Virginia Legislature.
[extra session.]Senate.
Wednesday, February 1, 1865.
At 11 o'clock the Senate was called to order.
Prayer by Rev. Dr. Read.
House bill amending the fence laws of the Commonwealth was taken up, read twice and referred to the Committee on General Laws.
On motion of Mr. Johnson, the following resolution, submitted by Mr. Johnson, was laid on the table: ‘
"Resolved, That the Committee on Confederate Relations be instructed to report whether they have made the inquiry, and if not, why not, on the resolution directing an inquiry why the soldiers in the army have not been paid off more promptly, and whether any further action can be taken by the General Assembly to ensure, in future, prompter payment of this debt to the soldiers." ’
Mr. Coghill offered the following, which was agreed to: ‘
"Resolved, That the Committee for Courts of Justice inquire into the expediency of amending the eighth section of chapter one hundred and nine of the Code so as to give jurisdiction in suits for divorce to courts of counties in which the plaintiff resides, if the defendant be a non-resident of the State or resident within the lines of the enemy." ’
On motion of Mr. Johnson, it was ‘
"Resolved, That the Superintendent of the Salt Works report, in detail, to the Senate, as early as practicable, the extent of the damages done by the enemy to the salt works and the property of the States under his control in their recent raid; and that he state the number of negroes who went away or were taken with the enemy, together with the names of the owners and the probable loss to the States in consequence of the destruction and loss of property aforesaid. ’
On motion of Mr. Johnson, the hour of meeting of the Senate, hereafter, was changed to 12 o'clock, instead of 11.
On motion of Mr. Taylor, the vote ordering to its engrossment the bill in relation to duelling was reconsidered, and a substitute offered for the same, reliving Colonel William S. Peters from the liabilities incurred for having fought a duel.
On motion of Mr. Dickinson, the bill was amended so as to include the names of John B. Harvie and William Old, Jr.
On motion of Mr. Hart, the bill was further amended so as to include all who may hereafter be engaged in fighting a duel.
Mr. Dickinson moved that the bill and substitute be indefinitely postponed.
The vote was taken on postponing indefinitely, and decided in the affirmative.-- ayes, 23; noes, 18.
The President presented a communication from the Auditor, in answer to a resolution adopted by the Senate, asking for the number of slaves that have escaped to, or been abducted from the State by, the enemy, as far as said information can be obtained from the returns of the Commissioners of the Revenue.
The Auditor reports the whole number of slaves who have escaped as follows: Males, between eighteen and forty-five years of age, 2,475; slaves of all other ages, 5,063.
Total number, 7,538.
The communication was laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
On Mr. Hunter's motion, the chair was vacated for a short time in order that Colonel Mosby, who was then in the capitol, might be introduced to the members of the Senate.
The bill to amend and re-enact an act entitled an act to empower the Governor to have made out, and field in the State Department, complete lists of the State forces, was taken up and discussed.
On motion of Mr. Marshall, the bill was laid on the table, and the Senate went into secret session.
