Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-23

added 10 tie domination in that body the vote was
taken and resulted:
| For ChGs, S. Morgan-115.
For R0Gf. Thompson Nlessrs Stuart and STROLLER
l-2.
Joint vote with the Senate, Morgan 144; scattering
l2-and Charles s. Morgan declared duly elected
Superintendent of the Penitenary for year from
the expiration Of his present term.
ELECTION OF STORE KEEPER OF PENITENTIARY.
The House proceeded in like manner, by joint vote
with the Senate, the election of General Agent and
Store Keeper of the Pententiary Institution.
| Mr. Cox nominated James G. Watson, the present
| incumbent. lie was one of those who voted for Mr..
Wight being retained in Office and he did so because
he believed that he had properly conducted the affairs
of the Instuton-at that time Mr. layne was elected,
and subsequently Mr.. Watson As Chairman of the
Penitentiary Committee it had been his duty TO make
himself acquainted with the management OF the affairs
Of this Institution and he perfectly satisfied that
during the time the present incumbent had been IN o.
fee he had discharged his duties with proPrety, hdel
" and ability and he should give him his support He
then went into sundry to prove that he mad
been an efficient officer and deserved the support of the
House.
Mr. McRAE nominated Mr.. Wight, proper per-
son to fill the office and he thought if the House would
calmly and dspassonutely weigh the qualifications oil
the two individuals whose names were now before tem'
they could not hesitate moment IN giving the
office to Mr. Wight There could be no doubt of
his capabity 10 discharge the duties of the office,
aud in proof of this fact, he referred TO the Halter
ing testimonial which he held in his hand, signed
BY the first merchants in this city Mr. wight had
been turned out Of this very situation oy ,e
of the present Administration, for no other fault
but differing with them in political opinion; ana
he thought that bare justice required that they should
now reinstute him. 1t would be recoiected, 100,
by the House, that in answer To certain nerrsgato.
res addressed by them TO the Board OF Directors,
statement specifying many of incompetency OH
the part Of the Agent, had been received the Princl-
pal of which was, that that officer had failed TO make
his quarterly settlements within the time prescribed by
A. ~ lafa had Mon yPd ~
the Agent, TIE style and temper of which, TO say the
least of il, extremely ndecate, calling upon the
House to appoint committee to investigate such
charges, and stating that if they were found to be
rect he did ask the House TO re-elect him. In
conformity with his request, special committee had
been apponted-the charges made by the Board of Di-
rectors had been investigated, and had been found TO
be true-hc committee coming to the conclusion tai
he utterly incompetent 10 discharge the duties OIL
his office. lie trusted that the House would confer
the appointment upon Mr. Wight.
Mr. GREGORY had been very glad to hear the gentle
man from Chesterfield say that this not TO be made
party question: and was quite wiling 10 JOIN issue
with him upon this head, and show that It could not
be made party question. He had voted for men OF all
parties his only inquiry having been, is ne capable
he honest' lie had been appointed by the Char one
Of the Committee TO investigate the charges Drought
against the Agent, and in the Of that inyesiSa-
ton, had satisfied himself entirely and fully. lie was
willing to believe Mr. Watson honest but he also be-
: eyed him We utterly incompetent TO discharge Tue
duties of his Office and he warned his friends III thal
House against attempting to prove him capable.-oI
they proved him capable he should then prove hun DIS
. honest. Mr.. Gregory then went into many details 10
= prove his apaclly and declared his belief that If ne
were brought the bar of the House. and examined Tor
twenty minutes there was not a i'll the House who
would vote for him He should vote for Mr.. Wight, as
the returns before the House would show that he had
paid more money into the Treasury during his year OF
office than MIR. Watson had paid IN hs two years and
. a half
= Mr. WILLIAMS defended Mr. Watson, and comment
ed severely upon Tie conduct Of the President OF the
" Board of Drectors-e contended that was proved
!, that the present incumbent had purchased his raw ma
teriu at cheaper rate than any other agent and he
II had sold more goods and paid more money into the
II Treasury than any other agent-He was member
of the committee appointed TO investigate the charges
Il made against the agent, and not concurins IN the
a conclusions To which that committee had come, he
Il had drawn up counter report which he handed III
He contended that Wigh had never paid farthing
Il the Treasury the result OF his own exerons,
J., the money paid by him lie had received from his
predecessors while Watson had paid upwards Of SlI,-
. 600.
Mr.. DoRuAS as chairman of the committee appointed
4 TO investigate the charges brought against Watson,
had looked into the facts Of the case and believed HIM
to be utterly incompetent TO discharge the duties oil
his office. L. mistake 10 say that he had paid
large sum of money the Treasury; AT least TO claim
any credit for him for that act for dcductng the sum
he had received from his predecessors he found that he
had enriched the Treasury in three years to the extent
Of Sg4 57-Wight had rendered the Penentiary more
profitable than any other man before or since.
Mr. LaSGHoRSE thought that all the charges brought
apains, Watson, only proved that he sometimes made
: mistakes, which the case with all mankind. lie
: called upon his Wing friends to remember that they
had from every stump, and in every courtyard, de-
nounced the ruthless prescription of their opponents,
and he called upon them TO show their magnanimity
upon the present OCCASION and not consent to the
moyal of man. because he differed from them in politl
cal opinion.
NJ. IT,. mid ycln n tha HpuSa
had discovered another splendid nancicr and if they
the present rate equally clear that these
extraordinary geniuses, with their paper balances in
their favor, would the State-Thcre not men,
Der in that House who dare rise in his place and say
that Mr. Wight had been removed for negligence
elect of any kind he had faithfully discharged his duty,
and his only crime had been that he had dared to differ
in opinion with the then majority of that House; and
did members suppose that he to be bamboozed
into participation in that act of gross injustice by the
cuckoo cry Of Wing magnannity, love of Justice and
II other such phrases; He most certainly should do his
" best repair the wrong then committed was
the INSTRUMENT of the then House for perpetrating
6 the wrong; for although he not then elected, il
would be recollec,ed that he with Mr.. Laync,
candidate that proceeding TO the ballot his name
. was withdrawn. MIR. Layne was elected and shortly
. afterwards they found Messrs Watson and Layne
partners; dividing the spois between them. His "mag
!. nanimty" would not allow him TO have honest
and faithful officer turned out of Office, and when he
had the power to neglect to repair the original wrong
He had been guilty of "Whig magnanmity once Dur
ing the present session, bu, he promised do
the like again-fie not going 10 allow his political
. opponents to run away with all the pudding, while
they were laughing in their sleeves at the simplicity of
Wing magnanlmiy-Ile had desire TO retain the
entire monopoly of this am;able quality, much less
he disposed to sanction act Of gross injustice and
make an excellent officer and worthy political friend
the victim of this spurious Southern chvary. He
II conended that Watson had been proved 10 be ncapa
BILE of conducting the affairs Of the nsttron and that
. Wight had proved his thorough competency and
= that, therefore, he should vote for him.
= Mr. TrysTALL was interrupted by message from
the Senate, that that body had concluded, with
sent of the House, &c postpone the execution of the
Joint order until tomorrow, i'll which the House con-
cured and an adjournment took place.
:. Saturday, Feb. 90.
communication received from w. II. Brown,
Oh rtnior, nnnis HALE n-h .