The Legislature.
The resolution of thanks to
Gens. Lee,
Johnson Jackson, and the officers and men under their respective commands, passed by the
House on Thursday, was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs, together with a substitute therefore, offered by
Mr. Collier.
The chairman of the
Committee on
General Laws, reported a bill to incorporate the
Union Manufacturing Company, of
Fluvanna.
The chairman of the
Committee on Military Affairs reported an act amending an act exempting certain persons from military service.
The chairman stated that the only amendment proposed by the act was the exemption of
Justices of the Peace.
It was read the first time and laid on the table.
Mr. Neeson, of
Marion, offered the following preamble and resolutions:
‘
Whereas, by the secession of
Virginia from the late Union, and her accession to the
Confederacy, the
Northwestern section of the
State has become a border on a foreign and hostile nation, and has no direct intercourse in trade and travel with other and more favored portions of the
State, and the prosperity of that, as well as other sections of the
State, will be greatly promoted by a closer union and more frequent intercommunication; and
whereas, on the 17th day of January, 1862, the General Assembly of
Virginia did resolve to ‘"maintain the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the
State of Virginia to the uttermost limits of her ancient boundaries at any and every cost,"’ and the Congress of the Confederate States, on the 22d day of January, 1862, by resolution, did ‘"pledge all the resources of the
Confederacy to uphold the determination"’ afore said: Therefore,
- 1st. Resolved, by the General Assembly of Virginia, That increased facilities of trade and travel between the Northwestern section of the State and the capital and seaboard are demanded alike by the welfare of that section and the permanent interests of the whole State, in peace and in war, and that justice and sound policy requires that such facilities be established without unnecessary delay.
- 2d. Resolved, That the General Assembly declare, as an assurance to the citizens of said North-western section, that the resources of the Commonwealth shall be liberally directed to the construction of a railroad which shall connect that section with the interior and seaboard of the State, whereby the enterprise, energy, and resources of that section may be encouraged and developed at the earliest practicable date.
- 3d. Resolved, That in the opinion of this General Assembly, immediately on the conclusion of the existing war the State should cause to be made an experimental survey of a railroad route from some point on the Virginia Central Railroad to some point on the Northwestern Virginia Railroad, or the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to ascertain the cheapest and shortest practicable route, and the probable cost thereof.
The unfinished business of the previous day being in order, the bill providing for an adequate supply of salt, was taken up.
Mr. Thompson, of
Dinwiddie, a member of the joint committee appointed to consider the subject of salt, made a statement of facts presented for the consideration of the committee, and which induced them to report the bill under consideration.
He said, at the late session of the Legislature a committee was appointed to wait upon the authorities of the Confederate Government, and, if possible, procure a release of a contract made by them with the losses of the salt works in
Smyth county.
The release was not obtained, and a committee was appointed to contract with the same parties for a supply of salt to the citizens of
Virginia — The committee to appointed contracted with the lessees to furnish a stated quantity of salt.
The Senate passed a bill to carry the contract into effect.
The
House rejected it, and, near the close of its session, passed a resolution to release the lessees from their contract concluded with the committee, which was concurred in by the Senate.
A letter from the lessees of the salt works was presented to the committee at the previous session, wherein the lessees propose to contract with county agents to furnish twenty pounds of salt to each inhabitant in
Virginia, not included in the enemy's lines, at the rate of one dollar per bushel.
Relying upon the integrity of the lessees, the General Assembly passed a bill authorizing the
County Courts to purchase and distribute salt amongst the people and provide payment for the same, notwithstanding the voluntary offer of the lessees to furnish salt to country agents to the extent of twenty pounds per capita, and a promise to prevent the salt manufactured at their works from getting into the hands of speculators.
It was well known that great dissatisfaction existed among the people, in consequence of the promised supply not being furnished in sufficient quantities and at proper periods.
In view of these facts, the committee, of which he was a member, were induced to report the bill now under consideration as the only sure and reliable mode of getting a sufficient supply of salt.
The bill was then discussed at length, but, without any final action on it, the Senate adjourned.
In the
House, Mr. Flood introduced a resolution inquiring into the expediency of refunding to the securities of
William Paris all damages recovered from them by the Circuit Court of the city of
Richmond.
Agreed to.
Mr. Bouldin introduced a resolution inquiring into the expediency of amending the existing law for the condemnation of lands for railroad purposes.
The following bill was passed: A bill amending the Code in relation to the manner of returning delinquents.
Mr. Barbour said that he asked leave to invite the attention of members, and through them of the public, to a subject to which his attention had been called by a communication which he had received from the agent of the
Court of his own county for obtaining a supply of salt.
He wished the aid of members in investigating the matter.
It was stated that the Confederate Government is absorbing a supply of salt not only sufficient for curing meat and for supplying the other wants of the army for salt, but such as enabled them to exchange salt with the people for meat.
It is stated that they give a pound of salt for a pound of meat.
He expressed his utter abhorrence at this petty speculation on the wants, and he might say the misery, of the people.
For the
Government to occasion in this way a diminished supply of salt to the people, and then speculate on their necessity in this exorbitant style, was such as to invoke the most active interposition of the
State authorities.
He could not use language strong enough to express his own, and what he thought would be the general, indignation, if this should turn out to be true.
Mr. Prince offered a resolution that the
House will, with the concurrence of the Senate, adjourn on Tuesday, the 30th inst. After a long discussion, the resolution was laid on the table.
’
