Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-04
LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY.

23d inst, indefinitely posponed-ayes rs, noes a.
Mr. PERRow offered a resolution to authorize the
James River and Kauawka Company to declare divi-
dends out Of its earnings after making the Tide
| water, South-sde and Rvanna connections, and after
paying interest its guaranteed bonds private stock
holders sharing par pdssu with the State as the holder
OF stock or loan sto the Company After some debate
in which Messrs LAYNE, FERGUSON and PENDLEToN OPP
posed the resolution, the ground that the State had
| not abandoned the policy OF continuing the Canal-it
was laid on the table.
Mr. FERGUSON from select committee, made a re-
port concerning their investigation into certain charges
against the Attorney General. The committee con-
cude their report by declaring "hat they have found
nothing the of the whole investigation to cast
the slightest mputaon upon the official conduct of the
Attorney General but, the contrary his conduct on
all occasions, public officer, meets with their entire
appreciation. And the committee ask to be discharged
from further consideration OF the subject to which the
House agreed, and also to the report itself
A lew small bills were passed, and many were read
the second time and ordered to be engrossed amongst
these was bill authorizing State subscription of three
hiths to the stock OF the Petersburg and Lynchbug Rail-
road Company after being amended, motion OF Mr.
SYNE with proyiso Tor securing the heavy rail on the
road, and the width guage of track that road,
and on the Richmond and Danvie and the Virginia
and Tennessee Railroads.
WORKS OF EDGAR A. PoE with notices Of his life
and genius by N. P. WILLIS, J. R. LOWELL and r. W.
GRIswoLD; in two Volumes New York: J. S. Redtield
1850.
Virginia readers, especially, will greet these Volumes
with an eager desire to peruse and possess them They
contain most of the prose and poetcal writings OF Mr.
Poe, and present full portraure Of his erratc genius
The editors however, have, think, failed to impart
LEGATION. They do not relate the circumstances under
which Poe produced his tales, essays and poems
even told how or where they were originally
published. We do not find, upon glancing through the
leaves, that Mr. Poes connexion with the Southern Lii
terary Messenger is minated II this omission is
attributable the editors jealousy OF everything South
ern, they have certainly manifested very unworthy
and dscredable spirit Still, the book does contain
Poes best productions, it will well repay the price
which it is sold.
1t maybe found the bookstore OF Mr. J. w. RAN
DoLPH
ELECTION OF CITY OFFICERS BY THE PROFILE &c
We understand that petition has been extensively cir
eulated in the city, during the past week, asking the
Legislature to amend the charter of the city OF Rich
mond to invest the people with the power to elect
their own public officers The petition likewise asks
the Legislature to establish precinct elections in each Of
the three wards Of the city,
As to the first proposition, have only to remark
that if majority the voters of the city shall sign the
petition no good reason be assigned why the Lee
gslaure should not grant the prayer OF the petitioners
The people OF Richmond, presume it will be readily
conceded are FULLY as competent to manage their own
municipal affairs, those ofany other city liz the
Unon AS general principle, we opposed to all in
teposltion between the people and the public officer The
latter derives his power FROM and should be held directly
amenabe to the people This take to be sound Re-
publican doctrine, which Democratic friends of all
| others, will be the last to gansay.
As to the second proposition embra ced in the petition
we may be permitted to remark that it meets with our
hearty concurrence There cannot exist two opinions
as to the proprety Of establishing precinc; elections
each ward. The experience dervable from the contes
last spring, abundany illustrates the impolcy of con
filming the election for members Of the General AS
sembly and for Congress- one precinct in the city
With our present population, not more than two-third
ofthe voters would be able in spirited contest reac
the polls in one day, and those who might be fortunate
enough do So would have encounter serious sacri
fees OF both time and comfort These would prov
fruitful sources Of vexation-the tmid and luke warn
would urge them reasons for not dscharging thei
duty their country, if their party and the age
and the inhrm might with great propnety allege Their
being sufficiently weighty to prevent their attendanc
| at the polls
Whilst petitioning the Legislature in relation t.
lamentations OF the charter, would suggest to host
having charge OF subject the proprety asking to
extension OF the corporate limits of the city, as well as
the division of Monroe ward so to form another and
an independent ward of that already unwieldy and
| rapidly increasing one
Ii precedents were wanting in support OF granting TIN
prayer OF the petitioners the subjects above alluded
to- we might point to the example Of nearly if not quit
all the Northern cities. We might come nearer home
and point the city OF Wheeling in this State, wher
the people enjoy the privilege of voting directly for thu
Mayor not for OF her officers, Wheeling, too, though
a much smaller city than Richmond, has been parti
toned off into five wards in each one of which an cleo
| ton precinct has been established.
If, then, we repeat, the people of Richmond--or
majority of them-shall ask permission of the Legs
lature to be permitted 10 vote directly for their owl
principal officers that body cannot in Justice refuse tt
grant the request,
TExAs.-The Government OF Texas seems 10 be in
possession of information going 10 prove that Judge
Baird has betrayed the interests eonhded TO him in hi:
mission to Santa Fe. A bill has passed the lower
house ofthe Legislature Withholding his salary and it
reported that articles OF impeachment will be brought
| forward against him
| The notorious Rec DR.. Vest is ecturing against
| lnfdehty in Savannah, Ga. The Georgian ofthe 18th
contains an editorial notice of the Reverend lecturers
intention to repeat "by special request" his course of
lectures in that city, the following week Does it not
become the duty OF the press othe country to unmask
mposters Ike the pseudo Rev. Dr. West9
| FuGITIvEs FROM JUsTIoE.--We learn from the Pc
tersburg papers that four prisoners confined in the Jail of
that town, escaped hereom on The night of the 9th
instant. Wade, the kidnapper, is among the missing
The sergeant ohe town advertses the fugtves one of
whom, named Landon, had been sentenced to five
| Years lmprisonmen in the Stata Panitantinr,