FRIDAY, October 20, 1786. The House met according to adjournment. Several other members having taken the oaths required by law, took their seats in the House; The House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock. SATURDAY, October 21, 1786. The House met according to adjournment. Several other members having taken the oaths required by law, took their seats in the House. The House adjourned till Monday morning, 10 o'clock. MONDAY, October 23, 1786. The House met according to adjournment. Several other members having taken the oaths required by law, took their seats in the House; and a majority of the whole number being present, Ordered, That Mr. John Beckley be appointed clerk to this House. Richard Lee, Esq. a delegate for the county of Westmoreland, reminded the House of the necessity of proceeding to the choice of a Speaker, and recommended Theoderick Bland, Esq. a member for the county of Prince George, as a person in every respect qualified to fill that office; he was seconded by George Lee Turberville, Esq. a delegate for the county of Richmond. And John Scasbrook Wills, Esq. a delegate for the county of Isle of Wight, recommended Joseph Prentis, Esq. a member for the county of York, as a person in every respect qualified to fill that office; he was seconded by Thomas Underwood, Esq. a delegate for the county of Goochland. Resolved, That this House will proceed to the election of a Speaker by ballot. The House accordingly proceeded to the election of a Speaker by ballot; and the members having prepared tickets with the name of the person to be appointed and deposited the same in the ballot boxes, Messrs. Richard Lee, Wills, Underwood and Turberville, were nominated a committee to examine the ballot boxes, and report to the House on whom the majority of votes should fall. The committee then proceeded at the clerk's table to examine the ballot boxes, and reported to the House, that they had, according to order, examined the same, and found the numbers thereupon to stand as follows: For Joseph Prentis, Esq. 49 37 2 So that Mr. Prentis being chosen Speaker by this House, he was conducted to the chair, from whence he made his acknowledgments to the House for the honor conferred on him. Ordered, That the Reverend Benjamin Blagrove be appointed chaplain to this House, and that he attend to read prayers in the House every morning at the time appointed by a standing order of the House. Ordered, That Mr. Richard Lee do acquaint the Senate therewith. Ordered, That Mr. Freeman Eppes be appointed sergeant at arms to this House, and that he give his attendance accordingly. Ordered, That William Drinkard, John Hicks, Daniel Hicks and William Drinkard, jun. be appointed doorkeepers to this House, and that they give their attendance accordingly. On a motion made, Ordered, That a writ issue for the election of delegates to serve in this present General Assembly, for the county of Charles City; it appearing to the House that no election took place in the said county at the last general election, occasioned by the death of the sheriff. And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning 11 o'clock. TUESDAY, October 24, 1786. Several other members having taken the oaths required by law, took their seats in the House. Ordered, That a committee for Religion be appointed. And a committee was appointed, of Messrs. Bland, Norvell, Strother, Bibb, Goodall, Thomas Smith, Curtis, Pride, White, Underwood, Peyton, Zachariah Johnston, Claiborne, Corbin, Innes and Dabney, and they are to meet and adjourn from day to day, and to take under their consideration all matters and things relating to religion and morality, and all such as shall be from time to time to them referred, and report their proceedings, with their opinion thereupon, to the House; and the said committee are to have power to send for persons, papers and records for their information. Ordered, That a committee of Privileges and Elections, be appointed; And a committee was appointed, of Messrs. Matthews, George Nicholas, Richard Lee, Zachariah Johnston, Bibb, Ruffin, Pride, Randolph, Underwood, Coleman, Wilkinson, Peyton, Wills, Barksdale, King, Booker, Archibald Stuart, Turberville and Griffin, and they are to meet and adjourn from day to day, and to examine in the first place, all returns for electing delegates to serve in this present General Assembly, and to compare the same with the form prescribed by law, and to take into their consideration all such matters as shall or may come in question touching elections and privileges, and to report their proceedings, with their opinion thereupon, from time to time, to the House; and the said committee are to send for persons, papers and records, for their information. Resolved, That in all cases of controverted elections to be heard at the bar of this House, or before the committee of Privileges and Elections, the petitioners do, either by themselves or their agents, within a convenient time to be appointed either by the House or the committee of Privileges and Elections, as the matter to be heard shall be before the House or the said committee, deliver to the sitting members or their agents, lists of the person's intended by the petitioners to be objected to, who voted for the sitting members, giving in the said lists the several heads of objection, and distinguishing the same against the names of the votes objected to, and that the sitting members do, by themselves or their agents, within the same time, deliver the like lists on their parts to the petitioners or their agents. Ordered, That a committee of Propositions and Grievances, be appointed; And a committee was appointed, of Messrs. George Nicholas, Matthews, Bland, Griffin, Strother, Zachariah Johnston, Archibald Stuart, Pride, Barksdale, John Clark of Campbell, New, Hawes, Cheatham, King, Booker, David Stewart, Thompson, Richeson, Rentfro, Early, Thomas Smith, Randolph, Underwood, Lucas, Wilkins, Coleman, Goodall, Drew, Prunty, Jackson, Wilkinson, Webb, Hairstone, Marr, Walker, Wills, Lyne, Anderson Scott, Bernard Moore, James Gordon, Peyton, Richard Bland Lee, White, Dabney, Robertson, James Johnston, Corbin, Curtis, Jarrett, Pindall, David Scott, Riddick, Brown, Macon, Dandridge, John Gordon, Hawes, M'Mahon, Chapline, Porter, Lankford, Perkins, John Clarke of Prince Edward, Bibb, Ruffin, Turberville, Hopkins, Harrison, Taylor, Ridley, Buchanan, Wallace, Cocke, Allen, Briggs, Dunn, John Nicholas, Richard Cary, Eggleston, Claiborne, Leftwich, M Ferran, Jones, Eyre, Thomas Scott, Paul Carrington, Markham, Mayo Carrington, Fowler, Hines, Dawson, Garland and Fitzhugh; and they are to meet and adjourn from day to day, and to take into their consideration all propositions and grievances that shall or may come legally certified to this Assembly, and to report their proceedings with their opinion thereupon to the House, and all such propositions and grievances are to be delivered to the clerk of the House, and by him to the said committee of course; and the said committee are to have power to send for persons, papers and records, for their information. Ordered, That a committee for Courts of Justice, be appointed; And a committee was appointed, of Messrs. Innes, George Nicholas, Archibald Stuart, Paul Carrington, Bernard Moore, John Nicholas, Matthews, Griffin, Briggs, Dandridge, Richard Cary, Corbin, Eggleston, Buchanan, and Richard Bland Lee; and they are to meet and adjourn from day to day, and to take into their consideration all matters relating to courts of justice, and such other matters as shall from time to time be referred to them, and report their proceedings with their opinion thereupon to the House; and the said committee are to inspect the Journals of the last session, and draw up a statement of the matters then depending, and the progress that was made therein, and report the same with their opinion thereupon to the House; and also, examine what laws have expired since the last session, and inspect such temporary laws as will expire with the end of this session, or are near expiring, and report the same with their opinion which of them are fit to be revived and continued; and the said committee are to have power to send for persons, papers and records, for their information. Ordered, That a committee of Claims, be appointed; And a committee was appointed, of Messrs. Richard Lee, Pride, Wills, Peyton, Strother, Hawes, Lankford, Ri dick, Goodall, Eggleston, Barksdale, Ruffin, Eyre, Ridley, Taylor, Wilkinson, Lucas, Wilkins, New, Mayo Carrington, James Gordon, Dabney, Porter, Dawson and Garland; and they are to meet and adjourn from day to day, and to take into their consideration all public claims referred from the last to this session of Assembly, and all matters that shall be from time to time to them referred, and to report their proceedings with their opinion thereupon to the House; and they are to have power to send for persons, papers and records, for their information. Ordered, That a committee of Commerce, be appointed; And a committee was appointed, of Messrs. Matthews, King, Bland, Wills, Booker, David Stewart, Mayo Carrington, Lyne, Webb, Pride, George Nicholas, Zachariah Johnston, Griffin, James Gordon, John Gordon, Buchanan, Corbin and Brown; and they are to meet and adjourn from day to day, and to take under their consideration all such matters and things relative to the trade, manufactures and commerce of this Commonwealth, as shall from time to time be referred to them, and to report their proceedings with their opinion thereupon; and also, occasionally, such improvements as in their judgment may be made in the commerce and manufactures of the State, to the House; and they are to have power to send for persons, papers and records, for their information. B Resolved, That eleven of the committee of Propositions and Grievances, seven of the committee of Privileges and Elections, and five of any other committee, be a sufficient number to make a committee. Ordered, That Mr. Edmund Pendleton, jun. be appointed clerk to the committees of Privileges and Elections, and Propositions and Grievances; Mr. Charles Hay, to the committees for Religion, and Courts of Justice; and Mr. Adam Craig, to the committees of Claims, and Commerce. On a motion made, Resolved, That this House will, on Thursday next, resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor, stating several matters for the consideration of the Assembly, and referring to sundry letters and papers enclosed, on the subject thereof; which were read, and ordered to be referred to the committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth. On a motion made, Resolved, That this House will, on Friday next, 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. Ordered, That Mr. George Nicholas do acquaint the Senate therewith. The Speaker laid before the House a letter from Henry Banks, respecting the ineligibility of Messrs. David Scott and Thomas Pindall, sitting members for the county of Monongalia; which was read, and ordered to be referred to the committee of Privileges and Elections. And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 11 o'clock. WEDNESDAY, October 25, 1786. Ordered, That Messrs. Crocket and Clement, be added to the committees for Religion, and of Propositions and Grievances. A petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Augusta, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, that they consider it essentially necessary for the preservation of public faith, that the treaty of peace between the King of Great Britain and the United States of America should be complied with; that the laws now in force prohibiting the recovery of British debts, are expressly repugnant to the 4th article of the said treaty; and praying that the same may be repealed, and the treaty enforced. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Westmoreland, whose names are thereunto subscribed; praying that tobacco may be made commutable in discharge of public taxes. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to a committee of the whole House on the state of the Common wealth. A petition of Elizabeth Sweeney, was presented to the House, and read; praying that a pension which was granted to her husband for a wound received by him in the service of the State, and who is since deceased, may be continued to her during life. A motion was made, and the question being put, that the said petition be referred to the consideration of a com mittee; Resolved, That the said petition be rejected. Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a bill "to repeal an act, 'to restrict foreign vessels to certain ports within this Commonwealth;" and that Messrs. Turberville, Richard Lee, George Nicholas, Bland, Webb, King and Buchanan, do prepare and bring in the same. A petition of Mary Hanbury and others, executors of Capell and Osgood Hanbury, late of London, merchants, by John and Joseph Clapham their attornies, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, that previous to the late revolution, the said Capell and Osgood Hanbury, were possessed of a considerable estate in this country, which in consequence of the laws for confiscating British property was sold, and the purchase money paid into the treasury; that the said Capell and Osgood Hanbury did, in various instances, discover their attachment to the interests of America; and praying such relief on behalf of their decedents' estate, as the wisdom of the Legislature shall deem meet. Also, a petition of William Pettett, Charles Wright, Osgood Gee and others, whose names are thereunto subscribed; setting forth, that some considerable time before the war, they purchased an estate in this country, upon which they had erected some considerable iron works; that their agent dying soon after the revolution, they had great reason to believe that the said estate was confiscated; and praying that the same may be restored, or the value thereof paid to them. On a motion made, Ordered, That the said petitions do lie on the table. And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 11 o'clock. THURSDAY, October 26, 1786. Several other members having taken the oaths required by law, took their seats in the House. A petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Loudoun, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House, and read; praying that a public ferry may be established across Potomac river, from the lands of the late Thomson Mason, Esq. in the said county, to the opposite shore, in the State of Maryland. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Mercer, whose names are thereunto subscribed; praying that an inspection of tobacco may be established in the said county, upon the lands of John Curd at the confluence of Kentucky and Dick's rivers. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Prince Edward, whose names are thereunto subscribed; praying that an act may pass, for opening and extending the navigation of Appomattox river. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Bourbon, whose names are thereunto subscribed; praying that that part of the said county known by the name of the Limestone Settlement, may be formed into a distinct county. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the said county, whose names are thereunto subscribed; in opposition thereto. Ordered, That the said petitions 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. A memorial and remonstrance of sundry inhabitants of the county of Botetourt, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, that they consider it as highly impolitic and unjust on the part of this State, not to fulfil every article of the treaty of peace between the United States of America and the King of Great Britain; that the repeal of all the laws now in force in this State which prohibit the recovery of British debts, is essential to the national honor and justice; that they are of opinion, the emission of a sum of paper money at this period, would prove greatly detrimental to the credit of the State, and be productive of innumerable inconveniences to its citizens who have, on a former occasion, experienced the fatal effects of such a measure; that the laws of limitation now in force, are unjust, and productive of numberless evils, and the government itself being founded in the principles of unequal representation in the Legislature, tends to oppression, and mal-administration; and praying that the wisdom of the General Assembly will point out measures for the redress of the evils complained of. Ordered, That the said memorial and remonstrance, be referred to the committee of the whole House, on the state of the Commonwealth. Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a bill "to revive and amend an act, for keeping in repair the pass at Rockfish Gap;" and that Messrs. Archibald Stuart, Zachariah Johnston, John Clarke of Campbell, and George Nicholas, do prepare and bring in the same. Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a bill," to amend the act, entitled 'an act, for discouraging extensive credits, and repealing the act, prescribing the method of proving book debts, and for other purposes ;" and that Messrs. Jones, John Nicholas, M'Ferron, Archibald Stuart, and King, do prepare and bring in the same. Mr. Matthews reported, from the committee of Privileges and Elections, that the committee had, according to order, had under their consideration, the information touching the ineligibility of Messrs. David Scott and Thomas Pindall, delegates returned to serve in this present General Assembly, for the county of Monongalia, to them referred, and had agreed upon a report, and 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 : It appears to your committee, that the said David Scott was, by a resolution of the General Assembly, of the 14th of November, 1784, allowed an annual pension of 721.; that by an act of the last session of Assembly entitled "an act, to amend the act, 'concerning pensioners," the said resolution expired on the 1st day of January last, and that the said David Scott has not since been allowed a pension by the Governor and Council. It also appears to your committee, from the testimony of Mr. Henry Banks, that he was informed by the said David Scott some time last spring, that the county court of Monongalia had taken into consideration the pension which had been allowed him by the Assembly, and had made some deduction, which he thought a grievance; a certificate whereof, he is well assured, Mr. Scott is now possessed of. It appears to your committee, in the case of Mr. Thomas Pindall, that he was a deputy sheriff in the county of Monongalia, in the month of February last. Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the said David Scott, was capable of being elected a delegate for the county of Monongalia. Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the said Thomas Pindall, was incapable of being elected a delegate for the said county of Monongalia. On a motion made, Ordered, That a writ issue for the election of a delegate, to serve in this present General Assembly, for the said county of Monongalia, in the room of the said Thomas Pindall. On a motion made, Resolved, That the Executive be requested to cause to be laid before this House, an exact statement of all the taxable property within this Commonwealth; and also, of the duties payable on exports and imports, together with the product of the said taxes and duties, from the 1st of January 1783, to the 1st of October 1786; specifying the amount of specie received in each year; and also, the amount of the different species of public securities; the arrearages of public taxes now due; and the sums of money advanced to the several officers of civil government between the first day of January 1782, and the present time. On a motion made, Resolved, That a select committee be appointed, to take under their consideration, the whole system of finance, established by the laws of this Commonwealth; to report to this House such regulations therein, and such amendments in the laws relative thereto, as may to them seem best calculated to alleviate the present distresses of the people, and at the same time to preserve inviolate the national faith and honor of this Commonwealth. That the committee be empowered to send for such persons, papers, and records, as may be necessary, for the obtainment of full and complete information, with respect to the whole national debt, and the nett amount of taxes annually paid into the treasuary. And a committee was appointed, of Messrs. Bland, Corbin, George Nicholas, Innis, Lyne, Griffin, Eggleston, Matthews, King, Zachariah Johnston, Thompson, Richard Bland Lee, Turberville, Strother, Archibald Stuart, Campbell, Webb, David Stuart and Wills. Ordered, That any seven of the said committee, be a sufficient number to proceed to business. Ordered, That Mr. M'Carty, be added to the committee of Propositions and Grievances; and Mr. Thornton, to the committees of Propositions and Grievances and Courts of Justice. The order of the day, for the House to resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth, being read; Ordered, That the same be put off till to-morrow. And then the House adjourned till to-morrow morning, 11 o'clock. FRIDAY, October 27, 1786. Several other members having taken the oaths required by law, took their seats in the House. A petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Lincoln, whose names are thereunto subscribed, was presented to the House, and read; praying that an act may pass for establishing a town upon 26 acres of land, conveyed by Benjamin Logan, for the use of the said county, and that the courthouse and other public buildings thereof, may be removed to the said town. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Bourbon, whose names are thereunto subscribed, praying that the village of Washington, in the said county, which has been laid off into lots and streets, may be established a town, and that an act may pass to that effect. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Hampshire, whose names are thereunto subscribed, praying that a public ferry may be established across the South branch of Potomac river, from the lands of Robert Parker in the said county, to the opposite shore. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Harrison, whose names are thereunto subscribed; setting forth, that the great extent of the said county, subjects many of the inhabitants to geat inconveniences; and praying that the same may be divided into two counties. Also, a petition of sundry inhabitants of the town of Romney, in the county of Hampshire, whose names are thereunto subscribed; setting forth, that many of the purchasers of lots in the said town, cannot procure legal titles to the same, there being no trustees authorised to make the necessary conveyances; and praying that an act may pass for appointing trustees for the said town, and granting such privileges thereto, as to other unincorporated towns. Also, a petition of the trustees of the Winchester Academy, praying that an act may pass, for appointing and incorporating trustees for the said Academy, and for vesting in them such powers as may be conducive to the encouragement and promotion of education. Also, a petition of Wilson Boush; setting forth, that his father being a captain in the navy of this State, became entitled to a certain portion of land for his services, which, upon his death descended to the petitioner as his heir at law; and praying that a patent may be granted to him for the same. Ordered, That the said petitions 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. A petition of James Holloway, was presented to the House, and read; praying that a bounty of lands may be granted to him, in consideration of his services in the American army, during the late war. A motion was made, and the question being put, that the said petition be referred to the consideration of a committee, It passed in the negative. Resolved, That the said petition be rejected. A petition of Richard Evers Lee, administrator of Samuel Allyne, deceased, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, that in the year 1775, the said Allyne, being indebted to a certain Andrew Sprowle and sundry others, authorised the said Sprowle to sell a valuable lot in the town of Norfolk, which he accordingly soon after sold to a certain Roger Stewart; that before the purchase money was paid, the said Sprowle and Stewart joined the British troops, and all their property has since been confiscated and sold, and the money arising therefrom paid into the trea |