Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-21
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES,
L,=..iD.. L, u.
TTtddy, Ft0' ~, lei5.
The fuloWinu reso,,,,iors - ere a1re,d r..


1881
Petitions and memorials presented and REFEREED
by HENRY, OF sundry citizens OF Clarke, praying for
The passage OF law authorizing the County Court TO
levy lax upon dogs within said county:-By Mr. Ca.
BELL, OF r. j. kinca'd, late Sheriff of Nelson county,
for law authorizing him TO collect The taxes &c, of
lS39-40, which have not been collected, and which
have been accounted for:-By Mr. l!upARp, of sundry
citizens OF buckingham for the passage OF law es-
ablisling inspection Of tobacco at Cudsve, in said
county:-By Mr. PAYNE, of citizens OF The town OF
Columbia, asking the change Of the plan of the town
and the bounds eof:--By Mr.. CCsTis, of citizens
OF Accomack, for the repeal of the laws relative TO
oysters such modification thereof as will authorize
their expectation beyond the State.
The engrossed bill TO revive and extend the act
passed in 1929, authorizing The raising by way of lot
terry, sum of money, for improving the Fauquer and
Alexandria Turnpike, being lis passage, Messrs.
SMITH Of F., GALLAHER, and POWELL of f. supported,
and Mr.. CRUTcnfiELD opposed il.
On motion OF Dir. YEEBY, it was laid upon the
table.
The engrossed bill changing The Spring terms of
the Circuit Superior Courts of the counties Of Caro-
line and Lancaster, read third time and passed
The SPEAKER laid before the House letter from
Thomas Hord, tesliiying to Judge SCOTS character
and standing.
Mr.. WATTS called up the bill converting into
stock the States loan TO the Portsmouth and Roanoke
Railroad Company. Being on its second reading,
Mr.. WATTS explained and defended the bill. lie con
tended that it would not nure the Treasury at all but
was ndspensaby necessary for the keeping up Of this
important improvement, in which the State is most
largely, two-fiths, interested. 1t would be wretched
policy 10 let THIS road now go down after SO much
money has been expended Mr.. Warts represented
the great benefits already brought about by this road
and the further good i, was destined TO produce If we
are to have system OF Internal improvements Hamp-
Ton Roads mus, be- their EASTERN boundary and should
be carefully guarded. Pass this BILL and Tie compsny
will De enabled TO get out of their difficulties The
Company owes not n dollar out Of the State md
scarcely any thing cut OF the immediate range of the
roadc! course, then, their creditors are loo much in
tereled TO seek the destruction of tie road merely to
few thousand dollars. To remove all difficulty
on this point MIR. WATTS would offer an ume nd rs nj
which he read This road has increased some 10 COO
in its receipts, while all the other railroads in the State
have fallen off in their receipts Mr. WATTS then Of
cred his anne ndment.
Mr.. BoLLISo challenged scrutiny into the concerns
of The Petersburg Railroad, developed by the re-
port of the Board Of Public Works Mr.. BOILING of
ered an amendment which places the Petersburg and
Winchester roads in the SAME situation the Ports
mouth road Mr.. BoLLISG gave some statistics of the
condition Of the Petersburg road and moved that the
bill and amendments be laid the table, and the
amendments printed.
MIR. WATTS hoped this bill, which was Of such vital
Importance would not lie defeated by thus laying it on
the table the pretence Of printing short amend.
neni, which any member could understand. Again, had
the people Of Petersburg and Winchester sent petitions
here this subject
MIR. BOILING maintained that the State should take
the whole two.fiftls of the stock in The Petersburg
road, as she had done with the Portsmouth road be-
fore she gave this further boon the Portsmouth road
The people Of Petersburg lad sent him here repre-
sent their Wishes and he was he did represent
them.
Nessrs. CowAx and DANIEL of Richmond Civ
hoped the bill would be laid on the liable for further
information. The bill has never been printed
Mr. TAYLOR was not surprised at the policy Of the
gentlemen of Petersburg and Richmond city to kill
this Road The House fully prepared 10 vote
upon this question, aud he hoped that the bill would
not be stifedby laying il upon the table. Nessrs. DAs
lei of K c., BoLLiSG and CowAS discaimed any wish
to defeat the bill by laying it on the table.
Mr.. CRurcnrIELp wished time TO look into the rat.
ter, in which The State deeply interested.
Mr. RASDoLPu. In consideration of the great inter
est held by the Commonwealth in these roads, he of.
fered proviso requiring that before the subscription
shall be made, there shall be executed TO the Board of
Public Works a mortgage Of the whole property, real
and personal of the Company, and upon all the nett
income of their tolls and receipts, &c, with the cond
ton, that the same shall lie sold when the company
shall fail to pay interest Of three per cent per annum
on the States Stock.
The bill then laid the table, and the a,nen nd
nens ordered 10 be printed Mir BoLLlSc pledged him.
self 10 call up the bill en- Monday next.
A bill concerning George Walker vas read second
time and rejected.
MIR. MEREDITH explained the justice of the bill
1t had passed the House last winter and would have
passed the Senate but for want of time.
Mr.. LEAKE of A. called up the resolution Of
fered by Mr.. Garne authorizing the Treasurer 10 re-
ceive Vrgnia's portion Of the Distribution Fund
Mr.. GAKsETT said that the minds of the House were
made up this question, and lie called the previous
question.
MIR. LEAKE Of A. hoped the previous question would
not be sustained, there in the hands OF mem
Der substitute which he wished 10 Offer
Mr.. YERBY called the ayes and nnes.
The House refused 10 sustain the Previous Question
by the vote Of ayes 33, noes 81.
Mr.. LEAKE OF G. then offered The following as a sub
sue:
Resored That the proceeds of the sales Of The pub
lie lands ought not TO be distributed among the States
because Congress have constitutional authority to
dispose Of all any Of the property Of the
Federal Government, for any other than for national
purposes for which only they were vested in that Co
vernment because such distribution substantially the
same as if the money distributed raised by Dor.
rowing or by taxing the people; because oil the
nues Of the Government Qncudng the proceeds OF the
sales OF the public lands have, of late, fallen short Of
its expenditures and the Government is greatly debt,
and il actually attempting 10 money by unjust,
uneona and oppressive tariff because such distribution
produces the necessity for increase of the public
burdens and is violation Of The trus created by the
deeds OF cession; because kind Of has
been offered for the Distribution OF the proceeds OF the
Gales Of that part of the public domain which has been
purchased by the Federal Government; and because
such distribution is injurious in ills tendencies, dmin.
ishing the power and influence of the Government in
its appropriate sphere and increasing both fearuly
where they ought not to be ieit:
Resolred, That this Legislature will not appoint any
agent to receive such portion of the proceeds of the
public lands as may be, or have been, appropriated 10
this State, under the late act of Congress.
Mr.. LEAKr of G. moved that the Resolution be be
laid on the table, the amendment printed, and made
the order OF the day for Friday next
Mr. T,1lArERRo read the following substitute, which
he intended 10 offer the proper time, and which he
wished to have printed:
Rcsolced, That this Legislature does not admit, but,
on the contrary denies the right Of the Congress of the
dispose of the Ren ~ Of .aes o s. bs nsb
lands or otherwise, gifts gratues to States, or to
either of them; that it expressly condemns every such
disposition of the revenue, and particularly the act Of
oc to apnropa,e the proceeds Of the sales of the pub
lie lands and to grant pre- emption rights and the con
duet of the Senator'S of this State in voting therefor
that, il i. had not been otherwise reprehensbie the
| f,c an n,nrh of the pubIlc revenue was gwen