Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-12-19
Virginia Legislntur..


4 For proceedings on Monday and Tuesday see
the first page.
i WEDNEsDAY.-Senatc.- number of bill.
were reported by the Committee on Roads SC
among them one authorizing loan to the James
River & Kanawha Company and for the exten
sion of their works to Coyrgton. Several bills
amending the Code were reported by the Com
mittee on Courts.
Mr.. Paxton offered a resolution of inquiry reIa
tive to authorizing the Junction Valley Turnpike
Company to collect tolls on their road without re-.
planking the same.
The bill authorizing a direct line of railroad
from Charlottesville 10 Richmond was, on motion
laid on the table,
The bill Incorporating the Valley Railroad was
read second time and laid on the table.
House.-A bill was reported to increase the
capital stock of the Central Railroad Company
| for the purpose of shortening lis track between
the city of Richmond and The town Of Charlo.tes-
vle
On motion of Mr.. [mboden the appropriate com
mttee was directed TO inquire into the expeden.
cy of establishing professorship CT drawing and
painting in the Institution for the education Of the
deaf and dumb and the blind.
-.Scnatc-The Finance Commit
tee reported a bill providing for reassessment of
| lands
| On motion Of Mr.. Paxton, the bill to incorpo-
rate the Valley Railroad Company was taken up.
| The company ara left AT liberty to select any
point OF Roanoke county as the point of connection
with the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. The
bill was read second time and ordered to be en-
crossed and read third time.
The bill for the short line Railroad between
Richmond and Charlottesville was taken up. and
the time Tor beginning the work extended from
two to three years. An amendment was adopted
and the bill ordered to lis engrossment
House.-On motion of Mr.. Holden, the Com
mit!ee On Finance was instructed 10 enquire into
the expectancy OF ordering the sale OF all the
State stocks in the Banks, and in the various in
ternll improvenents--th sales TO be made an
nuaiy. until the entire stocks are disposed OF, and
the proceeds be applied to the liquidation Of the
public debt
On molten Of Mr.. lmboden, Resolved That the
Board of Public Works be respectfully requested
to furnish 10 the House, at their earliest convent
ence. information on the following questions, viz:
|. What has been the aggregate amount OF
money expended on the Blue Ridge Railroad up
| to the lst day Of October 1855, and how much
thereof has been for tunneling, and how much fer
grading and masonry
g. How much Of said road has been finished !.
and how much remains yet to be completed. and
what is the character of the work still TO be done,
and its probable cost?
8. On what terms was said work originally
let TO the contractors. and has the same been done
in conformity to said original contracts? If not
what changes in the terms of said contracts have
been made and under what sort of contracts IS
said work now carried "a
A. Ii the original contracts have been annulled,
has there been any forfeiture incurred BY the con
tractors, or any penalty paid 10 the Common
wealth in consequence Of such forfeiture
5. Who were the original contractors tor the
principal tunnels and their approaches, and how
much and what part of The work embraced IN
said tunnel contracts has been done on the terms
Oh said original contracts2
D. Who are now the contractors on said tun.
nes, and on what terms is the work now pr0gteS-
sing
7. What amount has been paid for salaries on
said work? How much for the commissions 10
superintendent, contractors or others
In presenting this resolution, MIR. lmDoden
intimated that il asked for information that should
be placed before the House, and HAT il might
even be necessary to gp behind this resolution 10
ascertain what it was important the Legislature
should know.
Mr. Weman offered the following resolution
Resuivpd by the General Assembly. That the
Governor Of this Commonwealth be- authorized to-
traip-- rta President az the United .5taies
regiment of volunteers for the purpose of preser
wing law and order in Kansas.
A p.otraeed debate eEsued in reference to wha!
disposition should be made Of The resolution, and
it was finally referred Ia !hs committee on the
subject OF means To prevent the escape Of slaves,
and of measures Of retaliation.
FRIDAY.-SeaGie-A large number Of bills
were rep,rted iron the Committee on R'1ds SC,
aud the usual number Of resolutions Of inquiry
were adopted.
House On motion Of Mr.. temper resolu-
ton was adopted instructing The Committee on
Banks TO inquire into the expectancy of prohibiting
tue issue ana suppressng The circulation within
the limits of the commonwealth Of all hank Dutes
of denomination less han Ten dollars. and all
other bank notes except those OF a decimal demo-
minallon.
A resolution vas adopted requiring the Com
| mitiee on Finance TO inquire lnto the expectancy
of increasing the tax on Brokers licenses. aud the
better to enable the committee to ascertain what
would be a fair rate Of taxation the chairman was
requested 10 address circular 10 the cashier Of
|
report to him what amount of specie or specie
funds their respective Banks have had to pay the
Brokers for the redemption of their notes from the
LIST December, 1854, to the LIST December, 1855.
Nothing else OF interest
SaTugDAY-.Serat number of bills were
reported, and sundry resolutions Of inquiry adop-
ted. The Covingion and Ohio Railroad bill was
further considered.
Ilousc-Seyeral bills were passed and variety
of other business uf no special interest transacted
Mr. Davis Uttered resolution lnstructing the
Committee on General Laws to report bill
with proper provisions giving to married wo'nan
the absolute and separate property in all the real
and personal estate which they possessed in their
own right at The time of marriage. or winch they
shall acquire by descent or Otherwise during cove
ture. free from the marital rights. and control Of
thr husband, and exempt frum his liabilities:
Mr. i,uboden proposed TO amend the resolution
BY directing The Committee for Courts of Justice
TO ..eDqnire naihe expediency" OF the PROPOSE
lion. that being the usual course. As thus amend
ed, the resolution was adopted.
BurcHERIEs IN Cause.-The last dates from
China are to September 18TH According to III
..Frend of China - Canton the scene o
, frirhtlnl butcheries. On The l0h of Septemhe
rebel chief was cut into two hundred pieces.an
five hundred puor wretches were executed viii
r him The correspondent of the China Mail writ
5 ing from Canton. says:
BY report obtained from good authority,
r appears that 70 900 have been publicly execute
+ in Canton since Feb. 10, or Chinese New Yea
S About 81 900 were put to death al Shaking IA
and $4,000 at the taking of the fort at Bleinheir
Reach In many places houses have been erected
where suspected persons are allowed To commi
: suicide, aud thus protect their posthumons repu
e taon On the 9th Of September one of the lead
: .rs named Kane Sin was put 10 death By a Lin