House of Delegates.
Tuesday. Feb. 5th, 1861.
The
House was called to order at 12 o'clock M., by
Speaker Crutchfield, and opened with prayer by
Rev. Mr. Deshiel.
Bills Reported.--The following bills were reported from committees, viz: Amending an act marking the boundary line between
Fluvanna and
Albemarle counties; repairing and furnishing the
Governor's house; amending an act providing for the working of the county roads of
Loudoun: amending the 2d section of the act passed Feb. 9th, 1860, providing for a further subscription to the
Alexandria,
Loudoun and
Hampshire Railroad Company.
Resolutions.--The following resolutions of inquiry into expediency were offered: By
Mr. Phelps, of reporting a bill securing to the
Commonwealth in any internal improvement company in which the said Commonwealth is a stockholder or has an interest, a representative in the directory of any such company proportionate to the amount of stock held by the
Commonwealth in such company, and so to provide that the
Commonwealth shall be entitled to the same vote
pro rata on each share of stock owned by it in any such company as is given to any other stockholder in any such company; by
Mr. Graham, of reporting a bill incorporating the town of
Asbury, in the county of
Wythe; by
Mr. Lucas, of allowing to
Jno. Powers, assignee of
Hiram Mansey, $8.15 for tuition of poor children in
Giles county.
Bills Passed.--The following bills were passed: Amending the charter of the Bank of Howardsvill; repealing an act passed March 19th, 1860, concerning the mode of catching fish in certain waters; incorporating the town of
Cameron, in the county of
Marshall; amending the charter of the town of
Bath, in the county of
Morgan: amending an act passed March 31st, 1860, entitled an act to restrict the catching of oysters in certain months; authorizing the
Clerks of Supreme Courts and the
District Courts of Appeals to take orders of publication in vacation; amending an act incorporating the
Lewisburg Female Institute.
Committee on Free Negroes.--The Speaker announced the following committee on the above subject, viz:
Messrs. Woolfolk, Oregon, McCamant,
Rives,
Eddington,
Kincheloe,
Montague,
McGehee, and
Martin of
Nelson.
Telegraphic Operators.--An adverse report was returned to the resolution inquiring into the expediency of exempting employees in telegraphic offices from military duty.
Petitions, &c.--
Mr. Chapman presented the petition of
James K. Scott and 170 others, citizens of the counties of
Greenbrier and
Monroe, remonstrating against the formation of a new county out of parts of
Monroe and
Greenbrier;
Mr. McDowell presented the petition of citizens of
Botetourt, for the passage of a law prohibiting free Negroes and slaves to own dogs.
Motion to Adjourn Temporarily.--
Mr. Crump called up a motion to adjourn, (heretofore offered.) Objection was made to the motion, and the
Speaker informed
Mr. Crump that the motion heretofore offered had been withdrawn at the time it was made.
As indicated heretofore and to-day, the
House is decidedly against any adjournment, and will proceed in the dispatch of the public business.
Laid on the Table.--The bill authorizing the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad Company to construct a branch of their road to some point on the
North Carolina line, was, on motion, laid on the table; also, the bill incorporating the
Norfolk County Railroad Company.
General Business.--A large number of bills were read the requisite number of times, and ordered to be engrossed.
The bill to carry out the 19th section of the
Constitution of
Virginia, (respecting free Negroes and the mode of voluntary enslavement of said class of persons,) was taken up and considered.
Messrs. Duckbill and
Kaufman advocated its passage, and
Messrs. McKenzie,
Hammond and
Myers advocated laying on the table.
A motion of the latter to that effect finally prevailed.
On motion of
Mr. Collier,the
House adjourned.
