Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-02-27

LEGISLATURE.

{ Legislature.
MoNpAY, Feb. 49, Senate-The joint Com
mittee on the subject of slavery, reported tb
following Senate bills TO provide compensatio
to the owners ofslaves escaping into another Stale
to protect citizens of Virginia in the prosecution
and maintenance Of their constitutional rights; I
prevent citizens of Virginia from hiring thei
slaves in the District of Columbia and to amen
the 7h sect Of chapter 05 of the code SO as t
increase the rewards for the arrest Of runawa
slaves. s.
The joint resolution offered by Dir. West pro
vidino for an extra session was SO amended as L
request the Governor to '.convepe the Legislature
on the first Monday in December next" Th
resolution was then made the order of the day TO
Tuesday.
The Bank bill was then further discussed
House.-A joint resolution communicated from
the Senate, to give further time to the sheriff o
Augusta, or his sureIies, to pay into the Treasury
the revenue due from the county of Augusta, wa
amended by adding provided that the securities
shall not be entitled to the q per cent, allowed by
law for prompt payment" and, as thus amended
was agreed to-yeas log noes 81.
The Committee for Courts of Justice presented
report adverse to the propositions for repeating
the Justify laws so far as they relate to bond and
other evidence of debt of railroad and other interna
improvement companies.
On motion Of MIR. Edmunds it was resolved II
hold night sessions.
A communication was received from the Cover
nor, recommending the passage of laws comforting
upon aliens the right to hold real estate.
The bill to recharter the Bank of Virginia for
years, was taken up. On motion Of Mr..
Edmunds the following amendments were agreed
to:
s'The leans and discounts of each branch shall
be so regulated that they shall not at any branch
exceed twice the capital of the branch.
"The total amount of the paper circulation of a
branch of this bank shall never exceed FIVE times
the amount Of the coin in possession ofsuch branch,
and actually the property of the bank.
"The bank shall give no certificate Of deposit,
draft or other evidence of debt which is not payable
in SPECIE"
TUEspAY.-Senate.- amendment to the
bill extending the time in which the Sheriff of
Augusta County shall pay over the revenue Of
said County, was concurred in.
The tax bill was reported by the Committee on
Finance.
Mr.. Deneale called up his joint resolution rela-
tive to dividends not called for, and offered an
amendment providing that all such dividends as
may hereafter be declared by internal improvement
&c., and not called for two years after
the dividends shall have been declared shall be
paid into the public Treasury. The resolution,as
amended. was adopted. E
Mr.. Harris called up the bill to aid the erection
(n Philadelphia Of monument commemorative
of the Declaration of Independence, and offered an
amendment, by way Of ryder providing that the
amount appropriated by the State for the purpose
shall not exceed $4,000. The vote stood, ayes
81, noes 7-not a constitutional majority, aRd so
the bill was lost.
The bill requiring that all executions of capital
punishment shall take place in the yard ola Jail in
the presence of a limited number of persons, was
passed. a
The resolution calling for an extension of the
session of the Legislature beyond the constitutional
limit was discussed, aud then rejected-ayes o.
noes 90.
. Mr.. Amber called up the DILL relative 10 the
Covington and Ohio Railroad, and offered sub
stitute therefor, appropriating $5O0,000 in two
years-S250 900 in each year-for the purpose Of
carrying on the work. The amendment was adop-
ted, and the bill ordered to be engrossed.
House Northwestern Railroad bill was
amended and ordered to be engrossed. s
The Bank bill was resumed and several amend
menis were adopted. Jt
At the evening session of the House, the bill to
recharter the Bank of Virginia was resumed. The
following amendment was adopted:
ut shall be the duty Of the cashier of the bank.
at IFS office in Richmond, and of the cashiers of
the several branches, to cause an abstract TO be
made, on the Monday afternoon of every week,
which shall exhibit the aggregate amount of loans
the bank at the said office,on the proceeding Satur
day the said abstract shall be promptly written
in book to be kept for the purpose, which book
shall be kept upon the counters, open to general
Inspections and may be copied from by any udvi-
dual"
Mr. Kemper proposed the following amendment,
which was rejected:
The bank shall not issue or pay out any note
for circulation, except of the denomination of ten
dollars, or Of some multiple of ten, after the LIST
day of May, 1855"
Mr. Kirby offered the following amendment,
which after debate, was adopted by a vote Of %
to At:
"Eyery stakeholder in the bank shall be liable
FATALLY out of his private estate for the circulation
to redeem its notes pay it's debts, to the amount
Of his stock in said bank"
Mr.. Baker moved reconsideration, pending
which the House adjourned.
Wednesday Senate. The joint resolution
for an extra session was postponed till Wednesday
next.
House-The bill to cause all executions OF
sentence of death to take place within the enclosed
4 & all, -, tka, anfc id
unless the Court shall Otherwise direct was passed
Mr.. Christian, from the Committee on Roads
&c., made report in reference to the Governors
internal improvement Message. The Committee
concur in the suggestions of the message in regard
to prompt appropriations to the leading lines they
are opposed to two tracks on the Covington anc
Ohio Railroad and they recommend an extension
OF the session after the LIST of March.
The Bank bill was resumed, and Mr. Kirby's
amendment was again carried, by vote of 70 ia
81. Several other amendments were proposed,
pending which the House adjourned.
At the evening session of the House, the Bank
bill was resumed. After some other proceedings
Mr.. Edmunds moved to strike out all after the
enacting clause. Carried-yeas 62, nays Oh
Mr.. E. then moved to re-insert the original bill
and amendments, with the exception of the "per-
sonal liability clause, oand the addition Of clause
prescribing the denominations of the notes. Before
further action the House adjourned.
THURsDAY.--Senake.-A communication was
received from the Governor in reference to the
Parsons case, and transmitting the report of the
Commissioner, Mr.. Tucker. A substitute was
adopted to the bill authorizing the Norfolk and
Petersburg Railroad Company to extend their road
to Charlottesville A large number ofblIs were
passed.
House.-The minority Of the Committee on
Roads Sc. presented report on the Governors
Message, opposing appropriations to internal i'm
proyements.
A bill for paying $500 to j. R. Tucker in com
pensation for bis services as Commissioner in thu
Parsons case was eDgroSsed.
The bill 10 recharter the Bank Of VIRGINIA wa