Mr. George Nicholas reported, from the committee of Propositions and Grievances, that the committee had, according to order, had under their consideration several petitions, to them referred, and had come to several resolutions thereupon, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same were again read, and are as followeth : Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the farther consideration of the petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Bourbon, praying that all that part of the said county lying north of the main branch of Licking, may be formed into a distinct county, be referred to the next session of Assembly. Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Loudoun, praying that a ferry may be established from the land of Thomson Mason, gentlemen, deceased, in the said county, across Potomac river to the land on the opposite shore in the State of Maryland, is reasonable. Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Lincoln, praying that 26 acres of land, formerly the property of Benjamin Logan in the said county, already laid off into lots and streets, may be established a town, and certain persons appointed trustees thereof, is reasonable. Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the petition of Simon Turner and John Turner, (the only surviving male persons of the Nansemond tribe of Indians,) praying that an act may pass, for appointing trustees to join them in conveying their lands, containing 300 acres, unto William Bennett in fee, upon his paying the sum of 3001. to the said trustees, to be by them applied to the support of the petitioners, (the whole of the tribe now living,) is reasonable. Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the petition of Jane Todd, executrix, and Robert Todd, executor of John Todd, deceased, praying that an act may pass, appointing trustees to sell and convey as much of the lands belonging to the estate, and lying in the county of Fayette, as will be sufficient to pay their testator's debts; and also purchase two young negro fellows and one wench, to be vested, one of them in the petitioner Jane, and the other two in Mary Owen Todd, the only child of the said John Todd, deceased, is reasonable. Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the petition of Robert Parker, praying that an act may pass for allowing the owners or proprietors of mills, on the South branch of Potomac river, a farther time for cutting canals or races, as directed by the act of Assembly, for improving the navigation of the South branch of Potomac river, is reasonable. The 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th and 6th resolutions, being severally read a second time were, on the questions put thereupon, agreed to by the House. The 5th resolution, being read a second time was, on a motion made, ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth. Ordered, That a bill or bills, be brought in pursuant to the 2d, 3d, 4th and 6th resolutions; and that the committee of Propositions and Grievances, do prepare and bring in the same. On a motion made, Ordered, That the committee of Propositions and Grievances, to whom was referred a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of James City, be discharged from farther proceeding therein; and that the same be referred, to the committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth. The order of the day, for the House to proceed by joint ballot with the Senate, to the choice of five delegates to represent this Commonwealth in Congress for one year, from the 1st Monday in November next, being read; Ordered, That the same be put off till to-morrow. And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 11 o'clock. WEDNESDAY, November 1, 1786. A bill, "for reviving and continuing the act, for adjusting claims for property impressed or taken for public service;" was read the second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read the third time. A bill, "for further continuing the act, authorising the treasurer to receive specie into the treasury by weight;" was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to the committee for Courts of Justice. A bill, for continuing and amending an act, to revive and amend in part an act, 'for giving further time to enter certificates for settlement rights, and for locating warrants upon pre-emption rights, and for other purposes;" was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House, on Monday next. A petition of John Pierce, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, that in the year 1781, he, at the request of Gen. Nelson, then Governor of the State, accepted the appointment of commissary and commissioner general of provisions; that soon after, he received from the treasury several considerable sums of money, which he sent to his deputies in each county, in order to procure and forward necessaries for the army, several of whom have since failed to account for the money then received by them: that, without the interposition of the Legislature, he will be answerable for all the money thus unaccounted for, which he conceives to be extremely unjust, especially as he entered into the service merely from a wish to serve his country, and was not actuated by any interested views; and praying such relief as the wisdom of the Legislature shall think his case requires. Also, a petition of Roger Williams; setting forth, that for upwards of two years during the late war, he acted as deputy commissary for Messrs. Eaton and Brown at the garrison of York; but that in consequence of the loss of his books and papers, which fell into the hands of the enemy, he has been unable to procure a settlement of his accounts, or any compensation for his services; and praying relief. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee of Claims; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. A petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of King and Queen, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House, and read; remonstrating against the policy and justice of the act, "for incorporating the Protestant Episcopal Church, and vesting therein the property heretofore held by the established church;" and praying that the said act may be repealed, and the said property disposed of for the public benefit. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Orange, whose names are thereunto subscribed, to the same effect. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Goochland, whose names are thereunto subscribed, to the same effect. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Spottsylvania, whose names are thereunto subscribed, to the same effect. Also, a petition of the representatives of several Baptist associations assembled in committee on the 5th of August last, to the same effect. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Richmond, whose names are thereunto subscribed, in opposition thereto; and praying that the act, "for incorporating the Protestant Episcopal Church," may not be repealed. Ordered, That the said petitions be committed to the committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth. Mr. Matthews reported, from the committee of Privileges and Elections, that the committee had, according to order, inquired into the ineligibility of Mr. George Pegram, a member returned to serve in this present General Assembly for the county of Dinwiddie, and had agreed upon a report, and come to a resolution thereupon, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same were again twice read, and agreed to by the House, as followeth : It appears to your committee, from the information of the said George Pegram, that he acted as deputy sheriff in the said county of Dinwiddie within two years next preceding his election; that he was not answerable to the public for the collection of the taxes, being employed by the high sheriff for that purpose, and never gave any bond or security respecting the same; Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the said George Pegram was incapable of being elected a delegate to represent the said county of Dinwiddie, in this present General Assembly. On a motion made, Ordered, That a writ issue for the election of a delegate to serve in this present General Assembly for the courty of Dinwiddie, in the room of George Pegram, who hath been declared ineligible. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth; and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Bland reported, that the committee had, according to order, again had the state of the Commonwealth under their consideration, and had come to a resolution thereupon, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same were again read, and is as followeth : Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the petitions of sundry inhabitants of the counties of Brunswick and Campbell, praying for an emission of paper money, are unreasonable, and ought to be rejected; and that, in the opinion of this committee, an emission of paper money would be unjust, impolitic and destructive of public and private confidence, and of that virtue which is the basis of a republican government; And the said resolution being read a second time was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House. On a motion made by Mr. Nelson, and seconded by Mr. John Clarke of Prince Edward; Journal. The names of those who voted in the affirmative are, George Nicholas, John Nicholas, Joseph Eggleston, jun. John Pride, Samuel Jordan Cabell, Hugh Rose, Zachariah Johnston, Archibald Stuart, William Leftwich, Martin M'Ferran, Hickerson Barksdale, John Cabell, Anthony Samuel Hawes, jun. Thomas Scott, George Markham, Matthew Cheatham, Mayo Carrington, French Strother, James Pendleton, Joseph Jones, Miles King, George Booker, David Stewart, Elias Edmonds, George Thompson, Samuel C. Richardson, John Smith, John Page, Thomas Smith, Thomas Underwood, John Lucas, Edmund Wilkins, John Coleman, Samuel Dew, Isaac Vanmiter, Job Welton, Nathaniel Wilkinson, Foster Webb, William Norvell, William Walker, John Scasbrook Wills, John Lawrence, John Campbell, Anderson Scott, William Thornton, Bernard Moore, James Gordon, Cyrus Griffin, Francis Peyton, Richard Bland Lee, James Dabney, Christopher Robertson, James Johnson, Lewis Burwell, Francis Corbin, David Scott, Joseph Cloyde, Willis Riddick, Anthony Brown, Andrew Hines, Willis Wilson, Lyttleton Eyre, James Madison, jun. Charles Porter, Thomas Turpin, jun., Wade Mosby, John Clarke of Prince Edward, Richard Bibb, Theoderick Bland, Daniel Carroll Brent, George Lee Turberville, William M'Kee, John Taylor, Thomas Ridley, John Dawson, Gustavus Brown Wallace, Lemuel Cocke, Arthur Campbell, Daniel M'Carty, Richard Lee, Thomas Nelson, James Innes and Thomas Matthews. And the names of those who voted in the negative are, Thomas Claiborne, Binns Jones, John Clarke of Campbell, Adam Clement, Joseph Crockett, John Rentfro, John Early, George Clendennin, James Henderson, Parke Goodall, John Prunty, John Marr, John Jouett, Roger Gregory, Benjamin Lankford, Constant Perkins and Robert Craig. Resolved, That this House will, to-morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth. Mr. Matthews reported, from the committee of Privileges and Elections, that the committee had, according to order, examined the certificates of the election of delegates to serve in this present General Assembly, compared the same with the form prescribed by law, and had come to several resolutions thereupon; which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same were again read, and are as followeth : Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the certificates of the election of delegates returned to serve in this present General Assembly, for the counties of Albemarle, Amelia, Amherst, Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Elizabeth City, Essex, Fairfax, Fayette, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Gloucester, Goochland, Greenbrier, Halifax, Hampshire, Hanover, Harrison, Hardy, Henrico, Henry, James City, Jefferson, Isle of Wight, King George, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Loudoun, Louisa, Lincoln, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Nansemond, New Kent, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, Ohio, Orange, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Richmond, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Southampton, Shenandoah, Spottsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex, Warwick, Washington, Westmoreland, and of a delegate for the borough of Norfolk and city of Williamsburg, are made in the form prescribed by law. Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the certificates of the election of delegates returned to serve in this present General Assembly, for the counties of Greensville, Monongalia and Nelson, are not made in the form prescribed by law. The said resolutions being severally read a second time were, on a motion made, ordered to lie on the table. Mr. George Nicholas reported, from the committee of Propositions and Grievances, that the committee had, according to order, had under their consideration two petitions to them referred, and had come to several resolutions thereupon, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same were again twice read, and agreed to by the House, as followeth : Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the petition of the trustees of Winchester Academy, in the county of Frederick; praying that the said school may be incorporated, and trustees appointed, with such powers to them and their successors as may be necessary to promote and encourage the said institution, is reasonable. Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Harrison, praying that the same may be divided by a line to begin at the mouth of Sandy Creek; thence up Tyger's Valley river to the mouth of Buchanan's river; thence up the said river, including all the waters thereof; thence down Elk river, including the waters thereof, to the Greenbrier river, is reasonable. Ordered, That a bill or bills, be brought in pursuant to the said resolutions; and that the committee of Propositions and Grievances do prepare and bring in the same. Mr. Innes reported, from the committee for Courts of Justice, that the committee had, according to order, examined the Journal of the last session, and found 61 of the printed bills contained in the Revised Code of laws, which were committed to a committee of the whole House, were at the end of the session, depending and undetermined. The titles of which bills are as follows, to wit: A bill, "for proportioning crimes and punishments in cases hereafter capital." A bill, "for punishing persons guilty of certain offences." A bill, "concerning treasons, felonies and other offences committed out of the State." A bill, "for the employment, government and support of malefactors condemned to labor for the Commonwealth.” A bill, "to encourage the apprehending of horse stealers." A bill, "for preserving the privileges of ambassadors." A bill, "for the suppression and punishment of riots, routs and unlawful assemblies." A bill, "forbidding and punishing affrays." A bill, "against conspirators." A bill, "against conveying or taking pretensed titles." A bill, "to punish bribery and extortion." A bill, "prescribing the punishment of those who sell unwholesome meat or drink." A bill," to prevent the spreading of the small-pox.” A bill, "for compelling vessels coming, and goods brought from infected places, to perform quarantine." A bill, "for amending the constitution of the college of William and Mary, and substituting more certain reveques for its support." A bill, "for establishing a public library." A bill," for saving the property of the church heretofore by law established." A bill, "for punishing disturbers of religious worship, and Sabbath breakers." A bill, "for appointing days of public fasting and thanksgiving." A bill, "annulling marriages prohibited by the Levitical law, and appointing the mode of solemnizing law ful marriages." A bill, "against usury." A bill, "to prevent gaming." A bill, "to prevent forestalling, regrating and engrossing and sales by auction." A bill, "constituting the high court of chancery." A bill, "constituting the general court." A bill, "constituting the court of admiralty." A bill, "constituting the court of appeals." A bill, "for constituting courts martial." A bill," for constituting justices of the peace and county courts." A bill, "concerning sheriffs." A bill, "for licensing counsel, attornies at law and proctors." A bill, "prescribing the oath of fidelity and the oaths of certain public officers." A bill, "to prevent the sale of public offices." A bill, "directing the method of proceeding upon impeachments." A bill, "for regulating proceedings in the courts of equity." A bill, "for regulating proceedings in the courts of common law." A bill, "directing the method of proceeding against and trying free persons charged with certain crimes." A bill, "directing the method of trying slaves charged with treason or felony." A bill, "for re-forming the method of proceeding in writs of right." A bill, "concerning partitions and joint rights and obligations." A bill," for the speedy determination of suits wherein foreigners are parties." A bill, "for the speedy recovery of money due from certain persons to the public." A bill, "for recovering demands of small value in a summary way." A bill, "providing that actions popular prosecuted by collusion, shall be no bar to those which be pursued with good faith." A bill, "for preventing vexatious and malicious prosecutions, and moderating amercements." A bill, "providing a mean to help and speed poor persons in their suits." A bill, "providing that an infant may sue by his next friend." A bill, "declaring when the death of persons absenting themselves shall be presumed.” A bill, "prescribing a method of protesting inland bills of exchange, and allowing assignees of obligations to bring actions thereupon in their own names." A bill, "for limitation of actions." A bill, "for granting attachments against the estates of debtors removing privately or absconding." A bill, "concerning inquests." A bill, "permitting those who will not take oaths to be otherwise qualified." A bill, "for regulating the commencement of the year and the computation of time." A bill, "allowing a bill of exceptions to be sealed." A bill, "for enforcing performance of awards made by rule of court." A bill, "concerning executions." A bill, "concerning rents and distresses." A bill, "providing remedy and punishment in cases of forcible entries and detainers." A bill, "repealing certain acts of Parliament and of General Assembly." On a motion made, Ordered, That the several printed bills contained in the Revised Code of laws pursuant to the foregoing list, be now received; and the same was accordingly received and read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time. On a motion made, the said bills were severally read a second time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House. Resolved, That during the continuance of the present session, it be a standing order of the House, that Monday, Thursday and Saturday in each week be set apart and appropriated to the consideration of the Revised Code, in such manner that no business be introduced, taken up and considered after 12 o'clock of the day, other than the bills contained in the said Revised Code, or such other as respects the interest of the Commonwealth at large, or messages from the Executive or the Senate. A petition of George Jackson, was presented to the House, and read; praying that a public ferry may be established across Elk Creek in the county of Harrison from his lands in the town of Clarksburg, to the opposite shore. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the committee of Propositions and Grievances; that they do examine the matter thereof, and report the same, with their opinion thereupon, to the House. Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a bill "to provide for the appointment of delegates to represent this Commonwealth in Congress until the 1st Monday in November next;" and that Messrs. George Nicholas, Archibald Stuart, Nelson and Madison, do prepare and bring in the same. E The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor, enclosing sundry letters from the commissioner of the continental war office; which were read, and ordered to be referred to the committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth. Mr. Archibald Stuart presented, according to order, a bill "to amend the act, entitled 'an act, to amend the several acts of Assembly, concerning the appointinent of Sheriffs;" and the same was received and read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time. The orders of the day, for the House to proceed by joint ballot with the Senate, to the choice of five delegates to represent this Commonwealth in Congress for one year from the 1st Monday in the present month; also, for the House to resolve itself into a committee of the whole House, on the resolution reported from the committee for Courts of Justice; for further continuing the act, "to authorise the Governor, with the advice of Council, to grant conditional pardons in certain cases," being read; Ordered, That the same be put of till to-morrow. And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 11 o'clock. THURSDAY, November 2, 1786. An engrossed bill, "for reviving and continuing the act, for adjusting claims for property impressed or taken for public service;" was read the third time. Resolved, That the bill do pass; and that the title be, "an act, for reviving and continuing the act, 'for adjusting claims for property impressed or taken for public service." Ordered, That Mr. Archibald Stuart do carry the bill to the Senate, and desire their concurrence. A bill, "to amend the act, entitled 'an act, to amend the several acts of Assembly, concerning the appointment of sheriffs;" was read the second time, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House, on Monday next. Mr. David Stuart presented, according to order, a bill "to amend the act, entitled 'an act, for incorporating the town of Alexandria ;" and the same was received and read the first time, and ordered to be read a second time. Mr. Richard Lee reported, from the committee of Claims, that the committee had, according to order, had under their consideration, the petition of Richard Evers Lee, administrator of the estate of Samuel Allyne, deceased, to them referred, and had agreed upon a report, and come to a resolution thereupon, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same were again read, and are as followeth : It appears to your committee, that the said Samuel Allyne was, in his life time, seized and possessed of a valuable tract or piece of land in the town of Portsmouth and county of Norfolk; that the said Allyne being indebted to Andrew Sprowle the sum of 286l. 16s. 3d., for securing the same authorised the said Sprowle to dispose of the said land, who accordingly sold the same in the year 1775, to a certain Roger Stuart, for the sum of 7751.; that after deducting the said sum of 2867. 16s. 3d. the said Sprowle gave his bond to the said Allyne for the sum of 4881. 3s. 3d., the balance due for the sales of the said land; that before the said bond became due, or any part thereof paid (except 301.,) the said Sprowle and Stuart joined the British army, and all their estate has been since escheated and sold, and the money arising from such sales, paid into the public treasury; that the creditors of the said Allyne are in danger of losing their debts, unless restitution be made out of the effects of the said Sprowle, to the estate of the said Allyne, to the amount of the said bond, with interest. Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the petition of the said Richard Evers Lee, administrator of the estate of the said Samuel Allyne, deceased, is reasonable; and that the auditors of public accounts ought to issue a warrant for the balance due on the said bond, with interest, to the said Richard Evers Lee, administrator as aforesaid, upon his delivering to them the bond aforesaid. And the said resolution being read a second time was, on a motion made, ordered to lie on the table. Mr. George Nicholas reported, from the committee of Propositions and Grievances, that the committee had, according to order, had under their consideration the petition of Paul Carrington, Miles Selden, and Joseph Carrington, administrators with the will annexed of Joseph Mayo, late of the county of Henrico, deceased, to them referred, and had come to a resolution thereupon, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same was again read, and is as followeth : Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the petition of the said Paul Carrington, Miles Selden and Joseph Carrington, administrators with the will annexed of Joseph Mayo, deceased, praying that an act may pass, for carrying into effect the will of their testator directing the emancipation of all the slaves, of which he died possessed, under such restrictions as may be just and right, is reasonable. And the said resolution being read a second time was, on a motion made, ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Richard Lee reported, from the committee of Claims, that the committee had, according to order, had under their consideration, the petition of Matthew Godfrey, to them referred, and had come to a resolution thereupon, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same was again read, and is as followeth : Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the petition of the said Matthew Godfrey, setting forth, |