Virginia Legislature.
[Extra session.]Senate.
Tuesday, January 24, 1865.
At 12 o'clock the Senate was called to order.
Prayer by Rev. Dr. Burrows, of the Baptist Church.
A communication was received from the Governor, covering resolutions passed by the Texas Legislature on the subject of peace.
Mr. Wiley, of Craig, made a motion that the communication and resolutions be laid upon the table and ordered to be printed; but subsequently withdrew his motion, to enable Mr. Keen, of Pittsylvania, to introduce a resolution declaring the sentiments of the Texas Legislature fully in accordance with those entertained by the General Assembly of Virginia, and ordering fifty thousand copies to be printed for distribution among the soldiers of the Confederate armies.
Pending the consideration of a motion, made by Mr. Quesenberry, to refer the resolutions to the Committee on Confederate Relations, the Senate took a recess for ten minutes, in order to allow members an opportunity to be introduced to Captain Semmes, late commander of the Alabama, who then made his appearance in the hall.
The time having expired, Mr. Quesenberry's motion to refer was taken up and adopted.
Mr. Douglas, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom a memorial from the proprietors of the religious papers asking exemption for their employees had been referred, reported a resolution requesting the Governor to relieve from ordinary militia duty certain employees of the religious newspapers of Richmond.
The order of the day from yesterday being Mr. Douglas's substitute of House bill on the subject of purchase and distribution of supplies for indigent families of soldiers and others within the limits of the Commonwealth, was then taken up and discussed till the arrival of the hour for going into secret session.
After a short time spent therein, the doors were opened and the Senate adjourned.
