General Assembly of Virginia.
Senate.
Message from the House that they have passed the following bills:
To amend and re-enact the act incorporating the Norfolk and St. Nazaire Navigation Company;
An act changing the place of voting in Wythe county;
An act to incorporate the Snowville Woolen Manufactory, of Pulaski;
An act to change the location of the Floyd Courthouse and Christiansburg road. Referred to appropriate committees.
On motion of Mr. Coleman, the act to authorize the Virginia Central Railroad Company to borrow money was read a third time and passed.
An act to authorize the County Court of Fauquier county to borrow money for county purposes — reported without amendment and subsequently passed.
An act to incorporate the Virginia State Insurance Company--reported without amendment and passed.
An act to incorporate the Belvidere Manufacturing Company — reported without amendment and passed.
An act to incorporate the Catawba Coal and Iron Company — reported without amendment and passed.
An act establishing the name of the Western Lunatic Asylum, and another abolishing the office of Treasurer of that Institution, were both passed.
On motion of Mr. Trout, a bill to incorporate the Virginia Porcelain and Earthenware Company, in the county of Augusta, was read twice and engrossed.
A bill authorizing the citizens of Manchester to build a bridge over James river — read a second time and engrossed.
A bill repealing existing slave legislation, fixing the status of slaves and free negroes, and enabling them to testify in all suits. Laid on the table and made the order of the day for Tuesday next.
By Mr. Bolling, of Petersburg:
‘ "Resolved, That so much of the Governor's message as refers to the settlement of the public debt between Virginia and the State of West Virginia be referred to the Committee on Finance." Passed.
’ Mr. Kello moved that the joint resolution fixing the time for election of State officers be rescinded, and that the date of the election be fixed at the 10th day of January. Passed.
By Mr. Lee:
‘ "Resolved, That the Committee on General Laws inquire into the expediency of appointing a general agent, whose office shall be in this city, to issue policies of insurance, on behalf of the State, on all subjects upon which insurance companies are in the practice of issuing policies." Passed.
’ A leave of three days absence was granted to the President of the Senate, on motion of Mr. Bolling.
Adjourned.
House of Delegates.
The House met at 12 o'clock M.Senate resolution of concurrence for the appointment of a joint committee to consider whether it is necessary or proper further to alter or amend the Third Article of the Constitution was considered and concurred in.
Mr. Joynes, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported the following bills, which were read a first time:
A bill to provide for the erection and maintenance of jails.
A bill to repeal certain sections of the Code concerning the election of judges.
A bill to amend section twenty-eight of chapter one hundred add eighty-four of the Code.
A bill to amend and re-enact the fourteenth section of chapter one hundred and thirty of the Code of 1860.
A bill to authorize William H. Parker and others to obtain a grant for certain land.
A bill authorizing the Auditor of Public Accounts to pay the claims of public officers in certain cases.
A bill providing for staying the collection of debts for a limited period.
Mr. Garnett, from the Committee on Propositions and Grievances, reported back the following, which were read a first time:
A bill to amend the charter of the Fire Insurance Company of Alexandria.
A bill to provide for taking and preserving a list of property damaged or taken or destroyed by the opposing armies during the late war.
Mr. Joynes, from the same committee to whom were referred the resolution that "in all suits hereafter brought upon bonds, promissory notes, or accounts, all credits endorsed upon said bonds, notes or accounts, should be endorsed upon the original writ by the Clerk when he issues the same," reported it back, stating that they deemed it inexpedient to legislate on the subject, and asked to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject.
The House, after debate, refused to receive the report of the committee.
Mr. Brooke, from the Military Committee, to whom were referred so much of the Governor's message as refers to the re-organization of a public guard, made the following report:
‘ "Resolved, That Captain E. S. Gay, who has heretofore been commandant of the Public Guard, be, and he is hereby, authorized to employ, until otherwise provided by law, a police force, to consist of one lieutenant and thirty privates, whose duty it shall be to guard the penitentiary and other public buildings; and the said officers shall have the same compensation that the officers of the Public Guard have heretofore received, and the privates two dollars per diem, without rations."
’ The report was received; and, the rules being suspended, the joint resolution was passed and sent to the Senate.
Mr. Bowles, from the Committee on Agriculture, to whom were referred the resolution relative to prohibiting the distillation of grain, reported back the same, with the request to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. The report was received and the committee discharged.
Senate joint resolution fixing the 10th of January next, as the day of election of Secretary of the Commonwealth, Auditor of Public Accounts, Second Auditor and Treasurer, was considered and agreed to.
By Mr. Graham.--A resolution of inquiry into the expediency of incorporating a company to construct a railroad from Covington to the Ohio river.
By Mr. Woolridge.--A resolution of inquiry into the expediency of increasing the salaries of the different basement officers.
By Mr. Browning.--A resolution of inquiry into the expediency of giving the State's investment in the Fredericksburg and Gordonsville railroad to any company that will complete and equip the same.
The following were taken up and passed:
House bill authorizing the County Court of Lee county to authorize William R. Graham, of said county, to construct a dam across Powell's river.
A bill amending the first and twelfth sections of an act passed March 29, 1861, entitled.
"An act incorporating the Rockbridge Issuance Company."
A bill to authorize the County Court of Smyth county to borrow a sum of money.
A bill for the relief of Henry Stephenson, of Frederick county.
A bill to amend and re-enact an act amending the charter of the town of Danville, passed March 4, 1854, and incorporating into one all acts amendatory thereof.
A bill to amend and re-enact the thirteenth and fourteenth sections of chapter fourteen of the Code of 1860. [This bill declares the duties and fixes the pay of the Senate and House officers.]
A motion, by Mr. English, to take up Senate resolution asking amnesty for Mr. Davis and others, and the restoration of habeas corpus, was rejected upon the ground that House resolution upon the same subject, passed prior to the receipt of Senate resolution, had been laid over unnoticed by the Senate.
By Mr. Lee.--A resolution, which was agreed to, that the pay of the pages of the House be three dollars per diem.
Mr. Robertson moved his resolutions relative to general amnesty be taken up and referred to the Committee on Schools and Colleges.
Mr. Stearns, of Henrico, offered the following as a substitute for Mr. Robertson's resolutions:
‘ "Whereas the people of Virginia recognize the Constitution of the United States as the supreme law of the land; and that they are prepared to uphold and defend the same as interpreted by the Supreme Court of the United States; therefore.
"Resolved, That we most earnestly but respectfully recommend that the President of the United States grant full and complete pardon to all persons now confined in prisons under charge of treason or other political crimes, believing as we do that the prosperity and happiness of the country will be promoted thereby."
’ Mr. Joynes moved to lay the whole subject on the table. It embarked us upon that infernal sea of Federal politics upon which we had been wrecked. He hoped we were to be hereafter spared the labor of construing the Constitution of the United States upon which we have so long been engaged.
After some remarks by Mr. Robinson, explanatory of his preamble and resolutions, the motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
The House adjourned.
