Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1843-01-19

o. The following petition to the Legislature Of Viz
s'n'a has been extensively circulated through the
and has large number ei signatures, hcrpnr that bod,
to pass law to make it. felony IN trustee and commits
sion merchant appropriate hsow use money he may
have o other Prsons This Is growing evil aud ought
~ be curaiied, aud we hope the Legislature will take
some step in regard to it:
To he Hon. Members Of The Senate and Hons, Of D,l,
gates n the Commonwealth Of dginia
The undersigned residents ui the town of vncLhury
and the adjacent counties, respectfully solicit the ntten
nn OF the Legislature TO The npertrciios which exist
IN our present laws. IN reference 10 the subject of rms
tees and Commission Merchants These Two classes nj,
agents who are otientmes. entrusted with the cusly
and management OF property, To arre amount in v,ue
aud OF whom security, Tor the faithful Discharge of
their duties is required, not unlrequcuty m, st rnssly
abuse the confidence and trust rep,sed IN them With
the knowledge That under existing laws. neglect of
their duty, abuse OF their powers and instrumentation
of property money confcd 10 them are only civil
injuries. and that for them they cannot be held amena
BILE to criminal prosecution they are therein emped
the commission ol acts OF injustice aud fraud which in
morals ana conscience are mol more yenal. than many
against ""'cn "'e laws denounce exemplary penalties,
Trustees, with view 10 convenience. aro often s,lec
ted from among those who are unable TO olive secnri,y
should 1t he required Tor the performance cf their d
lies ana III such cases. the integrity of character ON
winch reliance was placed, the only guaranty for the
faithful discharge oil those DUTIES oentimes lost and
destroyed by the temptations which they exposed
Did they know, that any maeasance committed by
them, would be punished. rs hirh crime or miseeme,
nor, they would be restrained from its commission
whereas the IMMUNITY With which such offences may
now be committed. only serves temptation 10 enllce
the innocent 10 commit acts Of guilt and to protect the
guilty in their commission.
II takes the property of B and applies it 10 his
own use. with the intention of deprvng of it, is
guilty ut Larceny and is punished accordingly But
If Is in the confidence that will not dcraud him. pa-
ces the property in As custody, for certain purposes
aud appropatcs II or lis proceeds To his own use ,ri
The knociedge that he cannot supply the dcticency he
is guilty. ~ The eye q The Lar. only of a evil injury
and is 10 farther amenable Tor the than for any other
debt that may be contracted by him 1t is submitted 10
the Legislature, that some enactmen,s making the mis-
appropriation OF trust fund by trustee felony or
high msdemeanor, punishable with appropriate penal
ties, would tend greatly 10 benefit the community, by
diminishing the number OF those frauds which are OF
too common occurrences.
1t asked that the Legislature will hcstow their at
ten, ION the subject OF Commission Merchants also
and by such regulations, may be deemed wise and
prudent threw some restraints around them likewise
With no dcsion to "ast npatatois upon any Commits
sion Merchant here or elsewhere, II is suggested. thai
any appropriations by then 10 their purposes OF The
produce or property consioh ed To their care IN case
rl0e adolces hare been .,0e 10 the consign"' ant
which would constitute breach IL risl, II COMMITTED
by trustee, should be placed the ne ioo'ng VIII
malieasancc by trustee and punished b, similar pen
allies.
Your petit invite the attention Of the o'sla
ure TO the above subjects, and solicit the passage
such laws as may more e1eetuay protect the lights
OF the community against the Wrongs which have been
suffered by OF the absence OF salulary enactmcns
IN reference TO thom. And your petitioners will ever
pray, &c.