House of Delegates.
Saturday, March 15, 1861.
The was called to order at 11 o'clock, Mr. Saunver in the chair.
A communication was received from the Senate announcing that that body had agreed to certain House resolutions; that they had disagreed to others, and some they had concurred in with amendments.
House bill granting the use of the jails of the Commonwealth for the safe-keeping of free negroes arrested by the Confederate authorities, was returned from the Senate, which body insisted upon restoring the words ‘"and poor-houses"’ after jails, stricken out in the House, on motion of Mr. Johns.
The question coming up, ‘"Shall the House insist?"’ it was decided in the negative — thus giving up the poor-houses, as well as the jails, to the use indicated.
A joint resolution, authorizing the raising of a company of riflemen in Petersburg, to consist of ninety men, who will furnish their own rifles, submitted on Friday, by Mr. Conlier, was taken up, and, after a lengthy debate, was agreed to.
Mr. Bouldin submitted a joint resolution, exempting from military duty the overseers of persons absent in the public defence, on whose farms there is no white male over 18 years of age. This resolution being objected to, Mr. Bouldin spoke earnestly and at considerable length, in favor of suspending the rule, so that it might be considered at once.
Mr. Enmunds replied, and urged his objections to all such extensions of a law which, to be effective, must be executed in all its necessary provisions, and that without delay.
The hour of 12 having arrived, the Speaker pro tem. anounced the order of the day, which was Senate bill, being an act to amend an act to organize and bring into service Virginia's quota of the Confederate forces.
On motion, the order of the day was laid over to take up a bill for a military fund — This bill provides a military fund during the war, to meet contingencies, and for the first year appropriates $50,000. The bill was explained and passed — ayes 77, noesed.
On motion of Mr. Hunter, the order of the day was further postponed to 1 o'clock P. M.
Mr. Hunter reported a bill authorizing the Governor to remove the public archives from Lewisburg, Greenbrier county; and as he intended to extend the provisions of this bill and urge its passage, he would move that the House resolve itself into secret session, which was accordingly ordered.
When the doors were re-opened, the House was engaged in discussing the question of accepting volunteers; and the discussion of such topics usually, of late, running back to the first military movement of Virginia, and not stopping until coming down to the ‘"very latest rumor,"’ was beautifully expanding its dimensions in this direction, when it was out short, somewhere in Western Virginia, by the announcement of a message from the Senate.
This was announced, with the supplemental intimation that it could be delivered only in secret session.
When the doors were reopend, we found the House industriously engaged in the apparently hopeless task of manufacturing a quorum.
The bill under consideration involved the payment of money from the Treasury, and, under the Speaker's decision, (affirmed by Mr. Sheffey, Speaker pro tern.,) such bills require but a vote of at least 77 members, that being the constitutional majority.
But it seems there was not even a quorum present, and the House ordered the doors to be closed and the roll to be called.--Some of the absentees were excused, excuses having been made by their friends; others were not excused.
The process was a tedious one, and the members present evinced the most commendable disposition, as well as endurance, in their efforts to enforce the rules of the House. 