The Legislature.
In the
Senate, on motion of
Mr. Coghill, the rules were suspended, and the first joint resolution reported from the
House, ratifying the salt contract between the
Chairman of the
Committee and
Stuart,
Buchanan & Co., and
Chas. Scott & Co., was taken up and agreed to.
A bill was also passed making an appropriation for the purchase of salt, as reported from the
House.
Also, a bill to amend and re-enact the 2d, 5th, and 7th sections of an act to provide for the production and distribution of salt.
A bill to authorize the appointment of an inspector of Salt; a bill to authorize the sale and transportation of salt belonging to
John N. Clarkson; and a bill to amend and re-enact the 11th section of the act to provide for the production and distribution of salt, were taken up and passed.
House bill for the relief of indigent soldiers and sailors of the
State of Virginia, which had been sent back to the
House with certain amendments by the Senate, and returned by that body with the announcement of its disagreement to the Senate's amendments, was taken up and the Senate refused to recede.
The bill to make an additional appropriation of $12,500 to the Virginia Military Institute, to supply a deficiency, was passed.
In the
House, Senate bill to provide for the trial of friendly suits on petitions, &c., arising in counties in possession of the enemy or threatened with invasion, was taken up and passed.
From the
Committee on Finance,
Mr. Bouldin reported back
House bill for the relief of indigent soldiers and sailors, with a recommendation that the amendments of the Senate thereto be not agreed to.
On motion of
Mr. Pretlow, the resolution to appoint a committee of three to wait on the
Governor and request him to make known by proclamation the rights of the citizen under the impressment laws, and their course of procedure for illegal seizures of their property, was taken up.
After some discussion, on motion of
Mr. Shackelford, the consideration of the resolution was indefinitely postponed.
Mr. Cowan offered a resolution, which was laid over under the rule, to restrict debate, until the close of the session, on all subjects, to one speech of not more than five minutes.
On motion of
Mr. Pendleton, the bill providing for the commutation for clothing due to non commissioned officers and privates of the State Line, was taken up.
Mr. Pendleton submitted a substitute, the purpose of which was to make the bill conform precisely to the
Confederate regulations — namely, allowing the non-commissioned officers and privates of the State Line at the rate of $50 per annum for the time previous to October 8th, 1862; and $134.12 for the period subsequent to that time.
The substitute was agreed to — ayes 51, noes 34.
The bill was then put upon its passage and adopted — ayes 77, noes 21.
On motion of
Mr. Anderson, the Report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing vote of the two Houses on the bill to reorganize the militia was taken up, and after a lengthy discussion agreed to by the following vote — ayes 87, noes 19.
On motion of
Mr. Shackelford, the
House bill returned from the Senate for the relief of indigent soldiers and sailors was taken up, and the
House determined to insist upon the bill as passed.
Mr. Shackelford was appointed to notify the Senate of the action of the
House, and to ask a committee of conference on the disagreement between the two Houses.
On motion of
Mr. Keiley, the bill to increase the compensation of Clerks and Sheriffs for public services was taken up and passed.
On motion of
Mr. Anderson, the rules were suspended, and the
House bill No. 52, to declare who shall be exempt from militia duty, was taken up.
