The Enquirer

CANN

General Assembly of Virginia.

Extracts from the Journal of the House of Delegates.

Thursday, January 8.

A report from the committee for courts of justice (which lay on the table) was taken up and read in the following words:

The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, examined whether any laws of a public nature have expired since the last session of the General Assembly, and have found none in that situation; they have also examined whether there are any that will expire with the end of the present session, or are near expiring, and find that the time, by the act passed at the last session, entitled, "An act, giving further time to the proprietors of certain lands, forfeited for the non-payment of taxes, to redeem the same," allowed for redeeming the said lands, will expire on the first day of March next. As leave has been given to bring in a bill relative to such forfeited lands, the committee decline expressing an opinion as to the propriety of continuing in force the act aforesaid. They have found no other laws that are near expiring.

On motion, Ordered, that the said report be laid upon the table.

Ordered, that leave be given to bring in a bill, "To empower the executive to appoint persons to collect the arrears of taxes;" and that Messrs. Harrison (of Amelia,) Jones (of Nottoway,) Goodwyn, Greenhow, Aylett, Muse and Reeder, do prepare and bring in the same.

Mr. Otey presented, from the committee appointed to enquire into the state of the public guard, a bill, "Concerning the public guard and for other purposes;"

Mr. Powell presented, according to order, a bill, To amend an act, to continue and amend the act, for further continuing and amending the act, entitled, An act for reducing into one the several acts concerning executions, and for the relief of insolvent debtors, or ;" which bills were severally received and ordered to be laid upon the table.

Friday, January 9.

An engrossed bill "Annexing the county of Albemarle to the district for which a chancery court is directed to be holden in Staunton." was read a third time and a blank therein filled up; it was passed.

An engrossed bill, "To amend the act, entitled "an act concerning the high court of chancery," was read a third time: and passed.

A bill, "To amend the act, arranging the counties into Senatorial districts." (which lay on the table) was read a first time; a motion was then made to postpone the further consideration of the said bill to the 1st day of March next—and the question being put on the said motion, it passed in the negative.

Ayes 43, Noes 97.

A bill, "Concerning the public guard, and for other purposes." (which lay on the table) was read a first time and ordered to be laid upon the table.

Mr. Smyth (of Wythe) presented, according to order, a bill, "Concerning the distribution of public arms ;" and,

Mr. Harrison (of Amelia) presented, according to order, a bill, "To empower the executive to appoint persons to collect the arrears of taxes;" which bills were severally received and read a first time and ordered to be read a second time.

Mr. Minor (of Spotsylvania) presented from the committee to whom it was committed, a bill, "To amend an act entitled, an act reducing into one the several acts concerning the establishment, jurisdiction and powers of district courts," with an amendment which he handed in at the clerk's table, where the same was twice read, and the question being put thereupon, was agreed to by the house: A motion was then made further to amend the said bill; when on motion, Ordered, that the said bill be laid upon the table.

Mr. Tazewell presented, according to order, a bill, "To repress and punish certain acts hostile to the peace and tranquility of the U. States within the jurisdiction of this state :"

Mr. Kinney presented, according to order, a bill "To amend an act, entitled an act, more effectually to provide for the payment of taxes upon lands within this commonwealth :" and

Mr. Kinney presented, according to order, a bill "To amend an act, entitled an act, to amend the act, "to regulate the solemnization of marriages, prohibiting such as are incestuous or otherwise unlawful, to prevent forcible and stolen marriages and for punishment of the crime of bigamy ;" which bills were severally received and read the first time and ordered to be read a second time.

Ordered. That leave be given to bring in a bill "To amend an act incorporating two companies for opening navigable canals—one from Roanoke to Merrimack—the other from Benger's creek to Nansemond river"—and that Messrs. Ghollson, Harrison (of Caroline) Mann, Jarrett and E. Bouldry, do prepare and bring in the same.