Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-07
THE LEGISLATURE

THE LEGISLATURE
= In the House of Delegates Yesterday bill rearranp
ing the 18TH 18th and both judicial circuits and tormns
circuit with the amendments thereto submitted
by Mr. LEWIS OF Harrison, was taken up on motion o
Mr. FERGUSON; thereupon, on motion Of Mr.. LEWIS, o
Harrison, he withdrew his amendment the bill wa:
then amended motion Of Mr. FERGUSON and ordered
10 be engrossed The bill was subsequently read third
time and passed, by the following ayes 81 noes IS
The SPEAKER announced that the House would then
proceed TO the execution of the joint order of the day
being the election of an Auditor of Public Accounts
Second Auditor, Treasurer Register of the Land Office
Secretary OF the Commonwealth and Librarian, Super
intendent and Storekeeper of the Penentiay for one
year from the expiration of the time for which those
offices are respectively filled.
Mr.. MAYO nominated for the office of First Auditor
the present able and faithful incumbent, JAMES E.
HEATH ESQ., who had discharged the duties Of the office
for thirty years Mr. M. said he did not intend to sub
nit any remarks on the occasion. rhe gentleman he
had named in connection with the office was two well
known far capacity, fidelity, &C., concerned,
TO render it necessary for him 10 do Mr. Heath, he
said was known to the people of the State, and
gentleman worthy of all respect In the discharge Ct
the dutes OF his office, he had no superior. He hoped
it might be the pleasure of the House to re-elect him
Mr. MARIE nominated GEORGE w. THOMPSON, ESQ
OF Wheeling, for the office. He pronounced Mr. T. to
os one OF the most eminent lawyers and ursts in West
ern Virginia, and gentleman every way qualified to
discharge the duties OF the office. He concluded by ex
pressing the hope that it might be the pleasure of the
House to elect him
long debate ensued on the relative merits of the
nominees in which it commended on the part of the
Wings that the eviction OF Mr. Heath would be ruth
less and wanton exercise OF party power that he had
for thirty years, amidst all the mutations OF party faith
fully and signaly served the State that he came fully
up to the requirements OF the Jeersonian standard be-
ing honest, faithful and true and that ii would be
impossible to procure the services OF better officer,
common justice demanded that he should be reelected
On the other hand, it contended that Mr.. Thomp-
son was every way qualified discharge the duties of
the Office that the Wing party had prescribed Demo-
cratic office-hoders, and that having the power they
intended to exercise it. Not single speaker on the
Democratic side of the House called in question MIR
Heaths ability fidelity devotion 10 the duties of his
Office.
In the course of the discussion Mr. SYME said he had
heard report rumour, relative certain opinions
said to have been held at time by the nominee OF the
Democratic party, which he thought it incumbent the
friends of that gentleman explain away if they could
He said charged Col. Thompson with having
expressed, the wine cup, in acknowledging
State his regret that the negroes had proved success
full in the Southampton instruction.
Mr.. FERGUSON called for the proof
Mr.. SYME said he not then at liberty furnish it
but it would be furnished before the should be
taken or the discussion ended Mr. S. said if this charge
should turn out be true, David Wmot might Justly be
regarded a saint as compared with Geo. w. Thompson
The friends OF Mr. Thompson expressed considerable
indignation at the rumour-declared it groundless and
pledged themselves to prove it to be so.
A motion was then made topostpone the execution of
the Joint order till to-day, pending which, Mr. SEGAR
said he knew nothing personally relative to the charge
alleged against MIR. Thompson, but that he had been
authorized by member of the Senate to say that he
the Senator) had read speech of Mr.. Thompsons, in
which that gentleman had said he reoced at the butch
cry OF the women and children in the SOUTHAMPTON in
surrecon.
Mr.. CLAIBORNE called for the name of the Senator
Mr. SEGAR said he had no objection to giving tit
was Col. PARROT
Mr.. FERgUsoN said there was not particle OF truth
in the charge He said that the speech alluded to had
been delivered before the occurrence OF the Souha mp
toninsursecton. That Mr.. Thompson had, when mere
boy, whilst attending college in Ohio, delivered
Fourth of July Grafton, in the Of which, in treat
ing of the subject Of slavery, he had pronounced it
moral and political evil. He learned that the Grafton
contained nothing Objectionable. 1t merely advanced
the views entertained by Mr.. Jefferson on the same
subject
Mr.. WHEAT, of Wheeling, said he had not intended
taking part in the iscussion, because he occupied de-
lcate relation towards one Of the candidates. He be-
lieved Mr. Heath to be faithful and competent officer
and should, therefore, for him, But when he
hoard the charge made against Mr.. Thompson, he
could not refrain from stating what he personally knew
about the matter.
In political controversy in which Col. Thompson
had become involved in Ohio county, years since
his opponent had published what proessed to be history
of his &c Of. T.'s> literary and political life Amongst
other things published, the Grafton, which au-
sion had been made This Grafton had been delivered
Belmont county, Ohio, in the year 1926 27-he
not certain the year. Slavery spoken Of in il
as being great moral, as well as political evil and in
illustrating the author related the horrible incidents at
tending instruction whilst he then boy, resided in
the city Of Richmond Mr. w said he felt it to be his
duty say that the reproduction of this Grafton had in
no wise affected COL Thompson's claims to the conf.
dsnce and respect of the people of the county OF Ohio
A motion was then made to adjourn, which being
agreed TO, the House adjourned.
The execution of the joint order will be proceeded
with this morning. From the disposition manifested
yesterday by the dominant party, have hesitation
in saying that the guillone OF party will shed Wing
blood to-day.
THE NATIONAL MoNuMENT.--We learn that Messrs.
VIM NJ. Fulton. of Richmond. VIM. A. Talbot OF
Lynchburg, and James Alexander, of Charlottesville,
have been appointed Committee by the Grand Divi-
sion OF the Sons OF Temperance in Virginia, to have
procured block OF marble granite, from the quar-
res OF the State. engraved with the seal of the Order
and presented to the National w ashngton Monument
Association.
FATHER MATHEW left Savannah Thursday last en-
route for Columbus, Montgomery, Mobile New Orleans
10 aud then ascend the Mississippi During his shor
soionrn in Savannah he administered the temperance
pledge 10 considerable than 1000 persons The
entire number who have taken the pledge from hin