General Assembly of Virginia.
Tuesday, March 3, 1863.Senate.--The Senate met at 11 o'clock A. M., the President of the bed, Mr. Montague, in the chair.
The Chair announced in a preliminary remark that Messrs Collier and McKenner, the Senators from Petersburg and Accomac, were absent by reason of personal indisposition.
A communication was received from the House announcing the passage of certain Senate bills, with amendments, which were concurred in by the Senate.
The act to incorporate the Farmville Insurance Company (a Senate bill passed by the Senate and reported to the House) was reported back with amendments, which were concurred in, and the bill passed finally.
The bill to provide representation in the General Assembly for districts in possession of the enemy coming up as the unfinished business of Saturday, Mr. Robertson having the floor spoke at some length, and was replied to in just terms in support of the bill by Mr. Nesson, of Mason.
The latter gentleman was in favor of awarding representation to all the counties of the Commonwealth, whether they be held by the public enemy or not.
Mr. Christian, of Augusta, offered a substitute for the bill under consideration, and on his motion the vote by which the original bill was ordered to its engrossment was reconsidered, and his substitute submitted.
Mr. Robertson moved that the bill and substitute be laid upon the table, and pirated and made the order of the day for Wednesday at 11 o'clock.
The Senate refused to lay on the table, and the substitute was reported. The substitute provides that the members holding seats shall hold over after their terms have expired, in counties and districts in possession of the enemy, until such time as the Governor shall appoint new elections, after the removal of the power of the public enemy.--The substitutes was ordered to its engrossment.
Mr. Christian moved that the rules be suspended and the bill put upon its passage, which failed, and the bill laid upon the table.
The tobacco bill was called up, and made the order of the day for 12 o'clock Wednesday.
Mr. Lynch Offered the following. And act providing for, and regulating the salary of, the third Clerk of the Treasurer's Department. Referred to the Committee on Finance.
The bill to prescribe prosecution and punishment of civilians for certain offences against the discipline and efficiency of the Confederate military forces was taken up, read the third time, and tabled.
A number of bills were taken up and ordered to their engrossment.
At 3 o'clock the Senate adjourned.
House of Delegates--The House met at 11 o'clock. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Woodbridge, of the Episcopal Church.
The House concurred in Senate amendments to bill increasing the loss of tobacco inspectors.
Mr.--, from the Committee on the Penitentiary, reported a bill increasing the compensation of the guard at that institution; also, a bill appropriating — dollars for arming the interior guard of the institution.
Mr. Euford, from the committee to whom the matter was referred, reported a bill changing the 1st section of chapter 7th of the Code, so as to postpone the time of holding elections for members of Congress. Read a second time and referred.
Mr. Anderson called up the unfinished business of yesterday, being the resolution of Mr. Magruder relative to leave being given to report a bill amendatory of the act passed February 28th, transferring the State Line to the Confederate Government.--Leave was granted and a special committee appointed for the purpose.
Mr. Hopkins submitted a resolution providing that hereafter, during the session, the House will take a recess from 3 to 7½ P. M. Objection being made, the resolution lies over.
Mr. Magruder, from the special committee just appointed on the transfer of he State Line, submitted a report, which was amended and discussed at some length; finally,
On motion of Mr. Anderson the special committee for the consideration of the bill was discharged, and the whole subject referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
The order of the day, the Senate amendments to the bill authorizing fiduciaries to invest funds in their hands in certain cases, was taken up.
Mr. Bass moved its indefinite postponement, which was not agreed to.
The Senate amendments were then concurred in, except the third, and the bill recommunicated to the Senate.
On motion of Mr. Grattan, the bill amending the charter of the Bank of Rockingham was taken up and passed.
Mr. Noland submitted a resolution authorizing the Committee on Courts of Justice to inquire what further legislation is necessary to prohibit the unnecessary distillation of grain into ardent spirits, and report to this house at the earliest moment.
Mr. Noland sustained his resolution in a few remarks showing the necessity for prompt action on the subject. From information in his possession, parties in the counties of Culpeper, Madison, and Rappehannock had secured contracts from the Medical Purveyor in Richmond to furnish spirits for the benefit of the army, and afterwards sub let, their contracts to other parties, who were using them for the purpose of evading the law of Virginia, and that an agent recently sent into these localities to buy grain for the Government found that the supplies had been bought up by these distillers, they paying in some instances as high as $25 per barrel for corn.
Mr. Robinson, of Berkeley, moved to amend the resolution by instructing the committee to further inquire whether there is any constitutional authority for the restriction.
The amendment was rejected and the original resolution agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Bass, the bill authorizing the Court of Appeals to hold its sessions elsewhere than at Lewisburg was taken up and passed.
In reply to a resolution passed by the House some days ago, a communication was received from the Governor, with papers and affidavits relative to the condition of the beef salted at Saltville, showing that the same is in good condition, and was sold to the Confederate States officer at a profit upon its first cost.
Another communication was received from the Governor, enclosing additional muster-rolls in the State.
The messages and accompanying documents were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
On motion of Mr. Prince, the bill heretofore laid upon the table relative to binding out free negroes, was called up, and, on motion of Mr. Hopkins, was indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Mr. Evans, the House adjourned.
