General Assembly of Virginia.
[Extra session.]
Senate.
Tuesday, Jan. 29, 1861.
Called to order at 12 o'clock--Mr. Brannon in the Chair.
Prayer by the Rev. J. A. Duncan, of the Broad Street Methodist Church.
A communication from the House announced the passage of numerous bills; among them the House bill, which had previously passed the Senate, appropriating one million of dollars for the defence of the State, with an amendment providing that $50,000 of the amount be expended in the erection of three arsenals, viz: one at some point on the Baltimore and Ohio, or Northwestern Virginia Railroad; one at some point near the Great Kanawha River, and another in the great valley at or near Winchester, for the defence of the Western and Northwestern frontier and Valley.
Mr. Thomas, of Fairfax, wished to amend by providing for the establishment of an arsenal at Alexandria.
Mr. Lynch desired one also at Lynchburg.
The Chair decided that the bill could not be amended as indicated by Messrs. Thomas and Lynch, it being a House bill, and having already been amended and passed by the Senate.
Mr. Thomas, of F., then moved to recommit the bill to a special committee of five.
Subsequently withdrawn.
The bill then came up on its passage, when the ayes and noes were demanded — ayes 30, noes 2.
Joint Resolutions of Tennessee and Pennsylvania.--A communication was received from Gov. Lefcher, transmitting the joint resolutions of the Legislatures of Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
The resolutions of Tennessee recommend certain amendments to the Constitution of the United States, for the protection of slave property in the slave States and Territories south of 36,30.
The resolutions of Pennsylvania relate to the maintenance of the Union and the Constitution, and pledges the faith and power of the State to the enforcement of the laws.
On motion of Mr. Taliaferro, the communication and accompanying documents were laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Reports of Committees.--The following bills were reported: ‘
A bill to transfer a part of Price's Mountain and Cumberland Gap Road to the Mountain Lake and Salt Sulphur Springs Turnpike Company; a bill to incorporate the Lynchburg Arms Manufacturing Company; a bill to protect the interest of this Commonwealth and others in railroad and steamboat companies in this State, or the two lines between Baltimore and Weldon; a bill to authorize an issue of arms to Titus V. Williams, of the county of Tazewell, for the use of an academy; a bill refunding to George Hairston, Sr., a certain sum of money improperly paid by him into the Treasury; a bill to amend the charter of the Merchants' Bank of Virginia; and a bill authorizing the Merchants' Bank of Virginia to establish branches at Rocky Mount, Liberty, Goodson and Princeton. ’
On motion of Mr. Claiborne, it was ‘
Resolved, That the Clerk be instructed to procure for the use of the members of the Senate, 250 copies of the Report of the
Board of Commissioners for the Purchase of Arms, &c.," appointed under act of last Assembly." ’
On motion of Mr. Carraway, the Senate adjourned.
House of Delegates.
Tuesday, Jan, 29th, 1861.
The House was called to order at 12 o'clock M., by Mr. Hopkins, of Washington county.
Prayer by Rev. M. D. Hoge, of the Second Presbyterian Church.
A communication was received from the Senate, announcing the passage of sundry House and Senate bills by that body; also the adoption of a resolution for the appointment of a joint committee to provide a hall for the accommodation of the State Convention.
The House agreed to the latter, and the Speaker appointed the following committee.
viz: Messrs. Saunders, Montague and Hunter.
Bills Reported.--The following bills were reported from committees, viz: Absolving the State Treasurer from all liability in case of loss of coupon bonds deposited as security for bank circulation, unless the said coupon bonds be converted into registered stock, and prohibiting coupon bonds from being renewed in the future as such security; for the relief of the securities of Robt. S. Coleman, late Sheriff of Carroll county; refunding to Rufus Pulner, late Sheriff of the county of Patrick, a sum of money paid on an erroneous assessment of land; amending and re-enacting the 8th, 9th and 10th sections of chapter 45 of the Code; and releasing the Commonwealth's title to 556 1-4 acres of fund in the county of Hanover to John H. Taliaferro.
Adverse Report.--The Committee on Finance reported adversely to the petition of Richard Cox and David Griffith, to be refunded a sum of money alleged to have been erroneously assessed against them.
Agreed To.--The House agreed to Senate amendments to House bill ‘"to prevent trespasses, depredations, &c., along the borders of the Potomac and other tide waters in the counties of Fairfax, Stafford and King George."’
Bills Referred.--The following Senate bills were read twice and referred to the Committee on Banks, viz: Bills amending the charters of the Banks of Phillippi and Commonwealth.
Mechanicsville Turnpike Company.--Mr. Chapman, from the Committee of Roads and Internal Navigation, to whom was referred Senate bill amending and re-enacting the 2nd section of the charter of the Mechanicsville Turnpike Company, passed February 21st, 1817, reported the same without amendment.
Bills Passed.--Senate bills entitled ‘"an act to incorporate the Merchants' Savings Bank of Richmond,"’ and ‘"for the relief of John N. G. Smith, of Buckingham county,"’ were read the third time and passed.
The engrossed House bill to change the Eastern terminus of the Sclavins Cabin and Summersville Turnpike, was read a third time and passed.
Mr. Lockridge was requested to inform the Senate.
State Defence.--The House was informed by Mr. Thompson of the agreement by the Senate to House amendments to the bill appropriating one million of dollars for State defence.
Winchester and Potomac Railroad.--The engrossed bill amending the charter of the Winchester and Potomac Railroad was taken up and considered.
Messrs. Ward, Kaufman and Sibert favored the passage of the bill, and Messrs, Walker, Chapman and Haymond favored laying the bill on the table.
A motion of Mr. Hunt to lay on the table prevailed.--In advocating the latter proposition, Mr. Walker said he hoped it would be the pleasure of the House to lay the bill on the table.
He was placed in a position of great difficulty.
The passage of the bill would, perhaps, be beneficial, to some extent, to the constituency he represented on this floor; but he was also aware that his constituents had an interest of $200,000 in the Manassas Gap Railroad, and the passage of the bill at this time would be ruinous to the credit of the Manassas Gap Railroad, and probably prevent, or at least retard, its completion to the town of Harrisonburg.
Until he was satisfied of the completion of the Manassas Gap Railroad to Harrisonburg, he could not vote for the bill.
For these reasons he hoped the House would lay the bill on the table.
A motion to reconsider the vote was successful, and the bill was finally passed.
Absent Members.--Messrs. A. S. Carter Jas. Barbour, D. J. Saunders and Jno. Seddon, Seddon, absent from the deliberations of the House for several days past, to-day appeared in their seats.
American Agency.--A resolution was adopted granting the use of the Hall to Gen. Duff Green to-night, for an address on the subject of the American Agency.
Direct Trade.--Mr. Newton submitted a motion asking leave to withdraw from the files of the House bill No. 509, of last session, on the subject of direct trade with Europe, and that the same be referred to a special committee of seven, to be appointed by the Chair.
The resolution being adopted, the Chair appointed Messrs. Newton, Saunders, Rutherford, Segar, Grattan, Johnson and Bisbie, as said committee.
Montgomery Female Institute.--House bill for the incorporation of the above Institute was called up, and being read three times, was passed.
Bank Relief Bill.--The House, on Saturday passed the bill legalizing the suspension of specie payments, and repealing the agency redemption law of 1857-'8 without taking the vote by ayes and noes.
This morning Mr. Duckwall called the attention of the House to this irregularity.
He referred in his remarks to the 27th section of article 4th of the Constitution, and also to the 28th and 29th sections of chapter 58 of the Code of 1860. He closed by submitting a motion requesting the Senate to return to the House the bill, which, after some remarks by other members, was adopted unanimously.
Adjourned. 