Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-01-18
virginia LEGISLATURE.

body in relation to the Covington and Ohio Rail
road. was read. laid on the table and ordered to
printed.
Mr.. Layne, from the Committee on Roads, Sc.
reported bills to incorporate the Alexandra ant
! Washington City Railroad Company, to consirnc
a branch of the Covington and Ohio Railroad II
the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. Seyera
turnpike bills were likewise reported.
Resolutions of inquiry were proposed. Among
them the following
By Mr. Baldwin--To construct railroad from
Iynchburg to Richmond.
BY Mr.. Notwithstanding the act Of 1852
in relation to Jurors, so as to exempt members o.
volunteer companies from jury duty.
The Valley Railroad bill was taken up, and
amended on motion of Mr.. Paxton, in such man.
ner as to state that this road should at no time be
charge upon the revenues of the Covington and
Ohio, Central, or Manassas Gap railroads.
Mr.. Johnson proposed an amendment, requiring
that the road should commence at point not cest
Of Salem. The Senate refused to concur in it F.:
ayes II. noes 49, The bill was then laid over.
After several unsuccessful attempts the Senate
adjourned in honor of the anniversary of the battle
of New Orleans.
Ho,tse.-A petition was presented by Mr..
Whitehead, of sundry citizens Of the counties Of
Piltsylvania, Henry, Patrick franklin and Camp
BELL asking a charter for Railroad from Lynch
burg TO the North Carolina line, in the direction
of the mouth of Smiths river.
Mr.. Ely offered resolution relative to the Pub
lie Lands, asserting the rights Of all the States to
share in them, and deprecaling 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 of instructng our
Senators and Representatives in Congress to use
their efforts to secure the passage OF law divi-
ding the public lands among the States, for pur-
poses of internal improvement. Laid on The ia
BILE and printed.
A bill to provide for the completion of the Gov
ington and Ohio Railroad was taken up, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Patrick, who moved substitute for
the BILL Mr.. Dean offered an amendment to the
substitute, requiring The gauge 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 ordered to be printed.
MISUNDERSTANDING Of inquiry
were presented, among them the following
By Mr.. Gratttam: For a railroad connection
by railroad of Martinsburg with Winchester and
with the Virginia and Tennessee Road, at or near
Salem.
BY Mr. McElhenney To form new county
out of parts of Russell, Scott and Lee counties.
MIR. Amber presented the remonstrance of Ed
ward w. Morris and l79 others, citizens Of Han
over and Louisa, against charterng an indepen-
dent company to construca railroad on the straight
line between Richmond and Charlottesville.
Mr. Tazewell proposed resolution instructing
the committee on Roads 10 report what amount Of
appropriation can be judiciously made at this ses-
sion to internal improvements. Without coming
to vote, the Valley Railroad bill was taken up.
Several amendments were proposed TO this bill,
and rejected.
House.-Reports were made by committees, and
a number of motions made.
On motion of Mr.. Raymond. resolution was
adopted inquirng into the expediency of the cleo
ton by the people, or the appointment by the
comfy courts. ofthree commissioners in each coun-
ty to audit the claims against the county.
On motion of Mr.. Eppes, the report of the Com
mittee of Courts of Justice adverse to proposed
amendment of the Code. 80 as to declare all per-
sons to be negroes who have negro blood in them,
was amended so as to declare the amendment ex-
pedient, and the committee was accordingly in
structed 10 report BILL
-Seaate-Mr Tazewell's reso-
luton came up, and was discussed during the
morning hour.
The Valley Railroad bill was ordered to be en-.
crossed and ordered to be read a third time.
Internal improvement bills which had been pre- |
vousy p HaIdsrcJ to b be- enS ross and read
time.
House.-The bill increasing the capital stock
of the Manassas Gap Railroad. and the bill au-
thorzinr loan to the Central Railroad Compa-
nv. were laid on the table and afterwards all the
internal improvement bills took the same destina
ton. it being alleged by those who favored that
DISPOSITION Of them, that it was important. before
actinr upon them, that they should see the Re-
port of the Board of Public Works, which is not
vet ready. and Mr. Tomlin announced that he
had been informed would not be ready for ten days.
Nothing else of interest.
TuuRspAY. -Senaie.-Mr Harris submitted a
resolution that joint committee of five members
If the Senate and seven of the House of Delegates
be appointed, whose duty it shall be to inquire in
TO the proprety of connecting the Medical School
nj Richmond with the University of Virginia.
Lies over under the rule
Mr.. Tazewell's resolution was further debated,
and then laid on the table.
The Valley Railroad bill came Up. On motion
of Mr.. Johnson. the bill was amended by way of
ryder. so as to require that the gauge of the road
shoulJ not be more than four feet eight and half
inches. A debate commenced but the Senate ad-
iourned before it was concluded.
Ilo,ge-On motion of Mr.. Tomlin. resolution
was adopted with notifications suggested by
Messrs. Staples, Of Patrick. Fowler and Moore,
the Board of Public Works TO commu-
nicate GREAT deal of information relative to the
Blue Ridge Tunnel, the condition of that work,
Sc whether the aborers have been paid in cur
rent funds. or in what2 And also the salaries of
Chief Engineers and compensation to the officers
of the other leading lines of the State.
On motion of Mr. Kemper. a joint resolution was
adopted for the purpose of appointing Joint com
mittee with the Senate, inquiring into the affairs
of the James River and kanawha Company.
On motion of Mr.. Mckenzie. the Committee
on Banks was instructed 20 inquire into the expe-
diency (if they deem it advisable to recharor the
present Banks Of providing that they depaslte
with the Treasurer annually for the next ten years
one million of dollars of State securltes, requiring
one million of dollars of old notes to be withdrawn
and the Treasurer issuing to them one million OF
notes. |
FR1pAY.-Scna,s- bill was reported for the
construction of railroad on the plan of James ).
French, from Alexandria; to Washington.
The bill Incorporating the Valley pqilroad Com
n,ny. the unfinished business of YESTERDAY, was
then taken up. and Mr.. Shackleford concluded his
ARGUMENT against it. Messrs Harris faxton ana
Dene,le smoke in its favor, and Messrs. Johnson,
Ward Stuart and Thomas in opposition. The
hin was then rejected by voteof Is ayes to2S noes.
- House.-A bill to provide for the completion of
the Coynq,on and Ohio Railroad being the order
Of the day. was taken up, pending the amendment
nronosed thereto by Mr.. Patrick. The question
being put on the amendment it was determined in
the negative. =,
A motion was made by Mr.. Deane to amend the
said bill by inserting, as an Independent Section
the following words: ,, n
"That the gauge upon which the said road shffl
be constructed shall be five feet throughout the 'n
tire length" g..
Mr.. Deane arose and addressed the House Tor