House of Delegates.
The
House met at 12 o'clock M. Prayer by
Rev. Dr. Moore.
The
House agreed to the joint resolution of the Senate to appoint a committee to examine the various departments of the
State, and to see what changes may be made in view of economizing the resources of the
State.
On motion of
Mr. Prince, the resolutions requesting the representatives of
Virginia in Congress to urge the suspension of the act providing for revenue upon imported commodities from foreign countries, and all other acts having a similar bearing, was taken up and considered.
Mr. Prince said that this question was already before the Confederate Congress, and he understood that an expression of opinion, on the part of the General Assembly of
Virginia, would materially influence the action of Congress.
He thought it was unwise at this time (a time of war) to put a tariff on foreign imports.
The revenue now raised by the
Government by this tariff is but trifling.
Let us open our ports to
European nations, and invite them freely to
European nations, and invite them freely to come hither.
Mr. Green was opposed to any interference with the operations of the Confederate Congress, unless the matter should be one peculiarly affecting
Virginia.
This matter concerned the country at large, and not
Virginia alone.
He thought the
Confederacy needed all the revenue it could got. He believed that the blockade would be raised shortly, and millions of dollars worth of goods imported, from which we could draw a very large tariff.
He hoped the resolutions would be rejected.
Mr. Anderson, of
Rockbridge, moved to amend by inserting the words ‘"during the pretended blockade,"’ instead of the words during the war," which amendment was adopted.
On motion of
Mr. Barbour, the whole matter was laid upon the table.
The Speaker added the following gentlemen to the several standing committees:
Committee on Finance,
Mr. Green;
Banks.
Mr. Small; Roads and Internal Improvements,
Mr. Sheerard; Courts of Justice,
Mr. Robinson, of
Berkeley.
The bill amending section 12 of chapter 77, in relation to church property, so as to introduce the clause--‘"such trustees shall not hold more than two acres in any incorporated town, nor more than one hundred out, exclusive of church and burial ground,"’ was passed.
The bill authorizing the sale of a slave named Richard, to
John Washington, of
Caroline county, which slave has been found guilty of larceny at the Hustings Court of
Richmond, provided the said
Washington sends him beyond the limits of the
State, was passed.
Several bills were carried through the preliminary stages.
A communication was read from the
Governor, enclosing papers from the
Secretary of War and
Gen. Winder relative to the capture of certain negroes near
Centreville, who had been holding communication with the enemy.
Referred to the
Committee on Courts of Justice.
The bill compensating
George Duffy, late
Commissioner of Revenue for the city and county of
Alexandria, for services rendered, was passed.
The bill providing for the establishment of a military school in connection with Randolph Macon College, was passed.
The Clerk read a communication from the
Governor, enclosing a letter from the
Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs of the
Confederate States relative to the
Choctaw tribe of Indians in the
West for whom the
Secretary of the Interior of the old
United States held in trust the sum of $450,000 of the
registered bonds of
Virginia, upon which one year's interest is now due. These Indians having united themselves with the
Confederate States, the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs now applies for the interest due on the
Trust Bonds.
The Governor recommends the payment thereof.
Referred to the
Committee on Finance.
The bill compensating
E. J. Buckwater and
Wm. H. Pate, for keeping certain negro convicts in the county of
Bedford, was passed.
The following resolutions of inquiry into expediency were referred to the appropriate committees:
By
Mr. Taylor: Of making
South Anna river, from
Bush Creek Ford to its junction with the
North Anna, in the
county of Hanover, a lawful fence.
By
Mr. Hopkins--Of incorporating Liberty Hall Academy, in the county of
Rockingham.
By
Mr. Robertson, of
Berkeley: Of providing by law ‘"for the trial of criminal cases by juries of a vicinage other than that in which the offence is charged to have been committed when a trial in such vicinage cannot be conveniently had by reason of the presence of the public enemy, or the prevalence among the people therein of sentiments unfriendly to the enforcement of public justice"’--as authorized by the
Convention.
The bill to provide for the construction between the
Orange and
Alexandria and Manassas Gap Railroad and the
Richmond and
Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, was taken up. Several amendments were elaborately discussed, and finally the bill was laid on the table.
Mr. Steger asked leave to withdraw the memorial of
Joseph R. Anderson, & Co., referred to a committee by the
House, which was granted.
Mr. Buford offered a resolution to inquire into the expediency of legalizing the use of certain State securities now held by the Bank of Pittsylvania as a part of its capital — Adopted.
The
House then adjourned.
