The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-25
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

SATURDAY, March 23d, 1851.
Mr.. ToALIN, of King William, called the
House to order at 10 clock A. Nj :, in the alb
sence of the Speaker.
Bills were reported allowing a pension to
Amanda Higdon for five years, and for organ
izing the Metropolitan Guard of Richmond
City.
Leave was given committee to report a
bill for the relief of Ellen b. Lane, widow
and admins tratrix of A. g. Lane, late Sec
ond Lieutenant in the Public Guard
Bills were passed amending the charter OF
the Bank of Richmond, and incorporating the
town of Asbury.
State Pemttenttary.-The following pream-
bic and resolutions were offered by Mr.. Nc
CUE and adopted:
IPhereas, The Penitentiary of Virginia. for years
past, has rested as an incubus oa the State Treas
ury. through improper management; aud whereas,
through serious defects in the criminal code its
inmates have increased rapidly that the build
ing is entirely inadequate to its uses, whether in
regard to the security, comfort, profitable en-
ployment; and, whereas, by the extension of the
city in that direction, the property comprised
to amply remunerate the State for its removal to
some other appropriate site, well abate it
nuisance, SO far as its situation in the heart of
the city is concerned and, whereas, the labor Of
the inmates does come in injurious competition
with worthy and industrious mechanics, an evil
want of raw material, its inmates are now, and
have been for weeks, not only without employ
ment, but have been locked up, half a dozen or
more, in their cells, which, all know, are too
small for the accommodation of one or two, even,
eGdangering their lives and permanently Inlur-
ing their health and, whereas il is notorious
that the State Is in great need OF new state
House, well as new Penitentiary, which can
not, under any circumstances, be so economically
applied as by the labor Of these convicts There
fore,
Be Resolred by the General assembly, That it be
referred to a special committee, to inquire into
the expedencey of providing by law for the hlr
ing to some responsible contractor contractors
the convict labor Of the Penitentiary who shall at
once employ them in The quarrylng aud dressing
OF granite, for the erection, first, of suitable
Penitentiary house, aud then for State Capitol.
Resoired That should this be deemed expedient
then said committee shall inquire into the expe-
tiary now ON hand, and rent out the entire Pen
itentiary to responsible contractors.
The SPEAKER announced the following as
the committee; Messrs. McCUB, FLEMISd,
BAssIL, GARRETT, and BoREAAN.
Aid to DefauHing SheriTs.-On motion of
Mr. PHELPS, the substitute /" uthorizing the
Auditor of Public Accounts 70 release the
sureties of defaulting Sheriffs from the pay
ment of damages in certain cases, for special
bill No. lac, was taken up and ordered to its
engrossment.
Mr.. DucKwALL moved to put the bill upon
it's passage, and 1t was agreed to. The roll
was then called and the bill passed-ayes S4 !;
noes 8.
The following is a copy of the bill authoriz.
ing the Auditor of Public Accounts to release
the sureties of defauiting Sheriffs from the
payment of damages in certain cases, as sub
mitted by Mr. DucKwALL as 4 substitute for
bill No. l46:
l. Be il enacted by the General issemby Of pkyiaia.
That in all cases in which the Commonw ealth has
ob,ained, or may hereafter obtain, Judgment
against the sureties Of any Sheriff or their personal
rspresentatives upon satisfactory proof that such
sheriff is insolvent and unable to pay the whole