Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-04-06
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.

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MONDAY, March 2S.-Senate-A number o
bills were passed, among them bill authorizing
an increase OF the capital stock of the Middle
brook and Brownsburg Turnpike Company.
House.--After variety Of business, an amend
ment to the 9th chapter of the Code was adopt
ed as follows:
''No member of the General Assembly shall
be entitled to receive pay for any day until he at
tends and qualities according to law, nor shall he
receive pay for any day on which he may be alb
sent from the sessions of the House without leave
unless his absence shall be caused by sickness
and no member who shall be absent on the day Of
the final adjournment of the General Assembly
unless by leave, shall be entitled to receive return
mileage"
On motion of Mr.. Wiley, a resolution was a
dopted that no member of the House shall be per-
mitted, during the remainder of the session, 10
speak InUre than ten minutes at one time on any
question.
TUEsDAY.-Scnate.-A the bills passed
were the following: A bill to incorporate the
Huntersvillc and Monterey Turnpike Company,
and bill to construct Railroad from Phillippi.
in Barbour county, to the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad.
House.-A large number of bills not of general
interest were passed. The Senate's amendments
to the bill authorizing an increase of the capital
stock of the Middlebrook and Brownsburg Turn
pike Company were agreed to.
WEDNEsDAY-Seaate.- Congressional
District bill came up as the order of the day
Several amendments were adopted, and then, on
motion of Mr.. Douglas, the whole bill after the
cnactive clause was struck out-ayes "a, noes Is.
Mr.. Amber offered substitute for the bill. Mr..
Thomas moved to recommit the bill to select
committee of Is. An animated and protracted
debate occurred on the various propositions.
Al the afternoon session, after another long and
excited debate, Mr.. Amber's substitute was adop-
ted by ayes 90, noes Is. Itmakes the Richmond
District Wing by over 700 majority.
House-After some uninteresting business, a
Senate bill concerning the assessment and collec-
| ton of the public revenue being the unfinished
business of yesterday. was taken up and further
considered. Numerous amendments were propos-
ed, and considerable discussion took place.
misunderstanding CT interest.
Housc.-The Congressional apportionment bill
twas taken up with the amendments proposed by
the Senate. Mr.. Barbour moved that the House
disagree to said amendments. Mr. Jackson Of
| Wood, demanded the previous question, which
was sustained, and the motion of Mr.. Barbour de-
cided in the afiirmatiye-ayes 60, noes 81. A
message was afterwards received from the Senate
informing the House that tie Senate insisted on
| their amendments. The order Of the day then
came up, and the bill was laid On the table.
| The bill concerning the assessment and collec-
ton of the public revenue came up as the unfn-
ished business. A long debate occurred on prop
ositon to tax distilleries, in which the evils and
advantages of distileres and the liquor trade,
were to some extent referred to. By vote of 90
to 19 the House resolved TO tax ds;illeres engag-
ed in distilling more than four months in year.
The consideration Of this bill was pending, when
the House adjourned.
FRIpAY.-Seaale-A bill introduced in the
Senate by Mr.. Baldwin increasing the capital of
the Central Road to enable that company to build
second track in the shortest line between Char
loitesyille and Richmond, was discussed and pass
ed, ayes 81, noes 9.
The apporlionment bill was then taken up, and
the House having again refused to agree to the
Senate's substitute, Mr.. Stovall moved that a
committee Of Conference be appointed, which, af-
ter discussion in which Alessrs. Douglas, De-
neale, Martin, Amber, Campbell, Witcher,
Thomas and Shelf ey participated, was agreed to,
ayes 80, noes 9.
At the afternoon session, number CT local bills
were passed.
House-Amendments Of the Senate to bill
providing for the enrolment of the Militia by tho
Commissioners of the Revenue, the abolition of
musters, anda reorganization Of the Volunteer
corps, were agreed to. +r
A Senate bill requiring an oath to be taken and
bond to be given before license or certificate
shall be granted to retail ardent spirits, was read
the first and second times, and referred to the
committee for Courts of Justice.
A bill arranging the counties of the State into
Congressional Districts with a substitute of the
Senate therefor, was taken up, and Mr.. Barbour
moved that the House adhere to their disagree
ment-ayes CS, noes 62; and Mr.. Barbour was
ordered to inform the Senate thereof. - %
On motion to appoint conference committee,
a long and exciting discussion ensued, in which
frequent reference was made by Democratic mem
bers to the "iactious course" of minority of
Democrats in the Legislature in attempting, rs it
was alleged, to control majority in reference TO
the arrangement of the Congressional Districts
so animated, and OF so angry character was the
debate, that the Speaker had more than once to
interfere TO restrain members from INDUCING in
personalities. Mr.. Jackson, of ID. and r., was
opposed to the appointment of a conference COM
mitee, or 10 any compromise on the subject Of the
House bill and the Senate's substitute. Rather
than yield to the ''dctaton" Of what he termed a
small minority of the Democratic party in the
Legislature he preferred failure to pass the bill
at all and the election of 8 members Of Congress
at the next election in this State by general tick
ct. The discussion was arrested by the previous
question, and the House, by a large majority, Or
dered the Speaker TO appoint conference COM
mittee TO meet the committee of the Senate. And
then the House adjourned
SATURDAY-SenGte.-A bill to re-assess the
value of the lands of the Co nmonw cath was pass
ed-ayes 80, noes 7.
a bill making an appropriation to aid in erect
ing monument in Philadelphia in honor of the
signers of the Declaration of Independence was
lost for want of constitutional majority--ayes 10,
noes 10.
House.-A committee TO confer with the SEN
ate committee on the Apportionment bill was ap-
pointed. ;
TAxEs FOR County AND Local PURposEs.-
! The Auditor Of Public Accounts has made com
munication to the Senate, prepared in compliance
with resolution of that body, showing the amount
of taxes raised levied in the several counties and
towns of the Commonwealth for local or county
purposes. The total amount is SS53, 997 80.
The amount raised in Richmond city is sI25 ,065