Legislature of Virginia,
Senate. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 1861.
The Senate was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Read, of the Presbyterian Church.
The salt extortion.
A communication was received from the House of Delegates announcing the passage of a bill to prevent extortion in sale, and asking the concurrence of the Senate.
Referred to the
Committee on
General Laws.
Mr. Caraway offered the following preamble and resolution, which were adopted:
‘
Whereas, It is represented to the General Assembly that great distress and suffering now prevail throughout the
State in consequence of the scarcity of salt, which has been caused by the extraordinary
demand for that article and the high prices at which it is held by speculators; and whereas the most practicable and effectual mode by which the monopoly can be broken up and relief afforded to the people is by increasing the
supply of said article: Be it.
’
Resolved, That the
Committee on
General Laws be instructed to inquire into the expediency of encouraging the manufacture of salt from sea water, by a system of bounties to be paid the manufacturers who may first engage in the enterprise.
or by any other mode that to them may seem best adapted to attain the object, and report by bill or other wise.
Bills were reported from standing committees, viz:
‘
To amend the 4th section to incorporate the
Danville Manufacturing Company.
Making compensation to
A. F. Haymond, as Attorney for the
Commonwealth.
’
Resolutions of Inquiry.
By
Mr. Dickinson of Prince Edward--of refunding a tax to the administration of the late
sheriff of Prince Edward.
By
Mr. C. Y.
Thomas --of providing additional rooms for the Senate committees.
Vacancies in the Senate.
The bill providing for holding an election to all the vacancies in the Senate from the 46th and 50th districts, held by the enemy, came up on its passage.
Mr. Robertson opposed the passage of the bill as unconstitutional.
The roll was called, and the vote resulted — ayes 22, noes 13.
The President decided that the bill was lost for want of a constitutional majority.
A debate ensued upon the merits of this decision, and an appeal being taken therefore the decision was overruled by a vote of 15 to 17.
The bill accordingly passed, and was ordered to be communicated to the
House forth-with.
[The bill was amended on Tuesday by the adoption of the following section, offered by
Mr. Whittle:
‘"3 Any citizen of either of said Senatorial Districts, entitled to vote were he at home, may on the 1st day of January, 1862, the day of election, have his vote recorded for
Senator, and a certificate thereof signed by the voter and the officer taking said vote, by any
Justice of the Peace,
Notary Public,
Commissioner in Chancery, or judge of any court of record in the county where he may be on said day, upon his first making oath that he is a resident and qualified voter of said district.
All such
Justices of the Peace, Notaries Public, Commissioners in Chancery, or Judges, shall be subject to like penalties for not performing the duties aforesaid as are imposed by the laws of the
State on conductors of elections for not discharging their duties where the same are applicable.
The said Justices, Notaries Public,
Com's in Chancery, and Judges shall make return of the votes taken by them, as aforesaid, as herein-after prescribed.
The said returns, together with the poll books, where poll books are hereby required to be kept, and said certificates, shall be forthwith transmitted by mail to the
Clerk of the Senate,
in Richmond, Va., and it shall be the duty of the said Clerk to examine said polls, returns, and certificates, and announce the result to the Senate, within twelve days after the said day of election."’
Bills passed.
House bill to incorporate the
Shenandoah Manufacturing Company.
House bill to improve the navigation of
New river — ayes 29, noes 2.
The Stay Law.
The bill to suspend sales and legal proceedings in certain cases, and to amend the ordinance of the
Convention, generally known as the
Stay Law, was taken up on its second reading, and various amendments were agreed to. The question being on its engrossment.
On motion of
Mr. Douglas, the bill and amendments were re-committed to the
Committee on Courts of Justice.
The Holidays.
The joint resolution for an adjournment from the 21st of December to the 2d of January, was returned from the House of Delegates with an amendment, substituting the 1st Monday in January, which the Senate refused to concur in.
The Senate adjourned.
House of Delegates.
The
House met at 12 M. Prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Peterkin, of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
The Speaker (
Mr. Kemper) in the Chair.
On motion of
Mr. George, the concurrent resolution reported from the Senate, providing for a recess of the General Assembly, was amended by striking out the second day of January, and inserting the first Monday of January as the day of re-assembling.
The Speaker laid before the
House a communication from
S. M. Shafer, resigning his position of Delegate from the county of
Berkeley.
Received and laid on the table.
Mr. Nelson offered a resolution, instructing the
Committee on Courts of Justice to inquire into the expediency of so amending the laws concerning land titles as will more effectually protect the right of the loyal citizens of this Common wealth against the claims of alien enemies.
Adopted.
Also, a resolution providing for the appointment of a committee of seven to inquire what action, if any, should be taken by the
House to encourage the manufacture of salt from sea-water.
Adopted.
Mr. Baskerville offered a resolution instructing the
Committee on Finance to inquire into the account of
C. Edmondson.
Adopted.
On motion of
Mr. Robertson, the
Committee on Military Affairs was increased by the addition of five members.
The Speaker also appointed
Messrs. Edmunds,
Sheffey,
Flood. George, and
Minor to constitute such addition to the
Committee.
The Speaker also appointed
Messrs. Newton,
Tredway,
Sheffey,
Collier,
Saunders,
Franklin,
Bouldin and Stregar to constitute the
Committee on the manufacture of sea salt.
On motion of
Mr. Burks. the unfinished business of Monday, being the consideration of the bill suspending legal proceedings in certain cases, (stay law,) was taken up.
Mr. Harrison offered a substitute to the bill.
Laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Evans offered a resolution instructing the
Committee on Courts to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill prohibiting the sale of ardent spirits to negroes in counties from which the militia have been called out. Adopted.
Mr. Woolfolk offered a resolution instructing the
Committee on Free Negroes to examine the 19th section of article 4th of the statutes of
Virginia, and report on the expediency of carrying its provisions into effect.
Adopted.
Bills passed.
A bill amending the charter of the town of
Fredericksburg came up on its third reading, and passed.
A bill to compel turnpike and plank-road companies to remove dead and dangerous timeer from their roads.
Passed.
A bill authorizing the
Governor to make requisition upon the salt works of
Washington and
Smyth, to furnish one hundred thousand bushels of salt to the people at cost, came up. After much discussion on the bill.
Mr. Dunn moved to table it, together with all amendments thereto.
Carried — ayes 77, noes 49.
Mr. Reed introduced a resolution fixing the 1st of January as the day of re-assembling after the
House adjourns on the 21st inst.-- Adopted.
Mr. Baskerville obtained leave to bring in a bill re-enacting the ordinance known as the
Stay Law.
Mr. Rutheron offered a resolution which was adopted, instructing the
Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for the punishment of citizens attempting to pass the guards and pickets of the army.
By
Mr. Davis.--A resolution authorizing the
Committee on Finance to examine the account of
Francis Thornton.
Adopted.
The bill to authorize a connection between the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad, and the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad in
Richmond, and between the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad in
Petersburg, was taken up.
Mr. Wenns offered an amendment authorising the construction of such connection without consulting the corporate authorities of
Petersburg and
Fredericksburg.
Mr. Collier opposed the amendment.
Mr. Wyene replied to
Mr. Collier, and spoke in of his measure.
The amendment was adopted, and the bill ordered to be engrossed.
Bill
A bill to incorporate the
Virginia Chemical works.
Reports of committees.
From Committee on Courts of Justice:-- Adverse report on resolution relative to regulating the sale of spirituous liquors.
From Committee on Propositions and Grievances.-- adverse report on the petition of citizens of the county of McDewel asking the revival of county lines; also on the petition of
Flora, a free woman of color.
From Committee on Finance.--Adverse report on the petition of
Edward B. Bale; also on the petitions of Arch,
Davis, and of
Baldwin, &c.
Mr. Newton offered a resolution, which was adopted, unanimously, expressing the sympathies of the
House with the
Charleston sufferers, and authorizing the
Committee on Finance to report a bill appropriating fifty thousand dollars for their relief.
Mr. Blue offered a resolution, instructing the
Committee on Finance to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill to provide for the assessment and collection of the taxes in counties partially invaded by the public enemy, and where the revenue officers have failed or been prevented in the performance of their duties.
Adopted.
The bill introduced by
Mr. Baskerville, re-enacting, for a period of thirty days, the stay law, passed by the late Convention, was taken, up, and passed.
And then the
House adjourned.
