President's message.--General Grant's report.
In our telegraphic columns of yesterday was a very brief synopsis of
President Johnson's message to the Senate, and
General Grant's report to the
President, both relative to the condition of the
Southern States.
In view of the great importance attached to these documents, we publish them this morning in full needs it sorely.
House bill entitled a bill for the compensation of
John H. Allen was read twice and referred to the
Committee on
General Laws.--Subsequently taken up and passed.
Mr. offered a joint resolution to request the
Governor to represent to the Post-master-General of the
United States the present condition of the mail facilities in this State--that many of the members of this General Assembly are without the means of communicating with their families and constituents — and that the public and private interest demands the speedy restoration of the and urge him to consideration and relief to us in the matter.
Passed.
Leaves of absence were granted to
Messrs. Galt,
Carter,
Delaney,
Davis and
Washington.
Mr. Cabell offered a resolution that the Committee of Courts of Justice be instructed to inquire into the expediency of repealing chapter, thirteen of the act of the Assembly passed January 29. 1864, or so modifying it as to prevent parties interested in a suit of law or equity from testifying in their own cases except upon interrogatories legally propounded by the adverse parties, and report thereon by bill or otherwise.
Agreed to.
An act relating to the
Manchester Cotton and Wool Manufactory, extending its charter, was read a third time and passed.
On motion of
Mr. Taliaferro, a bill authorising
J. M. Fauntleroy to establish a ferry across the
Mattaponi was taken up, read a third time and passed.
Mr. Dulaney, of
Fairfax, reported from a select committee a preamble and resolutions in reference to the release of
Jefferson Davis and the other political prisoners, and the restoration of the writ of
habeas corpus
They were passed by the Senate and communicated to the House of Delegates.
Mr. Keene offered a resolution that a committee of three be appointed to bring in a bill amending the stay law passed on December 19th. Passed.
A bill was brought in by the committee amending the act so as not to affect debts due since 2d of April, 1865. Read a third time and passed.
Mr. Robinson, of
Norfolk, introduced a bill authorising the purchase of arms and equipments for the State Guard.
It was read a third time and passed unanimously.
Mr. Lee, of
Orange, reported from committee appointed to confer with
Colonel Brown, of the Freedmen is Bureau, that, in a consultation with
General Terry and
Colonel Brown, they received assurances that the most rigorous measures have been taken to preserve the peace and afford ample protection to the citizens.
The committee have considered the removal of the negroes from the city of
Williamsburg and the counties of
York,
Warwick,
Elizabeth City, and the county of
Carroll, and believe the object can be obtained by the same bills now under consideration in the General Assembly.
On motion of
Mr. Gilmer, a memorial from the
James River and Kanawha Canal Company was ordered to be printed.
House bill authorizing the York River Railroad Company to borrow money was passed almost unanimously.
The Senate adjourned.
House of Delegates.
The
House met at the usual hour.
Prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Taylor.
Public arms.
Senate bill authorizing the collection of public arms was read a first and second times.
Subsequently taken up and passed.
State specie.
Mr. Joynes, from the
Committee on Courts of Justice, to whom was referred
House resolution relative to the report made to the
Governor by.
J. M. Bennett, late
Auditor of Public Accounts, made a report concerning the specie ($21,000) borrowed by the
State from the Bank of the Commonwealth in March, 1865.--The facts connected with the money in question and its subsequent disposal have already been laid before the public.]
The Committee gave as their opinion that this money cannot be recovered by the
State because the
State has no title to it. The bonds upon which the money was borrowed cannot be constitutionally paid, and the bank would lose the money should it be recovered.
From the fact that the loan was a compulsory one, the
State could not, consistently with her dignity and honor, consent to such a result.--Should the bank think proper to assert its claims, the matter will be proper for judicial investigation.
On motion of
Mr. Grattan the report was laid upon the table.
Books stolen from the Library.
Mr. Watkins, from the
Committee on the State Library, made a report, from which it appears that at least fifteen hundred volumes were stolen from the State Library during and just after the evacuation of this city.
Bills and resolutions passed.
The following bills and resolutions were passed:
Senate joint resolution that the
Governor represent to the
Postmaster-General the condition of the mails in
Virginia, and ask relief.
Senate bill to authorize the
Governor to purchase arms, &c., for the Public Guard.
Senate bill authorizing the overseers of the poor of
New Kent county to sell wood from the poor-house land.
Senate joint resolution relative to
Jefferson Davis and other political prisoners, and restoration of the
habeas corpus; and tion , by
Mr. Joynes, the
Government quested to transmit a
President of the
Also,
"Section 2.
If any execution shall have been levied before the passage of this act, the property levied on shall be restored to the defendant, but shall remain subject to the lien of the execution aforesaid; but nothing in this act contained shall be construed to apply to any case of debt or contract arising subsequent to the 2d day of April, 1865."
Freedmen, &c.
The select committee appointed to confer with
Colonel Broom, of the
Freedmen's Bureau, reported that they had a consultation with both
Colonel Brown and
General Terry, commanding the Department of Virginia, and have received assurances that the most vigorous measures have been taken to preserve the peace and afford ample protection to the citizens.
Relative to the removal of negroes from
Williamsburg and thereabouts, and
Caroline county, the committee believe the objects can be obtained by the bills now before the General Assembly.
General stay law.
On motion of
Mr. Lee, the general stay law, the same being the order of the day, was postponed till the 6th of January at 1 o'clock.
Petition of General R. E. Lee, President of Washington College.
A memorial was received from
General R. E. Lee,
President of Washington College, asking, in aid of the establishment of five additional professorships in that institution, viz: Practical Chemistry, Experimental Philosophy and Practical Mechanics, Applied Mathematics, and History and Literature, the grant of an annual appropriation of $6,000 out of the income of the
Land Fund.
Referred to the
Committee on Schools and Colleges.
After disposing of a considerable amount of business of no general importance or interest, the
House adjourned.
