General Assembly of Virginia.
Saturday, March 14, 1863.
Senate.--The Senate convened at 10 o'clock, Lieut Governor Montague in the chair.
Prayer by Rev. Dr. Spring.
The Senate being ready to proceed in business, and no quorum being found present, on motion of Mr. Brannon, a call of the house was ordered.
The roll being called once, and the absentees twice, the President directed the Doorkeeper to close and secure the axis-chamber doors, and to allow no Senator to enter who was absent at the call of the Senate.
On motion of Mr. Carson, George A. Blencoe was appointed temporary Sergeant-at-Arms, with instructions to take into custody any members found outside of the Hall and bring them before the bar of the Senate to answer for contempt of the body by their absence.
A number of Senators were brought in, and their various excuses were received.
On motion, all further proceedings the call of the house had given rise to were dispensed with, and the Senate proceeded with its legitimate business, a quorum being now present.
The communication from the Executive, covering one from the Secretary of War in relation to the transfer of a portion of the negro labor from the Richmond defences to the Piedmont railroad, was referred to the Committee for Courts of justice, with instructions to report what legislation, if any, is necessary in reference to the subject of the communication.
Mr. Christian, of Augusta, moved, by resolution, to instruct the Governor to have printed in the newspapers of the day, for public information, the provisions of the Tobacco bill, Editing the production of tobacco and increasing the production of grain.
The Committee on Confederate Relations made a report concern in the transfer of the prisoners held by the State to the Confederate Government, and moved the adoption of the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Governor be authorized and directed to transfer to the Confederate Government all the prisoners held by the State mentioned in his communication, after the — day of--, to be exchanged for Confederate prisoners held by the United States, except the officers who are detained as hostages for the release of Col. Thomas (Zarvous) Captain Duskey, and Lieut. Varner, and that he has authorized and directed to deliver up the said hostages for a similar purpose whenever, in his judgment, the public interests will be promoted thereby.
A message from the House of Delegates transmitted the Senate resolutions on the "Women of Virginia and the War," with a substitute therefore asking concurrence therein.
On motion of Mr. Christian, who saw a good many errors in the construction of the substitute resolutions, both grammatical and historical, the substitute was referred to the Library Committee.
Mr. Christian, of Middlesex, introduced a resolution asking for legislation to prevent the hoarding of provisions by speculators and empowering the Committee for Courts of Justice to whom it was referred, to send for persons and papers.
Mr. Hart, from the committee appointed to investigate the Public Warehouse fire introduced a joint resolution requesting the Governor to detail a force of convicts from the Penitentiary to aid in securing the damaged tobacco from the ruins.--Passed and concerned in by the House.
The discussion of the Tax bill, with its innumerable amendments, carried the Senate to the hour of adjournment, when a recess was taken till 8 o'clock P. M.
Evening Session.--Mr. Robertson brought forward his protest again this time in a modified form, and asked leave to have it published among the documents of the Senate which being refused there upon Mr. Robertson asked leave to have the protest printed at his own expense, which was also refused.
The further consideration of the protest was then indefinitely postponed.
The House amendment to the Senate resolution fixing the day of adjournment line dia for the 23d inst, was received from that body with Thursday next, the 19th substituted, which was concurred in by the Senate.
The Tax bill was taken up, and with its one hundred and one amendments, discussed till near 11 o'clock, when on motion of.
Mr. Armstrong, the Senate adjourned to Monday morning at 10 o'clock.
House of Delegates.--The House met at 11 o'clock. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Reid.
Mr. Raymond submitted a resolution, which was agreed to, instructing the Committee on Privileges and Elections to inquire into the right of Isaiah A. Welch, of the county of Kanawha, to a seat in this House, he having been elected a member in 1851.
Mr. Forbes, from the Committee on Courts, submitted the following; which were agreed to — ayes 67, noes 17.
Resolved, by the General Assembly, That the act passed October 3d, 1862, entitled "An act further to provide for the public defence," and the act amendatory thereof, passed — day of March 1863, should not be construed to authorize the calling of slaves into service for labor on any other works for public defence than works of an exclusively military character, constructed solely by the Confederate Government.
2. That the Governor of the Commonwealth he requested to communicate the foregoing resolution to the President of the Confederate States.
Mr. Hunter moved the appointment of a special committee to report a bill re-enacting and amending the 11th section of chapter 14th of the Code, so as to increase the compensation of members of the next General Assembly; which was agreed to, and Messrs. Hunter Burkes, and McCamant designated by the Speaker as said committee.
Mr. Barbour submitted a resolution for the appointment of a special committee to investigate certain matters in connection with the purchases and disbursements made for the State Line; which was agreed to.
The report of the special committee in relation to the transportation of private property on the railroads of the State was taken up and agreed to. [The resolutions of the committee urge a relaxation of the strict rule of Government by which provisions and other necessaries of life have been denied transportation, and authorizing the Governor to bring the subject to the attention of the Confederate authorities.]
Mr. Hunter called up the bill, just reported, providing for an increase of compensation to the members of the next General Assembly.
[The bill proposed to increase the per diem of each member from four dollars to six, and that the compensation of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates be $12 per day, instead of $8 as at present.]
Mr. McCamant moved to amend the bill by increasing the per diem of members to $8.00.
Mr. Mallory moved to lay the whole subject on the table, upon which Mr. Hunter called the ayes and noes, and the vote resulted; ayes 53, noes 45.
The bill authorizing the issue by the Treasurer of notes of a less denomination than one dollars, was, on motion of Mr. Bass, taken up, read a third time, and passed — ayes 66, noes 43.
[The bill provides for the issuing, out of the amount of money heretofore ordered to be printed, $1,500,000 in notes of the denomination of ten, twenty-five, and fifty cents, redeemable in current funds; also, provides that female clerks may be employed to sign said notes.]
Mr. Magruder, from the Committee on Privileges and Elections reported favorably on the case of Isaiah A Welch, as being entitled to a seat from the county of Kanawha.
The report was concurcurred in, and Mr. Welch admitted to his seat after being duly sworn.
Mr. McCamant moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the increase of the per diem of members of the Legislature was lost.
The House refused to reconsider.
The bill for the relief of Geo. W. Chambers, of Harper's Ferry, was on motion of Mr. Green, tax on up and passed — ayes 74, noes O.
Senate resolution relative to detailing certain prisoners from the Penitentiary for the purpose of saving the tobacco from the ruins of the late fire, was concurred in.
The bill allowing the use of the jails of the State for the use of the Confederate States, was taken up and passed.
On motion of Mr. Robertson, of Richmond city, the joint resolution of the Senate declaring Lieut. E. S. Gay to have been the commandant of the Public Guard since the 13th day of April, 1861, and as such entitled to all the pay and emoluments pertaining to the commandant of a separate post, and that he shall continue to enjoy the same so long as he acts under his present orders was taken up and discussed until the hour of three, at which time the chair was vacated until 7½ o'clock. 