The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-17
evening state SnarmaI
CAPITOL NOTES.

superintendent of public buildings to as
sumo the position popularity supposed to
be occupied by Mahomet's coffin. 1t is
hanging in space. Here the analogy is lost
however, for il is not famed by gentle
breezes of Heaven, or smiled upon by the
blue ether up and beyond, like the apochry-
phal wooden overcoat of the great prophet,
but is gently waited to and fro by the breezy
gassing of incipient statesmen. OF the
present incumbent of the office we believe
it can be said:
Whatever that man was sot to do,
He done 1t with zest
No matter what his contract was,
He done his level best.
A delegation of colored ministers called
on Governor Kemper yesterday and were
kindly and respectfully received. Their
request was that the sentence of hanging
now pending against Horace Venable, for
pushing Mary Holmes in one Of the canal
locks and thereby causing her death, be
committed to Imprisonment for life. They
were assured that the matter would receive
careful attention. AS our readers are
aware, this act of Venable was done, more
in q fit of jealousy than with malice pre-
pense. We believe this community would
be pleased at the intermission of the
painful spectacle promised on March g.,
and would endorse the Governor in the
exercise of the boon craved for the mis-
guided and unhappy person now in bonds
and under condemnation.
The new fence law imposes o fine of
from one to to five dollars for pulling down
other peoples fences or leaving gates
open. Rural fox-hunting Virginians view
this piece of legislation as an Infringement
of their vested rights to annihilate their
neighbours fences and endanger their own
persons in chasing the pugnacious reynard !;
also as an attempt to coerce them into buy
ing corn, mauling rails and kindred farm
amusements, and they are not over and
above pleased. One by one do the rights
OF the many pass into the hands of few.
An unsolved conumdrum is, who is to
build that lighthouse on Rocco island, that
Senate joint resolution has declared would
be suitable memorial to the memory Of
Commodore Maury? Is 1t U. s. or Vir-
ginia--which?
The House of Delegates has lawyer
who is always Round when the ayes and
noes are called. His baptismal prefix is
Geo. C. Though Round, he is generally
considered to be entirely square, paradox
ical as it may seem.
The Gloucester Herald has invented a
new kind of ostracism. 1t suggests that
barrel of good oysters sent to each
member of the General Assembly might
be putting them "where they would do
the most good.D s4 ass
The Sunday liquor law, a minor effort in
the direction Of compulsory moral legisla-
ton, is now before the Senate with certain
House amendments. If there is anything
our Senators can wrestle with it is q
liquor bill. They know "when the bloom
is on the rye"
A Senate subcommittee Is to cavort
around the state to spy out suitable loca
ton for a new lunatc asylum. There
should not be much difficulty in finding it
Messrs. Terry and Eubank, of the Sen
ate (; Allen, O'Neal, and Bagwell, of tn
House, compose the joint committee L
investigate the Coleman defalcation case.
The debate last night before the Senat
committee on public institutions relative t,
ejecting Governor Kemper from his pres
ent residence, converting the same. into
tire.proof building, IAN impossible thing,
and using the present state library room
for office and com mittee rooms, "a possibl
but very foolish thlug.) showed as great
contrariety of crude opinions from unin
formed and ignorant persons as one coult
wish to see. After considerable pow
WOW amounting to nothing, nothing wa
done. aaa- a.a
The Governor to-day extended executiv
clemency to Mr.. William Page McCarty
confined in the city Jail on conviction fe
being engaged in duel. In granting tn
pardon the Governor said: DPS
"There is but one ground upon whic
executive clemency should be exercise
in this case. 1t is proved by medical te
timony of very high character that I'll
condition Of the prisoner is such that b
life would be greatly imperilled by fu
Their Imprisonment. The life of the cit
zen may not be taken except in purs
ance of sentence lawfully declaring
forfeiture. Pardon is granted in this ca!
solely because it is necessary to save lii
The reasons upon which clemency is il
voked in the numerously signed petition
filed in the case, are wholly disapprove
and it must not be doubted that the pc
alues of the anti.dueling act will be mile
IDLY enforced, so far as their entorceme
is devolved upon this office. p"
Prominent Republicans from Petersbu
and Prince George paid their respects
Governor Kemper to-day.
Rev. James Holmes and other leadl
colored ministers called on Cover
Kemper to-day in regard to the case
Horace Venabe. -.n
3e Six thousand more dollars have be
allowed nv the General Assembly for