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ishing any Court shall deprive a Judge of his office, unless two thirds of the members of each House present concur in it, but he may be assigned other duties. The Legislature may also erect Corporation Courts, and create Corporation Magistrates and Justices of the Peace. Sheriffs and Coroners are to be appointed by the Governor on recommendation of the County Courts, Constables by the Justices, and Attorney General by vote of the two Houses, during whose pleasure he is to hold his office.

The sixth article directs that the Treasurer of the commonwealth shall be annually appointed by a joint vote of the two Houses.

The seventh and last article provides for the continuance in office of the present Governor and other officers, until their successors are elected under the new Constitution, and for the maintenance of the Courts of Justice in their present jurisdiction until otherwise organized by the Legislature.

The Message of the Governor was presented on the same day. The document opens with acknowledgments for the general health and prosperity of the State during the year, and especially that it has pleased God to bless them with plentiful crops, particularly of Indian corn, which has been unusually abundant throughout all parts of the Commonwealth.

The only political event of prominence during the year, has been the call of the Convention now sitting. The sum of $6,000, borrowed from the Literary Fund, together with other previous appropriations, has been invested in books for the Public Library, on advantageous terms. A correspondence has been commenced by the Executive, under a late law of the State, with the General Government, on the subject of certain Reserved Lands, which is submitted to the Legislature. The attention of this body is again called to the subject of the Census of the State, which is reported to have been so imperfectly taken, that Virginia is supposed to have lost one member in Congress, to which her population rightly estimated would entitle her. The peculiar situation in which Virginia is now placed,' the Governor conceives, render measures to prevent any such oversight in the ap11,289 proaching census of particular necessity. 2,097 Investments have been made in behalf 1,086 of the Washington Monument Fund, with 1,091 a view to provide for the original object of the appropriation. 26,055 15,563 So the Constitution was ratified by a majority of 10,492 votes, and went into operation according to its provisions.

By the order of the Convention, the amended Constitution was submitted for acceptance at the ensuing April election, to the voters qualified to vote for members of Assembly, and the vote was as follows:

Trans Alleghany district,

Valley district,

Middle district,

For. Against.

2,123

3,842

12,417

Tide-water district, 7,673

October, 1829.-One of the cotton factories in Wheeling, commenced operations in 1825, with 500 spindles. It now runs 2100 spindles, and consumes about 500 bales of cotton per annum. The machinery is driven by steam. This was the first cotton factory erected in Virginia.

The Point Cotton Factory is situated upon the point of land at the confluence of Wheeling creek with the Ohio river. At this factory there is at present made from 3 to 4000 lbs. of cotton yarn weekly, with 1000 spindles.

December, 1829. MEETING OF THE LEGISLATURE. This body met in Richmond on the 7th inst. In the Senate, Wm. C. Holt, Esq. was appointed Speaker, and Addison Hansford, Clerk. Linn Banks, Esq. of Madison, was chosen Speaker of the House of Delegates, and George W. Mumford, Clerk.

'During the last summer, a spirit of dissatisfaction and insubordination was manifested by the slaves, in different sections of the country, from this place to the seaboard; and in consequence of misrepresentations and exaggerations in relation thereto, considerable excitement and alarm were produced in a few neighborhoods. For the purpose of quieting the apprehensions to certain portions of the country, it was deemed advisable, upon the requisitions of the Colonels of several regiments, and of other persons, to furnish certain volunteer companies of the militia with arms. A plan for a still further extension of the supplies of arms to the militia, in certain portions of the State, had been, and was at that time, under the consideration of the Executive, and was subsequently adopted. This plan has been only partially successful. The great difficulty on any plan for furnishing the militia with arms, arises from the necessity of providing adequate means for securing their safe

preservation and return when called for; and without some competent provision for this object, it is deemed better that the arms remain in their present state of safe keeping and preservation. And I take pleasure in stating, that their present condition is reported to me to be as good as it can be.'

The condition of the Treasury is represented as highly prosperous; and 'notwithstanding the very large and enormous sums of money drawn from Virginia, and expended in other States, through the unconstitutional, unjust, unwise, and ruinous tariff acts, the revenue has been paid into the Treasury with the usual punctuality.' The balance in the Treasury on the 27th Nov. 1829, after defraying the extraordinary expenses of the call of a Convention, up to that time, is greater by $35,000, than in the preceding year; it being in the former case $324,688 17, and in the latter, $359,552 91.

The Penitentiary establishment is much improved; and the Governor points out as a subject of consolation to every philanthropist in the State the improved and improving moral condition of society, and the beneficial effects of prison discipline, as evinced through the decreasing convictions for penitentiary offences. On the 30th day of Sept. last, there were in the Penitentiary 128 white convicts, one of whom was a female; of this number 82 were natives of Vir. ginia, and 46 of other States and foreign Countries. On the 30th of Sept. 1828,

there were 135 white males and two

white females; showing a decrease of nine within the two last years. Since introducing the regulation for solitary confinement for three months immediately before discharge, not a single convict, who has undergone such punishment, has been returned for a second offence.

The Governor adds with emotions both of pride and pleasure as a Virginian, that another year has passed by without a single conviction of a white female for a penitentiary offence; making the whole time above 5 years since any such conviction has taken place in Va. There is now but one solitary case of the confinement of a white female in the Penitentiary, and it is submitted to the General Assembly, 'whether it is not due to the unexampled morals, virtue, and good conduct of the females of Virginia, as demonstrated by this view of the condition of the Penitentiary, that that unfortunate, solitary convict should

be pardoned of her offences and set at liberty.' The number of solitary cells has been so increased as to be equal to the necessities of the case, and other local improvements effected.

The attention of the Legislature is called to the Act which authorizes the Punishment of Stripes for petiti larceny offences. This the Governor considers disproportionate to the offence, repugnant to the general feeling of the people, and from its character of public ig nominy, tending more to confirm vice than to produce reform.

Accounts of the fund for internal improvement, for the year ending 30th November, 1829,

The permanent funds in stocks,

are stated at

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Disposable funds, in do.

Disposable funds, in cash, balance in the treasury

$1,418,961 11 681,630 00

2,100,591 11

14,269 62 2,114,860 73

The estimated receipts in the year ending the 30th Nov 1830, including the dividends on bank stocks, or different companies in which the commonwealth is interested, and the receipts on account of the James river company surplus fund, are $110,386 41-which added to the balance in the treasury on the 30th Nov. 1829, will amount in all to $124,656 03.

ments during the same period, is $98,The estimate of the probable disburse. 023 83-leaving a probable balance in the treasury 1st Dec. 1830, unless previously appropriated and disbursed, of $26,632 20.

January, 1830.-On the 9th inst. Gen John Floyd, was elected Governor of Virginia, by the legislature. The votes were, for Gen. Floyd, 140; for P. V. Daniel, 66; scattering, 7.

February 16.-Gov, Giles transmitted to the legislature, a correspondence between the Mayor of Boston, and the Mayor of Savannah, by which it appeared that a free black living in Boston had caused a pamphlet of a seditious character to be published and circulated among the slaves.

The house of Delegates under the excitement of the moment, passed a bill by a vote of 81 to 80, prohibiting blacks whether free or slaves from being taught to read or write and all assemblages for such purposes. This bill was however rejected by the Senate, 7 Ayes, 11 Nays,

May, 1830. HIDDEN TREASURES.About the middle of this month some slaves of the Rev. Mr Kennerly, while blowing rocks on his farm, near White Post, discovered gold coins of the value of $240, in joes, halves, and quarters.— 'The farm was formerly the residence of Lord Fairfax, and the gold was doubtless deposited by some of his family in the place where it was found. It is remarkably pure, of very ancient mould, and is not in the slightest degree corroded by its long confinement in the earth. Many of the pieces are clipped and plugged; that is, parts had been cut off, by which the weight was reduced below the standard, and the same quantity afterwards inserted elsewhere in the coin to restore the weight in consequence of a law of England inflicting a severe penalty upon any person having light coin in his possession. The amount, after exchanging it for bills, was divided by Mr Kennerly, among the slaves who had found it.'

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NORTH CAROLINA.

Nov. 1829. The Legislature met on the 16th inst. at Raleigh. Bedford Brown, Esq. of Caswell, was chosen Speaker of the Senate; and Samuel F. Patterson, Principal Clerk. Wm. J. Alexander, of Mecklenburg, was elected Speaker of the House of Commons; and Pleasant Henderson, Chief Clerk.

The Message of Governor Owen was presented on the following day. The first subject noticed, is the Internal Improvement of the State. His Excellency holds that it is their duty to pursue this great work; and, if their system is defective, as it appears to be, to apply a remedy or if a candid and thorough examination shall show that the means of the State are incompetent to such a work, to abandon it until their hands are strengthened.

22,850 hhds. 29,854 35,182

If in the more healthy parts of the State, labor of a different kind may be advantageously employed, in the construction of roads, or the improvement of rivers, it is very evident that in those sections where our most valuable unappropriated lands lie, slaves constitute the only effective force-with them our swamps must be drained, and our rivers opened, or the former remain the abodes of noxious animals, and the latter, a mere apology for navigable streams. Such is the demand for slave labor, they cannot be had for hiring, without great sacri fice, and those hired for short periods cannot be properly disciplined. To employ white laborers to drain our swamps, cannot succeed-they have not the physical ability-there cannot be found a single instance in the low countries of The question is asked, why so much the Southern States, where even a farm expense has been sustained in examina on an extensive scale has been cleared tions and surveys, and so little is done and cultivated by this species of labor, to turn these preparations to account.- and the most liberal wages cannot effect In answer, the want of an effective it. It is evident, then, from a moment's force continually at the disposal of the reflection, that the State is reduced to State,' is mentioned; and to acquire this, the necessity, of either giving up all the State must hire or purchase it. In pretensions to improvement upon a large dividual experience (says the Governor) scale, or to make an appropriation to shows that the former alternative will purchase laborers commensurate with not answer expectation; but, as indi- the work to be performed, and to cease viduals by the purchase and employ- to think of employing any longer, a spement of slaves, make valuable improve- cies of force, which both public and ments, and become wealthy, the State private experience, demonstrate to be may do the same, unfit,'

By pursuing the plan recommended, the millions of acres of the lands of the State, it is believed, may be made valuable; and North Carolina, by the progress of Internal Improvement, become full of wealth and happiness.

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The next subject noticed is Education. His Excellency commends the wisdom and liberality that established the University of North Carolina; the only monument of learning within the State, to which the eye of the stranger or citizen patriot, may be directed with any emotions of pride or patriotism.' To perfect and give permanency to this institution much remains to be done, and interposition and patronage are particularly demanded at the present time. A loan to the institution of certain moneys appropriated for the establishment of a literary fund, but not yet invested,

is recommended.

The advantages and importance of education in general, are next presented to notice, and the adoption of a system of public education is urged on the attention of the Legislature.

It is submitted whether some measure should not be adopted preparatory to the profitable investment of the large amount of funds owned by the state in its Banking Institutions; and for enabling these to close their concerns before the expiration of their charters in 1835: and it is suggested, that the number of directors in these incorporations should be lessened, and that the State Bank be

permitted to close its concerns, by discontinuing its branches alternately, at

intervals of not less than nine months.

Some inprovements in the Judicial System of the state are recommended; and for the better guidance of the Executive in respect to applications for pardon, so often made, as well as more correctly to impress the public mind, it is suggested that when a criminal petitions for pardon, he shall present an abstract of the evidence in his case, prepared by the presiding judge, whose duty it shall

be to furnish it.

The measures that have been taken for improving the Navigation of the Cape Fear River, by removing the obstructions made below Wilmington in the revolutionary war, are next adverted to. Congress on application, appropria-. ted $20,000 for this object, and the work is now going on exclusively under the direction of the General Government. Of a similar character is the improvement of the navigation of Ocracock Inlet, for

which appropriations to the amount of $41,000 have been made by Congress.

These improvements will be of essential benefit to the state and particularly to Wilmington and Newburn, and there is no doubt of their being fully accomA still more implished, now that they have been so favorably commenced. portant work, demanding the attention both of the Legislature and the General Government, is the opening a communication from the Albemarle Sound to the Atlantic Ocean. As evidence of the national importance of the measure proposed, and to show the encouragement the state has to expect the aid of Congress in its execution, the Governor quotes as follows from the language of the Board of Engineers of the United States. If the plan be carried into execution, whether we consider the profits of commerce, the dangers of spipwreck, pursuit by an enemy, or convenience as a point of departure and refreshment for our privateers and vessels of war, a harbor will be formed precisely in that part of the coast where it is most needed.'

To divert the commerce growing out of the rich and abundant products of the territory watered by the Yadkin from passing to its ultimate destination through foreign ports, and to concentrate, as far as possible, the wealth of the state, it is with much earnestness established between the Yadkin and the Cape Fear, either by a well finished turnpike or rail road; and to try the practicability and utility of the latter project, the propriety of constructing such a road from Fayetteville to the river, at Campbelton, is again submitted.

recommended that a communication be

The attention of the legislature is called to the subject of the management and disposal of the lands lately acquired by extinguishing the Indian title, lying principally in the county of Macon. It is believed that on some of those lands there are valuable deposits of the precious metals, and it is submitted, how far it may be promotive of the public good, and compatible with the principles of the Government, to secure to the state

an interest in all the mines and minerals which now are, or may hereafter become the subject of entry.'-Should this be determined on, a suitable survey by qualified commissioners is recommended.

The Militia System is taken up, as requiring amendment. If made to embrace, as originally by the Act of Con

gress of 1792, all free white males between the ages of 18 and 45, it provides for a force quite unnecessarily large; and imposes a weighty and useless burden on the State. No important improvement in the system, it is thought, can be made, until a new organization is adopted by Congress. This view of the subject seems to have been so generally taken by the most eminent military men of the country, as to have established it, so far as their concurrent testimony will go, as true; and that the militia laws, as generally enforced and observed in the middle and southern states, instead of advancing the military art, is productive of a contrary effect, by engendering vicious habits, encouraging intemperance, and, consequently,a spirit of insubordination."

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Showing the balance of cash
remaining in the public
treasurer's hands to the
first of Nov. 1829, to be $74,014 12/

The disbursements during that period, and thus deducted, consist of the following items:

General Assembly
Executive department
Treasury department
Comptroller's department
Department of state
Adjutant general's office
Public printers

$93,343 59 Executive council
Judiciary
Arsenal

39,704 63

3,046 77

2,606 25

1,278 70

1,374 50

223 05

900 00

87 00

23,878 51

200 00

Sheriffs for settling taxes

937 50

Congressional elections

527 31

urer),

1,599 26

Electoral elections

1,396 07

Balances -sales of land near Ra

Electors

391 47

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leigh

112 50

Of J.

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McRae,

1,291 37

money loaned 2,000 00 Bonds for sale of

lands and ne

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Public Library

State bank of N. Carolina for
deferred payment

Pensioners

Miss Udney M. Blakely
Surveying and selling Chero-

kee lands

Romulus M. Saunders, com-
missioner

17,403 97 Roanoke Navigation Compa-
ny 1st, 2d and 3d instal-
ments, as directed to be
paid by resolution of 1823
Governor's house
Expenses for surveying and
selling land and negroes of
the late public treasurer
Contingencies

Treasury notes burnt

Cape Fear

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Money burnt

Newbern

Bogue banks

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15,000 00 748 50

3.00 4,476 31 17,781 89

130 35

18.00

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