Richmond Enquirer

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

Wednesday, February 14.

A Communication from the Senate, stating that they had passed a Bill "Concerning the Dismal Swamp Canal Company"" Incorporating a Company for the purpose of improving the Navigation of James River :"" Authorising a Sale of a portion of a tract of land belonging to the orphans of Levi Taylor deceased;"and" Authorising the sale of a tract of land belonging to the heirs of Dr. David Dick" -with amendments, in all of which the H. of D. concurred, with the exception of those proposed to the bill respecting the Navigation of James River -The Senate rejected the bills, " Authorising the sale of a tract of land belonging to the heirs of Dr. John Weems dec'd."-" Authorizing the sale of a tract of land belonging to the heirs of Stephen I. Compton deceased"" Exonerating Lewis L. Coleman from the payment of certain militia fines"—" Authorizing the sale of certain real estate belonging to Elizabeth Fitzhugh, an infant ;" and " Concerning the widow and children of Spencer Bowmer dee'd."

Engrossed bills. " Giving effect to the last will and testament of Samuel Gist deceased, late of the city of London;" " Concerning overseers of the poor, and for other purposes," were respectively read a 3d time and passed.

A variety of bills were advanced one stage through the House.

A further Report was received from the Committee of Finance, on the petition of the manufacturers of salt in Kanawha county, praying the repeal of the Act of last session, imposing a tax on domestic manufactured salt, and a release of the Commonwealth's right to the collection of so much of the said tax as is in arrear---The Committee refer to their annual Report as providing for the first part of the prayer of the petition, in recommending a discontinuance of the taxes imposed on new subjects, since the commencement of the late war--They enter into a long course of statement on the last prayer of the petition. which finally winds up with a Resolution, that "it is expedient to release a moiety of the tax imposed by law on the salt manufactured on the Kanawha river between the 10th of February, 1815, and the 10th of February, 1816."

This resolution was agreed to by the House.

The House proceeded to the appointment of the Directors of the Board of Public Works---during the progress of the ballot the following resolution was proposed by Mr. Doddridge, and agreed to by the House : "Resolved, that the appointment of a Director of the board of public works is not a civil office comprehended within the provisions of the Act of 1794.'

Thursday, February 15.

A Communication from the Senate, stating that they had receded from their amendment proposed to the resolution in honor of captain Warrington and Henley.

An engrossed bill" to amend the Act, entitled, " An Act to amend and explain the Act concerning taxes on Land," was read and passed.

A Report of the Committee of Propositions and Grievances, (on a subject which has excited so much feeling in certain sections of the State,) was taken up on the motion of Mr. King of Norfolk, and read as follows :

The Committee of Propositions and Grievances to whom was committed the Resolution on the petition of sundry Stockholders of the Bank of Virginia, and the citizens residing in the Borough of Norfolk, have had the same under consideration, and submit the following report and resolutions, as a substitute to the original resolution :

It appears to your committee that the imputations upon the conduct of the President, Directors, Officers and other Stockholders of the Bank of Virginia, charged in the said memorial, are unsupported by any evidence whatever.

Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, that so much of the said memorial as prays that the vote of the commonwealth as a stockholder may be so given as to modify the existing regulation of the Bank of Virginia, requiring the monthly communication of the accounts of the dealers at the several offices to the Bank at Richmond, so as to limit the monthly communication to the names of such dealers, without their accounts. unless in the case of dealers who may have accounts or be under responsibility at two or more of such offices, and the Bank at Richmond, and to require an interchange of such communications with the offices. which together with the accounts and names of the dealers at the Bank. shall be exhibited to the Stockholders at the general meeting if required, or to superadd to the existing regulation requiring the said communication of accounts. a further regulation requiring the Bank in Richmond to interchange such communications with the offices. is reasonable.

Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, that such other parts of the said petition and memorial be rejected.

An Engrossed bill, " To provide more effectually for the payment of specie, by the several Banks of this Commonwealth."was read a 3d time. After considerable discussion.the 1st blank in the bill was filled with the 15th of November next so as to entitle any holder of their notes. &c. to obtain a judgment on ten days' previous notice, in any court of competent jurisdiction, if by that day the Banks do not return to the resumption of specie payments.-The Bill was passed, and sent up to the Senate for concurrence:

Considerable discussion took place on the above-On motion of Mr. Mercer it was finally ordered that the further consideration of the said resolutions be postponed until the 31st. day of March next.

The House proceeded, by joint ballot with the Senate, to the appointment of certain Officers in the Manufactory of Arms--when the following persons were duly elected, viz :

John Staples, re-elected Superintendent,

George Williamson, do. Master-Armorer; And

Matthew Woodson, do. Assistant Armorer.

Various bills were received and laid upon the table.

Friday, Feb. 16.

An Engrossed Bill to amend the Act concerning the Land Office, &c. for the purpose of enabling many of the old soldiers of the Revolution to obtain their land bounties, was read a third time and passed-Al so, a Bill for encouraging the navigation of the River Roanoke.

The House went into Committee of the Whole, on the bill, "more effectually to prevent the circulation of Notes emitted by Unchartered Banks." Sundry amendments were agreed to in committee, and afterwards by the House; and the Bill, as amended, was laid on the table. The most material amendments were, to insert, at the end of the 5th section. a Proviso " that the additional Penalty prescribed by that section, shall not be construed to apply to any President, Cashier, Manager or other Agent of any Company that may hereafter be formed, where the names of the persons forming such Company or Association, shall have been, previously to the issuing of any note on behalf of such company, published at least one month, in 2 of the Newspapers in the City of Richmond;" & a new section. enacting, " that, in every suit, and on every presentment, information or indictment, for the recovery of any fine, forfeiture or penalty imposed by the Act, it shall be sufficient to state generally the claim or offence, and no exception for want of form shall be taken, whereby to prevent, stay or arrest any judgment in such suit, indictment or information.'

The Bill in its original shape, enacts various penalties for enforcing the spirit of the existing laws on this subject.

The 1st Sect. declares it shall not be lawful for any unchartered association now formed, or which may hereafter be formed within the limits of this Commonwealth, to discount any notes or other securities for the payment of monies, or to issue notes, or bills, whether payable to order or bearer, or any other securities, promissory orders for the payment of money, &c. —and every member, officer or agent of any such company, that may so commence or continue its operations, shall be held to be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, may be fined in a sum not less than 100 nor more than 500 dollars. If any such company, or president, officer, or agent thereof, shall put in circulation any such note, each member thereof shall be liable to the same penalty

2d Sect. No note, draft, bill or other security for the payment of money discounted contrary to the provisions of this act, whether it be payable to such company or agent, or trustee; or any contract. bond, deed &c. that may be given to reimburse or indemnify any person for any payment or responsibility incurred by such person for any debt contracted by reason of any dealing contrary to the true meaning of this act, &c. &c. is utterly void to all intents and purposes. And any person who may pay any money on such note or contract &c. may be entitled to recover it back within 12 months, &c. &c.

3d Sect. Whosoever signs, countersigns, or endorses any note, as president or cashier, &c. is liable to pay on ten days' notice, three times the amount of such note, &c.

4th Sect. All contracts between individuals forming such a banking association are declared utterly null and void.

5th Sect. Whoever signs, countersigns, or endorses, as president, cashier or manager, shall in addition to the penalties in the third section, be guilty of a high misdemeanor; and may be imprisoned for not less than one nor more than three years.

6th Sect. If any company should issue such prohibited note, the holder may recover the amount of such note, &c. and 20 per cent damages thereon, against all or any member on ten days' previous notice.

7th Sect. " This act shall, in all its provisions, be held, taken and construed as a remedial act."-. (A motion was yesterday made to strike out this section--and after a warm argument, was lost, Ayes 70, Noes 80.)

8th Sect. This act to be given in charge to Grand Juries, &c.

The Amendments proposed by the Senate to the Bill on the subject of Rents were agreed to.

The Bill to improve the navigation of the James River, from Rocketts up to Mayo's Bridge, was taken up, & postponed till the 31st of March.