House of Delegates.
The
House met at 12 M. Prayer by
Rev. Dr. Moore
A communication was received from the
Governor enclosing papers from
E. T. D. Myers, showing the operations in the
Military Engineers' Department.
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
The Speaker appointed the following special committee:
In reference to the treatment of Confederate prisoners in the
Federal prisons at
Columbus, Ohio:
Messrs. Anderson, of
Botetourt,
Woodhouse, and
Coleman of
Fayette and
Raleigh.
To ascertain what judicial officers of the
Commonwealth should not receive their salaries in consequence of disloyalty to the
South:
Messrs,
Evans,
McKinney,
Green,
Prince,
Robinson of
Berkeley,
Dunn,
Wooten,
Laidley,
Spady,
McDonald of
Logan, and
Dabney.
The bill to refund
R. H. Maury $139.07, for taxes erroneously assessed in
Nicholas county, was passed.
The bill to reduce into slavery such emancipated slaves as shall have remained in the
Commonwealth twelve months after such emancipation was passed.
The bill to amend the act incorporating the
Atlantic Steam Ferry Company, so as to extend the time which requires the company to run a vessel to
Europe, was passed.
The bill to authorize
Hugh Dillard to erect a dam half across
Smith river, in
Henry county, so as not interfere with the rights of
Smith River Navigation Company, was passed.
The bill to revive and amend the act refunding to
Moses G. Booth damages paid by him as surety for
Samuel H. Turner, late
Sheriff of
Harrison county, was passed.
The bill to increase the salary of
Joseph Jackson,
Clerk of Accounts, in the office of the Auditor of Public Accounts, four hundred dollars in addition to his present salary, was read.
Messrs. Barbour,
Newton, and
Robertson spoke feelingly in favor of increasing the salary of
Mr. Jackson, to whose long and faithful services they bore willing tribute.
If the
House passed the bill,
Mr. Jackson's salary would then be $2,000 per annum.
The bill was passed by a vote of ayes 77, noes 21.
A resolution offered by
Mr. Carpenter to inquire into the expediency of increasing the salaries of the other clerks in the various State Departments was rejected.
Mr. Newton, of
Westmoreland, presented a series of resolutions enlogising
General Joseph E. Johnston, for the magnanimity he displayed in permitting his military subordinate at the
battle of Manassas,
General Beauregard, to carry out his (
Beauregard's) plane, at that battle, and comparing the act to that of
Aristides and
Miltiades just previous to the battle of
Marathon, and inviting
Gen. Johnston to appoint two cadets to the
State military institution.
At the request of a member the resolutions were laid over one day.
Mr. Woodson offered a joint resolution, requesting the members of Congress, from
Virginia, to procure the passage of a bill limiting militia impressments.
Laid over.
The following resolutions of inquiry into expediency were referred to the appropriate committees:
By
Mr. Sheffey: Of increasing the allowances of the Jailor of
Augusta county, for the maintenance of the prisoners in his custody.
By
Mr. West: Of requesting railroad companies to pay full value for all stock killed on their road.
The
House then adjourned.
