General Assembly of Virginia.
[Extra session.]
Senate.
Thursday,Feb. 21, 1861.
Called to order at the usual hour, Mr. Isbellin the chair, and opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Bosserman, of the Universalist Church.
Bills Reported.--The following bills were reported: For the relief of the securities of Joshua H. Staats, dec'd. late Sheriff of Jackson county; for the incorporation of the Kanawha Salt Company; refunding to Frank D. Redd, committee for James D. Shepherd, a sum of money paid into the Treasury on account of two fines imposed by the Circuit Court of Prince Edward upon the said Jas. D. Shepherd; authorizing a loan to the Dismal Swamp Canal Company; authorizing the formation of a battalion by two companies in the towns of Scottsville and Howardsville, in the county of Albemarle.
Resolutions of Inquiry.--The following resolutions of inquiry into expediency were adopted: By Mr. Coghill, authorizing the Circuit Courts of the Commonwealth to convert decrees of divorce a mease et thoro in to decrees a vinculo matrimoni whenever, in the opinion of said Courts, and upon proper evidence, such decree may be right; by Mr. Newman, of reporting a bill for the relief of John Ferguson, late Sheriff of Wayne county; by Mr. A. D. Dickinson, of authorizing the company of volunteers called the Loch Leven Rangers to be organized with a less number than now authorized by law.
Petition.--Mr. Quesenberry presented the petition of Edgar McCloud, asking for the enslavement of certain free negroes.
Bills Passed.--House bill incorporating the Norfolk County Railway Company, with various amendments by Mr. McKenney; Senate bill authorizing the County Court of Rockingham county to loan to the Manassas Gap Railroad Company a sum of money; authorizing the Superintendent of the Armory to provide quarters for a portion of the Public Guard; Senate bill to amend the act to amend the pilot laws in regard to the Potomac river; Senate bill providing for the location of the court-house, jail, and other public buildings of the county of McDowell; Senate bill to incorporate the Chesterfield Car, Locomotive and Agricultural Implement Manufacturing Company; Senate bill to incorporate the James River Boot, Shoe and Leather Manufacturing Company; Senate bill to authorize the Bank of the Commonwealth, the Merchants' Bank of Virginia at Lynchburg, and the Traders' Bank of Richmond, to establish a branch Bank at Alexandria; Senate bill to incorporate the Mount Vernon Insurance Company.
Observance of the 22d.--On motion of Mr. Carraway, it was
Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns to-day, it will adjourn to meet again on Saturday, the 23d inst., at 11 o'clock.
Mr. Douglass called up his joint resolutions of yesterday, and offered a substitute.
The substitute contains a preamble reciting the reasons for the adoption of the resolutions, while the tenor of the latter is the same as those published by us yesterday.
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Relief to the Banks.--The unfinished business of yesterday, the consideration of the bill for the relief of the Banks of the Commonwealth, was then resumed, the pending question being the motion of Mr. Thomas, of Henry, to strike out the 4th section, which was agreed to by a vote of yeas 23, nays 21.
Mr. Early proposed to amend the 11th section of the bill, by inserting after the word ‘"discounts,"’ the words ‘"and other investments."’ Agreed to.
The bill, as amended, was then adopted.
On motion of Mr. Douglass, the Senate bill appropriating a sum of money to purchase certain ordnance and material of J. L. Archer, of Bellona Foundry, in this State, was taken up, when Mr. Paxton proposed a ryder.
Mr. Armstrong proposed an amendment, which provided that the sum so expended should be deducted from the amount of the appropriation heretofore made for State defences.
Bill and amendments were laid on the table, and made the order of the day for Saturday at 11 o'clock.
On motion of Mr. Thomas, of Fairfax, the Senate adjourned. 