The Legislature.
In the
Senate, a bill authorizing the payment of the fees of
Commissioners of the Revenue in certain cases by the
Auditor of Public Accounts, was adopted.
On motion of
Mr. Christian, of
Augusta, a bill to amend the charter of the Bank of Rockbridge was taken up and passed.
The report of the committee of conference on the bill to reorganize the militia of the
Commonwealth was then taken up, the question being upon agreeing to the report of said committee.
On the final vote the bill was lost, on account of the want of a constitutional majority.
The vote stood — ayes 23, noes 11.
The report of the committee of conference on the bill for the relief of soldiers and sailors, and their families, &c., which recommended that the Senate recede from its amendment thereto, was agreed to.
A bill was also passed providing for the enrollment of free negroes, to be employed in the
Confederate service.
In the
House, the Senate bill to authorize the county of
Washington to dispense with the law of enclosures was advanced to its third reading and then passed.
The report of the
Committee on Salt, in respect to the interruption of transportation for salt belonging to the
State of Georgia from the
Virginia salt works, set forth by the
Governor of that State, was taken up. Accompanying the report was a series of resolutions, giving preference in transportation for salt to the authorities of the several States over private purchasers and speculators.
The resolutions were agreed to.
Mr. Brooke, from the Committee of Courts of Justice, reported a bill authorizing the settlement, in certain cases, of fiduciaries' accounts before commissioners in chancery for other courts than those in which such fiduciaries have been appointed or in which the instruments creating their authority have been recorded.
From the
Committee on Confederate Relations,
Mr. Robertson submitted a report on the communication of the
Secretary of War, of the 24th inst. The report was accompanied by several resolutions, which, with the report, were laid over under the rule.
Mr. Pendleton presented a resolution to authorize the publication of 1,000 copies of the acts of a public character passed at the present session.
Mr. Haymond, of
Marion, presented a communication from
Colin Bass,
Superintendent of the Penitentiary, directed to the
Governor, and by him endorsed for some action.
After being read the communication was laid on the table.
The bill to prevent the unnecessary consumption of grain, sorghum, &c., by distillation, was taken up, on its third reading, and passed.
The bill authorizing the Confederate Government to acquire and hold property in the
State for the purpose of mining and manufacturing iron and other metals, was taken up. A most interesting discussion sprung up on a motion made by
Mr. Pendleton to indefinitely postpone the bill.
At the conclusion of this discussion the ayes and noes were called on the motion, with the following result: Ayes 30, noes 56.
The bill was then advanced to a third reading and passed.
The
House then took up the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing vote of the two Houses on the bill for the relief of indigent soldiers and sailors, &c. On agreeing to the report of the committee the vote was taken by ayes and noes, and resulted: Ayes $2, noes none.
