General Assembly of Virginia.
Senate. Thursday, March 27th, 1862.
The Senate was called to order at 10 o'clock A. M. the
President in the chair.
Prayer by Rev
Mr. Loggett, of the
M. E. Church.
A communication was received from the House of Delegates, announcing the passage of sundry bills.
On motion of
Mr. Johnston. the hour of meeting was changed from 10 to 11 o'clock A. M.
Mr. Whittle called up a joint resolution, instructing our
Senators and Representatives in Congress to use their best endeavors to procure the passage of such laws as will confirm the assurances given by ordinances of the
Convention to
Virginians in the army and navy of the
United States at the beginning of the present difficulties.
The resolution was taken up and adopted.
Mr. Collier called up a joint resolution, instructing our
Senators and Representatives in Congress to rectify the inequality of
Virginia's contribution of men and means to the existing war. The resolution was taken up, and, on motion of
Mr. Collier, it was laid on the table.
Bills reported.
A bill providing for the reorganization of Boards of Exemption.
Bills passed.
Bill incorporating the
York River Navigation Company.
Amending and re-enacting an ordinance of the
Convention concerning Adjutants of Regiments, (giving Adjutants the rank of
1st Lieutenant, and the pay of Adjutants in the Confederate Army.) Authorizing the
Auditor to settle the claim of the
State against the sureties of
John A. M. Lusk, late
Sheriff of
Rockbridge.
Bill to suspend sales and legal proceedings in certain cases, and to repeal an ordinance of the
Convention "to provide against the sacrifice of property, and to suspend proceedings in certain cases," passed April 30th, 1861 (the
Stay Law) [This bill differs from the ordinance of the
Convention, in that it authorizes trials by juries of actions-of detinue, and unlawful entry, entry and detainer, and in contests about wills; and provides for sales under decrees of Courts of estates of decedents for distribution; authorizes, also, the trial of suits, when a security gives notice to the creditor to institute suits, and provides for the collection of the annual interest on debted Bill to carry into effect a contract with the leases of the
Washington and smythe Salt Works for the purchase of salt; (provides for the purchase and equitable distribution of 400,000 bushels of salt, the same to he distributed by agents appointed by the
Governor at a maximum salary of $800 per annum.) Bill to provide for the currency of notes of a less denomination than five dollars (This bill gives authority to the several
Banks of circulation in the
Commonwealth to issue notes of less denomination than five dollars and not less than one dollar, to an amount not exceeding ten per cent. of their capital, and any Bank falling to issue such notes shall pay sums less than five dollars in specie, and authorizes the city of
Richmond to issue notes of less denomination than one dollar, to an amount note exceeding five hundred thousand dollars; and the other cities and towns containing a population of two thousand, and the towns of
Leesburg,
Lewisburg, and
Warrenton, to double the amount of State tax assessed in any one year on the real and personal property of such cities and towns.] Bill incorporating the Savings Bank for small earnings in the city of
Richmond.
Bill amending an act incorporating the
Thorn Rose Cemetery, at Staunton Bill releasing a lien to the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad Company Bill for the relief of
Robertson Cook, of
Wyoming county.
Bill paying to
John Kelley, surviving partner of
Kelly & Largny, the amount of a judgment of the Circuit Court of the city of
Richmond against the Board of Public Works.
Bill incorporating the
Fredericksburg Insurance Company.
Bill for the relief of
Archibald M. Drew, of Prince Edward.
Bill amending the charter of the town of
Union, in Monroe county.
Bill incorporating the
Victoria Mining and Manufacturing Company, of Louise.
The hour of 8 o'clock having arrived, the chair was vacated till 7½ o'clock.
Evening session.
The Senate was called to order at 8 o'clock P. M.
On motion of
Mr. Johnson, the vote by which the resolution allowing
C. W. Purcell & Co., and
R. R. Maury & Co., to convert certain compose held by them into the registered debt of the
State, was defeated, was reconsidered, and on motion of
Mr. Johnston, the resolution was laid on the table.
A number of bills were passed to their engrossment and third reading, when, on motion, the Senate adjourned.
