House of Delegates.
Friday, March 14, 1862.
The
House was called to order at 11 o'clock,
Mr. Sheffry in the Chair, and it was opened with prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Kepler.
A communication was received from the Senate covering sundry bills.
Mr. Mallory submitted a resolution providing that this
House (the Senate concurring) will proceed to-morrow, at 12 o'clock M., to fill,
pro tempore, the office of Second Auditor, made vacant by the death of the late
Wm. A. Moncure.
Mr. Rivse offered, as a substitute, that the
Chief Clerk be authorized to perform the duties of Second Auditor until Thusday next, the day fixed for the regular election of State officers.
The substitute was adopted.
The order of the day being the Senate bill to amend an act organizing and mastering into service
Virginia's quota of the
Confederate troops, passed February 10, 1862. On motion, laid over until to-morrow at 12 o'clock.
Joint resolutions on exemptions.
The resolution, having been read over by the
Clerk, the question before the
House was on concurring in the first joint resolution.
Several amendments enlarging the list of exemptions were proposed — some of which were adopted.
Mr. Robertson. of
Richmond, offered as a substitute the following resolution:
Resolved, by the General Assembly; That the Governer be, and he is hereby authorized and requested so to qualify the operation of his Proclamation of the 10th instant, as to provide for the protection of the internal security of the
State; as well as for the keeping up of all departments of the public service, and of such branches of the industry and business of the community as the public necessities may demand.
Mr. Robertson explained his substitute at length.
Mr. Baskerville had entire confidence in the
Executive of the
Commonwealth, but did not desire to impose upon him the whole subject of exempts.
Mr. Bouldin urged the adoption of the resolution as agreed to by the Senate.
The substitute of
Mr. Robertson was rejected, and the first resolution, with some slight amendment, was agreed to by the
House.
The second resolution was then read by the
Clerk, and after a lengthy debate, and some unimportant amendments, was adopted.
The whole series, with various amendments, which merely extended the list of exemptions, of each class respectively, without a bridging any class, was, after long debate, and the rejection of sundry other amendments, adopted.
The 1st resolution exempts such persons as may be certified to by the
Governor, by the
War of Navy Departments, as necessary to the work of the
Government of the
Confederate States, provided that no such person shall thereby be exempt from draft under the act of February 10, 1862, or any draft for a future requisition.
The 2d resolution empowers the Boards of Exemption, under the act of February 18, 1862, and such Boards as shall be organized at the several places of rendezvous, designated by the Proclamation of the 11th inst., to take cognizance of all cases of exemption arising under these resolutions.
The following are the exemptions provided for in this resolution, viz: All officers and employers of any-railroad, canal, steamboat, or telegraph company, certified to by their respective
Presidents or Superintendents; all persons whom the Board may deem necessarily employed in mining or manufacturing lead, iron, coal, salt, saltpetre, gunpowder, firearms, or other implements or munitions of war; also, all employees in woolen and cotton mills; and all tannersand shoemakers having contracts to do work for the
State or
Confederate States so long as necessary to complete such contracts; also, such officers of the banks of circulation, in this Commonwealth, and their branches as their respective
Presidents or Cashlers may certify, in honor, as indispensable, and as may be deemed so by the Board of Exemptions; also, such millers as may be deemed necessary in their respective localities, or are in the employment of the
State or
Confederate States; also, one editor and such employees as the editor or proprietor may certify, on honor, necessary to conduct a newspaper, at least once a week; also, the jailor of every city, and such guard as the Hustings Court thereof, or the
County Court of
Henrico may deem necessary.
The 3d resolution exempts in each apothecary store one apothecary and the proprietor; also, the
Public Printer and the Printer for the State Senate, with such employees as may be certified, on honor, as necessary; also, one deputy sheriff in every county, and one deputy clerk, if the clerk is in the public service or incapable of discharging the duties.
The 4th resolution exempts, in certain cases, overssers on the farms of widows and orphans, and of men in the public service.
The 5th resolution exempts Professors of the University of Virginia, and other incorported Colleges, and of incorporated Female Institutions.
The 6th, 7th and 8th resolutions relate to the mode of exempting, and restricts the privilege to the proclamation aforesaid, and only while the exempts remain in the privileged service.
At 4 o'clock the
House adjourned to meet again at 8 o'clock P. M.
