Legislature of Virginia.
Senate,
Wednesday,Jan. 15, 1862.
The Senate was opened with prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Sekley, of the Second Baptist Church.
Small notes.
Mr. Isbell, from the
Committee on
Banks, to whom was referred the
House bill to revive and extend an ordinance respecting the issue of small notes, reported the same with a substitute therefore.
The substitute is similar to the ordinance of the
Convention, simply using the word "act" in place of the word ‘"ordinance."’--It authorizes the Banks in the
Commonwealth to issue notes of the denomination of one and two dollars, to an amount not exceeding five per cent of their capital.
The bill being taken up for consideration,
Mr. Johnson moved to amend by inserting ten; in lieu of five per cent.
This was opposed by
Mr. Isbell.
Mr. Thomas, of
Fairfax, moved to amend by inserting the words ‘"and required"’ after the word ‘"authorized."’
Mr. Johnson then withdrew his amendment.
The question having been raised by
Mr. Isbell as to what penalty should be inflicted in case of a failure of the banks to comply with the requirements of the act,
Mr. Thomas moved, as a further amendment, that the banks be prohibited, under a penalty of fifty dollars for each offence, to pay out the notes of any unauthorized corporations or individuals.
The amendments were agreed to, and the bill, as amended, passed — yeas 41, nays 0.
The title was amended so as to read--"To authorize the Banks of this Commonwealth to issue notes of the denomination of one and two dollars."
Order of the day.
The bill ‘"to raise and organize
Virginia's quota of the
Confederate Army"’ was taken up as the order of the day, the question being upon the amendment offered by Mr,
Dickinson of Prince Edward, to the 14th section,
Mr. Douglas asked that the bill be read by sections, as he had some important amendments to offer.
Mr. Dickinson withdrew his amendment for the present, and the
Clerk proceeded to read the bill by sections.
The amendments proposed by
Mr. Douglas (
Chairman of the Military Committee) were adopted in the 5th, 7th, 10th, 13th, and 14th sections.
The same gentleman offered an independent section, to be inserted between the 14th and 15th section, providing for the organization of a body of 10,000 men, to be styled.
‘"Minute Men,"’ for the purpose of guarding localities exposed to marauding attacks of the enemy.
Mr. Isbell expressed the opinion that such a special force would not subserve the purposes for which it was proposed to be employed, since the
Confederate military authorities might deem it sufficient for the purpose indicated, and thus withhold their co- operation.
Mr. Douglas replied that the proposed measure received the full approbation of the
Executive of the
Confederate States.
From his own personal observation
Mr. Douglas was enabled to say that the exposed border was full of arms; that every log cabin had its rifle and a rifleman who knew how to use it. Such men, with a thorough organization, would be fully competent to meet and drive back the
Yankee invaders.
He was not at liberty to disclose the full results of a recent official interview with the
President of the
Confederate States, but he could inform the Senate that the
Government had not for one moment been unmindful of the necessities of the exposed frontier.
Mr. Isbell disclaimed any intention to reflect upon the conduct of the
Confederate military authorities.
The point which the intended to make was that the proper defence of the frontier required the presence of an efficient and well drilled force; that 10,000 men poorly armed and poorly disciplined were not equal to 10,000 men well armed and disciplined.
No militia, with the disadvantage of inferior arms, were competent to win victories in the field, no matter how much personal bravery they might possess.
Living as he did upon the northern frontier, where the sword of the enemy was constantly pointed against the breasts of defenceless citizens, he appreciated the necessity of an adequate military defence.
They who have not lived upon the border know nothing of the losses and indignities to which the people had been subjected.
He had confidence in the opinion of the
Senator from King William, (
Mr. Douglas,) but having seen so much of the evil to which he had alluded, he deemed it his duty to urge the necessity of adequate protection.
Mr. Douglas thought there was after all but little disagreement between himself and the
Senator from
Jefferson, (
Mr. Isbell.) It was known that a body of men were ready to enlist for the purpose of serving on the works about
Richmond, and he urged the necessity of the adoption of his amendment to meet this and similar cases.
Mr. Armstrong viewed the subject as one of great importance, and he desired time and opportunity to give it full consideration — He moved that the bill be laid upon the table, and that its further consideration be in secret session.
At the suggestion of
Mr. Robertson, the motion was so changed as to make the bill and amendments the order of the day for Thursday, in secret session, and agreed to.
Resolutions of inquiry.
The following resolutions, instructing the standing committees to inquire into expediency of legislation upon the subjects mentioned, were adopted:
By
Mr. Armstrong.--Of making an appropriation to relieve the wants of such of the loyal citizens of
Virginia as have been arrested and imprisoned by the
United States authorities.
By
Mr. Isbell--Of providing for the payment, by the
Commonwealth, of
Virginia's portion of the direct taxes imposed by the Confederate Government.
By
Mr. Whittle--Of inquiring what ordinances of the
Convention are required to be submitted to the people for ratification, and into the expediency of so submitting said ordinances at the time of taking the vote on the new Constitution.
Bills passed.
The following bills, reported from the standing committees without amendment, were taken up and passed:
House bill to amend an act entitld an act to incorporate the
Atlantic Steam Ferry Company.
House bill entitled an act to authorize
Hughes Dillard to erect a dam half across
Smith's river, in the county of
Henry, in a manner not inconsistent with the rights of the
Smith's River Navigation Company.
On motion, the Senate adjourned.
