House of Delegates.
Sundry bills passed by the Senate were referred to House committees: a bill was reported for changing the time of holding the Courts in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit: Senate bill incorporating the Southern Institution for the amelioration of the condition of the deaf, dumb and blind negroes of the Commonwealth, was passed; Senate bill refunding to Abner Anthony, Sr., taxes erroneously paid in to the Treasury, was referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr. Haymond presented the petition of Alpheus Wells for a divorce from his wife Sebra J. Wells, formerly Nance, of Monongahela county. Wells states ‘"that on the 8th of May, 1860, he was married to one Sebra J. Nance, of Monongahela county, Va.; that he discovered in a few hours after the marriage was solemnized that the party to whom he was married, from some unaccountable freak, was dissatisfied with her new relation in life, and only remained with him one day at his house, and left without any cause or provocation on the evening of the day she arrived."’ Mrs. W. afterwards repaired to Kansas and applied to the Territorial Legislature for a divorce. Mr. W. says he ‘"is a Virginian, and will not apply to any Territorial Legislature to declare the laws of the Old Dominion void, but comes to the Legislature of his native State and asks for a divorce a vinealo matrimoniŒ."’ From ‘"the extraordinary features of the case he hopes to obtain a divorce, and still maintain his own self-respect as a Virginian and a man."’ Referred to the Committee of Courts of Justice.
Mr. Bisbie presented the petition of sundry citizens of Norfolk city against the proposed repeal of the act amending the charter of the city of Norfolk, passed March 31, 1860. Also, the petition of Dixon Brown, praying release from double assessment on license tax.
Mr. Critchfield offered a resolution, inquiring into the expediency of authorizing the Auditor to allow Sheriffs who were delinquent in the payment of the revenue of their respective counties and cities on the 15th day of December last, their forfeited commissions; provided such Sheriffs shall have paid such delinquencies, as well as the entire amount of such counties and cities, on or before the 15th March, inst.
The bill concerning the Covington and Ohio Railroad, which had been made the order of the day, was, on motion, postponed till tomorrow.
The bill imposing taxes for the support of Government, coming up as the unfinished business of yesterday, was debated and amended.
The bill was discussed and amended in various ways. Pending debate Mr. Anderson moved to pass it by, for the purpose of submitting a motion for a recess until 7½ o'clock, his desire being at that time to urge on the House the speedy consideration of the bill concerning the sale of the James River and Kanawha Canal to the French. The House suspended the consideration of the bill, for the purpose mentioned, and the motion being submitted by Mr. Holloway, was lost.
On motion, adjourned.
