House of Delegates,
Friday, March 15th, 1861.
The
House was called to order at 11 o'clock by
Speaker Crutchfield, and opened with prayer by
Rev. George Pettigrew, of the
Reformed Church.
A communication was read from the Senate announcing the passage of a number of bills.
Senate bill organizing a volunteer cavalry company in
Albemarle county, was read three times and passed.
Senate bill for the relief of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, was, on motion of
Mr. Barbour, laid on the table.
Senate bill amending the charter of the Black Lick and Plaster Bank Turnpike Company, was read three times and passed.
Senate bill authorizing the
Loch Leven Rangers, of
Lunenburg, to organize with a less number than now required by law, was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Senate bill incorporating the
Cove Creek Lead, Copper, and Iron Manufacturing Company, in the county of
Tazewell, was read three times and passed.
House bill amending chapter 108 of the Code of
Virginia, concerning births, marriages and deaths, with the amendment proposed thereto by the Senate, was taken up and the amendment concurred in. The
House also concurred in Senate amendments to bill for paying Commissioners.
Senate bill increasing the pay of certain officers of the Public Guard was read three times and passed, with the following amendment, offered by
Mr. Kemper:
‘
Provided, however, That the
Captain of the Public Guard shall not receive the increase of pay allowed him by this act while receiving a salary as
Superintendent of the
Armory.
’
The following Senate bills were also passed: Authorizing the Circuit Court of
Preston county to legalize the conveyance of a tract of land made by
Andrew Oliphant, as guardian of
Wm. Smith, an idiot; incorporating the
Silver Run Mining and Manufacturing Company; also, the
Burning Springs and
Oil Line Railroad Company; extending the limits of
Fredericksburg; incorporating the
Laurel Valley Coal and Oil Company, in
Mason county; amending the charters of the Hampshire New Creek County and Virginia Car Springs Company; incorporating the
Commonwealth's Savings Bank of
Richmond; authorizing
Thomas Chancellor to make a wharf on his lands; incorporating the Coal and Oil Company of Braxton county.
Adverse Reports.--Senate bills for the relief of
Saml. Openheimer, of
Powhatan county, and for the relief of
Thos. K. Davis,
Sheriff of
Prince William county, were reported on adversely by the
Committee on Finance.
Hour of Meeting.--
Mr. Kemper offered a resolution that on and after Wednesday next the
House meet at 10 o'clock. Adopted.
The Adjutant General.--When Senate bill to ‘"increase the pay of the
Adjutant General for services rendered the
State in the year 1858-59 "’ came up,
Mr. Kemper asked that it be passed.
Mr. Holloway hoped that it would be referred.
Mr. Kemper said such a course was unnecessary, the Military Committee having reported a similar bill heretofore by unanimous vote.
Mr. Gibson of
Jefferson, denied the accuracy of the statement.
He was a member of said committee, and had always been opposed to any such bill.
Mr. Crane said the
John Brown raid had initiated a system of solicitation for increased pay by a great many.
The official duties of the
Adjutant General had no doubt been much increased by
Brown's inroad; for
Gov. Wise, on his own responsibility, had given him nearly $1,000 additional pay. The committee then reported a bill making him a salaried officer, $2,000 per annum.) This bill proposes to pay him that salary for the years '58 and '59.
It was a fact which alarmed him, that
Virginia was fast becoming a military power, and he did not doubt that the gallant officers in command would soon be called on to march their forces against whom nobody could tell.
An Ordnance Department had been created at the present session, creating the offices of Superintendent and subordinates, at salaries amounting in the aggregate to $10,000. The proposed pay of the
Adjutant General would make $12,000, a sum to come out of the Treasury to pay to men holding merely nominal offices.
The very rocks would cry out against him, were he to sit still and see
Eastern Virginia a military power, and selecting officers from her own citizens to command that power, for the protection of a species of property which goes unscathed, and pays not a cent to increase the receipts of the Treasury.
If the
East desires the fraternal feeling of the
Western portion of
Virginia, stop this thing ere it is too late.
If you do not, the armed forces of the
State may have to be turned upon the revolted colonies, because they cannot, and will not, stand this eternal increase of taxation.
He hoped the bill would be returned to the Senate.
The bill was finally laid on the table, on motion of
Mr. Christian.
Petition.--
Mr. Ward presented the petition of
John A. Russell, praying relief from taxes improperly imposed, in consequence of an erroneous assessment upon certain lands in
Frederick county.
Sale of James River and Kanawha Canal.--The engrossed bill for the sale and transfer of the
James River and Kanawha Canal was taken up and passed — ayes 115, noes 2; and
Mr. Anderson was requested to communicate the fact to the Senate, and request the concurrence of that body in the same.
Adjourned.
