Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-30
GENERAL ASSEMBLY or VIRGINIA.
IIOUNT UT DTTIEUN TS.
U1dnfsdGg. Jan. q.

UednfSd0y, Jan. 81.
On Monday MIR. CRrTcHriELD presented 4 petition
from citizens Of Louisa county, asking the passage Of
law declaring the North Anna River, between Dab
neys Mills and the Fork above Jordon $ Mills, law
ful fence.
A message was received from the Governor, enclos-
ing the following Correspondence:
EAEcurNE DEPARTMENT,
Ind,aaopoiis Jan IA, ISL. 5
To His Ercclicnry The Gorernor IF Firginia:
Sir: In compliance with the request of the General
Assembly, have the honor 10 forward copy OF their
"ont Resolution on the subject of amending the Con-
su,ion of the United States, and 10 request that the
same may be laid before the Legislature Of Virginia.
Very respectfully,
Your obcdcnt servant,
SAM. BIGGER.
Joint Resolution on the subject of amending the
Constitution OF the L. 5:
BRIT Resoired, bythc General assembly cfhe State Of
Indiana, That concur in the opinion expressed IN
the following Joint Resolution Of The State OF Vermont,
approved Oct 22d lSi0
Rcsored by Tie Senate and House Of Representatives,,
That the Senators from this State be- they here
by instructed, and Representatives Congress be,
and they hereby requested 10 use their best endca-
vors 10 procure such amendment 10 the Constitution
OF the L. S. will restrict the eligibility Of the Pre-.
sident of the L. 5. to n single term.
BE IL further Resoirtd, That the Governor he re-
quesed transmit copy of the foregoing resolutions
to each of our Senators and representatives in Con-
sress and the Governor Of each of the States with
the request that they lay they before their
pcctive Legislatures
On motion of Mr.. DoRMAS, the above communication
was laid upon the table.
On motion of Mr. ROBERTSON, leave granted to
withdraw the petitions OF the heirs of John Paul Jones,
presented Mt the present session OF the General Assem-
bly and of John Scabfook, pesenrd AT the last session.
Mr. BayLy from the Select Committee on the sub
ec of wild fowls and fisheries presented bull TO pre-
ven, Ike destruction Of wild fowls by non residents.
MIR May from the Committee for Courts OF Justice,
presented n bill authorizing the Executive TO procure a
suable book for the use Of Justices OF the Peace
also,
Bill concerning Ferries.
MIR. DoRuAS. from he Committee of Finance, pre-
scented reports upon the petition OF James MITCHELL OF
the county of Clarke, and upon the resolution OF IN
ouirinr into the expcdleEcy o equalzng the land tax
Mr. MAY submitted a substitute intended 10 be offer
ed by him as an amendment 10 the bill creating Cir
cult Superior Court Of Cancery, in the 2lst Judicial
Circuit and for other purposes, which. his motion,
was ordered to be printed
presented bill 10 authorize the Banks of this Common
wealth 10 issue notes Of less denomination than five
dollars for a limited period Of time. Read first time
and ordered TO be read second time.
Mr. May-Petiiion of members oi The bar and
others pravng for change of the Superior Court day
of Petersburg
On motion of Mr.. STEPHENSON Of Tyler, Ordered,
That the Report of the Committee of Privileges and
Elections upon the memorial of Elisha Melton, con
tesjnu the election Of Joseph Lpscomb, the delegate
returned from the county Of LOUISA be made the order
Of the day at one o'clock of each day. until the same
shall have been disposed Of.
On motion of Mr.. SMITH of Isle of Wight 1t was
Rcsoired, That when this House adjourns to-day, II
will adjourn until Tomorrow at j o'clock.
A bill concerning Alexander ii. III. Stuart, Francis
B. Strbbling Thomas G. Pcachy and Robert Saun-
ders was read third time and passed.
Various other bills were read first and second time
LOUISA CONTESTED ELECTION
This intcrmnabe case occupied the House from one
o'clock until its rising, and should 1t proceed nj rate
no fasler than il has heretofore done 1t bids lar TO De
topic of debate for the next week or ten Gays 10
come
The principal debate occurred in relation 10 the vote
of James Iach-It appeared by the deposition OF /:
B. Winston that the snid Hatch paid him the sum OF
SIS revenue tax and as ordinary keeper IN the county
Of Louisa for the year preceding the election and mat
he was then house keeper, and IS Of this time.
On the part of the Democratic portion OF the electors
of the county of Lousu, it urged by Nessrs BROWN
of Preston RADCLIFFE and WILLIAMS, that thefe was
no evidence of the voter being house keeper ana ihc
head of famly;-,hat there instances OF parties
taking out ordinary license and selling spirits oy
retail without being heads of familics;-that the ordi-
nary license not such payment OF part OF te re
venue as was contemplated by the Constitution, be-
ing assessment of property, but the payment Oh mo
ney for privilege, and that consequently the vote was
bad.
On behalf of Mr. Melton, the contesting candidate,
it was contended that the very fact Of man paying
his license regularly the keeper Of an ordinary was
of itself proof that lie the head OF family, mas
much as it was impossible for man to be "tavern-
keeper, cook, chambermod and oster,' and that the
payment of the license money was such payment OF
part Of the revenue would enite any man to vote
it appeared the debate that the practise varies IN
different quarters of the State respecting the right OF
oarties paving license to vote In places they
are permitted to vote, others the contrary practice
prevails Many anxious to have the decision OF
The House upon this point but the difference ofopinion
respecting the voters right to vote as house
and head of family prevented the decision from be-
ing taken as the judgment of the House in that matter
The vote was held be good the following members
voting: WI.
.9yes-Messrs. southall, (Speaker,) Carpenter WI