Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1850-02-12
SPIRIT OF ~JEFFEIgSONo
yIRGfsIA- InslsLATuRE.


The HOUSE has been mostly occupied darlhg
the last week, with the consideration OF me ne
solutions of the Select Committee on the PrepIie-
ty of a Southern Convention, the Bll authorizing
the call Of a State Convention TO remod!e our
Constitution, and a somewhat protraetedd debate
on the election of State officers, references 70
which, are madein another column. We append
such additional items as are of interest:
On Saturday, Feb. Cd asresolution of inquiry
was adopted on motion of Mr.. Martz' increasing
the capital stock of the Virginia Central gaze
Louisa) Railroad Company,ftor the purpose o.
constructing a branch OF said road from otaun'ou
TO Harrisonburg.
On motion of Mr.. Stroller, Resolved, I.hattne
Committee for the Courts of Justice enquire mo
the expediency oftteporting a bill requiring Tue
value of slaves escaping iflm the State TO oe
paid out of the public treasury.
The Committee appointed 10 investigate me
official conduct of Attorney, General Baxter made
a decided report in his favor.
On motion of Dir. DnckWall. the rule OF me
House was suspended, and the vote relectlnst Tue
bill to amen1s the several acts concerning the
Front Royal Turnpike Company, re:consldeFed-
The bill was then passedAayes 81, nays 81.
In the House on MosDAY,M r. DuRE submitted
the following resolution Sc
Resolved, That after Saturday the 9th day Of Fsbrua-
nv, no member of this. House shafIspeak more than fifteen
minutes on any question, during the remanders oil this
session.
The resolution was opposedSby Mr. DormaD,
Of Rockbridge, and Mr. Ferguson, from Logan
and Boone.
Mr.. DUKE remarked, Tint it had become
quile fashionable with some gentlemen OF the
House TO operate against any end, or kindred re.
suit, which this. resolution ~contemplates. You
urge as an objection, =" that it will strangle de-
baie,' does ;nol.the resolution extend time enough
to fully discuss the: Proyiso: Resolutions, and the
most i'm portant bill ofthe session, the Convention
Bill-here is ample time allowed, from The 4th 10
the 9th of the month. i believe, sir, that the
time Of discussion ought To be limitfd-we are
now in the evening of the session, and there is a
large number OF bills on hand, for their transit or
rejection by the House. Underline press ofbnsi-
ness, | think that the time is sutficientto exhibit
by a few cogent, plain, practical reasons, the
merit of any measure, or the utility OF an aPPro-
~ptiation. II gentlemen will not speak 10 the
point or purpose, then il is tine lost tC the House,
and the more short The period allotted them The
better. Why not, then, by the adoption OF this
resolution, abridge the duration OF the session
facilitate the transaction of business, and as in
infalIible cornllary, economist, to some extent,
the money Of the Commonwealth
Ii was laid on the table.
On Tuesday, the whole day was consumed i'll
n debate as tn the Washington Monument, and
luG OlG oi Ih6 "a = liz v AaoA
Prnviso.
On Wednesday. Mr.. Conway, from the commit
tee for courts of Justice presented rcports upon the
resolutions for requiring the valne of slaves es-
Gaping from the State 10 be paid out ofthe public
treasury;
Authorizing The Governor to furnish certain
militia officers with the militia laws and articles
of war ; and
Exemp,ing volunteers from certain jury duty.
a resolution o! irqniry}was offered by MIR.
Worthington as TO the propriciy of extending the.
jurisdiction of the judges of the State, as to writs
of hn6eas corpus. -
The joint order oftlIe day-the election of LIST
Auditor, &c, was taken up.
Mr.. MAYO nominated the present incumbent,
Jas. T.. Heath, Esq, Tor the office of lst Auditor.
Mr.. Mar,z nominated Geo. w. Thompson,
Esq, of Wheeling.
y rrntracted discmssiop-o on. collateral, subjects
ensued, in The course Of which Mr. Psndlcton Of
fcrcd a resolution 10 postpone the election until
To morrow.
Pending the consideration o? which,
On motion of Mr. Pendleton, the House adj
jonrncd.
On Thursday, various resolutions we're offered,
among which was the following:
On motion Of Nc. FiDney, Resolved by the
General Assembly Of Virginia, That the Cover
nor of this Commonwealth be and lie is hereby
authorized 10 procure a book of native marble
or granite, with a suitable inscription thereon,
and present the same 10 tue washington tHaI'o"'
al Monument.
Ia bill to take the sense OF tho. people upon
the call of a convention, &c; Was taken up.
Mr.. StovalI submitted a substitute, which elici-
ted much discussion.
On motion of MIR Dorman, the bill was laid on
the table, and made the order Of tho day for TO-
morrow.
In the SENATE OH Friday, tic resolutions on
the Wilmot froviso, &c, were the order the day.
but after the adoption of The first resolution by a
vote of26 ayes 10 l against, The further eonside-
ration of them was postponed until Monday.
In the House, on motion OF. Mr. Ferguson, the
resolutions submitted by Mr.*kidwcll on yesier-
day, and laid upon the table designating Wed.
nesday, the l3th instant, as.the. day for The joint
election of First Auditor, &c, WAS taken up, and
on motion of Mr.. Martz, amended by inserting
sand Superintendent ofthe Peni,entiary;m
Mr. Ferguson moved TO strike out .iNednes-
day the lsth.' and insert Tuesday the lath.H-
Agreed to.
The resolution as amended: was then adopted.
TIE UNITED STATES ARMoRIEs.