General assembly of Virginia.
Thursday, January 16th, 1853.
Senate.--Called to order at 10½ o'clock M., by the Lieutenant Governor.
A message was received from the House, that it had agreed to the first amendment proposed by the Senate to House bill entitled an act to refund money received for exemption from military service, and have disagreed to the second amendment.
The Senate resolved to await the action of the House on the question of the election of a Senator.
It thus waited until 2½ o'clock, when a message was received from the House of Delegates by Mr. Anderson, of Botetourt, who informed the Senate that that house was ready on its part to proceed, in execution of the joint order, to the election of a Confederate States Senator, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the Hon. Wm. Ballard Preston, and that the following gentlemen are in nomination for the office, viz: Wm. C. Rives, John J. Allen, Charles W. Russell, and John B. Floyd.
The discussion of the merits of the candidates having been opened, Mr. Isbell, of Nicholas, supported Mr. Russell, and illuviated his claims at some length.
Mr. Christian, of Augusta, moved that the execution of the joint order of the day be postponed until Friday.
The motion was lost — ayes 14, noes 17; and the Senate refused to adjourn.
Mr. Armstrong, of Hampshire, began with some remarks, but in the course of them was interrupted by Mr. Nash, of Chesterfield, who moved that, with the concurrence of the House, the further execution be postponed until Friday at 10 o'clock which was concurred in.
House of Delegates.--The House met at 10 o'clock A. M. Prayer by Rev. Jas.
A Dudcan.
The Speaker presented a communication from H. G. Burress, resigning his position as Sergeant at Arms.
Mr. Barbour, of Culpeper, moved that the Doorkeeper of the House, R. W. Burke, be chosen to supply the vacancy, which was agreed to. Upon the further motion of the same gentleman, Mr. Thomas A. Flint of Culpeper, was elected 1st Doorkeeper.
Mr. Magruder offered a resolution that the Committee on Propositions and Grievances be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing County Courts to impress and condemn houses and lots for hospital purposes.
The joint order of the day, for the election of a Senator, was then taken up; whereupon a number of speeches were made, Messrs. Richardson Lockridge, and Barbour advocating the election of Gen. J. B. Floyd, of Washington; Messrs. Rives, of Prince George, Pouldin, Anderson of Rockbridge, and Staples, that of Hon. W. C. Rives, of Albemarle; Messrs. James and Newton that of John J. Allen; and Mr. Fleming that of Hon. C. W. Russell, of Wheeling.
At 2½ o'clock a motion was made and carried that all debate upon the election of Senator at the was occupied by Mr. Wynne, of Richmond.
The time having expired, at thirty-one minutes past two the Speaker appointed a committee to inform the Senate of the readiness of the House to proceed to the election of a Confederate States Senator, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of the Hon. Wm Ballard Preston, and that Hon. W. C. Rives, of Albemarle; Hon Chas. W. Russell, of Wheeling; Judge John J. Allen, of Botetourt, and Gen. John B. Floyd, of Washington, were in nomination.
In a few minutes Mr. Johnson, of Bedford, appeared with a message from the Senate announcing to the House the readiness of that body to proceed to the execution of the join order for the election of Senator, and that no further nominations had been made.
The Clerk proceeded to call the roll, which resulted as follows:
For W. C. Rives--H W Sheffey, Speaker; F T Anderson, S P Baily, R H Baker, jr, Wood Bouldin, A S Buford, Ed O Berks, Jas W Curtis, Robt J D Davis, E B Dice, A B Evans, J G Fulton, M Harrison, H L Hopkins, W Hust, Alex Jordan, B H Magruder, Mason Matthews, P W McKinney, Philip Pitman, Joseph H Prince, Nat Siddick, Geo E. Rives, W Robertson, Peter Saunders jr, John Staples, F G Taylor, V Vaiden, Jas Walker, Chas Williams, Jas L Wilson--31.
For Chas W. Russell--Wm A Bredford, A Brooks, John R Edmunds, W A Fleming, John Gatewood, Thos C Green, Wm Johnson, M R Kaufman Albert Laidley, A W McDonald, Duncan McLaughlin, C W Murdaugh, B P Noland, John Orgain jr, Israel Robinson, John C. Rutherford, G W Sherrard, H B Tomlin, T T Treadway, Geo W Ward Geo H West, H C Worsham--22.
For John J. Allen--Wm. Ambers, John T Anderson, Colin Bess, A L Carter, W G Cazenove, H N Coleman, Robert Croskett, Robert Danney, Thos H Flood, J M Forbes, W C Fry, G T Garrison, John Gilmer, Andrew Hunter, Green James, W T Jones, W T Lundy, R M Mallery, J L Marye, jr., R A Mayo, S McCamant, R D Montague, Willoughby Newton, R C Saunders, R F Taylor, S M Watson, John L Woolfolk, Geo T Wright--28.
For John B. Floyd--James Barbour, W Baskerville, Jas Bayse, Thos B Bigger, John K Bootes, Samuel Carpenter, D B Clarke, J H Daniel, D C Dunn, Joshua Ewing, John T Fletcher, H George, John H Hopkins, Wm. Kyte, S Lynn, J E McDonald, W G T Nelson, R A Richardson, Chas J Shannon, Samuel W Thomas, Valentine Thrash, Thos H Wynne--22.
For A. T. Coparton--Wm Eggleston, Wilson Lively, Paulus Powell, John M Rowan--
For B. F. Wysor--John G Cecil--1.
The Senate was informed of the result of the vote, and the House took a recess for one hour to await the action of the Senate.
Upon the reassembling of the House a message was received from the Senate asking the concurrence of that body in a postponement of the joint order until to- morrow morning at 10 o'clock.
Mr. Prince submitted a motion, which was rejected, dissenting from the action of the Senate; and, at 5 o'clock, the House adjourned till to morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.