General Assembly of Virginia.
Saturday,March 22d, 1863.
Senate.--The Senate met at 10 o'clock, Lt. Governor Montague, the President, in the Chair.
The Fence Law bill, with the House amendments thereto, was received from the House, and rejected.
Also, the act incorporating the Stonewall Water Power and Manufacturing Company, passed by the House, was read the third time and rejected in the Senate.
The House bill to prescribe the mode of ascortrising and certifying elections of Delegates and Senators during the ensuing was, passed by the House, was read voice, and tabled by the Senate.
The joint resolutions on a supply of salt, offered by Mr. Armstrong, were called up by that Senator, and elicited an extended discussion.
Mr. Cellier submitted a substitute for the resolutions of Mr. Armstrong, empowering the Governor and an advisory board to purchase, contract for, or impress a supply of salt.
The substitute was lost — ayes 7, noes 22.
Whereupon.
Mr. Douglas offered a second substitute, accompanied by copy of a contract signed by Messrs. Harman & Mason, stipulating for a supply of salt; which substitute was also lost, and the question recurring on the adoption of the original resolutions, they were adopted — ayes 27, noes 4.
Some amendments were incorporated with the resolutions which empower the committee to either contract for, seize the salt works, or adopt any other steps they may deem necessary to procure a supply.
Mr. Nath, from the Committee for Courts of Justice, reported with amendments a bill appropriating money to rebuild a portion of the public warehouse and to pay the Government insurance on the tobacco destroyed.
From the House was received a bill entitled "An act to incorporate the Old Dominion Trading Company of the city of Richmond, passed by the House.
Laid upon the table.
The Senate, at 3½ o'clock, look a recess until 8 o'clock.
Evening Session.--The Senate bill appropriating to rebuild the State tobacco warehouse, and plating $100,000 at the disposal of the Governor to pay the State insurance on the tobacco destroyed, was taken up, amended, ordered to be engrossed, and read the third time.
The joint resolutions appointing agents to contract for a supply of salt, or to lease the Washington and Smyth Salt Works, or, in a certain contingency, to impress the same, was passed.
The resolutions provide for the appointment of three persons, or agents who shall contract with Charles & Co., or Stewart, Buchanan & Co., for the delivery of at least 700,000 bushels of salt, prior to the 15th day of March, 1864, with a proviso in the said contract that whenever, in the opinion of the agents, said Scott & Co., or Stewart, Buchanan & Co., shall fail to perform the said contract, possession shall be taken of the salt works by the said agents in behalf of the State, or as much of the said works as shall be necessary, etc.
The bill to provide for voting in camps by persons in the military service, and by persons absent from their counties and corporations on account of the presence of the public enemy, was discussed at great length, and finally laid on the table until Monday.
Adjourned to Monday, at 10 o'clock A. M.
House of Delegates.--The House met 11 o'clk Prayer by St. Rev. Bishop Harly.
The Senate returned House bill imposing taxes for the present fiscal year, with amendments, which were read and ordered to be printed.
Senate resolutions authorizing the Governor to transfer to the Confederate Government all prisoners captured by the State troops, except those held as hostages for Col. Zarrous and others, were taken up, and laid upon the table.
The bill incorporating the Old Dominion Navigation Company of the city of Richmond was taken up read a first, second, and third time, and passed.
Senate bill for the relief of Jas. M. Laidley and Thos. S. A. Matthews was read a second and third time and passed.
On motion of Mr. Moland, the bill amending and re-enacting an act extending the jurisdiction of county Courts in certain cases — which provides that in counties where, because of the presence of the public enemies, Courts cannot be held, it shall be lawful for the Courts and clerk of the next adjoining county to perform all acts of writing which would otherwise be performed in the county held as aforesaid; except that no deed shall be entered of record except in the Circuit Court of Richmond city.
The bill was slightly amended, and, as amended, passed.
On motion of Mr. Robertson, of Richmond city, the House resolved itself into secret lesson, and so remained up the hour of adjournment. 