~

Terms of the Richmond Enquirer.rft- Hie Enquirer Is published DAILY *nd SLMI-

lvffiKI.Y. For Die Daily P»P«, seven dollar* per an-

Jin, ,nd ai the rate of eiKhc dollar. 'H^en for a .bo.l;rr iw-riod than one year. tor the Senii-Weekl}, five

dollars per annum, and Three Dollars fo' ,ix b'payable In advance, to be paid «a lA* office, or remittt C by

mail. po»t paid; or Si* Dollars per annum at the ond of

lb»Cr "if dues to this office may be re-miued mall,

ln%rt and available Ran* notes, at theofthii Mi-

tor; Ike )of a:l letters bene paid b* the

(The (KXtafe of a slnfle UUer Is .carcelr "f_»«yac«°untto the writer. It L the accumulation of .

extensive bu.lnew, which operates as a serious Ulx

« k>b the Kdiror.^ ^ ADVERTI9ING.IN THE DAILY BNQI IKER-F«.r onewjutw.of

lines or less, first insertion, fifty cent*. 8n«

ew^succeed^ng inserts twenty.fiye ccut.-h in^rt-«.l nhce a week, twice a week, or three timet a wwk,

'b!\nbuid'adveriise'r's'are'charged fifty dollar, for thirtylines an 1 in t.'.at pr..p.Mt.on to- advertisement, or a

creaier lencth.eicei* Lottery Vender* and Auction¬

eer*! wiilfarc chared ono hundred dollars, (paper ln-

^N^-HE SEMI-WEEKLY.One square of .ixteon

lines, or less, first lnsertiou, 75 ceutsj for each continu-

""ordMi'iVom a distance must be accompanied with the

advance pay, or satisfactory references, to Insure wecu-

"All Obituariu and JlfaTriages from the country,

whi-never tbe party's hand-writing Is unknown atthi.Office. mu»t lie auibeniicati-d by the endor»ation of the

Po»tnia«ter In the neighborhood, or they will in no case

be published. Every measure, that ha» been taken to

i.revrot imposition* and quizzes, has proved heretoforeunavailing- We must, theretore, insist, la »uch a case,

upon the communication belni; certified by tb« name ofthe Postmaster, vriutn on tke bark of ikt t-"~

POETRY.

THE PARTING LOOK.We parted.cold and worldly eyesUpon that parting (si),

And bravely we kept back our sigh*,And calmly said "Farewell."

But there are looks, we learned ofLove,That none but Love can read;

And, like the fl.i»h from cloud to cloud,From heart to heart they speed.

Calm, as it ne'er had breathed a vow,Thy rich voicc faltered not;

Serene as heaven thy princely brow,As Love were all forgot!

Yet, in one eager glance, thy soul,On wings of light to mine,

In wild and passionate sorrow, stole,And whispered words divite!

Heaven's blessing on that royal heart,That thus can lavish feeling!

Love's best -guide, and friendship's stay.Trust, to innocence was given;

Tin dou tit that paves the downward way,But trust unlocks the gates of heaven.Trust! trust! sweet lady, trust!

" TOUCH US GENTLY, TIME."RY BARRY CORNWALL.

This !-e;nitiful prayer must have been breathedbv 3.irrv Cornwall's heart, while sitting at hi*

qiiiel fire-side, looking in the face ol hii sweat

wife, and roc-king the cradle o( his "goklen-trcsMdAdelaide:"

Touch us gently, Time:Let us glide down thy stream

Gently.a>>we sometimes ^lideThrough a cjuiet dream !

Humble \*oyager* are we,Husband, wife, and children three !One is lost.an angel liedTo the azure overheadTouch us gently, Time:We've not proud nor soaring wings;

Our ambition, our content,Lie* in little things.

Humble voyages are weO'er life's dim, unsounded sea,Seeking only some calm clime.Touch us gently, senile Time!

MARRIED,On the iJlth Dec'r, by the Rev. Thomas Dur-

liat.i, Mr. Charles II. Boi:chto.v to Miss JiliaBb.i if kk, bolh o( the county of Essex..¦Peace be around thee wherever thou rovest,May life be lor thee one Summer's day,

An ' all tiiat thou wishest, and all that thou lovest,Come smiling around thy sunny way!"Married, on Tuesday, the 17th Dec., at Aspen

Grove, Louisa county, Va., by the Rev. JamesPowell, James S. Dickinson, of Alabama, toMiss Mary F., daughter of Charles Dickinson,E*j.

Married, on the 23d Dec'r, by Elder ThomasIjinford, Mr. Jesse F. Ci.arkr, to Miss BarakElizabeth Crctchvield, alt of Henrico county.

DEATHS.Died, suddenly, on the 25;h of October, 1B4-J,

in the county of Powhatan, Mr. AlexanderJordan, about thirty-eight years of age. Howtrue it i<, ihat, "in the midst of life we are indeath !" How adorably dark are the wavs of anall-wise Providence! He treasures up his brightdesigns and works his sovereign will. Thesubject of this obituary, and melancholy Provi¬dence, was, on the morning of the day of his death,in the field, attending to his farm.and, alas! be-Jore five in the evening, he was numbered withthe dead. Mr. Jordan was an amiable, modest,quiet, unobtrusive man.as a husband, fond andtender, and untiring in his attentions to his chil¬dren.as a master, he was just and equal, kindand forbearing. His neighbors loved and respcct-f'l him, and have sincere cause to mourn overhis removal. May Heaven's blessing rest uponhiv two orphan children and all his relatives andlnends. C. R. F.

Departed this life on the 15th December, at herrt-sidcnce in the county of Brunswick, Mrs. Ma->:v L. Atkinson, the consort of John P. Atkin-s.'n> 1*!l(l-. in the 38th year of her age, after ani.liicss o( several weeks, which she bore with thatM-cekness and submission which had character-

'>or pion? life. Early in life she had con¬

noted herself with the Methodist Episcopalfcuich, ot which, to her death, she was a re¬

spected and honored member. She died in thefiumph of faith, and, doubtless, now rests in

.i husband, three children, and]0N'S "" utc'e cf friends to lament their irreparable

HHir.v°nt!ltf ^^'cmber, at his residence iaEso noerl C'»m'' '!"inia> Beverley Borim,man in ,i ^rs' 1 "e deceased was a gcntle-}¦l the

'* ^'nse °f the term, and diedof U'C Methodist Episcopal

his walk ,uany years at,orneJ byf*jtic*hi .> n i r .Ve'^t,uni an(l 1,ow> "Having;,n.r,-iT ''aving finished his course

him T rrml-'i r *;nce^or,h there is laid up forthe ri»L ' °' righteousness, which the Lord,and noi'i ,°ir f ?hal1 °ive hi,n at "'at day,1 v . ii' 1 oa v*' Jt 111110 those alao wholuve Jus appearing."

Communicated.r»»i a*

ReatVs Domes.over th» f$<rSj h°w painful ft is to look

'he deaths of our friends.Mln, ,.»i , ,' >uc oi our menus.

even-. * ?rL y re%c"'ons are produced by suchtlie -.H.'r,^ -.-

h0* strikingly are we reminded of¦' What shadows we are!" These

"uv fuiuimouun virctvs ur

hi- wiV as his family and his friends.

"w :r;?V^kttltobJ'^ country as one ofrdh- -l0

,s> 'las heen so suddenly, so unexpect-

.n<i V ul . Prei»aturely summoned to another

. (oh it is hopc.1 a) better world than this. Itthe^1#- l'es.'Sn the humble pen that traces

lie h ,ee^''e,hnes to attempt an eulogy on the dead;j no;hing to offer to the heart-stricken liv-.in\/i'0,noi^,D«7~but he hopes and believes that!on i .

Vl5c Providence will bestow its blessingsWen as,icted widow and fatherless children..

poet.^exclaim in ,he language of the

^'nlglu no'an 'l0l,r the day nor sleepingBut iaia, with tKe.

whispers of thy name,{K, { er lbrh sleeps beneath the moon,

taje fcf ihee " ^ does not tel1

Taylor, thou 1rt g0ne Theto to thw; biKthou, oh! thou canstv° ®}9, "eaee- P^ce to thy memory,moclr^ Dec, VI, p/

THE ENQUIRER.l^chinoiidj^Janiiary 3.

VIRGINIA SENATOR.How much truth is there in the old saying,

that one must go from home to learn news of hisown affairs! We have never seen this axiombetter exemplified than by the following positivearticle in the N. York Express. Heie, at Richmond,the very theatre of action, both parties are alikeat fault as to the result of the Senatorial elec¬tion this winter, should said election take place.We do not appreciate the peculiar force ol thelanguage of the Express, "a handsome majorityof Whig members elected last Spring; but thiswe know, that the two parties are, confessedly, so

nearly balanced, at present, that the action of a

single individual may cause Republican Virgi¬nia lobe grossly misrepresented by a Federalist,thereby defeating the great measures which Vir¬ginia and the whole Union have recently com¬manded to be carried out; or may fulfil the ar¬dent wishes of our people, as expressed at thepolls by 6,000 majority, by sending to the Senatea sound Republican, whose vote would throw theweight ol the scale on the side of the new Presi-dent, and enable hiin to consummate those vitalquestions which were solemnly sanctioned by theAmerican people.AH here is uncertainty anddoubt. One day we hear that gentlemen me*nto execute the clearly expressed wishes of theircounties.the next, the story is entirely reversed,

i so itiat it will require a more prophetic visionthan is possessed by any one whom we know, topredict with safety the issue of the canvass..But the sapient Editor of the Express, in theCity of New Yotlc, comes forward to cut theGor-dian knot, and points to Mr. Rives as "the onlySenator whom the Whigs thissessioumn elect, ifthey can elect any one." Now the converse ofthe pioposition is generally conceded to be true.The only thing that can be said to be certainlyknown in the whole matter, is that Mr. Rives

1 cannot be elected this Winter. Nearly every oneadmits that he is not the man for the present erisis.We protest against the poverty ofthe compliment

paid to Mr. Rives by the Express. If by "soundconstitutional principles" the Editor means to de-fine the Federal heresies of the modern WhigSchool, we can give Mr. R. a diploma for his ex¬

traordinary aptness and celerity in learning hisnew catechism. Never have we known a maiexhibit more facility in blotting from his me-

mory the cardinal doctrines of strict and safe.. received from the lips ol

' and in imbibing thesub-the sweeping doctrines of

»-s Mr. Rives as a "fifenore inappropriate"?.such "impenetrable

.* ambition and of pas-mly upon the rock ofainly beating aboutze upon some float-

.self to be a Virginiaime-tried principles,

and once exaltedw saffer the keen mor-

.ame bandied about inprinciples questioned, his

iflnence vanished. But asilled forever. The party,arilv acts, have lost confi¬

dence in him.and the Democrats, who havetried hiin over and over, have "weighed him inthe balance, and found him wanting." Neitherparty desire to trust their destinies in the hands ofsuch a very "safe" politician, lie is not "safe" lorhimself.how could he be "safe" for a great par-ty 1"The Election of a Senator from Virginia..

The Legislature of Virginia re-assemble in Ja-nunry. and will, no doubt, then make some effortto elect a Senator in Congress to fill the vacancyoccurring on the 4th of March. The people ofVirginia elected a handsome majority of Whigmembers of Assembly.but the Locos have theSenate, and give out, that they will not go intojoint ballot, unless they can carry their man..Once in this joint ballot, tiic Whigs could electMr. Rives; and. in Virginia, they will take some

responsibility who refuse to «o into joint bal¬lot, and who thus leave 4.h- »r>W«t>roc<»ntpd.

" Mr. Rives is the only Senator whom theWhiirs this session can elect, if they can electany one; and we think, therefore, it would In? wellfor the Whig party to unite on him. In thepresent critical position of the United States Se¬nate, it is a matter of so much importance tosecure a conservative majority there, that minordiflereuces of opiuion should be overlooked..Mr. Rives learns sound constitutional principlesslowly, it is true, but he is a safe man, and in tne«ctimes* it is every thing to have a safe man in theSenate.

' It is needless to dwell upon the importance ofhaving a majority in the Senate, when wars, trea¬

ties, tariffs and the currency so much depend on it.The Senate is now the only hopeol safe govem-ment for the Republic."On this subject, we shall to-morrow publish a

powerful letter addressed to a friend by L. J.Bowden, Esq., Delegate from Williamsburg, inwhich he delinks his position, and puts in thestrongest light the outrage that would be comrait-ted oh Virginia by the election of a Federal Se-

i nator, in the face of so many eloqnent facts.

WHAT NEXT?The Richmond Whig, in its fiery crusade

against the foreigners who come to our shores to

avoid the petty tyrants of Europe anJ to devoteall their talents and industry (and in many in¬stances their precious gold) to the advancementami prosperity of their new asylum in a freeland, took especial pleasure in hunting up evi¬dence of overt acts on the part ol the GermanStates for the landing among us all the paupersand criminals in their borders. This was broughtforward as a leading argument, why the people ofthe United Stales should violate the spirit of ourfree Constitution, and give a vital stab to their pasttjlorious history, by the adoption of the ultra tuea-sures of that Whig organ, amounting to a com-

plete exclusion from our shores of the oppressedof all nations. What foreigner would come to

America, if he Mere to labor forever in the sup¬port of a Government, and still tie eternally de¬barred from expressing his opinions as to themanner in which that Government should be ad-ministered ?The ibllowing article from the Baltimore Sun

(Neutral) wrests the sweet morsel from the lipsof our Federal neighbor. He must go to work,and find out some new lever to put down the as-

pirations for liberty, which our suffering brethrenacross the water ma)' dare to indulge :

"Immigration or Palters and Criminals..Several articles have lately appeared in the pub-lie press, to the effect that the German States were

ridding themselves of the paupers and criminals,by sending them to this couutry, and that severalsuch importations had already come over. TheNew York Express says, that'Mr. Leopold Bier-with, an officer of the German Society of thatcity, understanding that these stories originatedfrom an American Consul, in Germany, who hascommunicated it officially to his Government,wrote to the Secretary of State, for information on

the subject, and was informed that no such com¬

munication had been made, thus proving the falsi¬

ty of the rumor, and exonerating the GermanStates from so gross a charge."

P. S. Since writing the above, we have seen

a later number of the Sun, which quotes the Na-tional Intelligencer as saving, that "a letter was

addressed by Consul List to this Government, not

through the Department of State, but throughthe Department of the Treasury, from whichletter the charge alluded to is taken. It is datedat the Consulate of the United States at Leip-sjc, March 8, 1S37, and is addressed to the Hon.Levi Woodbury, Secretary of the Treasury.".This correction does not, in our humble opinion,materially afiect the above statement. If thesepaupers and criminals had been emptied on our

shores eight years ago, why have we not heard ofthe outrage before 1 Whv has the thonder ol the

Whig press slumbered, 'till alter the defeat ofHenry Clay by these "vile foreigners V'

J^rThe Romney Gazette has anticipated our

enquiry. It is true, (is it not?) that the Fedcral-ists of Hardy, who can look down all oppositionin their own county, are casting the shadow oftheir influence upon Hampshire. The spuriousdeeds, as made bv the Hardy people, are stampedon their face with frauds.We call upon the Editor to give us the details.

a copy of the deeds.their number.names ef par-ties, ic., &c. If there be any question on whichthe people ought to be informed, this is preciselythe question.

Instructions to the Missouri Senators..Aseries of resolutions instructing the Senators fromMissouri to vote for the immediate annexation ofTexas to the U. States, has passed both branchesof the Legislature of that State.Death op Hon. W! W. Southoate..We

learn from the Cincinnati papers thai the Hon. W.W. Sou thgate. for several years a member of Con¬gress from Kentucky, died at his residence inCovington on Friday night hist.

the nondescript.W e have finally dclermined to lay before our

readers the following production ofa NondescriptPolitician. It is impossible to specify the variousphases of his political creed, without some sur¬

prise. For example.He voted for Polk.isagainst Clay, an old-farhioncd National Bank,but for a new-fangled institution, on a peculiaiprinciple, and is against Rives and Lyons (asa Senator.) On the oilier side of the medal,for a protective Tariff) for Distribution, forBotts as Senator, for Garnelt as Delegate..He goes for Texas, for which we sincerelythank him. That predilection covers a multitude,(we will not say of transgressions, but) of minordiffidences of opinion. Our friend, the Constitu¬ent of Essex, is a man of talent, which would en¬title him to weight, but for the eccentricity of hisopinions. How any man, who goes for Texas,and against the former Bank, could go for I\lr.Botts, is of itself one of those mysteries whichrequire a greater CEdipus than ourselves to un¬

ravel.For the Enquirer.

Polkvjlle, Dec. 10, IRll.Mr. Muscat Ij. Garnctl (Delegate from the coun¬

ty nf Esse* ':)Dear Sir:.The Governor's Message that you

have been so good as to forward to me has beenreceived, for which accept my thanks. TheEnquirer of the 6th instant, which I by some

means missed, would have been more acceptable,as I received the Message in the Whig at thesame time. Iam peculiar in my political senti¬ments; consequently cannot go the partizan witheither Whig or Democrat, but cm free to confess,that my partialities for the last two years inclinestrongly towards the Whigs, believing, as I do,that as a party they are more elevated in senti¬ment, disinterested in conduct, and much moreliberal in their social relations than the Locos. Igo with Whigs in regard to a discriminatingProtective Tariff, bccatisc a portion of theduties arc drawn from foreigners, and I can

see no objection to an overflowing Treasuryat any time, and certainly there should be nonewhen many of the States cannot meet their lia¬bilities, and would be glad to receive their respec¬tive portions of any excess that may remain inthe national Treasury, after the economical wantsof the Government have been discharged Ofcourse, I am for a distribution of the land mo¬

ney, and other exccss with an overflowing Treasu¬ry, and against any distribution with a deficientone.

It is to the interest of all nations to be recipro¬cally moderate in their exactions; but if this prin¬ciple be violated,then countervailingdutiesshouldalways be extracted from the offending party..I go against a National Bank, founded and con¬

ducted in a spirit of favoritism, and for the bene¬fit of individual stockholders, but would favor aninstitution based upon the deposits, and conductedfor the general welfare.such an institution asI have heretofore explained to you in detail.

1 am for the annexation of Texas, because theinhabitants have won their freedom, and deservecountenance and protection, and more particu¬larly from the United States than from anv otherpower, because of their proximity, their wishes,and that they arc principally our people; andwere they overtaken by adversity or disaster onsome remote quarter of the globe, it would lvourbusiness to afford them succor, and, more par-ticularly, if engaged in dclence of their fairly ae-

quired right?. Mexico luts no more control overthe conduct of Texas than any other independentpower; for sovereignties are eijnal, however largeor small, and we, and oilier nations, regard heras a sovereignty.Suppose old "Johnny Q.. were to dissolve our

Union, and separate confederacies were to arisefrom the fragments, and Delaware orRhode Islandwere to set up for herself, what control would thenew Republics have over them? None what¬ever. So if war succeed the measure of An¬nexation, it would not be of our seeking; andthe people of Mexico. I imagine, would havemore to lo«=e than our citizens; for we should cer¬

tainly conquer Mexico, and then should have a

right to dispose o: at as we pleased.Lyons, in his discussion in Tappahanr.oclt

asked, what prudent man would give Yorktowaor Bunker's Hill for Texas'? A very sillv qnes-tion, I thought, as we can retain all 'the glory ofour Kevotu.u.,, lsirinto"K--sides. Clay lost his election by opposing themeasure. He knew full well, that the abolition¬ists held the balance of power, and he ami hisfriends strove to at'ain what he had no goodgrounds to expect, and, consequently, gave a cer-

tait.ly for an uncertainty. I advised the Whips,from the ou:sct, not to make it a party question)and not to allude to Texas in conversation, or inpublic speeches; but their desperate course theywould pursue, regardless of consequences; andnow they are blaming the poor foreigners lortheir own indiscretion, Jorg^tting that these menvoted for Hanison in 18-10, and may help theWhigs again iri time of neet': for. if" von with¬hold naturalization from foreigners, those whohave become citizen* will revenge themselves,bv their votes, on all lit occasions, so that thedisfranchisement, instead of strengthening, willweaken the party; the very reverse of what theycontemplated, will be the "effect. The Democratsout-nianujuvied the Whigs during the whole con¬

test, anil I perceived that the nomination of SilasWright would secure Polk's election, and with allthe previous bad management of th<» Whigs, theywould have succeeded, but fortius judicious moveof the Democrats.

I have never been one of Mr. Clay's admirers.I have always supposed him to be dictatorial andrevengeful, and but for the heavy pecuniary loss¬es of the Whigs, I could not regret his defeat..The party may hnv deserved success, but nottheir leader. I conceive him to be an old offen¬der, and a great sinner, and not a character bvany means to merit the patronage of the ladies,anil it is certainly in bad taste to erect monumentsin honor ol those who have been relinked and re¬

jected by the people. It is a reflection upon theircapacity for self-government, and will be consi¬dered as such, as the step will obviously proceedmore from a spirit of resentment than a patrioticdesire to perpetuate deeds of fame or ennoblingvirtues. It will not be ?. monument calculated tothrill the heart and fill it with delight, but to en¬kindle popular resentment. Send him the silverplate; the present will be of sonic value.will al¬leviate mortification, REMORSE, and be a

means of gratifying the ladies, without offendingthe public, or violating the principle of popularsupremacy. If the ladies really lore Clay, theyshould render him some favor; but it never willlie believed, that moral, civil or personal attrac¬

tions, so much as commiseration for disappointedgrief, have actuated the tender sensibilities of theladies.

I was pleased to see, that you surprised the Go-liah of Democracy and his party, in regard to

the Land Fund; discovering that the fruit wasripe, you plucked it without apparent difficulty.The circumstance, no doubt, aroused them ; butthey awoke only to behold the prize borne be¬yond their reach or the power of recovery! Youdeserve great credit for this, and the Spring elec¬tion will show that the act has been justly appre¬ciated.

1 hope you will not elect William C. Rive*United States Senator.His political historyleaches us, that self-interest, rather than patri-otism, controls his movements; and if, by an cx-

emplification of hi? real character, he has for-feited the confidence of the Loco*, we should bethe more distrustful in confiding important politi¬cal trusts to his equivocal agency. If yon do,you mav naturally calculate that, in times of dis¬tress, difficulty and danger, he will abandon yourcause, as a rat would a sinking ship. Neither isLyons to be trusted.the Locos are entirely toofond of him.and his taunts, his sneers and hisscoffs cannot suppress their admiration and par¬tiality for him. Something wrong, I apprehend,lurking here; and, if the Loco* should fail in se¬

curing a man of their own, they will pluck Ly¬ons from you as you did the Land money fromthem. Botts, I think, is the man, as it would becruel and tinjnst for him to supersede the Speak¬er, unless he could supply his place; and, besides,the utmost confidencc can be placed in his talents,his fidelity and patriotism.in a word, his effi¬CIENCY; and, therefore, why speculate with re-

ganl to future contingencies/when the truth, allpotent, striking and engaging, forcibly presentsitselll It were folly to indulge in theory, whenthe fact weseek lies palpably belore us, in simple,but stern Republican features. You must excuse

my (probably) unwelcome intrusion;.being yourpolitical supporter, induces me to express myselfthe more freely. A constituent.

The ute Ho*x.-It is now acin^1 ,hlt,t!JCaccount of the abolition riotjn P ''^ °Lwn. u.",0>and recapture of negroes*^6*1" ,"e white.-,was an entire hoax thp^gnout. Some Journalsare indignant; we on contrary are glad that itwaa a hoax.that n^such opffngeous murder oc¬

curred; but we submit to t*c person who got it up,whether such falsehood are innocent in their ef¬fects.whether our rrtmtry docs not suffer fromthe wide circular"11 gi;ren to a wretched hoax" jlike this, and 7nether any explanations or apol¬ogy, couldAWJfy such a mischievous, if not atro-ciousAii«hood7.[.V. Y, Sun.

For the Enquirer,COUNTY COURTS.-No. III.

Tit the General AssemUv of Virginia:It will be seen, upon an examination of the

sketch given, thai it is a part of the scheme, that allthe civil business is proposed to l»c placed in theQuarterly Courts, and all the criminal businessin the monthly terms. This change would not be so jgreat as to give ri«e to any difficulty, or 1 appre-hend be any ground ofobjection, while it wouldgreatly facilitate business in both the monthlyand quarterly sessions; an advantage I presumewhich would more than counterbalance any evilwhich might by possibility grow out ol it. it willalso he seen at a glance, that the Commonwealth'sAttorneys would be diminished in number; allnt)w in oflice would be deprived of their presentoffices, and the "Presiding justices" would occu-py their places.but there is little doubt but that1'ioni the ranks of the present Attorneys for theCommonwealth, the new otlice would be filled.these would be the chief, if not onlyehnnsn made;and while the County Court would retain itspresent organization, it would have at its com¬mand always the knowledge and skill, oftht "Pre¬siding Justice," and thus a reform would he ac¬

complished, without attacking old prejudices asinjuriously affecting a tribunal having alreadyenlisted in its favor the habits and good will ofthe people.One objection has been urged against *!>.! pro-

posed scheme, by those whose opinions arc enti¬tled to respect, which it becomes me to notice asfully as my brief spr.ee will permit; it is this: thatby the scheme "a judicial officer is appointed, whoex-olJicio is also an Attorney." I confess thatfrom choice, I would not create such an officer asis here described, but we arc placed in actuationin which we must seek not what is perfect, but

j that which it is in our power to obtain. If, how-ever, we examine the objection, we will find thatit is a matter almost impossible to point to anvoilier, whose duties, abstractly considered, ruewholly judicial or wholly ministerial; a minglingof judicial and ministerial powers in some degree) is not uncommon, and we find no injury to resultIrorn it, so far as necessity has forced us hereto¬fore to g<>, in mingling these powejs; and if, in thiscase, it is carried farther than in those with u hichwe are familiar, yet we introduce no new princi-pie.and the circumstances of the case justify usin the step, when no real evil can result, andmuch good may be the consequence. Again, itought to be observed that the PresidingJustice cannever, under any circumstances, Ik? called on loex-ercisehis duties' as prosecutor, and his powers as amagistrate in the same forum.the office whichhe will hold in the quarterly sessions, where civilbusiness will lie transacted, being perfectly sepa¬rate and distinct from that held bv iiim in themonthly terms and in the Superior Court.theonly connexion between them being, that theywill beheld by the same person. The "PresidingJustice" will be, from the nature of his office, ina judicial position in the Courts of quarterly ses¬sion; and at the monthly terms he will hold an of¬lice in its nature approaching a judicial one, asin practice. It rests in the judgment of the Cotn-monwealth's Attorney to decide whether a personcharged with a crime shall be prosecuted or r.<":and this practical power niav, indeed, be adducedas an instance of the minglingof powers laid asthe ground of the objection under consideration.And, not to multiply instances to ineei this objec-tion, we may here, to show that mingling in lie:same officer ministerial and judicial function-;.i« not new in the system under which we live, re¬call the following quotation, upon which 1 jiimnow happen to lay inv hand, which i^ apt andproper: "The power and duty of a Sheriff areeither ns a Judge.as the Kee|»cr of the King's

i peace.as a wini<itrial nj/iccr of the Superior! Courts of Justice.or King's Bailiff. In hisjitt/uial capacity, he is to hear an I determine allcauses of forty shillings value and under, in hi>

j County Court, and he ha« a jwliiini power in di¬vers other civil cases.". [D'aIt. on hheii/fs, C. 4.No injury has heretofore resulted in such cases,

and il injury is apprehended, it is incumbent onthose who urge the objection, to show how ill willcome: and I hope I may lie pardoned for saying,| that I think it will be found that the objection herehas its origin in prejudice, rather than in reason.Having thus n >:iced the most usv.nl objection

to the scheme, and having enumerated the evilswhich it is sought to correct, allow me furtherspare, briefly to enumerate th<* positive advnn-»<..«¦. *' - ;l ... I,,,,,, : |j[. v. J, *>f|(l ||,p

| most prominent arc th.'se: a profess ion;, 1 manj will alw.ivs lie a member of the County t ,'ourt.«,j affording to the members of the Court the b-ne-

fit of his knowledge and experience. There lie-! ing a head to the Court, business under his di-I rcction will be promptly and pro|x.*ilv c-.no'ueied.! While justice will be promptly administered, withincreased certainty and despatch, the saving ineach county, in time and money to suitors amiwitnesses will, I verily belie--. be more than riou-Me the salary of the' Presiding Justice." Theefficiency of the County Coins being restored,the b'i«incs ol the Circuit Jnrg's wi'l :.e greatlydiminished and the frequent rc».ii. now so

necessary, to spccial and intermediate terns, tothe harrassing of the j-cople, the .Midge and theBar, be entirely obviated. In addition to thesebenefits il may properly be urged, that 'he officeof "Presiding Justice" will be a seh mI in which

! will be formed, that rarest, but most important ofall our officers, a good nisi prius Judge.While the duties of the' Presiding Jusiice" will

be onerous and troublesome, yet it our calcula¬tions with regard to the salary and perquisites are

correct, it will command Mich talent and learn-ing as may be sufficient; and the system of "Or-phan's Courts,"so much needed, so important, and

I si) often vainly asked for, will in cfl'ccl lie obtain-j ed.order will be introduced where disorderreigns.legal business will be restored to chan-uels which it was intended to occupy, but whichfire now aim .st deserted.and this will be acconi-

/.'<)/. the Ivnquiar.HINTS ON THE CRIMINAL LAWS OK

VIRGINIA.. [No. III.]To the Legislature:Having, in November, shown you Iiow much

the escape of guilt from jut-lice i* promoted byour Kxainimng Courts, by the via \ncrof sumvwn-ing juries to try felon* and by the ixccssiic num-her of arbitrary c/tojlcngcs allowed them; I ceasedto write, only for fear of obtruding upon yonmore than ray share of the Mtetjeslions withwhich, wc out of-door adviseis, commonly tirethe attention of the Legislature: not at all forlack of other defects to s-how, and other amend-menls to propose. Not at all. For years I havebeen nut in?, in our penal laws, inconsistenciesand delec's must plarin?. which 1 meant at sun.?time to expose. They would occupy several cu-

| luinns of a newspaper.Sometimes the law affixes a severer punishment

to a small offence than to a greater one. Sume-times it is unreasonably a respecter of persons;and bears with oppressive weight and deep injus-lice upon one class, for offence*, which in anotherclass it visits with dove-like mildness. Two of-fenccs, at least, which strike at the foundation ofmoralsand of domestic peace, are threatened withpenalties ludicrously lenient; anJeven that threati* made impotent, by requiring two witnesses tu

prove the crime. At least one offence is madeheavily punishable, so unnatural that a humanbeing would scarcely dream of it, ii the law didnot put it into his mind. And at least one, ottenoccurring, for which, in some cases, death wouldbe not too severe, has no punishment.is not evenforbidden!

For several, if not more, transgressions, it isdifficult to say what is the lawful punishment, or

what tribunal shall inflict it: difficult, even to a

lawyer.how much more to a magistrate. Nota few of these perplexities grow from our reten¬tion of the clumsy, puzzling and disgracefulphrase "Benefit of Clergv:" "others, from thethoughtlessness, or ignorance, ofthose who penn¬ed the laws. For instance, can any one tell thepenalty for a slave or free negro's robbing in a

field, not near any highway? And when, col.tine the "Act concerning Benefit of Clergy," with.j or 0 other Arts, and a case in Ith Leigh, hehas with labor decided, that the free yfccshall go to the Penitentiary for f> yea^, s|j0!]ld(as a white man wonld,) while tfrr as the court"sufR such corporeal puofocrpreted, 39 lashesshould think fit," wb»<jh3'Uch offence, the slave;.but that for^a .Jp'free man is only sent to theis hanged, w{>jr jjfp. t|ien waiving these incon-Penitent;'* j jf such ofneurity in a-ru laws,.l^lcss p?nal laws, ought to l>c toleratedin a country like this? In Rome, even under;the Ctcsars, the laws were displayed in public so

low as "to be plainly read from the ground;7' andit was a refinement of Caligula's tyranny, to

hang them too his»h to be read, and then punishtheir violation. Have not yonr predecessors beenequally unjust ? Again.hy a general law

[I R. C. 61-2, $ 48] the fine for a misdemeanor isto be assessed by a jurv. But the law of limitedpartnerships fActs of lf«T. C. 67, J 10] subjects a

fraudulent partner to "fine, or imprisonmsnt, or

both, at the discretion of the Cmirt by which he shallbe tried." Now, is the Court, or a j ury, to assess

this fine?These instances of darkness and doubt are

taKen at random. Snmma papuvcra carpcns,crnnot here be applied to inc. These are not thechief, or a lithe ot the like fault*, clouding thecri-minal code of Virginia, and (it is no excess tosay) casting a shade over her good name.

\et, many and ugly as these Mots in our penallegislation are, another mischief surpasses themin hideousnes's, and in dauber. That mischiclis. the ill working, too often the no working, ot th<*machinery intended to enforce the laws. Magis-trates, grand jurors, judges, and executive orti-c«.rs leave numerous and important duties unful-filled. Sheriffs and justices see and tolerate un-lawful assemblies of slaves. Justices wink atgambling; cav, (as do some judges,) gamblethemselves. Grog shops arc licensed, where theyare proved to be nuisances, most unwelcome tolarge portions of the neighbors. Grand jurorsleave these and scores of other offences unpresent-ed; not, perhaps, "through fear, favor or a flection,"but through indolence, and haste to gel home, indisregard of their oath "diligently to inquire in¬to" all such matters. And when they do present,the court in some counties discharges the offenderso regularly, upon the "rule to show cause," or amotion for a noil* prosci/vi, that the grand juriesthere have come to think it a mere waste of paperto make a presentment. Since I have filled mypresent oilice, one hundred presentments have

Erobably l«eeti made in the county courts, of whichardly six have come before a petty jury. The

rest have been dismissed, mostly on the defend¬ant's own oath of exculpation. As to convictingan overseer of a road, no matter what his ollicialdelinquency.shooting a ghost were as easy. Tento one, the court "lets him of!';" but the jury ncveifail to acquit him.

I suggest no remedies, now, for these ill-.allofthem you could alleviate, and many you couldremove; but the roofs of many can be reachedonly by the people themselve:.only bv turningpublic opinion in certain directions, more strong¬ly and decidedly than now. One radical mea-sine for liiem must be, to elect tin ir Si; le lawgi¬ver* mute with a view lo their Virginia duties,and with lc>s regard to things at Washington..So long as the constituent body make the ques-ticn of Whig or Democrat, nine-tenths, insteadof one fortieth part, of their test of fitness for ascat in the Stale Legislature, so long will theircode, both criminal and civil, remain confused,patchy, inconsistent and obscure. 1 do not meanto disparage yon, gentlemen, but the system.At present, let me on!v remind you of the

claims my first three topics have to your itnme-diate action. In the names ot those many wit¬nesses and officer?, whom you will save from wan¬ton harrassment by doing away lixamuiumCourts.\n the names of the jurors and witnesses,whom you will save from almost eq* al vexationby directing every rcnuclo betaken 'emote fromthe scene of the crime.and in the n; me of pub-

, lie justice, whom you will bot seive by thosemeasures, and by narrowing to two or three theprisoner's peremptory challenges, I call upon youwot to let this session pass away without suchenactments. Do not wail for a general revisal,but enact these as piineiples to be emlxnlied in it.They will serve as feelers towards the revisal, astenniive efforts to prove your own hand, and toascertain the people's pleasure. My life upon it,both you and they will Ik.- pleased with yourwork on trial. It will save lal>or, complication,and expense. It will promote justice. It will tellinstantlv to the re I iff of dozens, perhaps hun¬dreds, whom ihe present laws every month ag¬grieve and opp!e*h.

Your lellow-eiti/.cn,A Commonwk.w.th's Attohsev.

December l^il.

I\>r the Entjvircr.AN APPEAL TO LA WYEHS,

Art*I.VST TIIK Te.MI'KK 4.SXK Scc-IKTV.Dear Brethren: Looking over my lee book ihc

other day, J was wonder-stricken to find that three.'"Wths ol my profits had sprung from, what thinkvou. \\ hy, from thosedelicions twenties whichthe temper*!uctf folks would br.ni'«h from ire.

Nearly all my (attest lees have been in rasesthat grew out ot Honor. Every writ for divorce,or (or separate maintenance,' that 1 have eveibeen concerned in, hall the actions of slandernine-tenths of the assaiilt-snd-balterv cases, andlour-fifths o| those most interesting and best p;iu!eMitrover>ie«, criminal prosecutions, havecomelr<>m that source. When those delicate jar>

j ..r»-o, \\ liieu tin* vulvar doom diseoids, betweeninai. aiiilv. ;tl>, ^rc-.vjn« ;:t tosiieh a pilchthat nothing but two paiis ot lawyers and a

; Chancellor can regulate them; and when, out ofthese discoid*, each lawyer with wizard skill ha*

j evoked harmony thenjo.-t delightful to his ear.afine ol two, Jour or live hundred dollars; to what

I isit 11,1 °Jring1 Ungrateful do?, if he doubts ort urrets it: he owes it all to diint;! The husbandwould have plixided on ihroiitrh life, insipidly |»-vui« his wile and doing his duties, (ot nouse to lawyer, clcik or sheriff.) but f.r thetimely intervention ot' our friend, the bottle.This made him eenerons to tho«c who had no

claims ufii'ii him, at thr* expense ol those who hadclaims. T.ns made him Reulitrcni. an,I dash in v.in a gentlemanly wnv: delightful to his taverncompanions. though now and th"ti rough to hiswile: mr.dehirmctjtrae; debts, he knew not how:leave his house ami farm to get out of order, hisl iinilvto be ill-supplied, (he woman's heart totlirob stranirely, and her cheek to grow thin and

hxecutions would come. rJ*he scenes, on

his midri&htly return, would wax richer and'"'her in ine'dem.more and more slrilinc a

punster would say.till she could bear them no

longer; and.j/r were called in. Then the fees!I know an Attorney for the Commonwealth

who sweats, that he has |>ecn concerned in a do¬zen eases or more, of wives asking snretr of thepeace against their husbands; and that in all of

j them save one, the wives declared on oath, thatj luC^ violence they hail su/lered was only whenj their lord* were in liquor. Now all these caseswere grist (,.. our mill.

i .vrn the plainer, mlur/i,iz business.action*ol i.ebts, and upon accounts.we owe uicstlv toour ally, .Mr. Barleycorn. Gaming, usuty, badbargains, ill thrill, misunderstandings about con-

tracts, imperceivod decays of fortune, and manvother causes of difficulty leading to lawsuits

j ari'-e on', of ihc "cup ol 'kindness." When thefarmer lets his store account run on, unpaid, forso many years that the merchant has to sue, tento one(if/.W account Unot ehieily for liquor)thcfarmer has a larjjc li'j'tor account somewhereelse.The liquor sellers themselves.what inesti-

mable cusiomeis ik.fi/are. to lawyers! How vasta proportion of the bonds, notes an I accounts,anntiallv put in suit, come from ihc desks ofthose noble patrons of science and ofart! patronsof nvalid its kindred sciences*.ofilHtillationand i's artiliatedarts.'Phvsie, pauper-making, theeollin-maniifaetiire, J»ri (in-btiildin5. gallows-ma-kins and all kinds of penitentiary work, not tomention transport-navigation and the exploring

l of new countries, (Botany Bay, &c.,) are a lewof the arts that thrive bv means of the liquor sel¬lers. What la wyer would dare to offend them, orwould tvish to spoil their business? Are w« siliv

J children, to quarrel with our bread and butter?.The loss of iheir direct custom would lose me

[ hundreds a year; and their indirect agency makesmore than half my fortune.Nay, as man milks the cow and works the ox

while they live, and eats them when dead; sothe good that those noble patrons do us lawyersin their fall, is well nigh equal to the good theydo us while they stand, l-'or a great New York

j judre, much quoted by the temperance men, say«,that "of the tavern keepers and retailers ofardentspirits in that State, during the last forty years,more than two-thirds have become drunkards, andreduced their families to poverty." Now, i: is nodoubt so too in Virginia: and in the transit ofalarge liquor dealer from wealth to poverty, is itnot exhilirating to think how many goodjobslawyers occur? £Je take.* deeds of tiusf, he£:'^edeeds of trust, which a lawyer mD^u^tn('ie j,brines a multitude of suits, Creditors scram-brought against hi.n. a tlj^.y ol paymeni olltble\ \\ ith each oUier^hole scene, even in descrip- j

I tion' ''hink' o( mmc-r in m>' Pur5<?-

I Tfc .

* 7^1peranee men quote another Judge,j t.«e testimony, mark how I will turn againstthem ! I thank the eenMemen (as we say at theBar) for introducing su^h authorities.

*

JudgeHale said (Sir Matthew) that if all the murdersrobberies, thefts, and other crimes, which lie had*seen prosecuted in forty years, were divided intonve pa its, four ot those parts would b^ found .

t racea ble to strong drink. And this is said to be truehere in Virginia.Now, my answer to this is, that as every crimi-

nai nearly, employs one or more lawyer* (Acn.rre criminals there are, the better for us. So muchfur Sir Matthew.We, therefore, in every view of our best inter-

",re b°nnd to give no countenance to this"Temperance Reformation." The total-absti-ncncc principle on which it proceeds now-a-davs Ithreatens our staunehest ally with extirpation..Let us not aid or abet the cold-water lanatics intheir crusade against the feast of reason and thetlow o! sotjI. Temperate drinking is the thinelor us. If we drink temperately (being men "ofmar* and likelihood") many others will insensi-bly gltce into eices*; to the great increase of ourharvests. We shall also conciliate the liquor-venaers. And by haunting bar-rooms, or other j

merry-making places, wt^hall captivate the jol¬ly lads that use there. They will cr 11 us goodfellows, and give us many a enfe which the eold-water prigs might els-- have gotten.

If some of us chance to be caught in our ownsnare, and become occasionally mellow, 'twillonly be bringing back a good usage ol the oldentime. Mar.y a great lawyer has drawn bis in¬spiration from the bottle. Why not we? Iji thetime of Hudibras, there was a muse,

"that with ale or viler liquorj,Did inspire Withers, I'ryn, and Vickars,And make them, tho' il were in spite^Of nature and their stars, to write."

So, any of us to whom nature and our starshave denied the girt ol eloquence, may quart itfrom a glass of wine or todd v, or a punch-bowl,ourCastaly. JThe Doctors are jointly interested wijh us, in

maintaining the dominion of good drink.* It putsmoney in their purse. I once heard a r^'ht emi¬nent physician say, (a tirm atulainn trj>m totalabstinence,) that it "alcoholic drinks were doneaway, il would preally en tail the pro/its «' the doc¬tors." These were his very words.Some lawyers, alxittors of what they call "the

great Reformation," weakly argue, that the solidand permanent welfare of our professinr. is inse¬parable from that of th; community and that,as the community would undoubtedly m betteredby the total disuse of intoxiratingdrinks,so wouldwe Hut this is a mer- abstraction. !¦. ta<*t. itis little better than metaphysical; as 1 couldprove, if 1 hail time.

Your lo ing brother,Christmas Day, ISM. A LAWYER.

?Blackstone says, "the *. ieneo.- *re social, andtlourish liesi irieach otherS neighborhood:" andCicero says, "all art" have a common tie. and are

j held together by a .v>rt of kinship' .hais.nl ip'od-tiam iontmunc riutiiluw. & ..

For thr Entntirsr.TO RICHA I! D II TOLER, Esq.

I address this communication to vou, l-ccauseyou are Chairman of il»r> Committee in the Le¬gislature which hr» charge of the subject of In¬ternal Improvement, as well as because of the in¬fluence yen are capable of exercising in ihe bodyol which you are a distinguished member.Without further preface, then, let me ask, what

does the Legislature intend t» do for the JamesRiver Improvement this winter? Is that "reatwork to lie left in its present condition, or is'k toIjc extended further West ? Jn other words, is i;tolH! abandoned to the fate that inevitably awaits'it, it l. ft to its own unaided ellbrts ? or will theLpgi*lniure provide the means for it.- further pro-'sedition?

1 hese are important questions.important, itseems to me. to the whole Commonwealth of Vir-ginia; to the East as well as to the West; but \i-tally important to us on the West o| the BlueRidge. What is our situation ? A few yearsago. the canal was put under contract fromLynchburg to the mouth of North River. Theold canal, which atlurded at least a sale convey¬ance through the mountains, was pulled downand destroyed, and we were remitted to the navi-gat ion of our forefathers, or rather of the sava"eswho inhabited our country centuries ago. But,sir. we endured this patiently, although j| was at-tended'.villi imminent danger tc both life and ear-.j,- iiel'Vvitig, as we did. that it would be so onlvfor "a season, and that in a few yea's we shouldhave the new canal finished and in successful ope-lation. Rut, alas! years have tolled awav, andwe aic still in the same condition. There is thenew canal; but it is only half finished, and seem>to l<e abandoned to dilapidation and urea v. Theiuifroveiuent we once had, has been taken from

j us, and nothing ht» been given in its place; andj every boat laden with flour or other produce, thatj now passes through the mountain, runs the im-mincnt hazard ot being dashed to pieces againsttin- huge rocks over which the river tumbles andfoams in its passage. ]'his :s no exaggciatedpicture. It is the naked truth; and in view of it.let me a»k, whether common justice does not re-

cjuire that we should, at least, lie placed in as

got-: a condition as we were in liefore the newwork* was commenced. It seems to me. thatevery candid and itnpaitial inau must confess,t!iat it docs, and that the grossest injustice ha>been done to us in thi< particular.

IJ til. :sir, this U not all. There is another viewol the Mtlject tlir.t makes the injustice ..till moreglaring. We all remenik-r the difficulty of se-

j curing the ihaitei foi'the.lames Riv*i Company.and the strenuous e%rts made^tp obtain subscti-b t- to the stock. Irf^ose e(Wrts, the West par-

J tieipated, and in several counties a liberal sub-scription was obtained. I might mention Bote¬tourt, Monroe, and other Western counties. Onegentleman, I think, in tin- former, took fifty shares,and I know others who subscribed as liberally]considering their means. Now, have we not a

right to c'.' inaiid that this wotk, upon which our

ino'vy has itcen spent, and which oilier-; are en-

joying the benefit of, shall he brought within ourreach ; at nil events, that it .shall not be allowed

j to remain a curse, instendol'a blessing to its ?But admitting al! this to be true, yt»'i in;.y ask,

what crtn the L"jjis!attire do in the present con¬dition of the country ? Rather a>k. what wtt.t,th" Legislature do. lor they t .iv if they wii.t. !.Or.lv kt tliem, instead of suggesting iioiihts andditlieulties, s.-t to woikin good earnest, and mylife upon it, the wotk will progress, an ! that with¬out detriment to any interest its the Common¬wealth, and without the dangerof lutuie repudia¬tion either. I will not undertake to suggest themode or manner in which the aid of the Stateshall lie afforded ; but even supposing .she hnd toborrow the money, or to lend her credit to theCompany to do so, would that be any such greatand unheard-of thing? Virginia » said to liethe mother of Statesmen, and, I lor one, do notdeny it; but whether that lie so or not, she is themother of us all, whether we live on this or thatside of the mountains. She stands in \<k« vnrai-Iif to al! her citizens. Well, Sir, is it considereda great act of generosity, if a parent should ad¬vance h»s son v, hen about to commence life forhimself, or that hesh'. tld even l-orrow money tostart him in business, not having himself the pre¬sent means of doing so ? And what is the differ¬ence between that cast* and the one in band ?.The Wc«t is just starting, as it were, into lite..Its resources, though treat, are undeveloped, andi: asks tor means to develop? them. Shall they beafforded 7 Or must die people of the West sitdown in despair, or d . what the Governor hintsat in his late Messate, abandon the State thathas abandoned, or cat. > n t fur tl.rm. But this isa pa in! n I part«.! tie* .> ibjut. and I will nut dwellon it.

1 say that A itginia is bound by every conside¬ration ot public policy a> well as ot justice, topush the improvement t u. How far it shouldg.», is another question. Whether the originalscheme of connecting it with the Ohio is prac¬ticable. and it >o, whether it is now desirable, are

questions about which th: re may I e a differenceo! opinion. For my par:, I believe the tiade oithe North-west is lost to Virginia. Whilst shehas been talking and surveying, her rivals havebeen irmbns and have already pushed their iin-provements into the territory from which she ex¬

pected, at some future time, to draw an immensetrade.But if all cannot be accomplished, shall we

therefore do nothing? Is the trade of the Valley,the riehest part of Virginia, of no importance ?

Why may not the canal be finished to BucJ>»{yJ,"or Covington, and then why may it J'foTt'andnc-cled with other improvements '''unties to it?htinging the produce ot dj^'rn' ro8(, \0 ,on.For instance, the f r,.1:,ure t0 atscr,

j milted ot ¦u«tl^ve','(jaini/ed ro.id from some pointj '' a ^°2tiver to t!ie Tennessee line, is secondol\.'^"importance to ihe Commonwealth to the

1 Jatnes River canal. The two works ought to gotogether, lor when completed they will mutuallyaid each other. No doubt there are other im-jurtant improvements well deserving the patron¬age of the Legislature. I do not wish to dispa¬rage any such, but in my opinion, th03c mention¬ed arc of paramount importance.May we not then expect your efficient aid this

winter? 1 know it i- the opinion of some, thatyour constituents, having secured ihe can;* I to

Lynchburg, are opposed to its gjing further West.But. for on". I entertain nosuch nn worthy opinionof them. Their own interest, if not their magna¬nimity and generosity, forbids it. They arc asmuch interested in the extension of the canal, aswe are, and it it were otherwise, they are too gene¬rous to deny to otheis the benefits from this work-to which they are entitled in common with them"selves. Much less do I lear that your course willbe governed by selfish and sectional views. Youare at the head of a most important Committee,and nave been placed there, no doubt, because youwere capable of rising superior to any merely lo¬cal considerations, and of viewing this great sub¬ject as it bears upon the general and permanentinterests o<"the Commonwealth. Neitherdo Iap-prehend any opposition to the scheme here sug¬

gested, from the North-west They are satisfiedwith thr* improvements which other Slates haj^already and arc still making for them.andjflthey ask is, that Virginia will permit thosJ|^Hto bring their improvements througJUM^^^^Ithat they may enjoy the bencfrts^^^^^^^Hwhich Virginia herself i*

I.KG1SLATV'RK OF VIRGINIA.IK »l*SE OF DELEGATES.W'edneS'lay, January I, l>l.r>.

Petitions, &c., wen* presented and referredBy .Mr. BOLLING. of .Samuel Crawford, l*.»r

remuneration lor special services remit ted byhim as Clerk of theS'Jih regiment of militia;By Mr. STEPHENSON, of John Ambler tnt!otheis, for an incorporation ot the Preston Navi-

ii»m Manufacturing Company;By Mr. FLOOD, a preamble and resolutionsof a meeting at Buckingham Court house of law¬yers ol Buckingham, Amherst, Albemarle,Com-lieHam). Prince Edward, Charlotte ami Powhatar,relative to proposed changes in the judiciary sys¬tem of the State;By Mr. HAMILTON of Preston, remon¬

strances of citizens of Brandonville, and other ci¬tizens of said county, against changing the boun¬daries of said county by the formation of newcounties;Bv Mr. CAMPBELL, petition ol citizens of

Bwllord, for a separate election at the house oiAlex. Wade;By Mr. BANKS, fulimn we are glad to ««v

for the tint time in the House, alter a imiver,-from a severe illness,) of officers of the 83d Regi¬ment, for amendments in the militia jv-tem; also,ot citizens of Madison, for a scpaiatc election ziStony Hill: also, of other citizen*, u-i a separateelection at John Hoffman's mill;By Mr. NEWLON, t«f citizens of William'.port and vicinity, in Tayloi county, lor a changeof the name of s.-»i«l tou n to "Prunty Town."On m Hion ot Mr. FITETON ».! Wythe,Ik-folrt ii. That the Committee on Courts, 4'Cenquire into the expediency ot amending ll;e ' 1thsection of the act in relation to oriiinwries mdhouses of plivn't: entertainment, * >as provid*a more definite punishment kr otlcnce- enutre-rated in said s< ction.The Engrossed bill 'rstnblMiing the eoMn:v t

. of parts of Harrison, Tyler, Ritchie mdLewis counties," was read a third time and p.iv -

ed, tli" blank in the title having ltecn filled uit'ithe word''Doddridge," on motion ol Mi. STE¬PHENSON.An engrossed bill, "authorizing a loan to the

Valley Turnpike Company, and giving the State'sguarantee for the repayment of thrc-e-lifths there¬of," was. on motion ot Mr. STREET, laid or;the table, ayes 51), noes 43.said motior. hav.'rjjbeen warmly resisted by Mr. DENI^ONAn engrossed bill "Incorporating the President

and Directors of the Southwestern TurnpikeHoad" was, on motion ol Mr. W ITCHEH.laid H|ion the table.A resolution from the Commit'' c on Courts, «vo,

was agree! to: against the expediency of amendingthe law regulating the proceedings in cases ofprosecutions for mis-demeanors.

Mr. JACKSON called up the resolutions oflered on the jtjtli in->t. by Mr. BROA DCS of<¦peper. as follow:

1. Rcfolvd. f-if the General A*vrr,b!;j nf Virritiu»,That the lime allowed u> claimant* on the Stat«of Virginia lor revolutionary land bounty to pre¬sent the fame for adjustment, by joint revolutionadopted Febrilerv 1, 1S4'2, extended ftcm thefirst of Mairli lfc-15, as tixed in that icsolutiuri,to the 1st ?.1areh, 1*17.

'2. H-mlv-l, That the l?egi«!er of the I*andOflice of Virginia is hereby ic-trueted ti. publish.his resolution in such newspa|«i> ot this Statuas have the most genera! circulation, tor the it.-formation of claimants.A I'midebate »n-tifcd. Mess,- JACLSON

and W ITf "II EH opposed ;he le-op.itionv, a* t¦ . jthought time enough had been allowed io adim-tthese claims, and. if the time be ex let Jed, itwonktenure mainly to the benefit of speculator.-,and open the door to fraud.Messrs, STOVALL and BHOADLSof Ch'

ppp-r gave a history of thtfce claims, and urges.'the justice of the proposition. In the course ofhi* remarks, Mr. STOVALL warmly repliedthe assault* of Mr. Flail, meinbet ot Congr^>jIroni Vermont, upon the character of Virginia.

Mr. TAYLOR of Norfolk Borough thought,more time should be allowed.MesMs. COCKE nnd CAHSON siotained th«

resolutions and ciled instance* ofjust claims whichhad not yet been adjusted.The two resolutions weic then adopted.On motion of Mi. PAYNE, the Hnuc< so¬

journed.

TWKNTY-Kl'.HTII COXUKKSC.. 4.1 6t«,

Tocsufnv, Ikinnltr ,iJ.IN" SENATE.

MEMOUt Al.s, ltK"Ol.t 1'IOVS, &»..Mr. cm >ATE presented r. memorial from the

inhabitants of NonnlKiro', Mass*., remonstratingagainst '.In* annexation of Texas.

Mr. TAPPAN presented a memori.**! from c|-tizens of Cincinnati, asking a reduction of po»l-age. and :<> nU'li-h the franking privilege,

!r. B 1*011 ANAS presented ;i men.'ti.:I fromihe Society ol Friends in Pa., protesting rgain tiheai.ti' xaiion ol T'w:.*-.

Mr. 111" NT! NGD< »N, from !!:.* (*. mnut:» <» en

Commerce, rf|?r?nctl twobilK i .vomit.' ri'iinu theirpassage;oneprovides fori!iej»r.< it ngit p.-i*.;.nd the oilier regulate* ifcr pay and ptt'ineli.-n t'officers in ih«* revenue servit e.

Mr. 171*11AM presented a petition 'Vr,r.i :Y.widow oi l leman Allen, ol" Vermont, a-i.i:..; I .:

i<av for her husband's revolutionary fervi.es.Mr. WOODBRMH.iE from the Committee ,.u

Pulilie Lands, reported a l»ill granting bir.d it.| the Vincennes district lor the Wabash and KiteCanal.

Mr. CR1TTKNDKN submitted a joint refol"lion which was adopted, directing ihe Committeemi tiie Library to inquire into the expediency ofprocuring lor publication, the papers ol the la:«Alex. Hamilton

Mr. BENTON submittal .'i ipsolu'ion whichII'.» over one day, calling on th'- Picsidcnt fora copy ot the letter from Mr. Shannon to theDepartment t>f State, in reference to the payment of Ihe Mexican indemnities ol Apiil fti

July. Also calling li>r the name of the an>.n:who receives litis money there, by what authori".he was appointed, what is Ins pay, and for anyinformation he may have concerning the luden.

' nity.HOUSE OF REPRESENTAT1\ E.i.

rr.xxrMr. T1BBATTS of Ky. \»ished to Introduce,

by general consent, a proposition for the annexa¬tion of Texas.

Mr. BARNARD objcctcd-And Mr. TfBBATTS irr.ve i-.;ie< that he

would int;oducc his proposition at subsequentdav. The reporter coulu not, in t'.r confusion,learn whether it was a bill or a resolution.Mr. BELSER, ol Alabama, gave r; .nee tha'

at some subse.jiieiit p< t'io-.l !.e woi.I.i ji.i '»:i'ct :»series of tesol'itions lor annexing To*:- :o .

United Slates. These notices weic ciitcuv nthe Journal.

INDIAN* Af'rAlftr.r.A Bill to amend an A.-t regulating «>«(r.

course with the Indian Trite#, ws- *»«.'. t cia;and referral to the Committee ''

'"-Bi.'c r*,""a'resolution to let -

Mr. HOT,".STONinittee of the Whole ' :trninaie alldeba'^/c and icduce the ptiee <.! Pul-the Bill JoP^liich was rejected. Aves Vj, and

i iic.i-rrHE PORTS.

Mr. VANCE. ofOhio, moved to suspend t hi?rules, (or the purpose of teeeiving it-posts frcinthe standing committees The rules wtiesus-pen.led, ar.d the Speaker then proceeded !u callon the Standing Committees for Reports.

Reports weic then submitted from the Com¬mittee on Claims, the Committee on Post Officeand Post Roads, the Committee on Commerce,the Committee on Mileage, the Committee onMilitary Affairs, on Foreign Affairs, on NavalAffair:', on Invalid Pensioners, on Paicnis. amiseveral other Committees, which were read auireferred.Mr. KENNEDY, of Md., from the Commit¬

tee on Coinmeice, reported a bill to alter themod-: of pdmeasurement and adjustment of thetonnage of vessels, in the merchant service of t'r,«United States, which was referred to the Com¬mittee of the "Whole.Mr. PRATT reported a joint resolution in

favor of a national monument to the memoryot Washington.A resolution was offered authorizing the di--

trikution ol the surplus wood purchased fct 'heuse of the House, among the poor ot the city olWashington.Mr.G. W. JONES, ofTenn., contended that th^

House had no authority to distribute this wood,fur this object. The people of his State had totake care of their own poor, and he thought tl.opeople of the city of Washington should do the;same.Some conversat:

Speaker an