General Assembly of Virginia.
The House of Delegate resolutions transferring the prisoners captured by the State Line to the Confederate Government, except such held as hostages were received from that body and laid upon the table. The act to extend the line within which to institute proceedings for misdemeanors in counties, office and town in possession of or threatened by the public enemy, was received from the House taken up and passed.
On motion, the vote by which the bill to incorporate the Old Dominion Landing Company of Richmond, was lost, was reconsidered, and the bill referred to a special committee of three, consisting of three members of the Senate, Messrs. Coghill, Frazier and Carson.
A communication was received from the Executive officially communicating the death of Charles Blue, Superintendent of the Penitentiary, and warning the General Assembly that an election to fill the vacancy would be necessary before adjournment. Thereupon.
Mr. Newton offered a joint resolution to the effect that the General assembly would enter into an election for the above purpose on Tuesday, the 24th inst., which was adopted and reported to the Home, the rules requiring joint resolutions to lie over being suspended.
Mr. Christian, of Augusta from the Committee on Banks reported a bill authorizing the Banks of the commonwealth, doing the existing war, to convert Confederate Treasury notes in their possession into other securities of the Confederate States.
The salt resolutions, looking to a supply of salt, were communicated to the House by Mr. Johnson.
The bill to provide for voting in camps by soldiers, and by refugees away from their respective voting places was taken up as the unfinished business, and discussed at some length.
A motion to postpone the bill indefinitely was lost.
Mr. Newton moved the previous question — that the bill be read a third time, in order to put it upon its passage.
Mr. Douglass moved the recommittal of the bill to its committee, but the bill being put upon its passage was passed by a constitutional majority of a three fifth vote. The bill and amendments were sent to the House.
At 1 o'clock P M. the Senate went into secret session on an important message from the Governor.
The doors being opened the bill to increase the pay or the members and officers of the General Assembly was taken up, discussed and tabled again.
The General Appropriation bill was received from the House, and taken up in the Senate, and made the order of the day for the evening session.
Bills Passed--The bill increasing the compensation of of County Courts. The bill authorizing the Bank of the Commonwealth, during the existing war, to convert Confederate notes in their possession into other obligations of the Confederate States. A deal of business was reported from the House, and at 3½ o'clock the Senate took a recess until 8 o'clock in the evening.
[Before adjournment the Chair announced the committee on a supply of salt on the part of the Senate to consist of Messrs. Douglas, Coghill and Johnson.]
House of Delegates.--The House met at 11 o'clock. Prayer by St. Rev. Bishop Early.
The Senate resolution relative to furnishing the State with a supply of salt, was taken up, and upon which a lengthy discussion ensued.
Mr. Tomlinson submitted a substitute which was agreed to, providing for the appointment of a joint committee of the two Houses whose duty it shall be to confer with the proprietors of the Washington and Smyth county Salt Works, and ascertain whether and upon what terms the said works can be purchased by the State; but in the event a purchase cannot be effected upon terms satisfactory to the committee then to report a bill providing for the impressment of the same.
Mr. Flood submitted the following which was agreed to.
Whereas large portions of the population of the Confederate States have been withdrawn from their ordinary pursuits and the industry and enterprise of the country to a considerable extent paralyzed by the existing war; and, whereas, it may be inconvenient as such as time for many of our citizens to pay taxes which the Confederate Government may deem it propel to levy:
Resolved by the General Assembly, That the Senators and Representatives in Congress from Virginia are hereby requested to urge the adoption by Congress of each legislation very pay their fair proportion of any tax which may be levied by Congress for the present year.
Mr. Anderson, of Botetourt, moved that this House for the remainder of the session, meet at 10 o'clock A M. Agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Barbour the General Appropriation bill was taken up, as third reading dispensed with, and the bill passed. Ayes 77, noes none.
A message was received from the Governor announcing in a becoming manner the death of Col. Charles Blue, late superintendent of the Penitentiary, and recommending the immediate election of his successor.
Another message was received from his Excellency, to consider which the House resolved itself into secret session, and so remained up to the hour of recess 3 o'clock.
Evening Session--The House re-assembled at 8 o'clock.
On motion of Mr. C the Senate resolution appointing Tuesday, the 4th day of March as the day upon which the General Assembly will proceed to the election of a Superintendent of the Penitentiary was taken up and concurred in.
Mr. Forbes submitted a resolution of extending the present session of the Legislature until Monday, the 30th inst., which was laid over for the present.
The Senate's amendments to the Tax bill were taken up and considered until a late hour.
