Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-22
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
FRIDAr, February 10, isil.

hesotred, i hat the COMMITTEE Tor Courts OF Jus
I uce be instructed TO inquire into the expedency
IF amending the act passed February ls 1855 autho
l. zing the removal of causes from the equity size
the county courts of this commonw ealth to the cir
IS cult superior courts of law and chancery nfter.lh
: same shall have been pending therein for the spac
: OF one year, without final decree.
, On motion Ct Mr.. SMITH OF Northumberland
Resolrsd, That the Committee OF Roads and In
o ternal Navigation inquire into the expectancy O
disseminating for the present. the services of tn
Principal Engineer of this State, and Of such As
c sistants as by law he may authorized To employ a
the pubic eHpense-Ond n so into the expectancy o
: authorizing the Executive Of tins commonwealth Il
engage OF the public charge occasion may require
o the services of an Engineer or Engineers
e On motion of MIR. HIDEE,
Res ired, That the Committee Of Roads and In
j ternal Navigation inquire into the expediency O
d incorporating n company TO construct a MacAda
: m7ed road from the Railroad Depot to Gordons
vile in the county of Orange.
Petitions.
q Mr.. WILKINSON presented petition of the citizen
. OF the county of Grayson, asking an appropriation
, oil money TO construct a road through said county
) Mr.. IoLER-Petltion Of citizens of the town o
J Lynchburs, praying for the incorporation OF III,
Il Lynchburg Marine and Fire Insurance Company
= Mr., Byrd, according to order, presented a bill to
amend the act entitled AL act to revive and a.
mend an act Incorporating the town of ClarksvilS
IN the county OF Mecklenburs-which. on motion
oil Mr.. GooDE, was taken up read the first and Sc.
t cond time, and recommiIIed.
; Mr. LEIBURS. from the Committee on AsricuI-
ture and Manufactures, presented bill TO incorpo.
rate the Richmond and James River Mining Com.
pany, and for o:her purposes; and
Oil 10 revive and amend the act to incorporate
The Branch Coal Mining Company IN the county OF
Powhatan.
Mr.. ERsKISE, according to order, presented a
NIL more etiectually TO prevent free negroes and
muaitoes from coming into the State;
hnd from the Committee on Trade and the Me
ehanic Arts, bill giving to mechanics and others,
a hen upon work done by them and materials fur
nshed IN erecting houses and other buildings
NoiiOi0Gy Case.
On motion OF Mr.. TAILoE Of King George, the
report OF the Committee of Privileges and Elections
upon the memorial of sundry citizens Of the county
| Of Nottoway, complaining Of the undue return Of
George Fitzgerald, the Delegate returned TO repre-
sent the said county in the present House Of Dele
gates, was taken UP and read.
MIR. RATcLIFFE moved to amend the first resoIu-
ton by substituting for il the following: "Thatth
suing member from the said county OF Nolloway,
Is entitled TO n seat in the present House Of Dele
gates, ne not having received any legal notice that
me same would be contested, and having the She.
rih $ ceruhcate OF election It is not competent, for
The House TO look behind said certiicate."
| Mr.. RATcLIFFE contended that in the absence of
the required noce, the House had no power in this
matter; that the certificate OF the Sheriff was prind
Jaeis evidence OF the members right TO his seat,
ano IN the absesce OF the notice that was required
20 De gwen, was conclusive evidence Of that right
By the poll books II would be seen that III, present
member Mr.. Fitzgerald, was the legal member; he
and his opponent stood even on the poll and the
Sherih gave the casting vote TO Mr.. Fitzgerald. IL
was true that three names had afterwards heen
struck from the poll OF the sitting member-but the
Sheriff had no such supervisory power-a power
not more dangerous than contrary TO law He
trusted that the House would adopt his amend
menf.
Mr.. ScoTT supported the resolution Of the Com
mlttee. he did not suppose that there were many
IN that House, who could seriously question the
right OF that House to enquire the right of every
member claiming seat upon their floor. This was
an absolute inherent right, which no act Of Sheriff
or any other power could annul. a Sheriff might
take II into has head to give n return to man who
was not even a candidate, and who had no: received
single voIe,-and could 1t be supposed that that
House had not right TO enquire into the matter
and TO eject such member2 Mr.. Scott confined his
observations to this part Of the resolution stating
that when the House had decided upon their own
power, he would reply to the other reasons
Before The question was taken upon the suhsti.
tute, the House proceeded to the joint order Of the
day, being for the
Election Of Superintendent 81 Hs Peniieafiarv In
sfifuiion
| Mr.. Cox thereupon nominated Charles S. Nor.
gan, E'q, the present incumbent, and the Senate
having been informed OF the same, and no person
having been added TO the nomination IN that body
the vote was taken and resulted
For Charles ). Morgan, lls. For Robert Thomp-
son, Mcssfs. Stuart and Srother2
JOINT vote with The Senate, Morgan IA; scatter
ING 2-and Charles S. Morgan was declared duly
elected Superintendent Of the Penitentiarv for one
year from the expiration Of his present tern.
Election Of Store Keeper Of PenitenifaTu.
The House proceeded IN like manner, by Joint
vote with the Senate, to the election Of General
tuition.
Mr.. Cox nominated James G.. Watson, the ore
sent incumbent. tie was one Of those " no voted
for mr. wight being retained in Office and he did so
because he believed that he had properly conducted
the Lttairs OF the lnstitutOn-nt that time Mr.
Layne was elected, and subsequently MIR Watson
As Chairman Of the Penitentary Committee il had
been his duty TO make himself acquainted with the
mano cement Of the eilaifs Of this Institution, and
he was perfectly satisfied that during the time tbe
present incumbent had been IN Office, he had dis
charged his duties with proptety fidelity and abili.
", and he should give him his support fIe then
went into sundry statements to prove that he had
geen an efficient officer and deserved the support Of
Mr. McRsE nominated Mr.. WIeur. ne n n,op.r
person 10 h the Office, and he thought If the House
would calmly and dispass onately weigh the a1ali.
heauOns OF The two individuals whose names were
no" before them, they could not hesitate one
moment m giving the Office 10 Mr. WIGHT
| There could be no doubt Of 10, espabiiitv
10 discharge the duties Of the Office and IN
proof Of this fact he referred TO the a,te,iog
testimonial which be held IN his hand. stoned
oy tnc hrst merchants IN this city. Nj wight
the trends OF the present Administration. for No
other fault but differing with them in political opin.
oni and he thought that bare Justice required that
they should now re-instate him. II would he ,seoi.
ected, too, by the House, that in answer 10 certain
lnteuogatores add essed by them 10 the Board of
Directors statement specifying many cases Of in.
competency on the pnd Of TIE Agent had been re-
ccivcd, The principal Of which wac th % that officer
nod Tailed 10 make his quarterly settlements within
The time prescribed by law. Al the same time.
letef had been received by The Agent the style acd
temper Of which, 20 say the least oft vas extreme.
I " indclcoie, calling upon the House 10 appoint a
commute TO investigate such charges, apd stating
lh'' they were found 10 be correct he did not ask
he I0use 10 re-elect him. In conformity with ms
/ Iequesi, special committee had been APPOINTED
the charges made by the Board Of Directors had
oocn investigated, and had been found 10 be true
.ne committee coming 70 the conclusion that he was
ugo,y incompetent 20 discharge the dulles Of his
Once lie trusted that the House would confer the
/ appointment upon Mr. Wight
mr GREGORY had been very GLAD 10 besrtbs cen.
ueman rom Chesterfield say that tbi, was no, ~ he
msoe party question, and was quite wiling 10
ION issue with him upon this head and sbo,y liz,
eoge not be made party question. He had
Vo'ed l0f men OF all parties, hrs only inquiry HAVING
| been, y be capabel is he hones8 re IA bs.5
appointed by the Chair one Of The COMMUNE ~ 20
ves,igale the charges brought against the A0ent.
and N The course Of that Investigation, had ,sls6sd