338 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



give, and to leave such a dubious and unfinished 

 aspect, to a matter of' so serious a nature, can- 

 not be represented as a method of proceeding 

 either just with respect to the jud.ajes, safe with 

 regard to the people, or as honorable with res- 

 pect to themselves. 



1805. The next year the legislature met at 

 iDanville in the county of Caledonia. The gov- 

 ernor in his speech informed the assembly that 

 the business which would principally engage 

 their attention related to the internal afLirs of 

 the state ; the election of civil officers ; neces- 

 sary alterations of laws and ordinances ; the en- 

 couragement of schools, and other seminaries of 

 learning ; the improvement of the militia, and 

 whatever could promote the interests of agricul- 

 ture, manufiictures, public and private tranquili- 

 ty and happiness. It had been the custom at 

 the two last sessions to return a decent and res- 

 pectful answer to the governor's communication. 

 The same method was pursued now, and no 

 subjects of controversy were brought forward. 



Before the election of judges could be made, 

 it was necessary to come to some decision on 

 the complaints which had been suggested res- 

 pecting their taking illegal fees. On the fc-urth 

 day of their session it was *' Resolved, That for 



* the purpose of more fully investigating the 



* subject of fees taken by the supreme court, 

 ' that the committee to whom that part of the 



* unfinished business of the last session is now 



* referred, be, and they are hereby empowered 



* to send for persons, papers, and records, and 



* to use proper means to enable theni to report 



* all the facts, that this house may form a proper 



