Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-05-18

The President; after few remarks declared the Conven
! On a,nurnrd sine die. T. p. SCOTT, President
;; , n kTioHT, Jsn Secretaries.
| DA&IEL DopsoS, )
70 Me Editors ofihe Enquirer
\ Understanding that sonc difference Of opinion exists
the ownership n the Public Square in the city Of Richmond
Oh which he capitol and other public buildings are erected
The publication of the Of Assembly, under which IN
right and title of the Commonwealth accrued will doubles
be interesting, a, his ir 10 large number OF your conn
ny subscribers From this acr il will be seen that th
Commonwealth holds tH and absolute dominion over I'M
in; and ;at whenever the representatives vi the people
he State or the people themselves by direct vote upon ht
question: shall determine the seat Of government
from tchnonj the public square, and the buildings there
on w" not revert 10 the original owners but oa Tie contra
rr, e Common wealth sell the al pleasure, and
apply The prncecls Of such sale the erecting Df buildings
elsewhere herewith send you the 1t Is ound in the
lIh 80 Heninas Statues at Large, commencing On The
-3Is page, chap. XXI. 4 DEI-EGATE
An Act for the Remorai of The Sea. of G.n-Rment
l. WHEREAS numbers u the inhabitants of ibis Com
non~enh must frequently and Of necessity resort 10 the
seat OF government where general assemblies convened
superior held and the governor and council usually
ransact the executive business Of government and The rqua
rights of u the said inhabitants require that such
government should be nearly central 10 nl be-
having regard only naviga"n the benefits Of which
cssry fof promoting the growth Of town sufficient for
the accommodation OF those who resort thereto and able tn
ad he operations u government ana has been also found
nconrcnen in the Of the where seats OF
government have been situated be exposed the in
suits and injuries of the public enemy which dangers may
avoided anu equal justice done all the of this
monw"aliii by removing the OF government the
Town OF Richmond in the county Of Henrico which is
safe and central than any other situated naYignbc
water BE Therefore enacedby The General .b!y That
six whole squares u" ground surrounded each of them four
streets and containing all the ground within such Streets
in the said town Of Ri hmond, and open and airy
part thereof shall be appropriated To the use and purpose of
public buildings. On CT rhc sd squares shall be r'c
house for the of the general assembly, 10 = cd the
capitol which sd capitol snail contain two apartments for
the of the and their clerk, others for the
n e house of delegates and their clerk and others Tor TIE
purposes 0t conferences committees and lobby o such
forms and dimensions shall be adapted their respective
purposes other of said squares, shall be erected
another building 10 be called the halls of justice, which shall
contain two apartments for the use OF The court OF appeals
and its clerk others for the Of the high court u chan
and its clerk two others for the use OF the general court
and its clerk others fo: the the OF admiralty
and lis clerk and Others for the of grand and petty
RES 0 such0rms and dimensions shall DC adapted 10 their
r,ccrc purposes and The square last mentioned
shall be built public Jail One other Of the said squares
shall reserved purpose OF building thereon crcaf
house for the several executive boards and Offices 10 be
held in. Two others, with the Intervening street shall be
reserved for the of the % h!s commonwealth o
bray aud the remaining square shall 6e 3pproprla
led the Of he pualc market The said houses shall be
built handsome manner with walls oi brick or stone anu
porcOcs where the may be convenient or Ornamental
and with pillars and paycmens Of stone. There shall be ap
pointed BY oin ballot both houses of assembly five per-
be called the directors Of the public buildings who,
uranyhce Of hc shall have power TO make choire oi snc
-:cs of ground before directed, shall be most
p AMI convenient for Tho said public purposes TO agree
plans rr The said buildings, TO employ proper workmen
materials BY themselves or by the board ol trade and TO draw
the U ts commonwealth from time 10 time, nr
of money soll ue wanng The plans and esti-
which shall be submitted 10 the TWO houses oi assem-
hy ,rhcasJeve called for by their joint vote, and shall DC
subjected their control And that reasonable satisfaction
may paid ana allowed for all such ots of ground as by
virtue of this may BE- taken and appropriated TO the uses
aforesaid clerk G the of Henrco is hereby en-
powered and required reqnston from the said directors
issue writ in OF writ OF ad quod damnum to be
directed the sheriff of the said county, commanding him TO
summon and cmpanne twelve able discreet reehoters OF the
vcnsge ways concerned in interest in the said lots o
land related the propreors thereof to meet
on the said lots certain day 10 be named In the SAID wit
under five Than ten days from The date Thereof
If which notice shall be given by the sheriff 10 The roptlenrs
tenants Of the said lots of land if they 'c ound Win
county and then their ngcn;s therein If nny
they have which eeOders taking nothing on pain OF helng
discharge from the inquest aud Immediately Imprisoned oy
The sheriff. either Of drink from any person whatever
from The time they the said place until their inquest
sealed shall be charged by the said sheriff imparu!y and to
IA. hrs, Of their skill and Judgment value the said lots
ground in many several and distinct parcels shall be
owned and held by several and distinct owners and tenants
and according their respective interest and estates therein
and if the said valuation be completed in day
then The said sheriff shall adjourn the said Jurors from day
day. until he competed and after such valuation
made the said sheriff shall forthwith the under
the and seals Of the said Jurors TO the clerks Office o
the said county and The right and property o the sud
crs and in the said lots Of land shall be
Invested and be transferred TO this commonwealth in the full
and absolute dominion any OF consent or disability to
consent in the said and tenants Notwithstanding
The cost OF he said inquest and the several sums al which
the rights of TIC and tenants are valued snail De ao
by the treasurer 10 the said owners tenants ana olels emu
| tied respec tvcy, on warra,' rum the auditors.
And whereas it may 6c cxpedicnt TO enlarge the said
Of Richmond by nc Ola number OF lots to be added
thereto may also happen thai some OF the lands ad
the said may be conven'ent or le pup
lie Be therefore enacted, That the said directors
hundred additional lots hall acres with necc5
ssy be laid off adjacent TO such paris OF the SAID
them shall most convenient and they shulla al
liberty Inappropriate the six squares aforesaid or any
part ,e either from among the lots now in the said town
o
cent To said mer latter los and the said six squares
hundred lots shall thenceforh be part OF the SAID
town. And said directors shall return into the clerk
Office o the said county of Henco there to be recorded
full and distinct report under their hands and seals a the lo
una squares OF land added by them to the said town. or up
propr!acd he public uses together with The plan thereof
The right: III the several and tenants OF he lots
land so be added The town and not appropriated to h
public nses are nevertheless saved TO them.
But whereas from the expense attending TIC JUS
and necessary this commonwealth Is at present engaged
n the difficulties of procuring the materials Tor building anf
e high prize for labor il will br buhcnsome to the nhhb
.,nis i the said pubic buildings be Immediately erected
B i therefore enacted That the directors aforesaid shall
wh all convenient speed cause TO be erected or othef"is
provide proper and temporary building for The sitting
he general assembly the courts OF JUSTICE ana the severn
| roards bc.ure described
l. And present jail Of the county OF HrnrMo
now within the said of Richmond, If enlarged, may D.
made sufficient public Jail until more commodnus on
AN be built the said directors hereby empowered 10 en-
large the same Provided nevertheless there shall not b
irawn The public treasury for any or a the said Pur
poses exceeding twenty thousand pounds ana the oil
aforesaid hereby prohibited from making any con
tracts for erecting any OF the public buildings described pI
This act 10 be built on any Of the squaes for pub
lie use fixing squares laying oil the additional lou
unt fur er provision shall be made Tor me same oy lh
General assembly and be further enacled That from anc
er the nt day of April which shall be in the year Of ou
Lord one nd hundred and eighty the said COZ
h appeals high of chancery general court ana court
admiralty shall hold their sessions in the apartments prepared
for them bv the said directors 1.-THE first meeting oi the gen
cra asscmby after day shall be in such house or hou
scs as shall be provided The said drectos that the clerks
the two houses assembly and OF the several courts beiof
shall previously be removed hithcr Ia
public expense the records papers, and other things belong
Ing TO their respective Offices and that the keeper OF the pub
lie l shall in like manner, cause all prisoners IN MS cnso
dy 10 be removed public Jail to be bu as oeior
DIRECTED which shall henceloward be deemed and used
he public Jail spoken of by The laws whether heretofore
hereafter passed.
/ For the Enquirer
ACARD TO THE VOTERS OF RICHMOND.
Understanding that have been ndustriousy clrcu
lated throughout city The effect that although OIL
not sign the petition for the comnuanon OF the punish