House of Delegates.
Thursday, Feb. 14, 1861.
The
House was called to order at 12 o'clock by the Speaker.
A communication from the Senate was read, announcing the passage of a number of Senate and
House bills.
The former were read by title, and appropriately referred.
The
House passed Senate bill for the protection of the fisheries on the
Potomac and Chesapeake Bay, with amendments.
Bills Reported.--By
Mr. Magruder, a bill amending and re-enacting an act entitled an act to incorporate the Planters' Savings Bank of
Petersburg, passed March 15th, 1858; by
Mr. Chapman, a bill to incorporate the Va, and Md. Railroad Co.; by
Mr. Haymond, a bill providing for a bonus on Bank capital, and for the mode of paying the same into the Treasury; also a bill making appropriations for deficiencies in former appropriations, and for defraying expenses of the General Assembly and Convention now in session; by
Mr. Bissell, from the
Committee on Agriculture and Manufactures, Senate bill to incorporate the Amherst and Nelson Woolen Manufacturing Co., in the county of
Nelson; also, Senate bill to incorporate the Southern Manufacturing Co.; also, a bill repealing the 21st section of chapter 87 of the Code of
Virginia.
Meeting Hour Changed.--On motion of
Mr. Christian,
Resolved, That hereafter this
House will meet at 10 o'clock A. M., until otherwise ordered.
Mr. Christian moved that the rules be suspended, for the purpose of considering the foregoing resolution; on which motion
Mr. Phelbs demanded the previous question, which call being sustained, the main question was put and decided in the affirmative.
On motion, the word "ten" was stricken out and "eleven" inserted, and the resolution, as amended, was adopted.
The Privileged Seats.--On motion of
Mr. Robertson, of
Richmond,
Resolved, That the members of the State Convention be invited to the privileged seats in the
House while that body shall remain at the seat of government.
Carried.
Resolutions of Inquiry into Expediency.--By
Mr. West, of allowing
Jos. Gusman time to rebuild his mill on the west fork of the Monongalia river, destroyed by fire, in the county of
Harrison; by
Mr. Kaufman, of withdrawing from
House files the petition of citizens of the
Valley of Virginia, praying for a charter to extend the
Potomac and Winchester Railroad from
Winchester to
Strasburg; by
Mr. Magruder, of incorporating a Fire- Arms Manufacturing Company in
Staunton; by
Mr. Pritchard, of allowing the various regiments of
Marion county to hold their fall training in their respective regimental districts; by
Mr. Keen, of extending the time of the payment of the revenue by the Sheriffs, due March 15th; by
Mr. Woolfolk, of authorizing
Capt. H. A. McMullen, and others of
Green county, to form a volunteer rifle company, the minimum number not to be less than thirty-five members; by
Mr. Miller, of
Lee, of refunding to the securities of
John H. Allen, late
Sheriff of
Lee co., a certain amount of money paid by them into the Treasury; by
Mr. Morgan, of refunding to
Jas. W. Larue a sum of money paid by him on account of an erroneous assessment of his lands, made by the assessor of
Clarke county; by
Mr. Jett, of increasing the minimum rate of compensation to teachers of indigent children, to ten cents per day; by
Mr. Ferrell, of releasing
Wm. Anderson,
Sheriff of
Wetzel county, from certain fines; by
Mr. Randolph, of reporting a bill for the relief of
Chas. C. Davis, late
Sheriff of
Doddridge county; by
Mr. Patterson, of allowing Joshua, a free person of color, to enslave himself to
Robert Hutcheson, of
Rockbridge county, without compensation; by
Mr. Shannon, of reporting a bill to refund to
V. S. Morgan, late
Sheriff of
Smyth county, a sum of money paid into the Treasury by him; by
Mr. Edwards, of authorizing the
County Courts to fix and regulate annually, the rates of ordinary keepers in the
Commonwealth.
Petitions, &c.--The following documents were presented and referred: By
Mr. Morris, the remonstrance of
Thos. Moore and others against the repeal of the road law of
Marshall county; by
Mr. Wood, the petition of the Regimental Board of the 88th Regiment of Virginia Militia praying for a more perfect organization of the
Militia of the
State; by
Mr. Crane, the petition of David Gaff and 125 citizens of
Randolph county, praying that Senate bill No. 60 transferring the
Huttonville and Huntersville Turnpike do not pass; by
Mr. Morris, the remonstrance of
David Phillips and others against the repeal of the road law of
Marshall county.
Message from the Governor.--The Speaker presented a communication from the
Governor of the
Commonwealth, in response to a resolution adopted by the
House on the 4th day of the present month, in regard to the sale of arms to
Joseph R. Anderson & Co., which, on motion, was laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
The document states that of the muskets sold to
Anderson 8,000 have been delivered, leaving still in possession of the
State 45,988.
General Business.--The Committee of Propositions and Grievances asked to be discharged from the further consideration of a resolution in regard to the alteration of the inspection laws in certain respects, and that the same be referred to the
Committee on Agriculture and Manufactures.
Mr. Kemper, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, presented an adverse report to a resolution to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the Wise Light Dragoons to arm with a less number than 50 regularly uniformed members.
Mr. Haymond, from the Finance Committee, presented an adverse report to a resolution of inquiry in regard to refunding to
A. W. Deshazer a portion of license tax.
On motion of
Mr. Boreman, the
House adjourned.
