The Legislature.
--In the
Senate yesterday the rule restricting the legislation of the present session to matters embraced in the message of the
Governor, was enforced in the case of
Mr. Alderson, of
Nicholas, who sought to introduce resolutions pertaining to other subjects.
A resolution introduced by
Mr. Guy, of
Goochland, in relation to the return of deserters; was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
A communication was received from the
Governor, enclosing an application from
Lieut.-General Ewell, accompanied by a list of persons attached to his corps, sentenced by Court-Martial to confinement in the
State Penitentiary.
The Governor, after reviewing the law, says: ‘"I am not aware of any law which authorizes such convicts to be received; and if they are received it will be indispensably necessary to discharge those now undergoing confinement."’ We may reasonably conclude that the number convicted by these military courts will be large.
The application, therefore, presents a question for serious consideration.
Mr. Collier, of
Petersburg, submitted a preamble and joint resolutions looking to the appointment of three commissioners on the part of the
State of Virginia, to visit the different State Governments of the
United States, to consult with reference to the cessation of hostilities and the restoration of a speedy and honorable peace.
Under the rule the resolutions were required to lay over for a day; but the Senate suspended the rules and took them up for consideration.
They were advo- cated at length by
Mr. Collier, and opposed by
Messrs. Seddon and
Nash.
On a subsequent motion to postpone them indefinitely,
Mr. Collier alone voted in the negative.
So their further consideration was postponed.
In the
House the
Speaker submitted a communication from the
Governor, having reference to the application from
Lieutenant-General Ewell in respect to sundry persons sentenced by military courts.
Quite a number of resolutions of inquiry were offered, among which the following are the most important:
By
Mr. Haymond, of
Marion — Of so amending the laws concerning aliens as to make their position less desirable as property owners than their position as non-combatants.
By
Mr. Harris, of
Rockingham — Of so amending the tax law of the
State as to make all the issues of Confederate notes receivable in payment of taxes.
By
Mr. Woodley, of
Upshur — Of inquiring into the expediency of opening a correspondence with other State Governments with a view to the establishment of a currency of State Treasury notes, by which Confederate Treasury notes shall be absorbed and superceded as a circulating medium.
By
Mr. James, of
Botetourt — Of inquiring into the expediency of confiscating the property of all deserters from the
Confederate service in the
State of Virginia.
[This resolution was so amended as to instruct the committee to inquire into the expediency of introducing a "bill for the effectual suppression of desertion from the armies of the
Confederate States."] By
Mr. Wilson, of Isle-of
Wight"A resolution requesting the
Auditor of Public Accounts to report to the
House a synopsis of the financial condition of the
State, with an estimate of expenses for the ensuing fiscal year, and a report upon all other subjects called for at the last session of the Legislature.--The resolution was agreed to.
