The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-01-23

LETT and PARKS, on the ground or the hopeless
insolvency of the company and its utter inability to
pay its interest. The amendment was carried
ayes 90, noes IL.
Pending the consideration of other amendments
to the bills
On motion of MIR. WELSH. the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
TUESDAY, Jan. 2, 1856.
A communication from the Senate announced
the passage of sundry bills which were read and
appropriately referred The communication also
announced that the Senate had passed the bill ma
king an appropriation for furnishing and repairing
the Governors Mans ion, with an amendment. In
this amendment the House concurred.
The standing committees were called for reports,
and number of bills were reported, which viii
come up in order
VIRGINIA REVOLUTIONARY LAND WARRANTS
The SPEAKER laid before the House a communal
cation from the Governor, enclosing the memorials
of number of holders of Virginia land scrip issued
for revolutionary services.
In his message, the Governor calls the attention
of the Legislature TO the complaints of the holders
of these land warrants that the Secretary of the
Interior of the Federal Government has refused to
grant scrip for them, under the act of Congress of
Aug. 81, 1852 The Governor recites the history
of these warrants, recurring to the surrender by
Virginia to the United States, of the Northwestern
domain, 'ample enough to pay officers and men to
fight the armies of Kings" The Governor enforces
the justice of these claims, and the solemn obliga
But he justifes the decision of the Secretary of
the Interior, who, he thinks, has only given fair
Interpretation to the act OF Congress- by which he
is commanded to examine and adjudicate these
unsatisted warrants de n0co The Governor con-
sdeEs this imputation upon the integrity of the
tribunals of Virginia which have adudicated and
allowed thts. claims. He says: Il cannot con
ceive why Congress should thus have assailed the
dignity and even integrity of Vrginias forum of
conscience, in matter where gratitude and grant
continued to grace statute with better manners and
better morals too. The General Government could
hardly deliberate on this act without remembering
gift of great value, donor of unbounded gene
rosity; W thout knowing that these warrants were
'adjudicated" by Virginia, and that Virginia was
the obligor, who adjudicated against herself that
If A assumes to pay debts for b, A may well look
t. see that debts ualiquidaed not confessed are
due or not; but he cannot dispute BIS acknowledge
meats or judgments against b. Here, Virginia ad.
judged against herself, in the highest form of
acknowledgement and confession by her laws and her
tribunals of last resort. Fraud alone, or mistake
in a material degree, ought to be allowed to ques.
tion such Judgments, confessions and acknowledge
ments, in of even strict right. But here is a
sovereign State dealing in revolutionary bounties
in debts of gratitude for sevices above and beyond
all pecuniary price"
The Governor proceeds "Why should Congress
distrust Virginia tribunals They defy all impu-
tation of any corruption. They may have been
imposed upon by fraud or been misled by mis-
take There is no objection to q desire to correct
any fraud or mistake; but the objection is to ex-
anime anew the original merits of these cases in
dependent of either fraud or mistake. Two stri-
king examples of the error of doing SO are to be
found among the memorials, in the cases of John
Paul Jones and of George Watkins. The latter
case is one of fact supported by crowd of twelve
witnesses, and the former is one of principle which
shows mania in these times about citizenship,
which did not seize on revolutionary times. will
not look into the merits of these cases, because
am contending that they are adjudicated, and am
Nt,ay
ties complain that the Interior Department. admit
ting the services of Commodore John Paul Jones,
refuses to grant scrip for the unsatisfied warrant
surrendered by his heirs, because he was not
citizen of Virginia when he entered her service
He settled near Fredericksburg, and joined her
glorious State Navy as Lieutenant, and fought
with halter around his neck against his iege SOW
eregn, King George the Third. Virginia choose
to pay him for it. The warrant is dishonOred un-
der this law of Congress. The effect of the de-
cision is deny the right of Virginia decide who
were her citizens in 1875 Shall a Federal Execu-
tive officer decide this under act of Congress to
which Virginia has assented. John Paul Jones
was baptised citizen by the blood of the Bonnie
Homme Richard and Scraps.
Again why should Congress be so strict and
illiberal towards Virginia revolutionary officers,
soldiers, seamen and marines are they less
worthy of pay, or of gratuities, You please, than
men who are given l60 acres for every IA days Of
service in the late wars7 If the bounty of the
late acts that subject was applied to the Virginia
army and navy in the revolutionary war, they
would receive far more than she ever allowed
"But am sure that you will thoroughly exam
inc this complaint. l therefore conclude by recon
mending memorial to Congress to pass such an
amendment OF the act of August 3lst, 1852, as has
once passed the House of Representatives and has
been favorably reported on in the Senate of the
United States.''
The Message was laid ON the table and ordered
to be printed
NoRTHwEsTERs RAILROAD
On motion of Mr.. FOREMAN the bill for reno
wing the restrictions the Northwestern Rail.
road, was made the order of the day for Monday
next. f -.sslsssS ,rfE
The SPEAKER laid before the House communi.
cation from the Auditor In relation to militia fines
ana expenses OF the militia, which was ordered to
be printed
Mr.. CROCKETT presented the petition of citizens
of Wythe, for change of location of Walkers .
Creek and Holston Turnpike; also, of citizens of
same adverse to said change.
ENDowING COLLEGES
The House proceeded TO the consideration of the
unfinished order of the day. upon the bill '.for the
permanent endowment OF the Colleges of yir-
ginia."
Mr. CABELL, Of Nelson, addressed the House in
behalf Of the BILL He was followed by Mr. MEL
SON, of Hanover, who moved substitute for the
proposing to add the OF 5000 10 the annual ap
preparation to the primary School Fund. Mr. MEL.
SON proceeded at length to sustain his amendment
The debate was further continued by Mr.
CRocKER in opposition to the general proposition
OF endowing the Colleges, and in favor of preser.
wing the whole School Fund for the benefit Of indi
gent children -
Mr.. CLAYBRooK got the floor, and on his mot ion
the House adjourned.
~, The COLD WEATHER AND THE BIRns.-The
Woonsocket Or. l. Patriot says: 1--WE are inform
ed that the late cold weat er has s,.e,, a..