House of Delegates.
The
House met at 12 M., and was opened with prayer by
Rev. Mr. Peterkin, of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Message from the Governor.
The Speaker laid before the
House the following message from his
Excellency the
Governor of
Virginia:
Executive Department, December 16, 1861.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Delegates:
I have received from his
Excellency Isham G. Harris,
Governor of the
State of Tennessee, a communication enclosing a joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of that State, declaratory of the policy necessary to be adopted ‘"to open the ports of the
South to the commerce of the world."’ It affords me pleasure to comply with the request contained in the 6th resolution, and I accordingly transmit them for your consideration.
Joint resolutions to take Steps to open the ports of the South to the commerce of the world.
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That, as the sense of this Legislature, the following propositions are submitted for the consideration of the planters of the
South and all others whom it may concern:
- 1.
That the present cotton crop of the Southern States is, to at least two of the leading powers of Europe, a national necessity.
- 2. That, as under present circumstances, it seems improbable that this crop can be disposed of, the planting of another will place two crops on hand for sale at once.
- 3. That the purchase of these two crops by the European powers above referred to will give them a supply for two years, so that at any time, when about to purchase the third crop, and having one year's stock to run upon, and the planter being unable to hold his third crop until they are compelled to buy, they will have it in their power to dictate the terms of sale.
- 4. That, on the other hand, the European powers before mentioned having exhausted their present supply, and another crop not being raised when those powers come into market to buy, as they must and will, it we adopt this policy, the planters holding the great staple, which is a necessity to them, they will not only be compelled to buy, but also to pay a remunerative price.
- 5. The armies of the South cannot subsist on cotton, but must have bread and meat; and while the interest of the cotton planter calls to him to plant no more cotton than will supply the home consumption, patriotism imperatively demands that his whole force should be turned into those channels in which he can contribute to the wants and wastes of a war of which none can predict the end.
- 6.
That the vital interests herein involved may be submitted to the enlightened judgment of the South, the Governor of this State is requested to forward forthwith a copy of these resolutions to the President of the Confederate States, who is herein requested to submit them to Congress, and also to the several Governors of the Confederate States, who are requested to submit them to their respective Legislatures, when convened.
Edwin A Kerble,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Edward S. Cheatham,
Speaker of the Senate.
Adopted Nov. 3d, 1861.
The resolutions were, on motion of
Mr. McCamant, laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Orgain offered the following, which was adopted:
‘
Resolved, That the
Committee on
Banks be instructed to inquire into the expediency of requiring the banks of the State to issue twenty per cent. of their respective capital stocks in notes below the denomination of five dollars, and not less than one dollar; ten per cent, thereof to be issued in one dollar notes, and paid in gold or
silver coin on presentation.
’
Mr. West offered the following, which was adopted:
‘
Resolved, That, the Senate concurring, this
House do on the 9th day of January, 1862, proceed to select
Senators to represent
Virginia in the Senate of the Confederate Congress.
’
Mr. Fleming ‘
Resolved, That the
Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill to authorize the raising of a force of ten thousand men for the defence of exposed portions of the
Commonwealth, which may not be provided for by the
Confederate authorities.
Adopted.
’
On motion of
Mr. McKinney, the
Committee on Military Affairs was ordered to inquire is to the account of
Jas. Purcell.
Mr. Anderson called up the Bill to improve the navigation of
New river.
Mr. Wilson, of
Isle of Wight, offered the following by way of
Ryder:
‘
Provided, That this act shall not be in force or take effect until the
President and Directors of the
New River Navigation Company shall have transferred, and authority is hereby given to transfer, in the Board of Public Works all the franchises, rights, title and interest of such navigation company in said improvements : Provided, That the Board of Public Works shall pay the costs to be paid to the stockholders of said
New River Navigation Company, out of appropriations hereby made, a sum of money equal to that already subscribed and paid in for the purpose of organizing said
New River Navigation Company Read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed.
’
The vote on the disposition of the Ryder being, on motion of
Mr. Grattan, reconsidered, he offered the following amendment:
‘
Provided, That before any money hereby appropriated shall be applied to the purpose contemplated in this bill, the Confederate Congress shall have passed an act to reimburse the
State of Virginia in any such expenditure.
Rejected
’
The bill then passed — ayes 92, noes 2.
Mr. Orgain offered the following, which was adopted:
‘
Resolved, That the
Committee on Military Affairs, in any modification of the laws increasing the pay, emoluments, and privileges of such of the twelve months volunteers as may again enlist, be instructed to inquire also into the expediency of including those volunteers who enlisted for the same or a longer period, but who have been disbanded on account of the losses in battle, or from sickness and hardships incident to the service.
’
The order of the day.
The bill "to suspend the sales and legal proceedings in certain cases" came up, Pending the discussion of the question.
On motion, the
House adjourned.
