General Assembly of Virginia.
Senate.
Monday, Feb. 17, 1862.
The Senate was opened with prayer by
Bishop Early, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Doorkeeper.
Mr. Harvie offered a resolution to proceed to the election of a Doorkeeper to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of
Col. T. P. Chisman.
After considerable debate, the resolution was withdrawn.
On motion of
Mr. Johnson, the rule requiring two doorkeepers to the senate was rescinded.
Bills reported.
Mr. Isbell, from the
Committee on
Banks, reported a bill to incorporate the Stewartsville Savings Bank, in the county of
Roanoke, to issue notes of a less denomination than five dollars.
Mr. Collier, from the select committee to whom was referred the bill concerning volunteers, introduced by him a new days since, reported the same without amendment.
Resolution.
On motion of
Mr. Alderson, it was
Resolved, That the
Committee on Finance inquire into the expediency of extending the time allowed the sheriff of
Greenbrier county to pay the revenue of said county into the Treasury.
Proposed Recess.
Mr. Robertson, of
Richmond, offered the following resolution:
‘
Resolved, That after this day, and daily during the residue of the session, the Senate will take a recess from half-past 2 till half-past 4 o'clock, and that no
Senator be allowed to speak more than ten minutes at one time, unless by unanimous consent.
On motion of
Mr. Thomas, of
Fairfax, the resolution was laid upon the table.
’
Senatorial Privileges.
Mr. Robertson also submitted the following resolution, which was adopted:
‘
Whereas, It has been affirmed in the presence of the Senate that gentlemen, holding lucrative offices, claim and exercise the privilege of sitting and voting as members of this body:
’
Resolved, That the
Committee of Privileges and Elections inquire whether any gentleman now claiming and exercising the privileges of a member of the Senate, held at the time of his election, or now holds, any lucrative office or appointment, civil or military, under the
State or Confederate Government, with their opinion, if such should appear to be the fact, whether a seat in this body can be held by such officer, consistently with the true intent and meaning of the
State Constitution, and if not, whether the
Constitution, in that respect, is still in force.
American Agency.
On motion of
Mr. Christian, of
Augusta, the vote ordering the bill concerning the American Agency to its engrossment, was reconsidered.
Mr. Christian offered a substitute, when, on motion of
Mr. Johnson, the bill and substitute were laid upon the table.
Secret session.
On motion of
Mr. Armstrong, the Senate resolved itself into secret session for the purpose of considering a communication from the
Executive.
After the doors were re-opened, a number of bills were taken up, and severally made the order of the day for future days.
Bill passed.
The following bill was taken up and passed:
House bill releasing the securities of
Thos. K. Davis, late
sheriff of
Prince William county, from the payment of money.
Extra Compensation.
On motion of
Mr. Wiley, the vote ordering to its engrossment the bill compensating
Joseph J. White for the responsibility of signing, clipping, and disbursing treasury notes, was reconsidered.
Mr. Newton moved an indefinite postponement of the bill.
Agreed to — ayes 16, noes 10.
Rangers.
A message was received from the House of Delegates, by
Mr. Jones, of
Gloucester, announcing the passage of a bill to authorize the organization of ten companies of rangers.
Bill presented.
Mr. Christian, of
Augusta, by leave, presented a bill authorizing the civil authorities of the
Commonwealth to render aid in arresting deserters from military service.
Referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
The Senate adjourned.
