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

The Auditor Report was, OIL motion oil Mr.. COLES,
ordered To be printed.
On motion Of Mr.. WILEY,
Rcsoired That the Committee for Courts Of Justice
be instructed 10 inquire into the expedcncy of amend
ing the law in relation to general elections so as to fix
by law Inc hour at which the polls taken for the cleo
ton OF Senators as well as Delegates to the General
Asse nby shall be opened at the several houses
at the several places designated by law for holding Sc
parae elections in the several counties of this Common
wealth.
On motion of MIR. RAMEY, the Committee of PROPOSE
tons and Grievances discharged from the consi.
deraon of bill TO authorize the construction of Fire
Engine House on the Southeast corner of the Capitol
Square-and from the petition of Leander Woodson;
which bill and petition were, his motion, ordered 10
he referred 10 the Committee on the pavement Of the
Public Square.
motion made by MIR. WoRruiyeroy, that $50
copies of the memorial of Joseph Segar be printed:
thereupon on motion of Mr. STEPHENSON of TYLER the
said motion was laid upon the table.
Mr.. RAMEY, from the Committee Of Propositions and
Grievances, presented bill more efectuay to prevent
the escape of runaway slaves beyond the limits of the
State; and
bill to establish the town of Jackson, in the county
of Botetourt.
MIR. WonrHIxoroS, from the Committee for Courts of
Justice reported, with amendments bill 10 authorize
the commercial agents of the w. States in foreign
tries and commissioners to be appointed in the several
States to take dispositions and the acknowledgment of
deeds TO other writings
And presented q OIL concerning loWH oI
bill concerning the ferry of VIM. 5. Floyd;
And bill concerning free negroes and mnattoes.
MIR. RAMEY presented memorial of sundry free
holders and house keepers of Sheburn parrish in the
county of Loudoun on the subject Of the proceeds of
the sale of the Glebe lands Of said parish.
PETITIONS.
Mr. CHAPMAH-Petition Of Augustus Rufiner and
Others praying the passage of an act to authorize the
said Runer 10 establish ferry across Elk river in the
county of Kanawha.
Mr. DISQUALIFICATION of Rcbecca II. Ritter, praying
to be divorced from her husband.
Mr. STEPHENSON of Decentralization OF citizens
of the county of Jefferson, asking for call of Con
vention to amend the State Constitution.
Mr. DEMONSTRATION of members of the Graham
Philanthiopc Society of Washington College, asking
for act Of incorporation
On molten of Mr.. STEPHENSON, of Tyler, the report
Of the Committee of Privileges and Elections upon the
memorial Of John W. Haskins, complaining of the I'M
due election of Thomas II. Flood and of james Jones,
complaining of the undue election Of George W. Kyle,
the Delegates returned from the county of Bucking
ham, taken up and made the order of the day for
Thursday next
bill changing the existing laws relative TO Lunatic
Asyums as heretofore amended was taken up, mo-
ton of Mr. CRuTcHrlgLD, and being further amended
motion Of Mr.. FuLroS, was amended, ordered to
be read third time.
Bill giving further time 10 the Mechanical Bene-
VIOLENT Society Of Norfolk Borough to draw their lot,e
~, was taken up, on motion of MIR. DoRMAS, and re-
jected, MIR. TAYLOR advocating its passage-Ayes 81
noes 93.
The Senate announced that they had passed bills ell
titled an act concerning the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road company; an act authorizing the Portsmouth and
Roanoke railroad company 10 dispose of moiety OF
their road South of Gary's-and of Weldon Bridge,
with amendments.
PENITENTIARY AGENT.
MIR. CoLEMAS said he wished to submit one or two
remarks explanatory in and vindcation of the course
which a of duty and justice alike prompted him
TO pursue on the present OCCASION There was no IN
dvdua in that House who possessed stronger pollti-
cal predictions than himself and none would be found
ready all suitable and proper occasions 10 IN
dictate his preference by his vote. Whenever he should
be called on TO fill vacancy, existing in any politi-
cal Office he would always be found voting in favor
Of the individual who was member of the political
party with which il had been his pride and plea
sure 10 cooperate And he was free to admit, that
were he called on to make an original appointment
TO office which strictly and purely MINIS
teral in its character and dutes between political
friend opponent cteriS paribus he should not he
state decide favor of his friend But he utterly
abhorred and detesed every thing which savored III the
slightest degree of political prescription. The Wing
party in body had stood forth, man, and raised
It's voice against the ruthless and indscrminae pro-
scription which characterized the Administration oil
Gen Jackson And now that the sceptre has departed
from Judah and held and swayed by them, he hoped
their conduct would always be characterized by a
due degree of prudence, moderation and orbearance,
and for those principles which they 50 high
~ auded, when disrsgarded and tramped under foot
by their political opponents. He would invoke the
Wigs of the House pause and reflect, before they
polluted their hands by the prescription Of Mr.. Wat
SON That office was too small game for them to stoop
to- even they disposed to countenance and sanction
that corrupt and corrupng principle independence Of
thought and action especially in political matters, was
the chief ave- the leading characteristic of freeman.
Ile for one would strike MIR. Watson down, because
he had dared differ with him in political sentiment;
and thus differing had ventured to exercise the highest
prcrogavc Of freeman by gong to the polls ana vo-
ting for Mr. Van Buren,. He said be admired his lnde-
pendence Whenever il became his duty tn fill an office
Of this character the only nterrogaores which he had
PROFOUND relative to the incumbent were: Is he COM
peten, Has lie discharged the duties of his office in
faithful, efficient, and trustworthy manner Did the
interest Of the State require his removal: IT. upon
examination, he found he had been true to the inte-
rests of the Commonwealth, and no just grounds OF
complaint existed against him, he would always
give him his vote. Mr.. Watson had discharged the
duties of his office in efficient and faithful manner
One thing was perfectly obvious-indeed, he could as
sumo il as postulne, that agent could sell unless
the articles were manufactured and deposited in his
hands What, he inquired, had been the operations
under the administration Of Mr.. W. during the fifteen
months preceding the first day of January last The
BOARD of Directors Informed them, that the raw mate
rails had been procured by hn upon better terms lhah
at any previous period since the existence OF the lns
tuition II would be seem By reference Ia his last Annual
Report to the General Assembly, that ne received
MI Mersbandise. &C., to the amount of 1862 81
Do from the Isl October, lS40
to 1st January, 1871, o,44o co
Making a total of S46,l33 IS
The amount sold the last fiscal year, as
per report, o9'ooo 10
DO do from lst October, lS4O,
to lst Jan. 1871, ll,eoo 10
Making aggregate OF sales :,
to the amount OF - 4c,'oo w
Thereby leaving balance in favor of
sales of Sa'ool -
sold all the articles which had been delivered him du
ring the Is months preceding the lst day of January
1871 and reduced his original stock S26ol % What
more would they require Of him For these reasons,
he sbould vote for Mr. Watson lie should take no no.
tice Of the bomb which thrown into the House by
the Select Committee on yesterday just on the eye OF
tho election lie relied exclusively upon the docu,
81, and fia