House of Delegates.
Friday, Feb. 21, 1862.
The
House was called to order at 11 o'clock. Several bills were read and ordered to engrossment.
On motion of
Mr. Kaufman, the bill for the relief of
John Avis, late jailor of
Jefferson county, was called up and passed.
Resolutions adopted.
The following resolutions were offered:
By
Mr. Saunders--For the reconsideration of the vote by which the constitutional majority of this
House was last night determined.
Adopted.
On motion of
Mr. Robertson, of
Richmond, the original report and resolution was recommitted to the
Committee on Courts.
By
Mr. Newton--Inquiring into the expediency of furnishing from the
State forces of
Virginia a number of seamen, not exceeding 4,000, for the defence of the
Chesapeake and its tributaries.
Adopted.
By
Mr. Woolfolk--Inquiring into the expediency of reporting a bill imposing a heavy tax on agents for procuring substitutes for militiamen and volunteers in the army, and requiring them, before a licence is granted, to enter into a bond, so conditioned as not to impose on either party in procuring substitutes Adopted.
By
Mr. Colemant--Relative to the expediency of allowing the claims of
Hopkins a Wilt, late merchants of
Howardsville,
Albemarle.
Adopted.
By
Mr. Davis, of
Campbell — Relative to amending the existing law in reference to Building Fund Associations, so as to allow stockholders to own more than 50 shares each.
A
By
Mr. Fleming--That (the Senate concurring) the
House proceed to elect, on Thursday, the 27th inst., a Secretary of the
Commonwealth, a State Treasurer, Auditor and Second
Auditor of Public Accounts, Register of the Land Office,
Superintendent of the Penitentiary,
General Agent and Store-Keeper of the Penitentiary, and a Public Printer.
Laid ever.
By
Mr. McDonald--instructing the committee to whom was referred the
Constitution of the
State, to report what construction is to be given to the 3d section of Art. 4, and the 8th section of the same article, or of any other section the construction of which is necessary to the prosecution of the business of the
House.
Pending the consideration of the resolution, the hour of 12 arrived, and the
House toon up the order of the day--
The Military bill,
And then proceeded to the consideration of the bill authorizing the
Government to organize and enroll certain military forces for the deforce of the
State.
[The bill empowers the
Government to organize, enroll, and sail out, all the white male inhabitants of the counties of the
State, and of the cities of
Richmond.
Norfolk,
Petersburg,
Fredericksburg, and
Lynchburg, between the ages of signed and eighteen years, including all white male important of the same ages who may on progress from their home in this
who may be sojourning in said cities and counties.--Rep.]
An amendment to the second section was proposed by
Mr. Prince, and adopted; when, upon motion of
Mr. Banour, the
House took up
The tax bill.
Mr. Wilson proposed to amend the thirty-second section of article first, imposing a specific tax of upon distillers, by excepting from-its operation distilleries engaged wholly and for not more than four months in the distillation of trait.
Mr. Wilson warmly supported his amendment, declaring the proposed tax to be unjust in its operation upon the fruit growing sections of the
State, and contending that the effect of its imposition would be to diminish instead of increase the public revenue.
Mr. Paton took substantially the same ground, maintaining that the tax would be, in certain cases, prohibitory in its effect, and would be exceedingly oppressive to the small farmers in his section, who frequently rely upon this distillation of fruit for the means of paying their taxes.
The amendment, after brief discussion, in which
Mr. Stesur, of
Richmond, maintained the negative, was adopted.
An amendment to impose a tax upon agents for procuring substitutes for militiamen and volunteers, was negatived.
Pending the discussion of the several amendments proposed, the bill was, upon motion of
Mr. Harbour, recommitted to the committee.
The
House adjourned.
Night session.
The
House re-assembled at half-past 7 o'clock.
The pending question was laid upon the table in consequence of the absence of
Mr. Carenove.
Rights and disabilities of persons of Miked
blood.
Mr. Steger offered a resolution that the
Committee on Courts inquire into the expediency of amending sec. 3, chap 108, and sec. 7, chap.
107, and also to affix by law the rights and disabilities of persons of mixed blood.
Adopted.
The sale of ardent spirits.
Mr. Baker offered a resolution that the Military Committee inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill enabling cities and towns to prevent the sale of ardent spirits when required by the military authorities.-- Adopted.
Mr. Bradbond offered a resolution that the Military Committee inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill authorizing the
Governor to equip three batteries of artillery, of four guns each, to be furnished the Maryland Brigade on condition that they enter the
Confederate service as a part of
Virginia's quota.
Adopted.
Medals for re-enlisted volunteers.
Mr. Sanders offered a resolution to inquire into the expediency of conferring medals upon volunteers who may re-enlist.
Adopted.
Miscellaneous.
Mr. Noland offered a resolution of inquiry into the expediency of amending those sections of the Code providing for the compensation of jailors in relation to apprehended runaway haves.
Adopted.
On motion of
Mr. Collier,
Mr. Dunn, a bearer of dispatches from
Gen. Floyd, was permitted to give his account of the attack upon the fort up to the hour of his departure on Friday evening.
The majority question.
Mr. Carenove called up his motion to order the question on the resolution fixing the constitutional majority of the General Assembly; but withdrew it at the request of
Mr. Collier. who offered a substitute to the resolution, that the
House proceed at 12 o'clock to-morrow to fill the vacancies declared to be existing in the body.
After considerable debate, in which
Messrs. Collier,
Anderson and
Green participated, the previous question was demanded and the substitute rejected by a vote of eyes and noes — eyes 12, noes 82.
The question then recurring upon the original report, it was, after slight debate, adopted my a vote of eyes and noes, as follows — eyes 52, noes 41.
Mr. Bradford called up the bill to provide for the payment of interest to loyal citizens on certain bonds guaranteed by the
Commonwealth.
Adopted.
Mr. Jones called up a bill authorizing Maryland Volunteers, who re- enlist in
Virginia troops, to be transferred to
Maryland regiments.
Adopted.
The bill authorizing the
Governor to organize and call out certain military forces, was made the order of the day for to-morrow.
Adjourned.
