General Assembly of Virginia.
Senate.
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1862.
The Senate was called to order at 12 o'clock by the
President, and opened with prayer by
Rev. Mr. Bennett, of the
M. E. Church.
The Senate was notified that the
House had agreed to a joint resolution for a joint committee to prepare a course of proceeding against
E. P. Pitts,
Judge of the 5th Circuit.
Also, that the
House had agreed to a joint resolution providing that the committees of the two Houses on the
Armory and to examine the Penitentiary shall be hereafter joint committees.
The Senate adopted a resolution to meet at 11 o'clock each day hereafter.
Senate Bills reported.
A bill to authorize a Military Contingent Fund.
A bill for the relief of Robert Shield, late
Sheriff of the county of
York.
A bill to relieve the securities of
Robert Chambers, late
Sheriff of
Boone county.
A bill to provide horses for volunteers going into the cavalry service.
Senate bill compensating
R. H. Phillipe for private property taken possession of for the use of the
State.
Senate bill to organize companies for special service.
Resolutions of Inquiry.
By
Mr. Thomas of F.: Of providing by law for the relief of Sheriffs and tax-payers of the counties now in the possession, or which may have been overrun, by the enemy.
By
Mr. Collier: To request the
Governor to inform the Senate how many companies and regiments
Virginia now has in the Confederate Army.
By
Mr. Christian: Requesting the
Executive to communicate any further correspondence with the
Confederate officers relative to State arms, in addition to what has been heretofore communicated.
Bill passed.
A bill to authorize the
Governor to organize and call out certain military forces for the defence of the
State--ayes 32, noes 2,
Messrs. Day and
Harvey.
Executive Expenditures.
Mr. Day returned the report of the joint Committee on Executive Expenditures, by which it appears that the expenditures from Civil Contingent Fund for the fiscal year ending 30th September, 1860, was $56,809 26; do. ending September 30, 1861, $44,299 99.
From Military Contingent Fund for fiscal year ending September 30, 1860, $4,588 27; do. ending September 30, 1861, $54,610 16.
From Civil Prosecution Fund for fiscal year ending September 30, 1860, $14,001.51; do. ending September 30, 1861, $8,182 32.
The report was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.
Consumption of Grain.
The Senate, by a vote of 16 ayes to 20 noes, refused to take up and consider the ‘ "bill to prevent the consumption of grain by distilleries and other manufactories. "’
Message from the Governor.
The President read a message from the
Governor transmitting a communication from the
Governors of
Tennessee and
North Carolina, relative to the importance of certain military roads to the
Confederacy.
Read and ordered to be printed.
Purchase of arms.
On motion of
Mr. Robertson, the Senate went into secret session for the purpose of considering the provisions of a bill empowering the
Governor to buy small arms and cannon for the defence of the
State.
