Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-01-16
LegisIafure.

MONDAY Jan. 7.-S enate.-After some bust
ness not Of general interest, the bill providing for
a re assessment of the lands throughout the Com
monwealth was taken up, and after long discus
sion on one Of the provisions of the bIln relation
to the time in which appeal could be taken from
the decision of the commissioners and the mode
of appeal, was ordered 10 be engrossed and read
third time. Nothing else of interest.
House-On motion of MIR. Floyd, Resolved,
That the Committee of Courts of Justice inquire
into the expediency of appropratng like sums of
money to the use Of free people of color who shall
emgrae TO any of the non slaveholding States and
settle permanently therein, that are now appro
priated for the renoya Of such persons to Liberia
On motion of Mr. kemper. the Committee OF
Finance was instructed to inquire into the expe
diency Of changing the existing license tax on
DIsiilleries into an nd ralorenl tax.
| On motion of Mr. Seaman: Resolved, That
enquiry be made into the expediency of increas
ing the Literary Fund, by appropriation, to an
amount sufficient 10 educate all the INDECENT chill
drep Of the Commonwealth ia primary schools.
There was variety Of business transacted, but
nothing Of interest. n.
TUESDAY, enaie.-On motion of Mr.. john
son a resolution was adopted. directing an inquiry
into the expediency Of providing by law that the
execution OF capital punishment shall take place
in the presence Of limited number of persons to
be appointed by the. court pronouucing sentence
Of death
The bill providing for re-assessment Of the
lands of the Commonwealth, was passed.
HOuse.-On motion of Mr.. lmbcden the Senate
bill to authorize the Central Railroad Company
to shorten their track between Charlottesville and
Richmond was taken up and made the order Of
lhe day for Friday next.
On motion of Mr.. Hoge, the committee on
Banks was instructed to inquire into the expe.
dency OF ordering the sale Of the stock held by
the Commonwealth in the Banks of the State.
Many resolutions of inquiry &c were adopted,
among them one in reference to the establishment
of College at Winchester, to be called The Vir-
ginia College.
There was some discussion of the question as
to The policy in regard 10 appropriations tor Inter
nal improvements, some members coniendlng that
no appropriations should be made. The subject
was laid on the liable.
On motion Of Mr.. Imboden, Resolved, that a
committee Of five members be appointed to report
bill to carry into effect the 37th section of the
4th article of the Constitution which requires the
General Assembly to provide for taking the census
of the population and statistics of this State at in
lervals of FIVE years from the returns Of the United
States.
Observation-Disclosures After some other bus
mess, on motion of Mr.. Tazewell a resolution was
adopted insructing the Committee on General
Laws, to inquire into the expectancy OF abnlshing
the Board of Public Works and transferring lis
duties 10 the Governor and other officers OF The
Commonwealth, as provided in the Code.
On motion of Mr.. Daughtrey resolution OF in
O. linz tI,aH m
of taxation, So as 10 base the whole system upon
the I'D uGlorem principle.
Mr. Tazewell subsequently, moved TO suspend
The rules, that he might amend his resolution con-
corning the Board Of Public Works.
A spirited and interesting discussion followed,
in which MesSrs. Tazewell, Deneae, Thomas,
White, Campbell, Roger aud Ca'Iett participated.
The motion was carried. and the following res
ouiion offered by Mr.. Tazewell, as a substitute
for his first resolution:
Resolved, That select committee of nine be
appointed, consisting of three from each division
district in which the State is divided for the cleo.
ton of members of the Board of Public Works, To
inquire into the expedency OF abolshing the Board
of Public Works. and transferring the duties 10
the Governor and other officers Of the Common
wealth. as provided in The Code.
MIR. Deneale offered the following amendment {:
That said committee enquire what legislation, II
any, he necessary. the better 10 organize and rem
der the existing Board more efficient.
The amendment was adopted, and the resolu-
ton. as amended, agreed to.
House-A great variety Of business was acted
upon. but nothing of interest.
| TuURsDAY-! Senaie.-A resolution of inquiry
was adopted in reference to extending The Nor
fix aud Petersburg Il .lroad from its presen; ter
minus to some paint On the Central Railroad, at
or near Charlottesville.
The bill providing for the payment ofhe sau-
airy already omp!eled, and To provide additional
statues for The Washington Monument, being on
lis second reading, Mr.. Jones moved 10 I'll the
blank (l1r additional slatues) with the following
names: George Mason, Gen. Thos. Nelson, Gen.
Andrew Lewis. and John Marshall. On moiion
Of Mr.. White, before The question was pni on
Mr.. jones' molten, the bill was laid on the liable.
A large number of bills on the Calendar were
advanced and thase involving appropriations were
aid on the table and made the order Ct the day
| for the | llh Of JANUARY. 4f
House.-Mr Langit, from the Special Com
miitee Or the subjsctFeported bill I'd incorporate
The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the
Union; and to authorize the parchase OF a part OF
/ Mount Vernon place. ri.1-u.,tI
Mr.. Christian offered resolution Of inquiry in
reference to The proprieiy of so amending the
Code as to give 10 turnpike companies sufficient
right Of way only, instead Ola fee simple in the
lands Condemned for the use of the turnpike.
A statement was received from the Board Of
Public Works. They report that the indebted
ness of the Board for estimates of wnrk dune re
naming unpaid amounts to sSl6,957.92. They
| have allowed interest on amounts due for work
constructed on Stale account.
The bill on its second relding "fr the perma
nent endowment of Colleges OF Vir-ii a" was
taken up,and made the order of the day for Tues
day next.
-Sepcte.--Nothlng Of interest.
HoUsE.-A BILL was reported providing for foul
grand jury terms in county and corporation courts
A communication was received from Col. CTo
yet in answer to the resolutions adopted some
weeks ago The aggregate amount expended or
the Blue Ridge Tunnel 50 far is 81 ,234 .2j5.2O
There remains 65U feet OF the main tunnel ant
1873 feet of the Brooksville tunnel 10 be completed
and the whole remaining cost is estimated a
$4,000.
The bill for short track Railroad from Char
lottesville to Richmond was taken up and advO
Gated by Mr.. Imbuden.
misunderstanding of interest.
House-The Committee on Elections reporte,
Mr. Clay brook elected from Lancaster and North
cumberland. His seat was contested by DR.. Hard
ing, recently deceased.
The bill for the construction of short line t
Charlottesville was taken up and discussed b.
Mr. oegar.
ORIGIN OF THE ALDEN FAMILY-Mrs. Rose
Srandsh, consort of Capt. Standish, departed thi
life IN the Goth of January, 1921. This circum
stance is mentioned as an Introduction to the fol
lowing anecdole, which has been carefully hand
ed to us by tradition:
In a. short time after the decease of Mrs. Stan
} dish the captain was lead To think that, if he
could obtain Miss Priscilla Mullins, a daughter o
Mr. VIM. Mullins, the breach in his family wou