Virginia Legislature.
[Extra session.]Senate.
Friday, February 17, 1865.
The Senate was called to order at 12 o'clock. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Peterkin.
After the transaction of some unimportant business, the Senate, on motion of Mr. Hunter, went into secret session.
House of Delegates.
The House met at 11 o'clock. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Woodbridge, of the Episcopal Church. A bill was reported releasing the county of Dinwiddie from the payment of certain levies. Mr. Shackleford offered a series of resolutions, which were referred to the Committee on the subject of slaves for the army. They resolve:- 1st. That the President of the Confederate States be authorized and requested to enroll and organize in the military service--thousand able-bodied male negroes, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, from the slave population of this State, to be obtained by voluntary enlistment and with the consent of the owners.
- 2d. To enroll an additional force by demanding from all exempted farmers under forty-five years of age one-fifth of their able-bodied slaves between eighteen and forty-five, as a condition precedent to the permanent exemption of said farmers; and to discharge from the service all persons over forty-five upon receiving from them one-fifth of their able-bodied slaves.
- 3d. That such enrollments (the owners consenting to the terms on which the negroes are enrolled) shall be considered as the emancipation of said negroes; and, if the negroes are faithful to the Confederacy, be permitted to reside in the State.
