Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-11-21
correspondence.

Is -6Oll1O VI Ool OiO
zens who are interested in the East
ern Shore Historical Society, to have
introduced in the Assembly at it's
next session, and to use allhonorable
means to secure its passage, q bill
providing for the copying and pres
ervation of the ancient records of
Northampton county.
This movement is an important
one, and should be encouraged. l am
afraid that our citizens do not fully
appreciate the value of the oldrecords
at Eastville, the oldest of which are
now bordering on decay, and if not
copied at an carly day will be ire
coverably lost.
While I am not familiar with the
provisions of the bill, yet I un1e--
stand that it is the intention OF the
authors of it to publish its provisions
SO that our citizens can offer sngges-
tions thereto before it is introduced
in the Assembly.
Thomas Jefferson full appreciated
the Importance of preserving the
laws of Virginia, when he wrote to
William W. Hening from Washing
ton, January 14th, 1907: 1.-The only
object had in making my collection
of the Laws of Virginia, was to save
all those for the public which were
not then already lost, in the hope
that at some future day they might
be republished. Whether this be by
private or public enterprise, ,my end
will he equally answered. (Hening
vol. 1, page X, preface).
What Jefferson says about the Laws
of virginil is applicable to the re-
cords of N ortharnpton county.
The General Assembly has at va
rious times ENCOURAGED the collection
and pres ,rvation of historical mat
tiers referring to Virginia.
The Code of 1887 section 31S5, pro-
vides for the reminding and tran
scribing of records in the clerks of
fees and surveyors Offices of the Off
ferpnt counties of the Commonwealth,
but a those interested in the matter
are preparing q bill applicable to
those certain records, the provisions
of section 313j, must therefore sup
pose, is not broad enough to cover
The case, or the introduction ola spe-
cific bill would not be necessary. This
section OF the Code reads as follows:
"Sec. 1885. Books, etc. III clerks Of
fees, and Offices of county Surveyors
may be re bound or transcribed; cred
it to be si1en to transcripts.
The ciranit. county, or corporation
court of any county or corporation,
and the chancery court of the city of
Richmond, shalt cause any of the
books or records in their respective
clerks Offices, which may be in need
thereof, TO be rebound or transcribed;
and the court OF any county may.also
or1er any OF the books or records in
the office OF the surveyor of such
county to be- rebound Or transcribed.
The same faith and credit shall b.,
given to such transcripts as the book
or record transcribed wouldhave been
entitlcl to-
The preamble OF Act of February
10, 1886, chapter 1O1, printed laws.
entitled tAn act authorizing the Sec
rotary of the Commonwealth and
State Librarian to transmit to W. A.
Glasgow, Of Fincastle, Virginia, one
copy of the calender of Virginia His
torical Manuscripts " has bearing.
on this case as it indicates the policy
of the State of Virginia in reference
to historical matters. The preamble
is as follows:
"Whereas Wa. Glasgow, late mom-
Der of the General Assembly, is pros
ecuting inquiries pertaining to our
colonial period in the interest of pub
lie history, and it being deemed wise
and proper to encourage the elucida-
ton of that period, and the famil-
iarity of the people Herewith"
In view OF the provisions of section
256 of the Code of 1887 us amended by
CHAPTER 179 Of the Acts Of 1890, APP
proved March 4th, 1890, it seems
strange that no provisions hes here
tofore been made for the preservation
of the records of Northampton coun-
ty. Sec. 256 as amended is as follows:
1.-THE Committee (Library) shall es-
pecially cause to be procured from
time to time. as opportunity may
offer, copy of any book, pamphlet
or manuscript, work of art or relic
relating to the history Of Virginia,
not now in the general library, which
can be obtained OH reasonable terms,
and may cause to be printed any
manuscript relating to the history of
Virginia ,-hich have not been pub
ilished, including such portions of the
executive journals and executive let
ter books, and of legislative papers,
as the committee may deem proper
to print in the calender Of State pa
pers and shall cause the legislative
papers so to be printed to be arranged
for that purpose and preserved for
reference"
The records at Eastville Gate from
1852 to date and are complete to the
present day, but as they are written
in the old English of that period they