Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-02-15
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVECTION
Ptax-rhird Day.
Fn1pAY, Peb. "a 1asa

Il me- a4RA4SVst from 1n6. COMMITTEES TO
whom was referred the subject os land tie
ties that become vested In the new State,
presented their report as follows:
"28. All,the private rights and interests
in lands within this State derived from the
laws OF Virginia prior to the time this
oonstitntion goes into operation, shalIsre-
main valid and secure under tie laws of
this State, and shall be determined by the
laws then exiSting in the State Of Virgin
la.
s'2s. No entry by warrant on land in
this State shall be made after this Constf-
tuition goes into operation, aud in all cases
when the entry has been made before that
time, aud then or thereafter so perfected
rs to entitled the locator to grant, the
Legislature shall make provision by law
for issuing the same.
"30. The Legislature shall make proYi.
sion for the sale of all lands In the State
forfeited TO the State Of Virginia for the
non-payment of taxes chargabIe therein
4 Tor the year 1881 OF prior thereto, or for
the failure of the owners thereof to have
4 the same entered aud charged on the land
books OF the proper courts with taxes for
the year 1881 or prior thereto under the
laws OF Virginia, "a well as of all waste
and unapPropriated lands by proceedings
/ to be had in the circuit court of the county
+. L
AL. All lands within the bounds Of this.
State returned delinquent for non-nayment
OF taxes to the State of Virginia or for.
feited for the failure Of the owners to have
tue same entered on the books of the
Commissioner of the Revenue since the
year 1881, shall as soon as this Gonstftn-
ton goes into operation be released and
exonerated from forfeiture aud from the
i delinquent taxes and damages therc6n:-
Provided, however, that this section shall
not apply in the case of forfeitur. to any
tract containing more than one thousand
acres and in cases of delinquency 10 any
tract where paramount of taxes exclusive
Of damages shall exceed $40.
"32. Aud all such lands as have been
vested in tue State of Virginia, rs men
TONED In the preceding section, either by
forfeiture or purchase at the Sheriffs
sales for delinquent taxes, but which shall
not be released from such forfeiture by the
proV:so thereto; may be redeemed by the
former owners by payment to the State of
West Virginia of the amount of taxes and
damages due thereon within FIVE years af.
ter this Constitution goes into operation.
And the residue of such lands SO vested
and not so redeemed or which shall not be
released by this Constitution from such
forfeiture OF delinquency, shall be treated
as forfeited lands: Provided, however, that
the former owners shall be entitled to the
excess OF tue proceeds of such lands over
the taxes and damages due thereon and
the costs of their claim to the same he
filed in the Circuit Court within two years
from the sale of the land.n
Sir. VAN WINELE moved that It be taken
up and considered without the DELAY of
printing. Agreed to.
The report seemed to be very generally
received with favor. not much opposition
being made to it cxcept by Mr.. Parker who
s;renuously and strongly opposed and de-
nonueed the 3lst section, us Ubiquitous
as his argument was somewhat striking
We will risk the charge of partially and
sketch the leading points OF it.
lie said the 3lst section proposed to re-.
lease the iorfeitlres and remit all the
taxeS and interest on the tracts OF land
which were exoherdted by the acts passed
In 1882, but forfeited to the State for nom
entry upon the Commissioners books by
the act passed the 18th of April, 1882
These tracts Of land on which the taxes
aud interest in 1881 did not exceed $50,
and which, having been generously exon.
Grated by the State in 1882, the owners
cnFclessly, or with intent to defraud the
State of its just annual tax omitted 10 en-.
! ter on the Commissioners books, and have
charged With taxes, for the subsequent 90
years. The I2th OF April. 1882. the5C3ens
eral Assembly passed an act giving the
owners till the ist of July, 1853. TO enter
the same nnoy tie ~
and nav the taxes and nm fiiiao+,
such lands become forfeited TO lie Stot S ~
The section further proDosed 10 rsIss.s
all taxes heretofore n assessed ,,I,i;,SIs 80
turned delinquent for noa.payment of
taxes, where the tract does not exceed
1000 acres, and also whore the tax does
not exceed $40. He contended the Con.
Eention had no power to make such re-.
eases IN either of the proposed cases; that
the torteitures in the first case Injured to
and vested the title to tue land inthe State
OF Virginia, where 1t remains, unless since
granted away and in the latter case, the