEY and
GRrGoEY, the question was taken on striking out the
! ST section, and lost
On cnnrossing the BILL Mr. CoSS called for the ayes
and noes Mr. CHArMAS argued at length against max
inr change in the day of Election, and contended
that il was better to hold the election on one day
throughout the State, than change it back to the court
DAYS He sad that such the practice in the other
that it calculated to prevent excite
ment and carry out the ar will of the People, by doing
the same Justice to the different counties in Senatorial
or Congressional District. He asked whether the OBJ
iect of the bill to give one man greater influence
than another-to enable the voters of the towns to
purchase rechods in different counties, and by means
of railroads and other facilities to control the elections
Of several counties 1t will also enable one man who
holds lands in different countless to exercise more IN
.ucnce than one who holds the quantity of land
in county.
Mr.. CRrrcurrELD replied TO Mr.. CHAPMAN, and
that the change had been brought about by
the influence of political partyand that but for Wings
and Democrats the day would have been changed
He said if other States had adopted uniform day,
it was no reason why Virginia should-that she always
thought and acted for hersef-and had not initiated
their examples in many respects; such tor instance, as
their systems Of Internal improvements Banks, DC.
Mr. c. then proceeded TO answer the other arguments,
rs to the excitement which it contended the different
days would produce, and to the prepondcrance which
gave to the last county that voted He then stated
The advantages of holding the election the Court
DAYS.
Mr. SouruALL had hoped, that the discussion would
have been reserved for the final reading of the BILL butt
rs the debate had gone far he was willing to make
the present the test question. He then entered into an
argument in favor of the bill; and showed that one
day could be selected which would prove convenient
to all the voters in the Commonwealth Fix one day.
and the tobacco planter might be worming his plants
Take another day, and the fisherman in the Isle of
Wight might be engaged in fishing. MIR. 5. entered
into an extensive view Of the question.
Mr.. MCMILLAN addressed the House in favor of the
bill flc declared that he had been originally oppos
ed to the change of the day. and that he had seen no
thing in the operation of the law to change his convc-
ton He insisted upon returning TO the court days.
The argument was further continued by Messrs
CHAIRMAN, CRUTcHriELD and GREGoRY-and the en-
grossment Of the bill carried ayes p, noes Sc.
.qyes Mcssrs. Glme spcakcr,) soi'la Cooper Bayly
Wood, Cabc. M'Cue. Stuart ockrdgc, Mitchell Myers OF
Mcmillan Meredith askns, Kyle, Flood Tole Fox
Cochin Caldwell Broads Wilson, Wiiwort, Cratord, Roanc,
Marshall Payne Hale, Wade Of franklin smith of Gloucester
Erskne Butts Clark of H. Seymour, MeRae Hanlett Smith Of
nf W. Gregory, Reynolds Tayoe of L. r. lawson Beard
Ramey, arrison Lipscomb urgain CALDWELL smith Of W. NJ