Legislature of Virginia,
Senate.
Friday, Dec. 20, 1861.
The Senate was called to order at the usual hour.
Prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Read, of the Presbyterian Church.
A communication was received from the House of Delegates announcing the passage of certain bills, which were read and referred to the appropriate committees.
Bills reported.
The following bills were reported from standing committees:
To amend and re-enact the 13th section of chapter 42 of the Code of 1860 so as to more effectually regulate the sales of
real estate under executions in favor of the
Commonwealth.
To amend the 2d and 5th sections of an act entitled ‘"an act incorporating the
James River Insurance Company at Howardsvillee, in the county of
Albemarle,"’ passed 31st January, 1860.
To amend the fifth section of chapter 13 of the Code in realtion to administering the oaths to be taken by the members of the General Assembly.
The salt supply.
Mr. H. W.
Thomas, from the joint special committee to confer with the
President of the
Confederate States, in relation to the release of so much of the salt now held for the use of the army, as can be done without injury to the public service, submitted a report.
The committee had a conference with the
President on the 18th inst., which resulted in a correspondence, from which it appears that the
General Govertment cannot, at this time, give up any of the salt under its control.
A statement from the
Commissary General shows that the purchases of hogs and beef to be packed will require a great deal of salt; that is two bushels to each thousand pounds of pork, and a bushel and a quarter to each five hundred of beef.
To furnish less might endanger, and would shift the responsibility from contractors to the Department.
That with a nominal monopoly of the Salt-works at
Saltville, the Commissariat has been unable to obtain enough for its own purposes, in consequence of the demands from private parties on the grounds with wagons, and though it has stipulated for all it may choose to demand from that quarter at 75 cents per bushel, it has yet found itself compelled to purchase 50,000 bushels at
Nashville, at $3 per bushel, and to order other purchases in
West Tennessee.
The report was laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Dickinson, of Prince Edward, from the special committee to open a correspondence with the proprietors of the salt works, submitted the following report, which was adopted:
That the joint committee be authorized to send a deputation of their body to make a personal examination of the works, ascertain as far as practicable their capacity, the prospect for an increase of the supply of salt, and, if deemed advisable, make a provisional contract therefore, subject to the approval and ratification of the General Assembly.
Confederate Senators.
Mr. Johnson moved that the Senate take up the joint resolution from the
House fixing the 9th of January as the day for proceeding to the election of
Senators to represent
Virginia in the Confederate Congress.
The motion was agreed to — ayes 17, noes 12.
On motion of
Mr. Neeson, the day designated in the resolution was stricken out.
Mr. Neeson then moved to lay the resolution upon the table Rejected.
On motion of
Mr. Coghill the resolution was amended by fixing the 22d of January as the day of election, and adopted.
Resolutions of inquiry.
By
Mr. Douglas--Of reporting a bill for the relief of the sufferers by the conflagration of the town of
Hampton, and other towns, villages, and dwellings either burnt by the public enemy or by orders, to prevent their falling into his hands.
By
Mr. Bales--Of nding to
Edward H. Bales, late
Commissioner of the Revenue for
Lee county, a sum of money improperly refunded by him on account of an alleged mistake in assessment of land tax.
By
Mr. Christian of
Augusta — Of repealing the law requiring Commissioners of the Revenue to furnish blank forms for listing property.
On motion of
Mr. Claiborne, the Senate adjourned.
