The Daily Dispatch: March 14, 1863., [Electronic resource]

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General Assembly of Virginia.

Senate.--The Senate convened at noon, the President in the chair. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Sprigg.

The Tobacco bill, with the Senate's amendments thereto concurred in, was received from the House of Delegates.

Mr. Robertson asked leave to have printed among the documents of the session the protest the Senate refused to spread upon its journal the day previous, but the Senate refused by a vote of 20 noes to 8 ayes.

The Committee on Confederate Relations having under consideration the series of resolutions in relation to Confederate taxation, reported with an amendment, which was laid upon the table.

The report of the joint committee on the Impressment resolutions, in relation to the instructing of the State Senators as to their course as to their advocacy of the bill now before Congress, was laid on the table.

Bills Passed--A bill to suspend proceedings on executions, attachments, distress warrants trust deeds, and other demands, commonly known as the Stay law; a bill amending the charter of the Albemarle and Nelson Mining and Smelting Company; a bill for the relief of Wm. M. Kelley, of Caroline county.

Mr. lash, of the committee appointed to investigate the extent and origin of the conflagration at the Public Warehouse, asked that the committee be authorized to employ a clerk and send for persons and papers, which was granted.

Mr. Collier submitted an amendment to Rule No. 25 of the Senate in relation to protests, which was laid upon the table.

At 1 o'clock the discussion of the order of the day — the Tax bill — was resumed, and continued up to adjournment.

Evening Session.--The President laid before the Senate a communication from the Executive enclosing a letter from the Secretary of War on the subject of the employment of slaves, called for under an act of the Legislature, on the Piedmont Railroad within Virginia. In his letter the Secretary of War says:

‘ "As there was great need of force in the construction of the Piedmont Railroad, and serious apprehension on the minds of many slaveholders with regard to the small-pox in Richmond, a portion of the slaves called for under the act of the Virginia Legislature has been assigned to labor on the part of the Piedmont Railroad within Virginia. This has not been done in any case, however, without the consent of the owners."

’ The Governor, in communicating the letter to the Legislature, says: ‘"If this construction be a sound one, the slave labor of the State can be assigned to labor on the Central, the Virginia and Tennessee, or any other railroad in the State, upon the plea of military necessity. Without roads it would be impossible to transport the army and the supplies necessary to sustain the troops.--All I desire to know is whether this construction of the law is in accordance with the views of the General Assembly." ’

The reading of the communication gave rise to a warm debate, in which Messrs. Christian of Augusta. Nash of Chesterfield, Douglas of King William, Neeson of Marion, Robertson of Richmond and others, participated. The general tenor of their remarks were in opposition to the construction put upon the act by the Secretary of War.

A motion to refer to the Committee of Courts of Justice was still under debate at the hour of adjournment.

House of Delegates.--The House met at 11 o'clock. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Atkinson, of the Presbyterian church.

Senate bill increasing the fees of jailors for keeping and supporting prisoners was laid upon the table.

The Senate bill amending the charter of the Albemarle and Nelson Mining and Smolting Company was read a second and third time and passed.

Mr. Newton, from the committee to whom the

The Committee of and Colleges, to whom was referred the preamble and resolutions adopted by the Senate in compliment to the women of Virginia for their patriotic services during the war, have had the name under consideration, and beg leave to report, an a substitute, the following resolutions:

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Delegate That the grateful acknowledgments of the General Assembly are due, and are hereby cordially tendered, to the women of Virginia for their disinterested, generous, and heroic devotion to the cause of their country during the pending war.

2. Resolved. That the civilized world cannot fail to regard with the highest admiration the sublime spectacle exhibited by the women of a whole community — elevated, refined, softened, purified by a high public service, and beautifully blending a holy zeal for their country with humble piety to God.

3. Resolved. That this inadequate tribute to their virtues be entered on the journals of both Houses as a lasting monument of their exalted worth, that history may present to posterity so shining an example, and that our children's children to the latest generation, may be incited to deeds of heroism and public virtue.

A message was received from the Governor enclosing a letter from the Commisioner of the Public Warehouses, relative to the destruction by fire on the night of the 11th instant of one of said warehouses. The commissioner estimates the loss to the State at about $100,000, to cover which, the Governor says, an appropriation will have to be made at this session. Committed to the Committee on Finance.

On motion of Mr. Burke the report of the joint committee appointed to consider the difference of agreement between the two Houses of the General Assembly on the subject of impressment of slave to work on the public defences was taken up and agreed to. [The bill reported by the committee is the same in substance as that originally passed by the House, and heretofore noticed in this paper.]

Mr. West submitted a resolution instructing the Clerk to have published one time in the daily semi-weekly, and weekly issues of the Dispatch Enquirer, Whig, and Examiner, the bill restricting the cultivation of tobacco.

Mr. Mallory moved to amend by inserting the Sentinel, and ordering its publication for one time in the daily issue alone, pending which.

On motion of Mr. Hopkins, the whole matter was laid upon the tale.

At 11 o'clock the order of the day was taken up — the subject of salt — and discussed at considerable length by Messrs Barbour and Forbes, in favor of the contract with Wm. N. Clarkson, as reported by the majority of the committee; and by Messrs. Crockett, Fleming, Bouldin, Robinson of Richmond, and Buford, in behalf of the contract with Chas Scott & Co., as reported by the minority.

The previous question was called, which was upon substituting the report of the minority for that of the majority, and the vote resulted — ayes 58, noes 49.

The vote then recurred upon ratifying the contract with Messrs. Scott & Co., and resulted — ayes 64, noes 42.

The rules requiring 65 votes to ratify, the Speaker declared the question lost.

Mr. Hunter moved a reconsideration of the vote, which was agreed to; and, during its count, the hour of 3 arriving, the chair was vacated until 7½ o'clock.

Evening Session.--The House re-assembled at 7½ o'clock.

The unfinished businesss of the morning was taken up, and the contract with Messrs. Scott & Co. for salt ratified by the House.

[The terms of the contract are that the said Chas Scott & Co., shall furnish, in merchantable condition, on or before the 15th day of March, 1863, to such agents as may be appointed by the State receive it 700,000 bushels of salt, of which 75,000 bushels shall be delivered during each of the eight months next following after the 15th day of March, 1863, all of said salt to be delivered on the railroad cars at Sallytale, in sacks or barrels, at the rate of fifty pounds to the bushel, at the price of $2.33 per bushel; the firm of Scott & Co. giving bond, with security, in the sum of $200,000 for the faithful performance of the contract.]

The resolutions submitted by the Committee on Schools and Colleges, at the morning session, expressive of the appreciation of Virginia for the women of the State were taken up and, after a brief but appropriate eulogy from Mr. Worsham, unanimously passed.

On motion of Mr. Barbour, the resolution of the Senate extending the session until the 23d instant was taken up.

Mr. Mallory moved to amend the resolution by inserting the 19th inst., which was agreed to. So that if the Senate concur in the amendment the present session of the Virginia Assembly will terminate on Thursday next, 19th of March.

On motion of Mr. Treadway, the bill for the relief of certain persons engaged in the distillation of fault was taken up and passed — ayes 81, noes 5.

The Committee of Conference on the subject of disagreement on the resolutions of instruction to our senators, relative to impressments, made a report, which was concurred in by the House — the substance of which is that they shall advocate such measures as will most effectually accomplish the object aimed at.

On motion of Mr. Greene, the bill heretofore under consideration providing for the voting of soldiers in camp, and refugees, was taken up, and the motion being upon striking out the third section which allows refugees to vote for members of Congress, Governor, Lieut.-Governor, and Attorney General, it was disagreed to.

Several amendments were made to the bill, and as amended passed.

Mr. Forbes offered a separate section, requiring the Governor to issue his proclamation to all soldiers in camp, and all others whom it may concern, notifying them of their rights and privileges under the provisions of the act.

Mr. West submitted a resolution, which was agreed to, instructing the Committee on Finance to inquire into the expediency of allowing the Commissioners of the Revenue compensation for listing hands employed in the cultivation of tobacco.

Mr. Magruder moved the appointment of a special committee to carry out the contract with Scott & Co. for supplying the State with salt; which was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. West, the House went into secret session.