General Assembly of Virginia.
Tuesday, March 17, 1863.
Senate.--The Senate assembled at 10 o'clock A. M. the Lieutenant Governor in the chair. The bill providing for voting in camps, and in other places, passed by the House of Delegates, was received in the Senate, read the third time, and laid upon the table.
Mr. Quesenberry introduced a resolution instructing the Committee on Salt to ascertain and report to the Senate on what terms the Salt Works in Washington and Smyth counties can be purchased. The resolution was agreed to.
The consideration of the Salt Contrast, entered into by the committee with Messrs. Scott & Co., was the next business in order; and the question was upon the substitution of the minority report of the committee, contracting with Col. John N. Clarkson for a supply of salt.
Mr. Coghill resumed his remarks on the question, commenced on Monday evening, and concluded, and was followed by Messrs. Collier and Johnson, the latter of whom took occasion to defend Messrs. Stuart, & Co. from some aspersions thrown upon them.
The speaking was continued by Messrs. Robert- son, Thompson, Early, and others, up to the hour of recess, 3 o'clock.
[The President, on Monday evening, on the eve of adjournment, laid before the Senate the resignation of John Robertson, Senator from Richmond city, which was, on motion of Mr. Johnson, laid on the table. The refusal of the Senate to receive and print in any form the protest of the Senator against the bill passed, to secure representation, &c., was the cause of his resignation, which is accompanied by a long communication on the course he saw fit to adopt, and requesting that the Legislature issue a will for an election to fill the vacancy.]
House of Delegates.--The House met at 11 o'clock. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Moore.
Senate bill allowing compensation to E. W. Canfield and C. D. Bragg, as instructors of artillery under Brigadier-General Carson, was taken up and passed — ayes 68, noes 4.
On motion of Mr. McDowell, of Wyoming, the hill confiscating the lands in this Commonwealth of all citizens of the United States, and transferring the same to loyal citizens who claim them under grants from the State Government was taken up, discussed, and finally laid upon the table.
Several other bills of minor importance were taken up and similarly disposed of.
The report of the Military Committee, to whom had been referred the subject of certain mal- treatment inflicted upon Cadet W. A. Daniel by the Cadets of the Virginia Military Institute, was taken up and discussed at considerable length. The first resolution reported by the committee, condemning the conduct of the perpetrators of the offence, was agreed to by the House.
Pending the consideration of the second resolution, at 3 o'clock the hammer fell, and the chair was vacated until 7½ P. M.
