House of Delegates.
Thursday, Feb. 14, 1861.The House was called to order at 12 o'clock by the Speaker.
A communication from the Senate was read, announcing the passage of a number of Senate and House bills. The former were read by title, and appropriately referred. The House passed Senate bill for the protection of the fisheries on the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay, with amendments.
Bills Reported.--By Mr. Magruder, a bill amending and re-enacting an act entitled an act to incorporate the Planters' Savings Bank of Petersburg, passed March 15th, 1858; by Mr. Chapman, a bill to incorporate the Va, and Md. Railroad Co.; by Mr. Haymond, a bill providing for a bonus on Bank capital, and for the mode of paying the same into the Treasury; also a bill making appropriations for deficiencies in former appropriations, and for defraying expenses of the General Assembly and Convention now in session; by Mr. Bissell, from the Committee on Agriculture and Manufactures, Senate bill to incorporate the Amherst and Nelson Woolen Manufacturing Co., in the county of Nelson; also, Senate bill to incorporate the Southern Manufacturing Co.; also, a bill repealing the 21st section of chapter 87 of the Code of Virginia.
Meeting Hour Changed.--On motion of Mr. Christian,
Resolved, That hereafter this House will meet at 10 o'clock A. M., until otherwise ordered.
Mr. Christian moved that the rules be suspended, for the purpose of considering the foregoing resolution; on which motion Mr. Phelbs demanded the previous question, which call being sustained, the main question was put and decided in the affirmative.
On motion, the word "ten" was stricken out and "eleven" inserted, and the resolution, as amended, was adopted.
The Privileged Seats.--On motion of Mr. Robertson, of Richmond,
Resolved, That the members of the State Convention be invited to the privileged seats in the House while that body shall remain at the seat of government.
Carried.
Resolutions of Inquiry into Expediency.--By Mr. West, of allowing Jos. Gusman time to rebuild his mill on the west fork of the Monongalia river, destroyed by fire, in the county of Harrison; by Mr. Kaufman, of withdrawing from House files the petition of citizens of the Valley of Virginia, praying for a charter to extend the Potomac and Winchester Railroad from Winchester to Strasburg; by Mr. Magruder, of incorporating a Fire- Arms Manufacturing Company in Staunton; by Mr. Pritchard, of allowing the various regiments of Marion county to hold their fall training in their respective regimental districts; by Mr. Keen, of extending the time of the payment of the revenue by the Sheriffs, due March 15th; by Mr. Woolfolk, of authorizing Capt. H. A. McMullen, and others of Green county, to form a volunteer rifle company, the minimum number not to be less than thirty-five members; by Mr. Miller, of Lee, of refunding to the securities of John H. Allen, late Sheriff of Lee co., a certain amount of money paid by them into the Treasury; by Mr. Morgan, of refunding to Jas. W. Larue a sum of money paid by him on account of an erroneous assessment of his lands, made by the assessor of Clarke county; by Mr. Jett, of increasing the minimum rate of compensation to teachers of indigent children, to ten cents per day; by Mr. Ferrell, of releasing Wm. Anderson, Sheriff of Wetzel county, from certain fines; by Mr. Randolph, of reporting a bill for the relief of Chas. C. Davis, late Sheriff of Doddridge county; by Mr. Patterson, of allowing Joshua, a free person of color, to enslave himself to Robert Hutcheson, of Rockbridge county, without compensation; by Mr. Shannon, of reporting a bill to refund to V. S. Morgan, late Sheriff of Smyth county, a sum of money paid into the Treasury by him; by Mr. Edwards, of authorizing the County Courts to fix and regulate annually, the rates of ordinary keepers in the Commonwealth.
Petitions, &c.--The following documents were presented and referred: By Mr. Morris, the remonstrance of Thos. Moore and others against the repeal of the road law of Marshall county; by Mr. Wood, the petition of the Regimental Board of the 88th Regiment of Virginia Militia praying for a more perfect organization of the Militia of the State; by Mr. Crane, the petition of David Gaff and 125 citizens of Randolph county, praying that Senate bill No. 60 transferring the Huttonville and Huntersville Turnpike do not pass; by Mr. Morris, the remonstrance of David Phillips and others against the repeal of the road law of Marshall county.
Message from the Governor.--The Speaker presented a communication from the Governor of the Commonwealth, in response to a resolution adopted by the House on the 4th day of the present month, in regard to the sale of arms to Joseph R. Anderson & Co., which, on motion, was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. The document states that of the muskets sold to Anderson 8,000 have been delivered, leaving still in possession of the State 45,988.
General Business.--The Committee of Propositions and Grievances asked to be discharged from the further consideration of a resolution in regard to the alteration of the inspection laws in certain respects, and that the same be referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Manufactures.
Mr. Kemper, from the Committee on Military Affairs, presented an adverse report to a resolution to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the Wise Light Dragoons to arm with a less number than 50 regularly uniformed members.
Mr. Haymond, from the Finance Committee, presented an adverse report to a resolution of inquiry in regard to refunding to A. W. Deshazer a portion of license tax.
On motion of Mr. Boreman, the House adjourned.
