General Assembly of Virginia.
[extra session.]
Senate.
Saturday, Feb. 23, 1861.
Called to order at 11 o'clock,
Mr. Brannon in the chair.
Prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Bosserman, of the Universalist Church.
Bills Reported.--For the relief of
Benj. S. Reynolds, of
Harrison county; to incorporate the
Virginia and Ohio Telegraph Company; organizing a volunteer company of Cavalry in
Albemarle county; amending section 6 of chapter 138 of the Code; for the relief of
Mrs. Cora Anderson, administratrix of
Frederick Anderson, dec'd; providing for the purchase and distribution of books of instruction for the use of the
military officers of the
State.
Resolutions of Inquiry.--The following resolutions of inquiry were adopted and referred; By
Mr. Dickenson, of
Grayson, of amending the charter of the Black Lick and Plaster Bank Turnpike Company; by
Mr. Thomas, of
Henry, of refunding to
Richard Wells, Sr., of the county of
Henry, a certain fine paid by him in satisfaction of a judgment of the
County Court of said county; by
Mr. Isbell, of compensating
Charles B. Harding, late Commonwealth's Attorney for
Jefferson county, for extra services as Commonwealth's Attorney for that county.
Joint Resolution.--The following joint resolution, proposed by
Mr. Finney, was laid over under the rules:
‘
Resolved by the General Assembly of Virginia, That by allowing the
Federal flag to be raised on the
Capitol of
Virginia, that State denies the right of the seceding States their position.
’
Bills Passed.--Senate bill refunding to
Moses G. Booth, damages paid by him as surety of
Samuel S. Turner, late
sheriff of
Franklin county; Senate bill for the relief of
Thomas L. Jordan, of
Wayne county; Senate bill to distribute
Mayo's Guide to Coroners; Senate bill for the relief of
Samuel E. Lybrock, of
Giles county;
House bill releasing the
Commonwealth's claim to a certain island in
Chesapeake bay to
Edmund J. Paulson; Senate bill for the relief of
M. C. Hall, late
Sheriff of
Lewis county, and his securities; Senate bill for the relief of
Webb &
Adams; Senate bill for the relief of
Thomas Nichols; Senate bill to authorize railroad companies to appoint police agents.
On motion of
Mr. August, the order of the day, the bill appropriating a sum of money to purchase certain ordnance and material of
J. L. Archer, of
Bellona foundry, was taken up and made the order of the day for Thursday next, at 12 o'clock.
On motion of
Mr. Townes, the rules were suspended; and the bill passed a few days ago for the relief of the Banks of the
Commonwealth, was taken up, and a verbal amendment made thereto.
The bill was then again passed.
On motion of
Mr.Armstrong. the Senate adjourned.
House of delegates.
Feb. 23, 1861.
Speaker Critchfield called the
House to order at 11 o'clock A. M.
The
House was informed by message from the Senate of the passage of a number of bills.
Bills Reported.--The following bills were reported, viz: Incorporating the
Carroll County Mining and Manufacturing Company; amending and re-enacting an act passed March 22, 1860, entitled An act to incorporate the Knob Turnpike Company, in the county of
Washington, and incorporating the
Halters Gap and Washington Turnpike Company; amending and re-enacting an act passed March 22d, 1860, entitled An act to incorporate the Knob Turnpike Company, in the county of
Washington, and incorporating the Abingdon and Tennessee Turnpike Company: for the relief of the securities of
Wilson Abbott, late
Sheriff of the county of
Raleigh; incorporating the
New River White Sulphur Springs and Wicker's Switch Turnpike Company.
The Banks and State Indebtedness.--
Mr. Robertson, of R., offered the following resolution, which was adopted:
‘
Resolved,That the
Auditor of Public Accounts report to this
House:
First. The amount which, in his opinion, the
State is likely to be called upon to provide in specie for the payment of the interest in July and January, on State bonds due to holders out of the
State.
Second. Tables showing what portion of the said amount would be payable by each of the Banks of this Commonwealth: 1st, on the basis of their respective capitals; 2d, on that of capital, circulation and deposit; 3d, on that of circulation and deposits.
’
Laid on the Table.--
Mr. Christian moved that 1,000 additional copies of the report of the
Committee of Roads and Navigation, in reference to the ability of
Beloit,
Bros. & Co. to execute their contract for the completion of the
James River and Kanawha Company, be printed for the use of the
House.
Laid on the table.
House bill authorizing a loan from the Literary Fund to the Allegheny College, being on its third reading, was laid on the table, on motion of
Mr. Christian.
Motions for Adjournment,--By
Mr. Jones, of
Appomattox:
‘
Resolved,That when this
House adjourns on the 5th of March, it will, with the concurrence of the Senate, adjourn
sine dic. ’
On his motion the resolution was laid on the table.
By
Mr. Fleming:
‘
Resolved, That when this
House adjourns on today, it will adjourn to meet on Monday next, and on each day thereafter at 10 o'clock A. M.
’
On motion, laid on the table.
Committee on Enrolled Bills.--The Speaker announced the following Committee on Enrolled Bills;
Messrs. Hackley;
Orgain,
Pritchard,
Davis,
Evans,
Hoffman,
Kyle, Sibert,
Watts,
Phelps, Pretlow,
Smith of
Taylor, Mong,
Bisbie,
Wilson,
Nelson,
Staples,
Richardson,
Welch,
Booker,
Saunders, West,
Hunter, and
Jett.
Resolutions of Inquiry into Expediency.--The following resolutions were offered: By
Mr. Rives, of amending the 3d and 4th sections of chapters 85 and 95 of the Code of
Virginia; by
Mr. Ball, of amending section 5th of chapter 178 of the Code of
Virginia; by
Mr. Nelson, of reporting a bill authorizing a company of volunteer Cavalry in the 47th Reg't. in
Albemarle, to organize with not less than 40 nor more than 100 men rank and file; by
Mr. Collier of authorizing the South Side Railroad Company to construct a line of steamers to run in connection with said road from
City Point; by
Mr. Watson of refunding a fine improperly imposed on
Mr. Spencer Drummond, Jr., of the
county of Accomac; by
Mr. Alderson of reporting a bill for the relief of the sureties of
C. Rales, late
Sheriff of
Raleigh county; by
Mr. Johnson of repealing the 4th to the 11th sections of chapter 6th of the Code; by
Mr. Lock, of allowing
Sam Stone (
Commissioner of the Revenue for
Jefferson county,) a sum of money erroneously deducted from his commission for the year 1858.
Petitions Presented.--By
Mr. Bisbie, the petition of sundry citizens' of the city of
Norfolk, praying the repeal of the act of March 19th, 1860, amending the charter of the city of
Norfolk; by the same, petition of sundry merchants of
Norfolk, praying a compulsory inspection of imported salted provisions; by
Mr. Robinson, the petition of the Goochland Dragoons and Richmond Fayette Artillery for the removal of the remains of
Gen. H. Lee.
Public Guard.--On motion of
Mr. Robinson, of
Richmond, the
House reconsidered the vote by which Senate bill, "authorizing the
Superintendent of the
Armory to provide quarters for a portion of the Public Guard," was ordered to be committed.
The necessity of passing the bill was explained by
Mr. Robinson, and the same being read a third time, was put on its passage and carried in the affirmative — ayes 109.
Militia Fines.--On motion of
Mr.Crump,House bill amending certain laws in respect to the
Militia of the
Commonwealth so as to render them more affective, was taken up and read a second time.
After being variously amended, it was read a third time and ordered to be engrossed.
The object of the bill is to induce a more general collection of fines for violations of existing law, and thereby assure the greater efficiency of the military organizations of the
State.
On motion, adjourned.