Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-25
ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. "a,


amend the act entitled act to revise and amen,
an act Incorporating the town OF Ciarksville in IN
county of Mecklenburg.
MIR CARPENTER, according TO order, presented
bill to change the time Of holding the quarterly
terms OF the Courts Of the county OF Allegheny.
On motion OF MIR CARPESrER, ordered that leav,
be given TO Elisha Il. Williams and Jane Pitzer {,
withdraw their petition and remonstrance presented
to the General Assembly at their session IN 1885,
| Mr. CHAPMAN presented a remonstrance Of cit
zens OF the county Of kanawhs, in opposition 4
the establishment Of an additional ferry across Ell
river, its mouth.
MIR STEPHENSON, of Tyel presented petition
of the President OF the Middle Island turnpike com
pany, praying a subscription on behalf of the Stat,
| Tor two hiths of the stock Of said company.
| Bulls Passed
An enerossed bill authorizing the President and
Directors Of the Northwestern turnpike road TO ne.
gotiiie certain loans;
And bill changing the existing laws relative tc
bill providing for the enlargement OF the Luna
tic Hospitals Of tie Commonwealth was taken up
on motion Of Mr. CRurcHFIELp, and after some de-
bate, read second time and ordered TO be engross-
cd.
On motion of MIR LErBuRs the committee OF
Schools and Colleges was discharged from the con-
slderation OF resolutions and proceedings Of pub
lie meeting of citizens Of the county OF Loudoun at
Snickersvie, on the subject of the fund arisir .
from the sale of the Glebe Lands OF Shelburne pa
rIsh IN said county.
Mr. lRrsG, of Cumberland, presented a petition
OF Jas. Powell, of the county of Amherst, asking a
revision Of the law relative TO the nomination and
appointment of SheriffS.
A bill entitled an &C, concerning the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad company, with amendments pro.
posed by the Senate, was taken up, on motion OF
MIR WILLIAMS, and the second amendment being
amended, was, as amended, agreed to-Messrs.
Conn and SMITH, of Rockingham, opposed the in
crease of tolls along the line on Flour Salt Sc but
the House sustained the increase.
MIR SMITH, Of Culpeper, announced that the Sc
nate had passed the bill entitled IAN act reducing
into one the several acts prescribing the mode OF
ascertainlns the iaXable property within the Com
monw cath, and OF collecting the public revenue"
adherng 10 but three amendments.
On motion of MIR CRUTCHFIELD, the House pass.
cd the bill.
MIR LEE presented a petition Of Elisha Hall and
others, for the establishment of a separate election
in the county OF Harrison.
MIR VAUGHAN presented petition Of Maria Cas-
sell, free waman OF colour, asking permission 10
remain in the Commonwealth.
The bill authorising additional compensation for
the teaching OF poor children was recommtled.
Virginia aud .Nttc York
The Bill 10 prevent citizens OF New York from
carrying slaves out OF this Commonwealth and 10
prevent the escape OF persons charged with the
COMMISSION OF any crime, again came up for cons-
deration IN Committee OF the whole House, MIR Ro-
BERrsos in the Chair; when after some remarks
Mr. ScoTT moved that the Committee rise and re.
port the bill to the House, which motion was CARR.
ed-Ayes 40, noes 81
The Speaker having taken the Chair,
Mr. ScorT rose and said that he felt under no
little embarrassment IN rising tn address the House
on the subject of the measure which he held in his
hand, and nothing but imperious sense OF duty
would cons;ran hlm, under the circumstances in
which he was placed, 10 ITespass upon their atten.
ton for one moment whilst he delivered crude as
he knew they must &c, the conclusions TO which the
short reflections he had been able TO give 10 the
subject, had brought his mind. As a member OF the
committee from whom this bill emannted, dissent
ing, ne did, from IL altogether he could not con-
ss,enty with his ideas Of duty, SIT there and give
silent vote on The questioni-uhlSi as the repye-
sentative of portion OF the people Of the Common
wealth, having interest in the present absorbing
question not second 10 the interest of the PEOPLE
of any other portion Of the Stale, he also fe: bound
10 participate IN the discussion ofthe Questionable
an ardent friend To the union OF these States
and he was ardent and devoted friend TO the
rights of the several States. and il was because he
regarded and would cherish tie right of the indiEi-
Qua! States, and above all, the rights OF his own
State, tina; he entertained that abiding love for and
attachment TO, the union Of all the States; and be-
cause he was impressed deeply and thoroughly with
the conviction that the rights of the several States
and the happiness OF The citizens OF the several
States were staked upon the permanence of In,
union Of all the States end because he thought ne
saw ia this measure, the edge Of that weapon
which Il might be- vas fated 10 cleave this Onion IN
twan-that he felt an oppressive ard oyerpo Herinc
anxiety on the subject OF the question before them
There we're elements offeanul import around them:
the muiterngs Of the deep.toned thunder. turn
where they might, broke upon the ear not the less
fearful dat II seemed for the present to be pent up
and al distance. The question of slavery agitat.
ing now between the Northen,and Southern States
had grown 10 be question of the first importance to
themselves and 10 the country and there was ground
10 apprehend that that subject bore within itself
evils unspeakaJle 70 slI.-Tbe measure proDo,eJ
by tins bill was Objectionable 10 him on many ac-
countsi-independenty OF obj ectOns Of the most
lnsUperdbe character growing out Of its unronsii.
tutionality he opposed to 1t because of the NJ.
ture Of the remedy which Il proposed; because OF The
time and circumstances in which Il was presented
IL had been said tina. they stood p edged to action
on this subject that they stood pledged to the pre-
Sent course Of action, and the proceedings Of that
House, Of that Legislature, at It's last sessoB had
been appealed to IN confirmation Of this assertion:
for one, he took Il upoi himself 10 say, that he
stood there pledged TO 40 action, certainly 10
no action which, in his judgment, threatened
injury 10 their interests and their institutions
Whilst he entertained, upon the subject Of The
controversy between themselves and New York
opinions as decided as any gentleman on that
hOor-whiist he held an undOubted belief in
the ncouectness Of the positions assumed and insist
ss upon by the Governor Of New York-whi's, he
would be willing, on a proper occasion and in pro-
per ninner, 10 DO all that might be IN his rower 10
maintain their rights and 70 vindicae their cause he
was not willing, on that account, to he prCcpitated
now into measure which, TO sry the east Of h.
was Of mO3i doubtful prOprIety. IN a grave uues-
ton OF this kiud, where a controversy had arisen
between two Of the sister s a,es Of this Republic.
and ~ which the passions OF their ctz ms might he
100 tuly enlisted, 10 pause and reject we'll upon the
steps which u was proper 10 pursur lie thoug h;
they ought 10 pause hefe--tO p1ute now-tb,t the y
should reflect well upon this question-thst tbsy
should giyc lime for the people Of the Common.
wealth 70 rcheCt and consult upon the prOpriety Of
such measures as wI1Iom might dictate. Were
they prepared at that tine T. say that they should
express the feelings OF Yrgina IN regard 10 the
remedy 10 be pursued in this controvefsy7 Were
they preprsd 10 reject the will Of their Constituents
When had toe people Of Virginia consulted togetbe,
\ upon this question: and whence had they earned
/ the Will OF their constituents When where and bv
] whom had the absorbing questions arising f,om
tins controversy, been discussed before the beopie7
! They had just passed through on ogeiting ood al
sOrbing Presidential election 40 which Tho NIL.
attention Of the people had been directed in otbe,
ehabnels The seton taken n this matter Ist sin,e,
was Of nature 10 lead the good people Of the Com.
/ monwealth 10 expect peaceful termination OF IN,
question ~ issue. Prudence warned them TO bevya,
lest they might shaiter the far fabric Of their hber
ties, and PROSTATE those liberties IN the dust az,
he implored them to wait awhile, md to lei th
people consult on this question and prescribe tb
measure Of redress the most becoming them 10 pur
sue. Acting under thess, with other weighty rea
sons hc felt constrained 10 move the indefinite post
ponement Of the measure. M. Scot then in an bl
speech Of near two hours lGngth, attacked the con
suuilonaity, the practicsbty, efficiency and ge
neral character Of the measure. The measure m
commended, was ESSENTIALLY one Of an hostile cha
racJefi no matter what the garb might be IN which
IL a