Legislature of Virginia.
Senate.
Saturday, Jan. 11, 1862.
The Senate was called to order by
Mr. Johnson, of
Bedford.
Prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Woodridge, of the Monumental Church.
The President laid before the Senate a communication from the
Executive, transmitting a report from the
Paymaster General of the
Virginia forces relative to the payment of the militia, and asking legislation upon the subject referred to.
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Bills reported.
Mr. Brannon, from the
Committee on Finance and Claims, reported--
A bill to exempt from taxation the seal of courts attached to papers or records for the recovery of the wages or other dues of deceased soldiers.
A bill to authorize the issue of registered certificates of State stock to
Franklin Torrey, in lieu of two lost bonds.
A bill to allow compensation to
John Critcher for his services in the prosecution of
Samuel Hubbard in circuit court of
Westmoreland county.
A bill to provide for additional clerks in the office of the Auditor of Public Accounts.
Mr. Thompson, from the
Committee on Agriculture and Commence, reported--
A bill to provide temporary warehouses for tobacco.
Mr. Douglas, from the
Committee on Military affairs, reported--
A bill to amend section 27 of chapter 24 of the Code, (new edition,) providing for a clerk in the
Adjutant General's office.
Adverse report.
Mr. Douglas, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred ‘"a plan for the reorganization of the
Virginia forces for the war,"’ made a report asking to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject.
Agreed to.
Resolutions of inquiry.
The following resolutions inquiring into the expediency of legislation upon the subjects mentioned, were adopted.
By
Mr. Newman: Of imposing a tax of fifty cents per gallon on all liquors distilled out of corn or wheat.
By
Mr. Coghill: Of refunding to
John T. Ellis a license tax paid by him, which he did not use by reason of his absence in the military service.
By
Mr. Spitler: Of reporting a bill directing clerks to refund the tax which has been paid them on seals of court connected with papers of deceased soldiers.
By
Mr. Thomas, of
Fairfax: Of compensating
William R. Delaney, Attorney for the
Commonwealth in the Circuit Court of
Fairfax, and
Charles E. Stuart, Attorney for the
Commonwealth in the Circuit Court of
Alexandria, for their services for the year 1861.
War Damages.
Mr. Brennan offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
‘
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to ascertain what amount or portion of damages incurred by the owners of land, resulting from the occupation of State and Confederate forces, and the creation of fortifications, shall be paid, and that said committee confer with the
Confederate authorities in respect thereto.
Committee:
Messrs Brennan,
Early,
Day,
Thomas of
Fairfax, and Christian of
Middlesex.
’
Treatment of prisoners.
A communication was received from the House of Delegates, announcing the passage of a joint resolution for the appointment of a committee to ascertain and report how the prisoners from this State, confined in the
Federal prison at Camp Chase, near
Columbus, Ohio, are treated, and what steps should be taken by the authorities of this State to render them more comfortable.
The resolution was agreed to, and
Messrs. Christian of
Middlesex, and
Brannon, were appointed a committee on the part of the Senate.
Bills passed.
The following bills were taken up and passed:
A bill to authorize the
Judge of the Hustings Court of the city of
Richmond to grant a new trial in the case of the
Commonwealth against
Edward Kersey and
Hammett A. Pearce — yeas 32, nays.
A bill to compensate
E. J. Buckwalter and
W. H. Pate, jailors of
Bedford county, for keeping certain convicts confined in the jail of said county in the year 1861--yeas 37, nays 0.
A bill for the payment of fifty dollars to
A. F. Haymond, for his services as Attorney for the
Commonwealth in the Circuit Court of
Marion county--yeas 33, nays 2.
On motion, the Senate adjourned.
[
Mr. James D. Armstrong, the newly elected
Senator from the
Hampshire District, appeared in his seat on Friday.]
