House of Delegates.
The House met at 12 o'clock M. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Duncan.Mr. Rutherfoord, from the Committee on Courts of Justice, reported the following bill:
‘ A bill to regulate proceedings under the 2d section of ordinance No. 70, entitled "An ordinance to prohibit citizens of Virginia from holding officer under the United States Government," proposed by the Convention of Virginia June 27, 1861.
Also, an adverse report as to the expediency of reporting a bill to prevent unnecessary consumption of grain in the manufacture of ardent spirits.
Also, an adverse report as to the expediency of providing by law for the trial of criminal cases by juries of a vicinage other than that in which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
’ Mr. Barbour from the Committee on Finance, reported the following bills:
‘ An act exempting from taxation the seal of Courts attached to papers or records for the recovery of the wages or other dues of decessed soldiers, and to refund the tax heretofore paid.
An act to amend section 27 of chapter 24 of the Code, (new edition,) providing for a clerk in the Adjutant General's office.
An act providing for the appointment of additional clerks in the office of the Auditor of Public Accounts.
A communication was read from the Attorney-General of the Common wealth in response to the request of the House of Delegates as to whether the law of "nations" would be violated by subjecting to military duty, persons bena fids domiciled in this State, who have not become citizens thereof. The Attorney-General, after citing the various legal decisions and opinions upon the subject, responds in the affirmative.
Mr. Grattan said he was requested to state that the members from Albemarie, Messrs. Minor and Anderson, were detained at home by illness.
Mr. Forsas also announced the illness of Mr. Payus, of Fauquier.
At half past 12 o'clock, the Straker announced the order of the day, which was the election of two Senators from the State of Virginia to the Congress of the Confederate States.
Mr. James moved that the election be postponed until the 12th of February. A reason
Why he wanted the election postponed was because the House had not fet decided upon the question of filling the vacant seats in this body from Western Virginia. He thought the voice of the whole of Virginia ought to be represented in the election.
Mr. Woodson also advocated the postponement of the election. He alluded to the fact that a number of members were absent from illness.
Mr. Buford thought there were sufficient indications that the House would not fill the vacancies from Western Virginia, and, therefore, it was useless to postpone this matter for the purpose indicated. He hoped the election would be disposed of at once. The House had much important business before it, and ought not to be distracted longer by a matter of this character.
Mr. Bucks called the ayes and noes. The question of postponement was decided in the negative by a vote of ayes 27, noes 88.
The Spraker announced that nominations for a Senator to fill the first vacancy were in order.
Mr. Wilbon, of Isle of Wight, nominated James Barbour, of Culpeper.
Mr. Crockett nominated William Ballard Preston, of Mongomery.
Mr. Newton nominated Robert M. T. Hunter.
At the suggestion of Mr. Robertson, of Richmond, Mr. Crockett withdrew the name of Mr. Preston for the present.
Mr. Staples nominated Wm. C. Rives.
Mr. Vaden explained that he had intended to support Mr. Tyler for the Senatorship. He now seconded the nomination of Mr. Rives.
Mr. Forees re-nominated William Ballard Preston.
Here a message was received from the Senate that it had agreed to a joint resolution to postpone the election of Senators to the 15th of February.
The postponement was strenuously opposed by Messrs. Mallory and Rives, and advocated by Messrs.Green and Collier.
The Senate's resolution to postpone was rejected by a vote of ayes 25, noes 90.
Mr. Sheffey was dispatched to the Senate with the information that the House refused to concur in the joint resolution to postpone.
Here an interval of an hour and a half transpired, the House waiting for the Senate to take action, during which several desperate attempts were made to procure an adjournment or a recess, in order to get dinner, but all of which were unsuccessful.
At five minutes before 5 o'clock a message was received from the Senate that it had voteed to postpone the election of Senators until to-morrow.
The House refused to concur in the postponement by a vote of ayes 46, noes 57.
Mr. Tomlin was directed to bear the result to the Senate.
A third message was received from the Senate, that it insisted, upon the postponement.
The House again refused to cencur with the Senate in postponing, by a vote of ayes 48, noes 59.
Mr. Buford moved an adjournment until 7.30 P. M., but the House refused to adjourn.
After another long pause a fourth message was received from the Senate, asking for a joint committee of conference, and appointing three members of the committee on the part of the Senate.
On motion of Mr. Shefeny, the House agreed to the joint committee of conference, and the Speaker appointed the following committee on the part of the House: Messrs. Sheffey, Rutherfoord, Jones, Thomas, and Wilson, of Isle of Wight.
At ten minutes past six o'clock the committee appointed by the House to confer with the Senate committee made a report that the joint committee had been unable to agree upon any terms further than a postponement of the execution of the order of the day until to-morrow, (Thursday,) at 12½ o'clock P. M.
The report of the committee was agreed to, and the House then adjourned.
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