Virginia Legislature.
[Extra session.]Senate.
Monday, January 23, 1865.
The Senate was called to order at 12 o'clock M. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Burrows, of the Baptist Church.
A resolution of instruction in relation to the taxation of unproductive property by the Confederate Government, passed by the House of Delegates, was concurred in. [The resolution refers to such real estate as has been rendered untenable by the operations of the war, or when, by the capture or removal of slaves and teams thereon, or otherwise, by reason of the presence of the enemy, such real estate may have been rendered unproductive.]
Mr. Christian, of Augusta, offered a resolution requiring the Committee for Courts of Justice to report, by bill or otherwise, such legislation as may seem expedient to secure the safe transmission of boxes designed for soldiers in the army, and to provide penalties against the pillage of the same in transportation.
Agreed to.
The bill providing relief for the suffering families of soldiers residing within the lines, or under the control, of the enemy was, on motion of Mr. Hunter, taken up, and its merits discussed at some length by Messrs. Hunter, Brannon and Armstrong.
The amendments having all been agreed to, the bill was ordered to be engrossed.
The House bill for the relief of Benjamin Brinker, the agent for the county of Frederick for the distribution of supplies to the families of soldiers, and who had stolen from him by the Yankees thirty-odd thousand dollars, in moneys and bonds, belonging to said soldiers' families, was taken up, explained by Messrs. Thomas and Marshall, read the third time, and passed by the following vote: Yeas, 37; nays, 0.
The bill to authorize the purchase and sale, or distribution, of supplies to the indigent families of soldiers and others throughout the State was taken up on motion of Mr. Coghill.
Mr. Coghill offered a substitute for the bill, which was read.
House bill, with slight amendments, on the same subject, was offered as a substitute, to Mr. Coghill's substitute, by Mr. Douglas, and the last-mentioned substitute having been read.
On motion of Mr. Coghill, the bill and amendments were laid on the table and made the order of the day for to-morrow at 12 o'clock.
The Senate then went into secret session.
