Legislature of Virginia.
Senate
Tuesday, Dec. 10th, 1861.
The Senate was called to order at 12 o'cl'ck, M.
Mr. Johnson, of
Bedford, in the Chair.
Bills Reported.
The following bills were reported from committee:
A bill compensating Peter P,
Penn., for the loss of his slave Albert.
A bill extending the time for collection of muster fines by sherins, in certain counties and corporations.
bill Passed.
A Senate bill constituting
New river a lawful fence was taken up and passed.
Resolutions of Inquiry.
The appropriate committees were instructed to enquire into the expediency of sundry propositions, viz:
By
Mr. Douglas of adopting measures to encourage re-enlistment in the volunteer service, by bounty or otherwise.
By
Mr. Coghill of authorizing the county courts to make an allowance for the support of the widows and infant children of soldiers who may die or become permanently disabled in the military service of the
State.
By
Mr. Brannon of authorizing the appointment of agents to sign treasury notes.
By
Mr.Neeson, of compensating A
F. Haymond for official services as attorney for Common wealth.
By
Mr. Dickenson, of G., of reporting bill of last session relative to the
Wytheville and Grayson Turnpike Company.
Disloyal
Senators.
The report of the Committeee of Privileges and Elections, presented yesterday, was taken up as the order of the day, read, and concurred in.
Mr.Neeson submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Senate in virtue of the authority of the ordinance adopted by the Convention of Virginia December 4th, 1861, will at — o'clock P. M., on--, proceed of elect
Senators to fill the vacancies in the 32d, 46th, and 50th Senatorial districts of the
State.
Some discussion in regard to the validity of the said ordinance ensued.
Mr. Thomas, of
Fairfax, suggested that the ordinance was practically a change in the organic law of the
State, and until ratified by the people, was nothing more than a recommendation of the members of the
Convention.
Mr. Neeson, in reply, argued to show that the
Convention had plenary power to pass the ordinance, etc.
On motion of
Mr. Thomas, the resolution was laid upon the table, and made the order of the day for to-morrow, (Wednesday.)
On motion of
Mr. Early, the Senate adjourned.
House of Delegates.
The
House met at 12 o'clock M.--
Mr. Edmunds, of
Halifax, in the chair.
Questions of Vacancies in the
House.
The report of the Special Committee on certain vacant seats in the House of Delegates, (which report was published in this paper on Monday, was the taken up by the
House and read by the
Clerk.
The question being upon the adoption of the first resolution of the committee, which was as follows:
‘
"
Resolved, That the 23d section of Article VI.
of the
Constitution does not authorize the admission of former members of the House of Delegates to seats in said house, in cases in which their successors fail to qualify."
’
After discussion by
Mr. Forbes, of
Fauquier, it was adopted.
The question was then upon the adoption of the second resolution, which was as follows:
‘
"
Resolved, That vacancies exist in the representation in the House of Delegates from the counties of
Ohio,
Preston,
Monongalia,
Harrison,
Marion,
Kanawha and
Berkeley, each being entitled to two delegates; from the counties of
Brooke,
Hancock,
Marshall,
Wetzel,
Taylor,
Upshur,
Lewis,
Wood,
Putnam,
Mason, and
Morgan, each being entitled to one delegate, and from the election districts, composed of the counties of
Ritchie and
Pleasants,
Doddridge and
Tyler, and
Jackson and
Roane, each being entitled to one delegate."
’
The resolution was opposed by
Messrs. Newton, of
Westmoreland;
Rutherfoord, of
Goochland;
Noland, of
Loudoun, and
Bradford, of
Clarke, on the ground that sufficient evidence was not before the
House to justify it in declaring the seats from those counties vacant.
The resolution was advocated by
Messrs. Forbes, of
Fauquier;
Anderson, of
Botetourt, and
Hunter, of
Jefferson.
Upon a call for the ayes and noes, the resolution was adopted by a vote of ayes 87, noes 19.
The question being upon the adoption of the third resolution, which was as follows:
‘
"
Resolved, That the petitioner, Jacob W
Marshall, is not entitled to a seat in the House of Delegates, from the election district composed of the counties of
Randolph and
Tucker, and that there exists a vacancy from the representation from such district."
’
It was adopted.
The question being on the adoption of the fourth resolution, which was as follows:
‘
"
Resolved, That
William F. Gordon, Jr., is not entitled to a seat in the House of Delegates as one of the delegates from the county of
Harrison."
’
It was adopted.
Bills Reported.
The following bills were reported:
A bill to compel Turnpike and Plank Road Companies to remove dead and dangerous timber.
A bill to authorize a connection between the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad, and the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, and Petersburg Railroad, in
Petersburg.
resolution to Fill Vacant Seats.
Mr. Baskerville offered the following resolution, which was laid on the table and ordered to be printed:
Resolved, That this House, by virtue of authority vested by the
Convention, will forth-with proceed to appoint Delegates to represent those counties declared vacant by the resolutions of a special committee, and adopted by the
House.
Navy, Marine and Revenue service.
Mr. Murdaugh offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
‘"
Resolved, That the
Governor of the
Commonwealth be and is hereby requested to furnish to this General Assembly the names of all officers of the Navy, Marine Corps and Revenue Marine, who, having resigned the
United States service, and having been commissioned by the
Governor of this Common-wealth, have not been recognized or acknowledged by the
Confederate States."’
Resolutions of Inquiry.
The following resolutions were referred to the appropriate committees:
Mr. Mr. Buford--Of amending the existing laws in regard to dealing in money and exchanges so as to provide and secure, as far as practicable, the reduction of the high rates of premium now usually charged for
gold and
silver by persons so dealing.
By
Mr. Steger--Of incorporating a company for the manufacture of railroad equipments, with power to establish mills at different points, and giving authority to railroad companies to subscribe for a part of the capital stock.
Deferred Proceedings.
The following petition was presented in the House of Delegates on the 3d of December:
Mr. Tomlin, of King William, presented petition of
George R. Baylor, to have refunded a sum of money paid on account of license, which petition was ordered to be referred to the
Committee on Finance.
On the 7th,
Mr. Tomlin also offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the
Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so amending the militia laws as to require that all liable to the performance of the duties of militiamen shall be drafted and detailed for active service before any draft or detail shall be made on those now serving as Virginia volunteers.
