Virginia Legislature.
Senate.
Mr. Newman introduced a resolution that, to-morrow, and every day thereafter, the Senate will meet at eleven o'clock, Motion lost by a small majority.
Bills were reported from standing committees to provide a medal of distinction to such volunteers as that re-enlist in the service of the Confederate States;
To authorize the auditing and payment of certain claims for horses impressed into the public service;
Also, Senate bill No. 17, to authorize payment for horses taken by the enemy, or taken from the owners by impressment for the public service.
Mr. Anderson, presented the minority report of himself and others, of the joint committee appointed to correspond with the lessess of the Salt Works; which report recommended the purchase by the State of the said Salt Works.
The following resolutions of enquiry were adopted:
By Mr. Whittle, of amending the Code of 1861, so as to authorize the survey or of county roads to furnish working animals and tools, instead of hands.
Laid on the table.
The House bill, to reduce into slavery, emancipated slaves who have forfeited their freedom, by remaining in the Common wealth more than twelve months after they become free. The said bill having been on the 17th reported with a recommendation that the same be rejected, it was now, upon motion, laid upon the table.The following bills, being on their third reading, were passed:
Senate bill to enforce payment of balances due from Commissioners of forfeited and delinquent lands.
House bill to return to John Washington, a slave, who was convicted of grand larceny.
House bill amending and re-enacting section 12, chap. 77, of the Code of Virginia, so as to read, that "church trustees shall not take or hold at any one time; more than two acres of land in an incorporated town, nor more than 100 acres, exclusive of the church and burying grounds, out of such town.
House bill to authorize the establishment of a military school, as a part of the instruction of Randolph Macon College.
Bill rejected.
A Senate bill allowing compensation to John Critcher for his services in the prosecution of Samuel Hubbard, in the Circuit Court of Westmoreland county, was, after some discussion, rejected for the want of a constitutional majority — year 24, nays 21.On motion. the vote was then reconsidered, and the bill laid upon the table.
The Senate bill, authorizing any Clerk in the Treasurer's office, appointed for the purpose, to sign said notes, was passed, after an amendment, made in relation to the salary of the Clerk.
The Confederate Senate.
The joint order in relation to the election of the Confederate Senators was taken up, and Mr. Newlon moved that the execution of the said order be postponed until the 15th of February next.Upon the motion to postpone an animated debate arose, in which Messrs. Newlon, Taliaferro, Collier, Thomas of Fairfax, Christian of Augusta, Robertson, and Day, participated, in favor of the postponement, and Messrs.Coghill, Pennybacker, Dolglass, Isbell, Newman, and Alderson, against it.
Upon the motion being put, it was decided in the affirmative--25 ayes to 21 days--as follows:
Airs--Messrs. Armstrong, Ball, Brannon, Carraway, B. Christian, Coliter, Day, J. Dickenson, Early, Frazier, Greever, Hart, Marshall, Massrs, McKenney, Neeson, Newlon, Newman, Pate, Robertson, Taliaferro, H. W. Thomas, C. Thomas, Whittle, and Wittten--25.
Noks--Messrs. Alderson, Bales, Branch, Brace, J. Christian, Coghill, A. D. Dickinson, Douglass Finney, Garnett, Harvey, Isbell, Johnson, Logan, Lynch, Nash, Pennybacker, Quesenberry, Thompson, Urquhart, and Wiley--21.
The Senate took a brief recess to allow time for the communication of the above resolution to the House of Delegates. At the conclusion of which,
The bill reported by the Committee of Finance and Claims, for the compensation of Geo. Duffey, late Commissioner of the Revenue for the city and county of Alexandria, for services performed, was taken from the calendar and passed.
A message was received from the House of Delegates, announcing that the House refused to concur with the Senate in the postponement of the execution of the joint order in relation to the election of Confederate Senators.
Mr. Thompson moved to recede from the resolution of the Senate. While the motion was under discussion, a message was received from the House, announcing that the House was ready, on its part, to go into the election of Senators for the Confederate Congress, and that James Barbour, R. M. T. Hunter, Wm. C. Rives, and Wm. Ballard Preston, are candidates for one of the vacancies.
The discussion was then continued upon the motion to recede, when the question was put, and was decided in the affirmative, ayes 30 and nays 16.
Mr. Deuglass offered a resolution that the Senate will proceed now to join the House in the election of a Senator from Western Virginia, in the place of the late Senator in the United States Congress, whose place would have first become vacant.
This resolution became the subject of various amendments, bearing upon the question of usage, in relation to the election of Senators from the eastern, and western divisions of the State, several of the Senators preferring to recognize the distinction, in terms, in the resolution, and others desiring to discard it altogether, contending that the Senate ought not, by its resolution, to make a rule of action.
Upon motion, the previous question was put and carried, and the resolution of the House was adopted.
Mr. Pennybacker nominated John Randolph Tucker, of Richmond city.
Mr. Early nominated James Barbour, of Culpeper.
Mr. Douglass nominated William Ballard Preston, of Montgomery county; which was warmly seconded by Mr. Johnson.
On motion, the Senate resolved to postpone the execution of the order of election, with the concurrence of the House, and make it the order of the day for to-morrow at half-past 12 o'clock.
A message was thereupon sent to the House communicating the above resolution of postponement.
A message was soon after received from the House, refusing to concur in the above resolution; whereupon the Senate, by a large majority, voted to insist; which being communicated to the House, a message was returned by the House that it adhered to its refusal.
Mr. Coghill moved to appoint a committee of conference; and thereupon Messrs. Coghill, Douglass, and Thomas, of Fairfax, were appointed such committee, to confer with a committee on the part of the House, on the subject of disagreement.
The committee of conference reported that the joint committee being unable to agree on the subject referred to them, recommending the postponement of their final report until half-past 12 o'clock tomorrow, in which recommendation the Senate concurred. A message being then received from the House, that that body also consented to the recommendation of the committee, the Senate, at half-past 6 o'clock, adjourned.
