General Assembly of Virginia.
Senate.
Friday, Feb. 21, 1862.
The Senate was called to order at 12 o'clock by the
President, and opened with prayer by
Bishop Early.
House message.
A communication was read from the House of Delegates announcing the passage of a number of Senate bills, including the one providing for a Clerk to the
Adjutant General's Office; also,
House bills authorizing
Maryland volunteers, who reenlist in the troops of
Virginia, to be transferred to
Maryland regiments; and a bill to provide for the payment of interest to loyal citizens on certain bonds granted by the
Commonwealth.
House bills so reported were referred.
Thirty first Virginia regiment.
The President announced a communication, from the
Executive, enclosing a letter from
George W. Manford,
Secretary of State, accompanied by a report of the
Auditing Board in relation to the case of
Colonel William J. Willie, of the 31st regiment
Virginia militia; which was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be pointed.
Construction of the Military bill.
The following joint resolution, offered by
Mr. Douglas, lies over one day under the rules:
Resolved, by the General Assembly, That the true intent and meaning of the act passed on the — day of--, 1862, providing for raising
Virginia's quotes of the Confederate army, makes it the duty of the
Governor to fill up companies now in service to a minimum of one hundred men, to be supplied by voluntary enlistment or draft.
That until the companies now in service have been so filled, the organization of new companies is in contravention of the policy adopted by the General Assembly in the act aforesaid.
That the
Governor, therefore, be and he is hereby instructed not to accept any new companies unit those already in service have been filled up as the law directs.
Mr. Coghill, from the Committee of Courts of Justice, reported
House resolution proposing to proceed, on the 25th of March, to the trial of
Judge E. P. Pitts, of the 5th Circuit, charged with adhering to our enemies, and giving them aid and comfort; which said resolution was agreed to.
Mr. Writtle, of
Pittsylvania, then submitted the following resolution, and the rules being suspended therefore, the same was agreed to, as follows:
Resolved, That a joint committee of both Houses of the General Assembly, consisting of three members of each
House, be appointed to prepare and recommend a course of proceeding against
E. P. Pitts,
Judge of the 5th Circuit, of this State, on the charges contained in the resolutions of the House of Delegates of the 18th of February, 1862.
Resolutions of inquiry.
The following resolutions of inquiry into expediency were offered and adopted:
By
Mr. Brannon--Of making an appropriation to the military contingent fund.
By
Mr. Thompson--Of refunding to
Jno. H. Haskins,
Sheriff of
Amelia county, the amount of damages paid by him into the Treasury on an execution in favor of the
Commonwealth
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the
House bill ‘"to provide for the assumption and payment of the
Confederate States war tax,"’ which came up as the unfinished business of Thursday.
Mr. Johnson proceeded to address the Senate in favor of the passage of the bill; concluding, the previous question was called by
Mr. Douglas, and the vote being taken, the bill passed — Ayes 34, noes 5.
Purchase of arms for the State.
Mr. Robertson, of
Richmond, from a joint committee, by leave, introduced ‘"a bill to authorize, field artillery to be made and small arms purchased for the
State."’ The bill provides that the
Governor may have artillery for field service made of iron suitable for that purpose, and purchase shot guns, rifles, and other small arms in this State, and have them repaired and put in order for service, and purchase ammunition or procure the making thereof; and appropriates $100,000 for that object, to be expended with the concurrence of a military board.
Indestedness of corporations.
The following joint resolution, offered by
Mr. Thomas, of
Fairfax, under the rule lies over one day:
Resolved, by the General Assembly, That the
Auditor of Public Accounts shall, before paying the amount authorized and directed to be paid by an not passed February 21st entitled an act to provide for the assumption and payment of the
Confederate States war tax, ascertain the amounts that would be payable by the several corporations of the
State, under the act of Congress ‘"to authorize the issue of Treasury notes,"’ and to provide a war tax for their redemption, and the amounts which may have been assessed and payable by the said corporations under the laws of the
State; and that he also as certain the amount of taxes assessed and payable under said act of Congress by the several corporations of the
State, exempt from State taxation, and that he report the same to the General Assembly.
Virginia claims to be paid.
Mr. Robertson, of
Richmond, offered the following joint resolution; which lies over one day under the rule:
Resolved. (the House of Delegates concurring,) That the
Auditor of Public Accounts, in entering into arrangements with the
Secretary of the Treasury, as authorized by the 3d section of the act to provide for the assumption and payment of the
Confederate States war tax, be Instructed to urge upon the said
Secretary a discount of the claims of this State upon the
Confederate States, so far as the same may be admitted to be just, and as discount may not be incompatible with the interest of the
Confederate States.
Bills passed.
To repair the road leading from the
Warm Springs, by
Huntersville, to
Greenbrier river, at
Marlin's bottom.
To provide for the construction of a railroad, for military purposes, connecting the Manassas Gap Railroad at or near
Strasburg, in the county of
Shenandoah, with the Winchester and Potomac Railroad, at or near
Winchester, in the county of
Frederick.
Defence of the State.
Mr. Robertson, of
Richmond, called up the bill to organize and call out certain military forces for the defence of the
State; which was amended and variously discussed — pending which,
At 3½ o'clock, the Senate adjourned.
