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General Assembly of Virginia.


Senate.

Thursday, March 6th, 1862.
The Senate was called to order at 11 o'clock, and opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Jeter.

The execution of the joint order, having for its object the election of certain State officers on the 6th of March, was postponed until the 20th inst.

A message was received from the House of Delegates, by Mr. Anderson, of Botetourt, who informed the Senate that the House had passed a bill entitled "an act to suspend the work on the Kanawha river, and to authorize the application of a part of the loan made for that improvement, to keep open the navigation of the James river Canal, and to improve the sluices upon a part of the river." Referred to the Committee on Roads and Internal Navigation.

The Senate were also informed that the House had agreed to a joint resolution of request to the Secretary of War in relation to the acceptance of new regiments, battalions, and companies from Virginia, and to a joint resolution authorizing the Governor to send Special Messengers to obtain enrollments, and also to the resolution of the Senate requesting a Committee of Conference on the disagreement between the two Houses in relation to the bill entitled "an act to authorize the Governor to organize and call out certain military forces for the defence of the State."

Bills were reported: Authorizing the receipt of Confederate States Treasury Notes in payment of taxes and other public dues; compensating David W. Forbel for services connected with the militia of Nicholas and Greenbrier counties.

The joint resolution authorizing the Governor to accept a light infantry company from Middlesex county, was taken up and agreed to.

The following resolution, offered by Mr. Johnson, of Bedford, was adopted:

Resolved, That hereafter when it is ascertained by a vote upon any question that a quorum of the Senate is not in attendance, the President shall immediately cause the roll of members to be called by the Clerk, whose duty it shall be to request the reporters to publish in the daily papers of this city, on the next day thereafter, in the report of the proceedings of the Senate, the fact that no quorum was present, and the names of the members present and of those absent, unless otherwise ordered by a majority of those present.

The bill increasing the salary of Joseph Jackson, Clerk of accounts in the office of the Auditor of Public Accounts, was called up by Mr. Thomas, of Fairfax, and on his motion was made the order of the day for Monday next.

The bill to prevent shooting and trespassing on Sunday was taken up, on motion of Mr. Garnett. Various amendments were rejected, and one offered by Mr. Coghill, was adopted, providing that the bill shall go into effect in such counties and corporations only as may adopt the same by the Courts thereof. The bill was advocated by Messrs. Garnett, Christian, of Augusta, Douglass, and others, and opposed by Messrs: Robertson, Coghill, Lynon, and others. The bill was passed. On a motion to amend the title no quorum appearing, the President, under a rule adopted this morning, ordered the roll to be called in order to ascertain the absentees with a view to their publication. This was done and a large number found absent. At this stage of the proceedings, Mr. Thomas, of Fairfax, moved to rescind the order of publication, on which the Senate divided — ayes 15 nays 14.

The bill to organize a military contingent fund was taken up and passed.


House of Delegates.

Thursday, March 6.
The House was opened at 11 o'clock with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Walker.

Mr. Grattan offered a preamble and joint resolutions declaring it to be, in the opinion of the House, the duty and the policy of the Confederate States Government to possess itself, by purchase, of the entire crops of cotton and of tobacco, and to cause the destruction of such portions of them as are likely to fall into the hands of the enemy.

Laid upon the table, without debate, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Anderson, Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, laid before the House a communication from Gen. Randolph, commanding at Suffolk, setting forth certain grave abuses practiced by a Board of Magistrates, under authority of the act enumerating the exemptions from militia service.

Mr. Anderson also offered a resolution relative to so amending the act as to prevent the recurrence of said abuses. Adopted.

Mr. Dunn offered a joint resolution proposing an adjournment sins die of the General Assembly on the 17th instant, which was objected to, and laid over under the rules.

A resolution authorizing the Governor to accept the services of all volunteers from the State who proffered their services prior to the 9th of March. Objected to, and laid over under the rules.

Upon the arrival of the hour of 12 o'clock, the joint order of the day (the election of State officers) was taken up, and the Senate notified of their readiness to proceed to the election.

Mr. Tomlin moved that the House go first into an election for Superintendent of the Penitentiary. Adopted.

Mr. Tomlin inquired whether the Committee to examine into the bonds of candidates, &c., had yet reported, and being answered by the Clerk in the negative, moved a postponement of the election until Thursday, March 20th. Adopted.

Mr. Carpenter offered a bill on authorizing County Courts of Alleghany county to impose a tax upon dogs.

Mr. James moved to amend the bill by extending its provisions to Botetourt. Adopted, and the bill ordered to its engrossment.

A bill was called up providing that any Senator or Delegate who shall, without the consent of the House of which he is a member, absent himself from its deliberations, he shall be deemed guilty of a breach of his privilege, and that no member shall hereafter absent himself from the Assembly without first obtaining the consent of the House of which he is a member.

The act led to a lengthy debate, which being finally terminated by a demand for the previous question, it was tabled, upon motion of Mr. Rivers, by a test vote — ayes 55, noes 34--Mr. Tomlin vigorously opposing the motion.

By Mr. Woodson--Inquiring into the expediency of exempting from military duty all persons who have furnished substitutes, either in the State or Confederate service, who are not liable to military duty in this State.

Also, inquiring into the expediency of exempting from militia duty one miller and one blacksmith in each neighborhood.

Mr. Newton moved to indefinitely postpone the subject, which was put and decided in the affirmative.

Mr. Steger, from a Joint Committee of Conference, to whom was referred the bill authorizing the Governor to enroll and call out certain military organizations for the defence of the State, submitted a report recommending the passage of the bill with certain amendments and omissions.

A motion to table the report in order that it might be printed was rejected, and the report was then, after a brief debate, agreed in.

The bill relative to the discontinuance of the public works on the Kanawha and the improvement of the James River Canal was passed.

The House adjourned at 3 o'clock.

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