Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-01-16
Legislature of Virginia.

Legislature OF Virginia.
In the Senate, January 9Th the joint
resolution, appointing acommittee of five,
three of the House, and two OF the Senate
to examine into the affairs of and report
on the Bank of the old Dominion, was ia
ken up and passed:
The engrossed bill TO amend the charter
of the Dora Coal and Manufacturing Com
pany, was read third time, and Mr.. Pat
rick noved ~ der to the bill providing
that Railroad or Roads authorised to be
constructed by the b,l should not be built
unless with the consent Of persons over
whose lands they may pass, and the con-
sent of Railroad Companies with whose
roads it might be proposed to connect them.
Mr.. Patrick spoke of the extensive
powers of the bill, and expressed the opin-
ion that no charter should embrace the
privilege Of mining and making railroads.
He was opposed to giving this company
under the General Railroad Laws power to
condemn lands and make Railroads wher-
ever they pleased.
Messrs. Martz and VERIFY opposed the
ryder.
Mr.. Christian objected to the ryder, and
explained the objects of the bill. He ar
gued that the bill prohibited the company
from making any road except for the pur-
pose o.. getting their coal and fabrics to
market.
Mr.. Skinner had no objection to the
Railroad privileges if properly restricted.
EIe intimated that he thought if the ryder
were to restrict the rates of transportation
on the road or roads of tue company so as
they should not exceed those on the Cen
trail and the Manassas Gap Road, it would
protect the people from imposition.
Mr.. Garnet, like Mr. Patrick, was op-
posed TO the granting of enormous and dan
gerous powers to mining compafies. He
objected especially to the powers in this
BILL as under them the company could
connect the Central and Manassa Gap
Railroad.
Mr.. Koiner gave history Of the Com
pany, and spoke Of the great benefits it
would likely confer on the State and the
locality where its operations would be car,
ried on.
Mr.. Patrick moved reconsideration of
the vote by which the bill was engrossed !;
and before the question was taken upon
this motion the house adjourned
On the 7th Mr.. Parker, from the Com
mittee on General Laws, reported on sew
eral bills among them bill to provide for
reassessing the lands throughout the Com.
monwealth.
The bill authorising the Board of Public
Works to subscribe to the increased capt.
tai stock of the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad in order to form connection with
Lynchburg was called up, but was defeat
ed by a vote of IS to 23-Dr. Harris vo-
ting in the negative. A reconsideration
was moved, and the vote taken, and the
bill made the order of the day for the 18th.
Messrs. Saunders and Martin were ap-
pointed on the part of the Senate, to ex-
anime the books of the bank of the Old
Dominion.
In the House the Speaker announced
the following committee Oh the part of the
House to examine the books and affairs of
the Bank Of the Old Dominion, viz -
Messrs. Garrett, Skinner and Campbell
The engrossed bill to amend the char
ter of the Dora Coal and Iron Mining Com
pany, being the unfinished business ofyes-
terday, was again debated.
Mr.. Patrick withdrew his motion for re-
committing the bill. and Mr.. Buford re-
newed it.
The House decided to recommit The bill
On the 9Th, in the Sonate the bill to
incorporate the Valley Railroad COMPANY,
was taken up and amended on motion OF
Mr.. Paxton, so that the road should at no
time be charge on the revenue of the
Covington and Ohio, Central or Manassa
Gap Railroad. The bill was then laid
over, to allow Nh Shack ellord to offer am
amendment, he having been absent at that
time.
In the House, petition was presented
of Mr.. J. r. Woodson and Others for an
independent company to constructa Rail-
road from Richmond to Charlottesville.
Mr.. Ely offered resolution relative to
the Public Lands, asserting the right OF all
the States to share in them, and depreca.
ting the squandering of them for public
works IN the new States and Territories
also providing for taking the sense of the
people upon the question flnstructing our
Senators and Representatives, in Congress
to use their efforts to secure the passage of
a law dividing the public lands among the
States, for the purpose ofinternal improve
ment.
Mr.. Patrick moved that the resolution
be laid on the table and printed
By Mr.. White-lnto the expediency of
providing that no person who is conscien-
tiously opposed to the institution ofslavery,
&c, shall be admitted to sit on jury in
any case involving claim to freedom of
any negro.
a bill to provide for the completion of
the Covington and OHIO Railroad, was la
ken up, on motion of Mr.. Patrick, who
moved a substitute for the bill
Mr.. Dean offered an amendment to the
substitute, requiring the guage of the road
to be fire feet; and then on motion of Mr..
Patrick, the bill was laid on the table and
the substitute and amendment were order
ed to be printed.
In the Senate, on the 10th, MIR. Amber
presented the remonstrance of Edward w.
Morris and 179 other citizens of Hanover
and Louisa, against chartering an ndepen-
dent company to construct railroad on the
straight line between Richmond and Char
lottesville.