House of Delegates.
Wednesday, March 5.
The
House assembled at 11 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Solomon.
Volunteer Organization — from Virginia.
The question pending at the hour of adjournment yesterday — the joint resolution requesting the
Secretary of War, not to accept any more companies or battalions. &c., from this State until the full quota of
Virginia to the
Confederate service, shall have been contributed — was taken up, when, upon motion of
Mr. Barbour, the second resolution requesting the
Governor to send at once the proper number of messengers to procure lists of the volunteers who have re-enlisted.
Mr. McDonald vigorously opposed the resolution, replying elaborately to the arguments advanced in its favor.
Mr. Hunter said that the discussion had already taken a broader range than was authorized by the resolution in question.
If he apprehended aright the meaning of that resolution, it was to request the
Secretary of War to forbear accept new organizations of volunteers until those now in actual service shall be filled up to the complement required by law.
Mr. Collins desired to know whether the gentleman's construction of the resolution was that of the
Committee on Military Affairs also, of which he was a member.
Mr. Hunter replied that he took the resolutions as they are; its meaning was as much within the competency of any member as within his own, and was proceeding to speak of the movement of
Gen. Banks upon
Winchester as a reason why the organization of the militia should be effected within a few days at most, when.
Mr. Willoughby Newton moved that as the statements of
Mr. Hunter appeared likely to reveal military movements which it might be necessary to withhold from the public, the
House resolve itself into secret session.
Mr. Green opposed the motion as ill-timed and unnecessary.
Mr. Rives also opposed the proposition.--These secret sessions had already been carried too far. They indicated that he held a suspicious fear of popular influence.
Much of the difficulty now arising from the imperfect military bill recently passed, and the effect of which is likely to crush out the spirit of volunteering, is due to the fact that it had been adopted in secret session, and that the authorities of the
State could not be informed, by reason of the injunction of secrecy, of the facts upon which the
House had acted.--Beside, the movements of the foe in the direction of
Winchester, had been rumored days ago, and had obtained publication through the press Unless, therefore, the gentleman from
Jefferson, (
Mr. Hunter,) desired to communicate to the
House any official secret, or any fact of graver import than mere newspaper rumors, he was opposed to going into secret session.
The motion was then put, and was voted down; but was renewed by
Mr. Wyndham Robertson, and after a long debate between Mesars.
Rives and
Robertson, was carried by a large majority.
Miscellaneous.
Mr. Sheffry offered a resolution which was adopted, giving to the Board of Public Works, authority to rebuild the bridge of the
Jackson River Turnpike Company, near Woodswards,
Alleghany county.
Mr. McDonald, of
Logan, offered a resolution of inquiry into the expediency of extending the time for the collection of the public revenue in
Logan,
Wyoming, and other counties now occupied by the enemy.--Adopted.
Mr. Rowan offered a resolution relative to amending the charter of the town of Union.
in
Monroe county.
Adopted.
Mr. Flood offered a resolution of inquiry whether the counties which have recently furnished volunteers for twelve months, will be entitled to a proper credit for the same in estimating the quota of
Virginia.
Adopted.
