The Legislature.
--In the
Senate, Saturday, two resolutions were submitted by
Mr. Collier, in relation to desertion, the first declaring that there is sufficient severity in the death penalty for that offence, and that the efficiency of the army will be better promoted by the enforcement of that penalty than by any State legislation; the second requesting the representatives from this State, in the Confederate Congress to support such enactments as may be deemed requisite at the next session to secure the enforcement of the articles of war to prevent and punish desertion.
Under the rules these resolutions were laid over.
A large number of resolutions of inquiry were introduced, among them the following: By
Mr. Alderson: Of suppressing the sale of all goods, wares and merchandize at public auction during the present war. By
Mr. Newton: Of securing a fair and just distribution of salt among the citizens of the
Commonwealth.
By
Mr. Dickinson: Of amending the law in respect to exemptions, with a view of diminishing the number of exempts from military duty.
By
Mr. Newman: Of requiring the Banks of the
Commonwealth to receive on deposit
Confederate States Treasury notes.
The joint resolution submitted some days ago by
Mr. Johnson, of
Bedford, relative to the Virginia and Tennessee railroad was taken up, and on motion of
Mr. Neeson, referred.
The bills providing that all Confederate notes shall hereafter be received in payment of taxes was taken up and passed.
The Senate then went into secret session.
In the
House, Mr. Bouldin, from the
Committee on Finance, reported a bill making an appropriation for the expenditures of Government, and a bill to prevent public officers from speculating in Confederate notes.
The number of resolutions of inquiry submitted was large.
Among them we notice the following: By
Mr. Hunter, of
Berkeley — Of requiring all able-bodied foreigners to serve in the army or leave the
State.
By
Mr. Worsham--Of ascertaining what can be done, without detriment to the public interest, to allow the furloughs of soldiers to be regarded as passports on the railroads, &c., and so that loyal citizens may be relieved from the inconveniences of the present passport system.
By
Mr. Holden--Of removing slaves from counties invaded by the public enemy.
By
Mr. Winston--Of amending the existing law so as to require all polls taken in camp to be forwarded by mail when practicable.
By
Mr. English--Of enrolling all male refugees domiciled in the
State in the second class militia.
By
Mr. Staples.--Of repealing the act providing for the discharge from active service of persons who have furnished substitutes.
By
Mr. Robinson, of
Berkeley — Of increasing the pay of employees of the
State Government.
By
Mr. Pendleton--Of suppressing all trade in
gold and
silver, the sale of Confederate notes or bank notes of the banks in the
Confederate States for less or more than their stated value, and all traffic in the notes of the
Federal Government, States and banks.
The two Houses, in joint session, then proceeded to count the vote for Governor and
Lieutenant-Governor, which occupied the remainder of the day's session.
