Legislature of Virginia.
Senate.
Thursday, Jan. 9, 1862.
The Senate was called to order at 12 o'clock. Prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Woodbridge, of the Monumental Church.
A communication was received from the House of Delegates, announcing the passage of sundry bills and resolutions.
The President laid before the Senate a communication from the
Executive, calling attention to the omission to supply a clerk for the
Adjutant General's office.
Referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Bills reported.
Mr. Beannon, from the
Committee on Courts of Justice, reported a bill authorizing the
Judge of the Hustings Court of the city of
Richmond to grant a new trial in the case of the
Commonwealth against
Edward Kersey and
Hammett A. Pearce.
Mr. Douglas, from the
Committee on Milltary Affairs, reported a bill to raise and organize
Virginia's quota of the Confederate Army.
[Five hundred extra copies ordered to Seprinted.]
Southern Protection Insurance Company.
Mr. Thomas, of
Fairfax, offered the following joint resolution, which lies over under the rule:
Whereas, by the act passed January 30, 1854, incorporating the
Southern Protection Insurance Company, the said company was located at
Alexandria, and the general office of said company required to be held at that place, and that it appears that it is impossible to hold any meetings of either the directors or the stockholders of said company at
Alexandria, by reason of its occupation by the enemy: Therefore, be it
Resolved, by the General Assembly, That it shall be lawful for a majority of the directors of the
Southern Protection Insurance Company to change the office of said company from
Alexandria to any other point within the
State they may select, and to hold the meetings of the directors and stockholders of each company at such times and places as a majority of said directors may appoint.
Twentieth Judicial Circuit.
Mr. Beannon offered the following joint resolution, which lies over under the rule:
Resolved, by the General Assembly of Virginia, That the resolution of the Convention of Virginia directing the
Auditor of Public Accounts to withhold the payment of the salary of
George W. Thompson,
Judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit, be held inoperative, and that the said salary be paid as if said resolution had not been passed.
Public economy.
Mr. Bobertson offered the following joint resolution, which lies over, under the rule:
Whereas, The due equipment, subsistence, and comfort of our brave men, who, far from their homes, are daily perriling health and life in defending our hearths and firesides against Northern outlaws and barbarians, are objects of indispensable justice and necessity, enjoining a guarded economy upon all entrusted with the direction of the public expenditures, more especially of expenditures for civil services:
Resolved, That a committee of — be appointed to act jointly with a committee of the House of Delegates, with instructions diligently to examine the expenditures of the several departments, civil and military, and report whether any, and if any, what, deductions may be made therein without detriment to the public interest.
Resolutions of inquiry.
The following resolutions, inquring into the expediency of legislation upon the subjects named were adopted:
By
Mr. Quisenbury--Of offering a bounty in money, or a medal of distinction, to all volunteers now in service, who may re-enlist for a term of two years.
By
Mr. Neeson--Of refunding to
Charles G. Taylor the tax paid by him on a license not used, because of the conduct of the public enemy.
By
Mr. Gareett--Of enlarging the jurisdiction and increasing the compensation of the constables of
Henrico county.
By
Mr. Brannon--Of reporting bill No. 81 of the last session, ‘"authorizing the issue of registered certifices of State stock to
Franklin Torrey, in lieu of two lost bonds."’
By
Mr. Newman--Of authorizing proceedings against faithless tenants.
Personal explanation.
Mr. Spitler arose to a personal explanation.
He said:
‘
I notice in some of the papers of this morning that a resolution, which I offered on yesterday, has been reported incorrectly, entirely perverting the object which I had in view in offering it. The resolution which I submitted was to require the
County Courts to provide for the support of families of
soldiers who are in a destitute condition, which would include the militia as well as volunteers, which was the object I had in view, whilst the resolution, as reported, represents me as wishing only to provide for the families of
volunteers. My object is, sir, to provide for the support of the families of all soldiers who are in a destitute condition.
’
The War Tax.
Mr. Douglas presented the proceedings of a public meeting of citizens of
King and Queen county, relative to the assumption by the Legislature of Virginia's quota of the
War Tax. Referred to the Cemmittee on Finance.
Mr. Cheistian, of
Augusta, presented the memorial of citizens of
Pendleton county, asking that the
Commonwealth shall assume the payment of the
Confederate War Tax, Referred.
Bill rejected.
Mr. Thomas, of Henry, called up the bill compensating
Peter P. Penn for the loss of his slave Albert; and it was taken up on its passage.
It was advocated by
Mr. Thomas, opposed by
Mr. Robertson, and lost for want of a constitutional mejority — yeas 18 nays 17.
Senatorial vacancies.
On motion of
Mr. Neeson, the Senate took up the resolutions providing for filling vacancies in the Senate from the 46th and 50th districts.
Mr. Robertson moved that they be committed to the
Committee for Courts of Justice.
Not agreed to.
On motion of
Mr. Neeson, the resolutions were laid upon the table and made the order of the day for to-morrow (Friday)
Bill passed.
The Senate on Wednesday passed the
House bill entitled ‘"an act amending the charter of the town of
Fredericksburg"’--(omitted in our last report.)
The stay law.
Mr. Robertson, (in the absence of the mover,
Mr. Whittle,) introduced a subsittute for the bill entitled ‘"a bill to suspend sales and legal proceedings in certain cases,"’ and ‘"tor repeal an ordinance to provide against the sacrifice of property and to suspend proceedings in certain cases."’ Ordered to be printed.
On motion of
Mr. Newman, the Senate adjourned.
