The Legislature.
--In the
Senate, on Saturday,
Mr. Randolph from the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported the bill for the reorganization of the militia of the
Commonwealth.
It subjects to militia duty all males domiciled within the
State between the ages of 16 and 60 years of age — those between the ages of 18 and 45 to constitute the first class, and to be liable to be called into service for six months--those between the ages of 16 and 18, and 45 and 60 to constitute the second class, and liable to be called out for thirty days. It empowers the magistrates of counties and corporations to appoint a commandant of militia for their respective counties, who is entrusted with the duty of enrolling all the males within the ages above prescribed.
The regular Court-day of a County Hustings Court is fixed as a day of enrollment throughout the counties and corporations of the
Commonwealth.
The bill also creates the office of
Inspector General, the incumbent of which is to be appointed by the
Governor, with consent of the Senate.
It is made his duty to supervise the organization of the
State forces, their equipment, &c. This bill repeals all existing militia laws.
It was read a first time, and ordered to a second reading.
Several other bills of minor importance were taken up and advanced on the calender, and a number of resolutions of inquiry offered.
In the
House, the bill to increase the fees of jailors of the
Commonwealth was taken up and passed.
The bill authorizing special terms of the
Circuit Courts to be held to carry into effect the provisions of the law to prevent the unlawful distillation of whiskey or other spirituous or malt liquors, was laid on the table.
A bill making an appropriation to pay certain expenses of Government, was taken up and passed.
Senate bill to suppress the further issuing of small notes as a currency by the counties, cities and towns of the
Commonwealth, was reported back from the
Committee on
Banks, without amendment.
The following resolutions of inquiry were submitted:
By
Mr. Johnson, of
Barbour: Of imposing taxes for the support of the
Government, so as to increase the rate of taxation from ten to fifty per cent., or such other rate as the
Committee on Finance may deem expedient.
By
Mr. Duval: Of passing a law making it a penal offence for any person to sell meat, grain, vegetables, or any article of food for a higher price than that fixed by the
Commissioners of the Confederate Government.
By
Mr. Bryan: Of constructing a bridge, as a military necessity, over the Cow pasture river, in the county of
Bath, on the turnpike road leading from Millboro' Depot, on the Central Railroad, to the
Warm Springs.
By
Mr. Morgan: Of requiring railroad companies to give receipts or checks for all baggage transported by them.
By
Mr. Duval: Of amending the exemption law of the
State, so as to lessen the number of exemptions.
By
Mr. Crawford: Of requiring justices of the peace, sheriffs, constables, and militia officers, to arrest deserters from the army, and suspicious persons who may be travelling through the country.
Mr. Mullens offered the following resolution:
Resolved, by the General Assembly of Virginia, That our
Senators in Congress he instructed, and our Representatives be requested, to use their efforts to procure the passage of an act repealing the substitute law, and making all persons who have employed substitutes and all able-bodied clerks in the various departments of the
Government subject to the Conscript law.
The Senate bill to reorganize the militia of the
Commonwealth was made the order of the day for to-day.
