Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-02-17
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18Th. 1881.
The House met atll o'clock.

The House met at IL o'clock.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr. CuMMISs
The Clerk read communication from the Senate in
forming the House that they had agreed the amend
ment of the House to the amendment of the Senate
tn House bill entitled act amend the char.
ter Of the Fredericksburg Water Power Company;
Aud that they passed bills entitled an act appointing
Commissioners by the Board OF Public Works report
sustained Edward Parish in the Of
the Ohio River and Maryland Turnpike Road
An act TO incorporate the Portsmouth Gas Company
An act making appropriation for the completion of
the Pennsylvania Morgantown and Beverly Turnpike
Road, aud
An to incorporate the FL Dorado Turnpike Com
pany.
This bill ordered to its third reading
\ few bills reported from standing committees
Mr. GARNET presenting the petition Of IS voters of
kir and Queen county, praying the passage Of law
prohibiting the traffic in intoxicating liquors, said
Mr. Speaker present two petitions for the prohib
ton of the SALE barter and the destruction of all
Intoxicating liquors One is the printed orm of which
We have seen SO many, and is signed by IS citizens OF
King aud Queen. The other wholly in writing il si.neI
by IL also citizens of the county The only ev.
dence in possession that any of constituents have
really signed these petitions that they wish me 20 pt
them, is printed circular signed "Iuc,sn Minor
Chairman OF the Executive committee" OF the late State
Temperance Convention, asking Law them before
the House But do not affect doubt that the signn.
genuine, and know the names OF the seners TO
be those oil highly respectable gentlemen only call at
tention 10 the irregular in which these petitions
reach Ii would that this Executive COMMITTEES
ancies that unsafe and improper for the constituent IN
commancsC directly with his delegate bu. i,s ntery.n
ton is presume. one of the modern improvements nm
the practice of representative government IL WAS this
interference with the confidential aud immediate relations
between the people and their chosen representatives. which
characterised iHpeTmet in my remarks on a former
occason-remarks which have been misrepresentation
hope, unintentioualy.
have been reported saying what never said and
part OF what did say has been omitted did not sne,k
of the petitioners ireng adventures" but said that
these petitions were frequently gotten up by "hired
agents., at least the Maine Liquor Law Conyepton of
"a hires
this cOnneNon pointed the tendency Of such move
mcnts, which substitute themselves both for Church and
Stae,which undertake that control OF conscience th,
belongs to religion, and would usup the law making now
er to enforce its peculiar doctrines. pointed out saw
Tue tendency OF such movements TO become uades
and money making machines for ecuIring agators
Nor did ever apply the "insoent" to the sipneta
OF any petition did speak disrespectfuly OF the
friends OF Temperance throughout the country. On the
contrary, many OF them amongst my most beloved
friends, ad admire the motives which have generally
guided them, and thank them for the heahl change In
public opinion the vice Of excessive drinking which
they have aided in accomplishing Il is only the exrava
gauce oil the present movement that object to-tbe idea
that it is of the legitimate functions of IN
regulate the eating and drinking OF the people think
this notion altogether wrong and dangerous Such stump
tuary laws would be tyrauuca and opposed 10 the fir
principles Of republican liberty they would be neIc
al in their operation, aud their ultimate tendency would
be 20 Increase the very evils they meant to
Many who favor them doubtless actuated by pure zeal
for good but they originated in that hot bed Of North
ern iana,ci5m, which has begotten Aboltionism Social
ISM aud all the other inns that propose for
to interfere with all the relations of domestic life and IA,
undertake the control Of every mans conscience
To all such measures come whence they may I am ut
terly and forever opposed
The following resolutions offered and adopted:
by Mr. PARsONs-That the committee on Banks innuirn
into tue eApedency Of Incorporating
to DO located in Romney Hampshire county to be called
the Hampshire County Bank.
By Mr. Brown, Of Stafford and King George that tho
report with the testimony Of the joint committee
with the duty oinspect the books and examine into the
proceedings OF the Bank Of the Old Dominion be referred
to the committee Banks with instructions forthwith IN
report bill repeang amending the charter of the
said Bank, provide for the appointment of four m
Tecors by the Governor and such other amendments az
they may deem proper.
Mr. MCKESzfE called for the ayes and noes nnon a. n
resolution, which was sustained.
hr MARTz moved to amend the resolution by striking
out that portion Of II containing instructions TO the com
mttee on Banks TO report BILL aud inert that the com.
m'ee inquire into tie eHpcdency ofreporling bill upon
the subject referred to.
Mr. SrArLEs Of Patrick, moved lay the resolution on
the hbe' lie was opposed to the issue Of any nsirnc-
uona OF such character 10 the committee the subject
having already Undergone most rigid investigation
JOINT committee was engaged for three four days In an
inquiry into the affairs of that Bank and as could be
seen by the volnminous report submitted that innuirv
embraced all that necessary be ascerlined in rei
ton TO the operations Of the Bank And the result Of the
WhOle lnV,sg failed to est ibish single violation Of
law lie saw proproty in referring the subject 10 the
committee on Banks at that time with the proposed in
stucuops lie believed it most extraordinary course to
''bHu w n SUBJECT WhlCu had already UNDER
gone The most rigid investigation and to what end a
further inquiry was sought he had no idea IIo hoped
the House would lay the resolution on the table.
table. " '"O
MI GARSErr was in favor Of referring the resolution to
ne committee with the modification proposed by the gen
uen,n rom Rockingham, (Mr. Martz) lie opp osed
TO referring the subject with instructions TO the effect
braced IN the resolution
hr WHITE was in favor Of the resolution if made one
H. ne ala not hesitate TO state as member Of
the special committee who engaged IN the investpa
ton OF the Srs Of the Bank Of tho Old Dominion that
'e u" was violated IN various pacuars by the officers
OF that Bank He was IN favor Of the commitment of the
entire subject to the committee Banks In the ordinary
way.
Mr. BROWN accepted :hs amendment ofMr. MART, being
tomake IL n resolution Of inquiry.
Mr. tARNtn offered Tho following substitute the res
olutioD, as amended
That the report OF the joint committee appointed 10 in
ytstgate the affairs Of the Bank Of the Old Dominion
aud also tho reports Of other BInks accompanying The