Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-12-16
legislature Of virginia.

Arms; and D, s. Baldwin, Doorkeeper. Mi
Deneale moved that committee be appointe
to wait on the Governor and inform him ina
the Senate was ready to receive any communica
ton from him. Mr.. Old opposed the motion
unprecedented and unnecessary, but after depa1
it was adopted, Z 1 c !.
A number of resolutions of inquiry were OF
fered and referred, among them the following:
BY Mr.. Armstrong OF MAXIM
further appropriation to the Loudoun and Halnp
shire Railroad. sf lst I'll =,
By Mr.. Layne-Expediency ofreporting oil
authorizing loan to the Central Railroad. .
BY Mr.. August-To inquire into the expedi
ency of reporting bill No. ia of last session
authorizing an increase in the capital stock o
the James River and Kanawha Canal company
and a subscription thereto by the State.
railroad from Harrsonburg to the Virginia ant
Tennessee Railroad, at some point near Salem.
The Governors Message was received and par
of it read. s1ss
Houss.-Mr. Carter of Westmoreland, called
the House to order, and on his motion st. q
Tucker was elected Clerk. On motion of Mr.
Powell, Of Loudoun, o. N. Crutchfeld, ESQ.
was elected Speaker A. 7. Obenchain, of Pitt
West. of Wetzel, First Doorkeeper, and Il. /
Burruss. of King William, Second Doorkeeper.
Mr.. Magruder presented the petition of tht
Orange and Alexandria Railroad company, ask
ing for subscription on the part Of the State Il
said road.
Mr.. Christian offered resolution, which was
of providing for the further prosecution OF the
Covlngton and Ohio Railroad.
Y.-Senate-The President announ
ced the Standing Committees. A joint resolu
ton of the House fixing Thursday next as the
time for electing U. s. Senator to succeed Mr.
Hunter, was adopted, -
Houss.-On motion of Mr.. Preston, the Speak
err was directed to invite the clergy of the city
to open the sessions each day with prayer.
On motion of Mr.. Claybrook, after some dis
cussion, $500 copies of the Governors Messages
were ordered to be printed, 5.e s..,
On motion of Mr.. Stevens, of Rockingham, 9
joint resolution was adopted agreeing to 60 into
the election of Senator on Thursday.
On motion of Mr.. Segar resolution was a.
dopted, requesting the banks Of the State to furn
ish the House with statements showing the a.
mount of specie drawn from them by brokers.
A large rumber of resolutions of inquiry were
offered and referred, among them the following:
Increasing the capitsl stock of the Manassas Gap
Railroad Company, and authorizing q State
scription.-Anthorizing an extension OF the
Winchester and Potomac Railroad. Reorganiz-
ing the milita-Incorporating company to con-
struct railroad from Lynchburg to the North
Carolina line-Providing for the construction OF
railroad from Harrisonburg to the Va. q Tenn.
R. R.-Authorizng the Dora Coal g. Iron Com.
pany to construct railroad to its mines Offered
by Mr.. McCue)- Reporting bill to conform
and make valid the bequest of Margaret Shayer's
estate, for the benefit of the poor children OF the
town of Staunton (by Mr.. Chrstian)-Transfer-
ring the election of Commissioners OF Revenue
and Constables to the Courts-Authorizing q
loan to the Virginia CAtral Railroad (by MIR.
Massie)-Providing for the construction of q
railroad from Lynchburg to the Central Railroad
at Covington or in Rockbridge.
Mr.. Christian presented the petition of citizens
of Augusta, asking for an election precinct al
Midway. $3.50
>YfbNEsDAY. misunderstanding of interest.
|. 1bse.-On motion of Mr.. Crane, it was re,
s ed that the Board of Public Works report t.
this House as early as practicable, the condition
of the Blue Ridge Tunnel; why it has pot been
completed If any neglect in the colnphtlGn Is
chargeable to the Engineer of said work. II was
resolred, on motion of Mr.. Howeston, that
special committee of seven be appointed for the
purpose of considering the expediency OF PROV
ding for the removal. or otherwise disposing Of
the free negroes of Virginia.
A resolution offered by Mr. Kemper was adopt
ed directing the Committee on Banks to inquire
into the expediency of preparing for the intro
duction of the independent treasury system int
Virginia, by suppressing all bank notes under
$40 after JAN l, 1859; all under $40 after Jan
/, 1880 /: and all under $50 after Jan. l, 1862.
Among the resolutions of inquiry was one IN
reference to legalizing the present suspension o
the banks, and another in favor OF making II
penal offence for the Sheriffs to default to thu
Commonwealth.
Requiring the revenue to be collected by col
lectors, appointed by the county courts, insteat
of sheritfs elected by the people, Offered by Mr.
Christian) ~ /.
THuRspAY.-Senate-A variety of other bust
ness not of general interest was transacted. ant
then the Senate proceeded to vote for United
States Senator. The vote stood, for Mr.. Hunter
"A, W. G. Rives 8, @. L. Mostly /.
House.-The Speaker announced the Standing
Committees, and the House proceeded to the e
lection Of y. S. Senator. Mr.. Martz, of Rock
ingham nominated R. NJ T. Hunter, and Mr.
Splitter, of Page, seconded the nomination. Thu
vote stood, for Hunter $40, Rives 3, Wyndham
Robertson 2, Summers l, Russell l. Joint vote
vote of Senate aud House-Hunter 1856, Rives 6
Robertson 2, &C. Mr.. Hunter was declared dull,
elected Senator of the United States, tor six year,
from the 4th of March, 1859. rot
Sandry resolutions were offered, but nothing
of general interest, and the House adjourned.
FRIDAY.-,Senate.-A bill was reported grant
ing the petition of the Trustees of Trinity Church
Staunton.
Mr.. Caldwell offered a resolution of inquiry II
reference to dividing the State into revenue dis
tricts. and to require that all taxes and othe
revenue received from each district, shall be de
posted in some bank or banks in such district.
Houss.-The Committee OF Courts presented {
report aduerse to the proposition tor referring
the election of commissioners of the revenue ant
constables to the corporation and county courts
The Committee of Roads presented bills au
thorzing loan to the Orange and Alexandra
railroad company, and providing for the com
pletion of the Covington and Ohio railroad
| Appropriates sum sufficient to complete thu
road, provided that the sum expended shall no
exceed So, 000, 900 per annum.] a gaif.e,af
Mr.. Heath, of Richmond, defended the Cour
of Appeals against the imputatons of the Gov
ernor's Message, that business was unnecessarily
delayed. oi ~ 2
SATuRpAY.-A variety of business was trans
acted in both houses, but nothing of interest.
THE UTAH EXPEDITION dispatches from
Colonel Johnston. who is in command of the ar
my of Utah, dated at South Pass, October Is
indicate very plainly that serious difficulties are
threatening the expedition. The despatch states
what was before known, (viz: that Colonel A.
exander had advanced by Hams Fork of Greer
river, to about thirty-five miles above the cross
ing,) and says that that officers intended
movements will be found impracticable. Col
Alexander, it will be remembered, had rested
at the point mentioned above, and had issued