Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-18


of one los bill to authorize the sale of estates sub
ect to limitation contingent upon the dying of any
person without heir or heirs of the body or children
or offspring, or descendent or other relatives. re-
solution relative to increasing the salary of the circuit
court OF Petersburg, was also reported.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY.
The following resolutions Of inquiry we're offered
BY Mr.. DESEALE-Of go amending section Il
chapter So, more fully to define the duties OF III
spectors of flour. BY Mr.. WELCH-Of amending sec
iion of act Of March 3, 1854, 30 TO forbid the
County Courts from granting cooperating power; also
section act of March III, 1856, to the same end. BY
Mr.. WELCH-Of r.peang laws passed March s
1854, and March IL, 1856, relative to Incorporating
Manufacturing, Mining and other companies. BY
Mr.. DoUGLAs-For purchasing for the use OF Maeis
trates and other public officers of the State. - No
of Matthews Digest of the Laws. provided they dc
not cost more than - per volume. By Mr. AUGUST
-Of increasing the salary of the Clerk to the Board
of Directors OF the Penitentiary. BY Mr. WARTH-
Of amending the Code that depostous may be
taken to be- used in evidence in civil cases, wher
witnesses reside beyond the limits of the county il
which said cases may be pending, or more than fifty
miles from the Court House of such county.
On motion of Mr.. AUGUST, that portion Of the Go
| vernor's message relating to the Washington Monu
ment was referred to committee Of i've
Petitions were presented from l.. d. Morrall and
J. ID. Ryan, asking two sums of money from the
school quota of Barbour county, and (r- Citizens o
Prince George regarding the fence law.
The resolution nstrnctiDg the Committee o
Courts OF Justice to report bill providing for filling
the vacancy occur in the office of Lieut. Governor
in thirty days, was taken up.
Mr. THOMAS moved TO embody his amendment
offered yesterday, in the original resolution.
Mr.. WEIGH believed that there were large ma
ority Of the Senators convinced Of the constitution
| sty Of the Governors appointment, and sustained
that view. He thought the present appointment
could hold over in office and exercise its powers lla
advocated the right of the General Assembly to max,
the election.
Mr.. BRAssoN thought the Senator from Augusta,
in his remarks yesterday about the similarity between
the Constitution Of the UStaes andNirginia Constl;u
ton, had failed TO draw the marked distinction which
exists between the powers of Congress aud those OF
| the Genesal Assembly-the former being restricted
by the Federal Constitution, and the latter being M
der no restriction whatever He beved that the ssh
| section Of the Code Of Virginia made 1t imperative
on the General Assembly t. prescribe the manner o.
| the election. He read the section ss follows:
THE manner of conducting aud making returns
elections, of determining contested elections, AMI
filling vacancies i'll office in cases not specially pro
vded for by this Constitution shall be prescribed by
law; but special elections to till vacancies in the otc.
of Judge Of any Court, shall be for full term. Ant
the General Assembly may declare the cases in which
any office shall be deemed vacant, where no provision
is made for that purpose in th1 Constitution"
Mr.. THOMAS thought that any objection made By
gentlemen now, to the coDstitutionallty OF ihe ap
pointment by the Governor, came too late as The Sc
| nate was acting under the appointment of the Gov
ernor He contended that the General Assembl.
could not 90 into the election of Lit. Governor 6e
cause that officer as prescribed by the Conslltutlon
can only be elected every four years.
| Mr.. FLOYD enquired if on the election of Presl
dent, pro tem by the Senate. that President wou
be 1t. Governor.
Mr.. Thomas replied that he thought he wou
not.
The resolution was adopted with the anendmen
| in the following form:
| Resolved That the Committee Of Courts OF Justic
be instructed TO enquire into the expedency ut re
porting bill providing for filling the vacancy whic
will occur in tho office Of Lieut. Governor in 50 day
from this time. and of amending the act, passed Ma
29th 1850, as 10 provide for the discharge OF IN
| Executive functions, in case the Lieut.. Governo
should be removed from office shall fail to qualify
resign, remove from the State, or be unable 10 dir
charge the power and duties of the office, and G
amending that part of the law devovng the office Q
Governor. in certain Cases, upon the Attorney Gene
| raj.
The joint order Of the day-the election of Secon
Auditor, Public Printer and Keeper Of the Penlter
ary State, was then taken up.
| MIR. AUGUST, for ths office of store keeper put i
nomination the present incumbent, Robert VI. MIN
mo, of Richmond. He spoke of the ability and ide
ty Of the nominee, and mentioned the fact, that th
receipts Of the store for the last five and u hal
| months were $l5 j6D ID, while the average yedris
receipts, for the past five years. did not excee
$55,O00 He aso stated that since the appointment
Of the present iucunh"It merchants in Richmon
bod ps,onssed goods Their there which, at other times
| Mr.. FLOYD nominated Mitchell Is. Tate, OF Wythe
for The Office, with high eulogium on that gen
| tleman's character. The nomination waa seconded
by Mr.. TALIAFERRo.
| Mr.. LAYSE nominated John w. Jones OF Bedford
| remsrking that Mr.. Spotts, late Storekeeper, ha
| been sick six months before the Office was taken b.
| Mr.. N:mmo, which might account for the accumula
ton Of goods and consequent large sales. Mr. JOHN
| con seconded this nomination.
| On motion OF Mr. WEIGH, il was resolved TO sus
| pend go much of the joint order related to tn
| election OF Public Printer and First Auditor. an
the resolution was so amended by Mr.. DEsEALE a
to inform the House that the Senate ready TO pro
| coed to the election Of Storekeeper. Mr.. THoAPso!
| was appointed to inform the House Of the action o
| the Senate.
After waiting sometime for communication from
| the House, the Senate, on motion of MIR. CAMPBELL
| adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
The House met at u O'Clock, and the fret bust
ness being the election Of P-nitentsry Store Keep
| er and Auditor of Public Accounts. TO supply vacan
| ces, and Of Public Printer for the succeeding
term, Mr.. Seldom moved a postponenent Of tha
portion Of tbs joint order having for its object tn
election Of Public Printer.
The motion gave rise TO lengthy and animate
| discussion, report Of which il unavodably de
ferred until to. morrow. Before the vote taken
a motion to adjourn prevailed, and thus the joint OF
| der Of the day terminated, and the subject passe
from the consideration of the House, until reintrC
duced by resolution fixing a day for the said cleo
| tion.