The Daily Dispatch: February 24, 1865., [Electronic resource]

Virginia Legislature.

Senate.

Mr. Christian, from the Committee on Banks, reported a bill increasing the capital stock of the Bank of Howardsville.

A report of the Joint Committee on Salt, relative to the difficulties about foreign salt trains, was read by its title and laid on the table.

The bill to amend and re-enact an act entitle "an act to provide for the purchase and distribution among the people of the State of cotton, cotton cloth and hand cards," passed March 9, 1864.--Read twice and referred to Committee for Courts of Justice.

A bill was reported from the Committee on Privileges and Elections, providing for voting by persons in the military service, and persons absent from their respective counties and corporations on account of the presence of the public enemy, in elections for members of Congress and for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, and for members of the General Assembly.

Mr. Nash, from Chesterfield, presented a series of resolutions from the Eighteenth Virginia infantry, Pickett's division, expressing their wish for arming certain of the colored population and putting them in the military service of the country; which were referred to the Committee on Confederate Relations.

A preamble and resolutions on the state of the country, adopted by the Third regiment of Virginia cavalry, were also read and referred to the Committee on Confederate Relations.

The following resolutions were offered by Mr. Collier, of Petersburg, and agreed to:

"Resolved, That a joint committee of three of the Senate and five of the House be appointed, in their respective Houses, to inquire and report what can best be done to bring into the army all white men who are liable to the Confederate conscription, but yet are not in the military service at the front or in the trenches, be they farmers, merchants, lawyers, legislators, editors, preachers, clerks, or of whatever other associations; and whether they be at home or elsewhere.

"Resolved, That the foregoing resolution be first referred to the Committee on Confederate Relations, who are hereby instructed to inquire and report promptly whether legislation has been exhausted in all or any, and which, of the directions indicated in that resolution."

Mr. Tayloe offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

"Resolved, That the Senate of Virginia hails with great satisfaction the return of Admiral Buchanan to the Confederate States, and tenders its thanks to him for his heroic services; and that a committee be appointed to invite him to a privileged seat in this chamber at such time as may suit his convenience."

On motion of Mr. Douglas, of King William, the bill extending the bounds of the Nineteenth Virginia militia to one mile beyond the corporate limits was taken up, explained, and ordered to its engrossment.

The following bills were read the third time and passed:

A bill to punish with death persons who commit robbery and other felonies when armed with dangerous weapons.

A bill to amend the amended section of an act passed March 3, 1864, entitled "an act to amend and re-enact the second section of an act passed October 9, 1863, entitled an act amending and re-enacting the first and second sections of an act entitled an act to repeal the fence law of Virginia for certain counties, and to authorize the county courts to dispense with enclosures in other counties, passed October 3, 1863, and to legalize the action of county courts held under said laws."

A bill to amend the first section and repeal the second section of chapter ninety-eight of the Code, in relation to patrols.

On motion, the Senate went into secret session.

House of Delegates.

Senate bill to incorporate the Martindale Mining and Manufacturing Company, in the county of Montgomery, was taken up and passed.

Also, a bill allowing county officers to send their resignations to the Governor of the State, in cases where the county courts are, in consequence of the presence of the public enemy, not allowed to hold their regular sessions, was passed.

The House bill, reported from special committee, to provide fuel and other supplies for the use of Virginia soldiers in Chimborazo Hospital, was passed.

The House took up House bill appropriating six hundred thousand dollars to the Roanoke Valley Railroad Company; and the objects to be attained by the bill were advocated by Messrs. Baskerville, Haymond of Marion, Anderson and Burwell. The bill, being put upon its passage, was passed: Ayes, 105; noes, 0. The bill is designed to aid the Roanoke Valley Railroad Company in the construction of branches, so as to make a double track from Richmond to Greensboro', in the State of North Carolina, by a branch to the Richmond and Danville railroad and another branch to the Raleigh and Gaston railroad, as a military and local necessity.

Mr. Dyerle presented the proceedings and resolutions of a meeting of citizens, held in the county of Roanoke, for the consideration of the policy and an expression of opinion concerning the proposition to arm two hundred thousand negroes as soldiers, and as an auxiliary to the armies of the Confederate States. The proceedings and resolutions were read and laid on the table.

The Senate relief bill, which appropriates one million of dollars for the succor of the indigent families of soldiers and sailors living within the lines or jurisdiction of the public enemy, was taken up as the order of the day, discussed and still further amended. The report of the commissioners, appointed under the act of 1864, to superintend the distribution of the fund was read in elucidation of the bill. The report showed that seventy-one counties, including the cities of Norfolk and Williamsburg, were included in the provisions of the bill. The commissioners had appointed forty-three agents, and the names of the agents, the amount of their bond, and the amounts paid out to and by them, were all given in detail and read to the House. The consideration of the bill was then resumed.

The order of the House requiring that the vote on the passage of the bill should be taken at thirty-two minutes past 1 o'clock, the expiration of one hour after the commencement of its consideration of the bill this day, was enforced. The Senate substitute for the House bill was then adopted, and the vote being taken on its passage, the vote stood — ayes, 89; noes, 26. So the bill passed.

The report of the Joint Committee in favor of the enlistment of Virginia slaves as soldiers, under certain restrictions, by the Confederate Government, Virginia consenting, was taken up as the second special order. Pending its discussion, Mr. Jones, of Gloucester, moved that the House go into secret session upon the report, and the House closed its doors.