The Legislature.
--In the Senate yesterday the rule restricting the legislation of the present session to matters embraced in the message of the Governor, was enforced in the case of Mr. Alderson, of Nicholas, who sought to introduce resolutions pertaining to other subjects. A resolution introduced by Mr. Guy, of Goochland, in relation to the return of deserters; was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. A communication was received from the Governor, enclosing an application from Lieut.-General Ewell, accompanied by a list of persons attached to his corps, sentenced by Court-Martial to confinement in the State Penitentiary. The Governor, after reviewing the law, says: ‘"I am not aware of any law which authorizes such convicts to be received; and if they are received it will be indispensably necessary to discharge those now undergoing confinement."’ We may reasonably conclude that the number convicted by these military courts will be large. The application, therefore, presents a question for serious consideration.Mr. Collier, of Petersburg, submitted a preamble and joint resolutions looking to the appointment of three commissioners on the part of the State of Virginia, to visit the different State Governments of the United States, to consult with reference to the cessation of hostilities and the restoration of a speedy and honorable peace.
Under the rule the resolutions were required to lay over for a day; but the Senate suspended the rules and took them up for consideration. They were advo- cated at length by Mr. Collier, and opposed by Messrs. Seddon and Nash. On a subsequent motion to postpone them indefinitely, Mr. Collier alone voted in the negative. So their further consideration was postponed.
In the House the Speaker submitted a communication from the Governor, having reference to the application from Lieutenant-General Ewell in respect to sundry persons sentenced by military courts.
Quite a number of resolutions of inquiry were offered, among which the following are the most important:
By Mr. Haymond, of Marion — Of so amending the laws concerning aliens as to make their position less desirable as property owners than their position as non-combatants. By Mr. Harris, of Rockingham — Of so amending the tax law of the State as to make all the issues of Confederate notes receivable in payment of taxes. By Mr. Woodley, of Upshur — Of inquiring into the expediency of opening a correspondence with other State Governments with a view to the establishment of a currency of State Treasury notes, by which Confederate Treasury notes shall be absorbed and superceded as a circulating medium. By Mr. James, of Botetourt — Of inquiring into the expediency of confiscating the property of all deserters from the Confederate service in the State of Virginia. [This resolution was so amended as to instruct the committee to inquire into the expediency of introducing a "bill for the effectual suppression of desertion from the armies of the Confederate States."] By Mr. Wilson, of Isle-of Wight"A resolution requesting the Auditor of Public Accounts to report to the House a synopsis of the financial condition of the State, with an estimate of expenses for the ensuing fiscal year, and a report upon all other subjects called for at the last session of the Legislature.--The resolution was agreed to.
