The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-28
THE DAILY DISPATCh
Virginia Legislature.
TUESDAY, April 81.


TUESDAY, April 81.
Senate.
On motion of Dir. Shackleford, the Commit
tee on Finance were instructed to inquire into
the expediency of authorising by law the an
nual sale of so much Of the bank stocks held
by The State Of Virginia as shall be equal to
one per cent. on the debt of the State existing
on the FIRST day OF January, 1852.
Mr.. Thompson presented petition of citi-
zens of Brunswick county, asking an act ofin-
corporation for Plank Road from Lawrence
vile to some point on the Boydtou and Peters,
burg Plank Road; which was referred TO the
Committee on Roads and Internal Navigation.
On motion of MIR. Shelley, the House Bill re-
ducing the capital of the Central Bank Of Vir-
ginia, was considered and passed.
On motion OF MIR. Shackleford, the resolution
in relation TO granting authority to the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad Company to extend
their road to Lynchburg, was taken up, to-
gether with the recommendation of the Conn.,
mittee of Roads, that the same be rejected
Whereupon, on motion of Mr.. Shackleford, the
said resolution was recommitted to said com.
mittee.
House of Delegates.
Mr.. Mcdonald from the Joint Committee ON
the Penitentiary, presented report upon the
condition of that institution. The committee
say that they have carefully examined every
department of the Penitentiary, and found each
and all in condition entirely satisfactory to
every member of the committee. Every thing
appears to be managed to the best possible ad.
vantage by the able superintendent and every
member of the committee also bears testimony
to the competency and efficiency of all the off.
GERS Of that institution. The committee re-
commend change in the length of terms of
Imprisonment, and express the opinion that un-
less change be made, "there must be hereafter
pecuniary difficulties, and the institution will
become lazzar house, to be supported by the
Taxpayers of the Commonwealth" Three
years. the committee think, is the shortest time
for which any convict should be admitted into
the Penitentiary.
Mr.. Mcdonald, from the same committee,
reported bill to provide for the punishment
of slaves guilty of felony, and to repeal part
of chapter 200 of the Code of Virginia.
+ A bill was reported TO provide for the
election of certain officers of the City of Nor
folk, by the qualified voters thereof. The first
election to take place on the Oath Of June
next, for Clerk and Attorney of the Common
wealth for the Corporation Court, Register,
Assessor, Collector of City Taxes, Attorney
for the City, Inspector of Streets, Surveyor,
High Constable, Captain and First Lieutenant
of the Night Watch, Clerk of the Market, Chief
Engineer of the Fire Department, and Keeper
of the Aims House.
A bill from the Senate to incorporate the
Great Falls Manufacturing Company, was re-
ported without amendment.
Mr.. Barbour presented a petition of citizens
of the town of Fredericksburg, praying an in
crease of the capital stock of the Valley Plank
Road Company, to enable them to build q
branch of their road to Culpeper Court House.
On motion of Mr.. Robinson of Richmond
City, the resolutions offered by him some days
since, relative to the coupon bond contract be-
tween the Board of Public Works and Selden,
Withers e. Co., and the resolution submitted
by Mr.. Goode of NJ. to refer the whole subject
TO Select Committee, were taken up for con-
sideration; when MIR. Robinson proceeded to
address the House in condemnation of the
terms of the contract, and the circumstances
under which it was made, and in reply to the
remarks of MIR. Barbour on Saturday last, on
the same subject. MIR. r. having concluded,
Mr.. Wallace offered substitute for the reso-
buttons of Messrs Robinson and Goode; which
substitute proposed continuing with the FL
nance Committee the whole subject, with in
structions to enquire into and report TO the
House of Delegates what modification, if any
of the contract with Selden, Wthers & Co., it
is advisable to make, and what course, under
all the circumstances, the General Assembly
shall take in regard to it." In substance, Mr..
Robinson's proposition.
Mr.. Goode opposed the substitute, and was
in favor of Select Committee as proposed by
his resolution.
Mr.. Wallace again addressed the House in
support OF his substitute. At the conclusion
. of his remarks. the vote was taken, and the
substitute of MIR. Wallace was adopted
The bill fixing the terms of the District
Courts, and places of holding said Courts was
then taken up for consideration. A motion tol
strike from the bill Wood Court House. the
place recommended for holding said Court,
was rejected after a long discussion on the sub
lect. The bill was then laid on the table, there
being one more district to provide for.
"A bill concerning the inspection of -four.
fish, and other commodities, was taken up and
passed. Itproyides that brands be more dis.
tinctly made in reference to quality, &c. MIR.
Anderson was requested to convey the bill to |
the Senate, and request their concurrence.
On motion of Mr.. Goode of NJ, the House,
IN Committee of the Whole, took up the bill to
regulate the assessment of taxes on licenses.
MIR. Robinson yielded the floor to Mr.. Imboden
who addressed the Committee in a speech of
nearly two hours length in opposition to the
views and recommendations of the Finance
Committee, which propose an addition of rs
per cent. to the present license tax. When he
concluded, the Committee rose, asked leave to
sit again.
And then the House adjourned.
ONGRESS-MoNDAY.
SErATE.-Mr. Sewa1 presented the resolu.
tons ofthe legislature of New York in favor of
ship canal around the Falls of the Sainf