rd, then hesitate, and finally get under cover of the stockades, and keep up a fearful fire.--Some hundreds of them got under the Cawnpors battery, but found the hand-grenades rather disagreeable, and had to bolt rather sharp.
Poor Major Banks came up and cheered us during the hottest fire, and we were glad to see him. Our shells now began to fall amongst the enemy, and this still further roused their indignation; you could hear additional yells and horrid imprecations on the heads of all Christian.
No less than three times were we assaulted by enormous odds against us and each attack was, thank God, successfully repulsed.
There we were, a little body, probably not more than eighty men in all, (that is, Cawnpore battery, our post, and Captain German's,) opposed to several thousand of merciless, blood-thirsty fanatics.
We well knew what we had to expect if we were defeated; and therefore each individual fought, as it were for his very life; each loop-hols displayed a steady flash o
of the Commonwealth.
By Mr. Frazier--Of cancelling the contracts made by the Governor of this Commonwealth with Jos. R. Anderson & Co, and with other owners and lessees of iron-works, for the hire of negro convicts in the Penitentiary to be used as laborers at such works, and of adopting such further legislation as may be necessary for turning over said convicts and all other negro convicts to the Confederate States, upon terms to be mutually agreed upon between the two Governments.
By Mr. Christian, of Augusta — As to what legislation may be requisite for the relief of the railroads of the State, in respect to procuring labor.
By Mr. Armstrong--Of making provision for the support of families of soldiers within the lines of the enemy.
By Mr. Garnett--Of amending the act authorizing the Governor to organize and call out certain military forces for the defence of the State, so as to exempt the population residing within one mile of the corporate limits of the city of Richmond, on t
ny, and laid over under the rules:
Resolved, That so much of the 2d section of the act of the General Assembly passed October 1st, 1862, exempting members of the General Assembly from the performance of military service, be, and the same is hereby repealed.
The bill to outlaw deserters, was taken up, and the debate upon it renewed.
It was finally ordered to its engrossment.
The bill to punish the harboring of deserters, was taken up, and passed by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Christian, of Augusta, from the Committee on Banks, reported a bill with reference to the necessity of further legislation to require Banks to receive Confederate notes; and submitted a resolution adopted by the Banks of the city to receive all the issues of the Confederate Treasury as currency.
In the House, Mr. Bouldin, from the Committee on Finance, reported a bill to prohibit auction sales in certain cases.
The bill provides that until a ratification of a treaty of peace between the Conf
the 8th section of chapter 58 of the Code, so as to compel the banks of the State to receive Confederate notes on deposit.
The following resolution of inquiry was submitted: By Mr. Coghill: Of reporting a bill providing that all contracts hereafter made shall be deemed to be payable in Confederate currency, unless otherwise stipulated.
The bill to outlaw deserters from the military service of the Confederate States was read a third time, when an unsuccessful motion was made by Mr. Christian, of Augusta, to lay it on the table.
The question then came up on the passage of the bill, when it was defeated by the following vote — ayes 19, noes 24.
On motion of Mr. Day the vote was reconsidered and the bill was laid on the table.
In the House, Mr. Boulding, from the Committee on Finance, in response to a resolution of inquiry, reported it inexpedient to exempt persons from license tax who distil ardent spirits from sorghum or molasses cane.
Mr. Rutherfoord, from th
The Legislature.
--In the Senate, yesterday, Mr. Dickinson, from the Committee on Finance, reported a bill amending and re-enacting an act concerning the sinking fund, passed March 27, 1863-- which was taken up, read the first, and ordered to be read the second time.
Mr. Christian, of Augusta, offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee for Courts of Justice inquire into the expediency of authorizing a sale of free negro convicts in the Penitentiary.
In the House, the bill to amend the 11th section of the act passed March 30, 1863, for the production and distribution of salt, with Senate amendments, was taken up, and the several amendments of the Senate concurred in.
Mr. Bouldin, from the Committee on Finance, reported back joint resolution to authorize the Second Auditor to receive the sum of $1,000,000 from the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, with a recommendation that it pass.
He reported adversely upon a resolution inquiring into the
The Legislature.
--From the Committee of Finance a bill was reported for ascertaining the value of property in real estate sold since the first day of July, 1861, and to tax the same upon such valuation.
Also, a bill to provide for the payment of certain claims against the Eastern Lunatic Asylum.
Mr. Christian, of Augusta, from the Committee on Banks, rendered an adverse report as to the expediency of compelling banks to receive deposits.
A substitute was reported from the Committee on Finance for the bill to increase the salaries of certain officers of the Government.
Mr. Randolph presented a memorial from the mechanics and working men of the city of Richmond, which had been handed him by the committee appointed by the meeting held at the City Hall on Saturday evening last.
The memorial is signed by the committee appointed at the meeting.
Mr. Randolph also presented a petition from certain citizens of Richmond whose property was destroyed and carried off b
Revivals.
--For several weeks past protracted religious meetings have been held in Chesterfield county, and large numbers of persons have professed conversion.
At Skinquarter the Rev. Mr. Winfree has been preaching daily to large congregations.
At Union Station, in this city, Rev. Mr. Christian, the Pastor, is holding a protracted meeting, the Church being crowded nightly.
Among the new converts and mourners are scores of soldiers from the adjoining camps and hospitals.
No Louisianian will assist in the work.
Pause, then, we implore you, we supplicate you, we earnestly pray and beseech you, before a fraud and a crime that will shock the sensibilities of the world be perpetrated under color of or by your authority.
Leave this people alone.
They are ruined in property; they are bankrupt in hope; none except its comments of office or parties favored by your officials can obtain bread for his children.
Pause, then, in mercy to them and to our country, unhappily torn, distracted, and divided, and, if possible, admit them, as they ought to be admitted, back again to their proper place in the federation which by popular sanction they had never vacated.
A wise opposition at the North could have rendered such ruinous schemes of faction impossible even of conception.
If, under the coercion of Federal bayonets, the results we deprecate and deplore are reached, fare-well forever to the hope of the patriot and the object of the prayers of every Christian.
ischarged from the further consideration of a resolution of inquiry in regard to amending the act of 1862 entitled an act further to provide for the public defence, so as to provide some mode of granting exemptions in certain cases, a bill having been reported on the subject.
The following resolutions of inquiry were submitted: By Mr. Newman, of Mason: Of preventing by law during the existing war the killing of sheep, of calves under one year old, or of pigs under six months old. By Mr. Christian, of Augusta: Of further legislation to prevent the crime of horse stealing.
By Mr. Quesenberry: Of inquiring upon what terms, and by what authority, Confederate cadets are received into the Virginia Military Institute.
The order of the day — the bill to regulate prices — was taken up, and Mr. Collier offered a substitute for the original bill.
The substitute contemplates only the regulation of the price of cotton and woollen fabrics manufactured in this State, and of breadstuffs.
The Legislature.
--In the Senate, Mr. Randolph, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill to arm and equip the militia.
The following resolutions of inquiry were offered: By Mr. Christian--Of amending the 9th section of chapter 63, Code of 1860, so as to relieve mill owners whose mills have been destroyed by the public enemy from the operations of said section.
The bill to regulate prices being the order of the day, was taken up and continued under consideration.
In the House, the Senate's amendments to the House bill amending the fence law were taken up for consideration.
On motion of Mr. English the amendment striking out the word Henrico was disagreed to.
A report was submitted from the Committee on Roads, by Mr. Burwell, of Senate bill, without amendment, requiring railroad companies to furnish transportation without demanding prepayment; and also a bill authorizing the James River and Kanawha Canal company, and other companies of inter
