Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-01-24
From Richmond.

of the Funding act is to be tested before the
Courts, for which purpose case has been
made up, and the decision will be awaited with
peculiar interest, for the people, who heretofore
tool; but little interest in the matter. except to
look boldly in the face the fact, as they thought,
that their obligations we're to be met, and had
left the details of how it was to be accom- phshed
to their representatives, Since the stir that has
been made, have very naturally caught the
! Infection aud are anxious to know the result
of all the "ado" that has been made hereabouts.
| Then, too, the idea of being relieved that's
the expression-of the burden of taxation"
| is as alluring to some as the sougof the Syren
-1uay it not prove as fata-andls, it is feared,
causing discussions that, unless healed, may
prove a source Of trouble in the future, and
lead to the disruption of the present conserva-
tive organization Of the State, and throw the
control of it's affairs once more into the hands OF
the party, who, to crafty ambition and
personal REIMBURSEMENT, may heap burdens
50 heavy upon the people that those borne now
will appear as but feather. The Radical
| leaders have taken advantage ofthe situation,
and unless great care and precaution are used,
will make their jack.
Mr. NJ. p Handy, Of this city, has tender
cd to the Sheriff in payment OF taxes, coupons
of the State bonds, issued under the provisions
of the Funding act, but which the Sheriff re-
fused to receive. whercupon Mr.. Handy sued
ont mandamus, which was at once served
upon the Sheriff, requiring him to answer why
he should not be compelled to take the coupons,
us provided in the act for funding the debt of
the State, and thus the case being made up
the constitutonaIity of the act referred to will
be tested The case, it is said, will be heard on
! Thursday.
The attendance of members upon both
branches is slim, the free pass system acting
rs it has and always will, to the detrlment OF
the public interest, by affording opportunities,
that would not otherwise be avaled OF, for mem
bsrs to rum off, for day or two to their
| homes or-somcwherc else. and reform and
rctrcnchment' is nowhere more needed than IN
tins particular
The Committee Of Courts OF the Senate have
reported with a recommendation that it do not
pass the House bill to provide special Court
of Appeals and to repeal so much OF chapter
100 of the code as relates to a special Court OF
Appeals. The same committee, to-day, report
ed favorably the House bill to incorporate the
Page county Bank, and Senate bills to amend
the acr to incorporate the Potomac and Manas-
sas railroad company; to amend the code in re-
lation to the time in which appeals may be
granted: and to Incorporate the Bank OF
Waucn.
The Senate rejected the bill to prevent the
punishment Of crime with stripes, by vote OF
81 toS.
The dill to authorize the Circuit Courts to
change their terms, was ordered to be Gu
crossed.
- IL 10
tcct the citizens Of this State in the enjoyment
of all OF their civil rights; to prescribe the jul
risdcton of Circuit Courts; to amend the 5Oth
section of the act to provide for general cleo
ton, 50 as to require certificates of election of
members of the General Assembly, to be for
warded to the clerks OF the two Houses there
Of to amend the act to district the State for
county Judges; in reference to criminal iursdlc-
ton Of county courts: also memorial Of John
Bowman, jr, and other citizens of Rockingham
county, in relation to certain church property
in said county.
The Senate discussed it's bill to authorize the
sale OF the agricultural land scrip until the
hour of adjournment.
The Committee of Courts of the House of
Delegates reported it inexpedient to amend the
law so as to make the fees of the Common
:, weath's Attorney in criminal cases not Deepen
dent on conviction, which report was concur
ed in.
The bill amending the charter of the James
River bridge company, free bridge, connecting
Rich nond and Manchester: was, latter discussion,
passed in the House to. day, and the discussion
of the distribution Of the Land Script fund
continued.
Among the communications laid before the
House. to-day was one from the Governor re-
-l,+ 20 af
icient organization of the militia; also one
from Professor Maury in relation to establish
ing an international and general system of me-
neurological observations and crop reports and
one from Captain William Myers, Of the United
States army asking, on behalf of the United
States the consent of Virginia to the purchase
of tract of land in Fairfax county as National
Military Academy; and communication from
the chairman of the y. S. Lighthouse Board,
asking for the passage of a law for the cession
Of jurisdiction over aud providing for the ac-
ouircment of title to land for sites Of light
houses and other aids to navigation.
The committee of the House on privileges
and elections have agreed to recommend new
election to be held in the county of Lunenhurg,
and that the sitting member from Goochland,
Mr.. Turpin (Rep is entitled to hold his seat.
Mr.. Hcrndon, to-day, introduced in the SEN
ate several bills proposing more thorough
and radical change in the judicial system of the
State, and intended to come before the Senate
as competing with the proposition of Mr.. Penn
The first two of these bills prescribe the juris-
diction of the Circuit and County Courts The
next is bill rearranging the circuits and re-
ducing their number to II, aud the fourth re-
districts the State for county judges and re-
duces the number of these to "a. In matters
of criminal and law jurisdiction the County
Courts have exclusive jurisdiction, andin these
two classes of cases appeals will lie to the Cir
cult Courts. Of chancery causes the Circuit
and County Courts will have concurrent juris-
diction.
During the discussion in the House, to-day,
of the Land script bill, MIR. Head, Of Loudouu,
opposed giving the proceeds of the scrip, to any
denominational institution, and ridlculed the
idea of studying practical agriculture by expe-
riments on the Impoverished lands in the vicin.
itv of Hampden Sydney. Nor was he convinced