The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-12-17
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.

SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
"WEDNESDAY, Dec. 16, 1857.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. WOODBRIDGE, Of the Epis-
copai church.
intormiug the Senate that II had rejected Senate
bill allowing additional compensation TO the Clark
of the Senate, and passed Senate bill authorizing
the trustees Of the Protestant ET iseopai church,
Ia Staunton 10 hold four acres Of land, with an
amendment, reducing the amount Of land to two
acres, (which amendment was agreed 10 by the go
nate.) Also Of the passage Of a bill TO amend the
charter Of the town of Lewsburg. A bill to amend
the act Incorporating the Orphan Asylum OF Alex
andria. A bin for the Incorporation Of the Hall
fax Toll Bridge Company, and a bill incorporating
the WOODBURY. Female Seminary Company in Nor
gantown. The House bills were read twice, and
referred to appropriate committees.
Bills Reported.-A bill to incorporate the Wythe-
vile Female College, bill authorizing the issue Of
a coupon bond to g. Buckingham Co., in place
OF lost; bill to authorize the sale Of estates
of any person without heir or heirs Of the body,
or children offspring, or descendent, or other
relatives. resolution relative to increasing the
salary of the Circuit Court Of Petersburg, was al
so reported.
The following resolutions Of inquiry were Of
fered: BY Mr.. DESEALE, of so amending Sec 20,
chap. IS, more fully to define the duties of in
spectors of -four. By Mr.. WEIGH, of amending
sec OF act of March 3, 1854, so as to forbid the
county courts from granting corporate powers; al
SO, sec !, act of March IL, 1856, to the same end
By Mr.. WEIGH, of repeating laws passed March B.,
1851 and March ii, 1856, relative to incorporating
manufacturing, mining and other companies. By
Mr.. DOUGLASS, for purchasing for the use of mag
istrates and other public officers of the state,
of Matthews Digest of the Laws, provided they do
not cost more than 81 per volume. By MIR. AUGUST,
of increasing the salary OF the clerk of the
Board Of Directors of the Penitentiary. BY Mr..
WARTH, of amending the Code 30 that dispositions
may be taken to be used in evidence in civil cases.
when witnesses reside beyond the limits Of the
|
more than so miles from the Court-IIouse Of such
county.
On motion of Dir. AUGUST, that portion of the
Governors message relating TO the Washington
Monument was referred to a committee of five.
Fttitions were presented from L. d. Morrall and
J. ID. Ryan, asking two sums of money from the
school quota of Barbour county; and from citizens
of Prince George regarding the fence law.
This resolution instructing the Committee OF
Courts of Justice to report bill providing for fill
ing the vacancy to occur In the office OF 1t. Gov
enor in thirty days, was taken up.
Mr. THOMAS moved to embody his amendment,
offered yesterday, in the original resolution.
Mr. WEIGH believed that there were large
majority of the Senators convinced of the consti
tutionality of the Governors appointment, and sus
tanned that view. lie thought the present appoint
ment could hold over in Office and exercise it's
powers. He advocated the right Of the General
Assembly to make the election.
Mr.. BRANSoN thought the Senator from Augusta,
in his remarks yesterday, about the similarity be-
u. Z
had failed to draw the marked distinction which ex-
ist between the powers of Congress and those of
the General Assembly-the former being restrict
ed by the Federal Constitution, and the latter be-
ing under no restriction whatever. lie believed
that the 3sth section of the Code of Virginia made
it imperative on the General Assembly to pre-
scribe the manner Of the election. He read the
section as follows:
The manner of conducting and making returns
of eli ctions of determining contested elections and
Of filling vacancies in Office, in not specially
provided for by this Constitution shall be prescribed
by law: hut special elections to fill vacancies in the
office of Judge of any Court shall be for full term.
And the General Assembly may declare the cases in
which any Office shall be deemed vacant where no
provision is made for that purpose in this Constitu-
tion'
Mr.. THOMAS thought that any objection made by
gentlemen now, to the constitutenality of the ap-
pOintment by the Governor, came too late, as the
Senate acting under the appointment of the
Governor lie contended that the General Assembly
could not 90 into the election of 1t. Governor be-
cause that officer, as prescribed by the Constitu-
| ton, only be elected every four years.
Dir. FLOYD enquired if Oh the election of Presi.
dent pro tenn, 10y the Senate, that President would
be 1t. Governor.
Mr.. THOMAS replied that he thought he would
not.
| The resolution was adopted with the amendment
| III the following form:
Resolved, That the Committee OF Courts Of Justice
be instructed to enquire into the expediency Of re-
will occur in the Office Of Lnt Governor in 30 days
| from this tme,and of amending the act passed May
18th. lS so to provide for the discharge of the
Executive functions. in case the Lieut.. Governor
should be removed from office, shall fail 20 quail
fly, resign, remove from the State, be unable IL
discharge the power and duties of the Office and OF
amending that part of the law devolving the office Of
Governor in certain cases, upon the Attorney Gene
| raj.
| The joint order of the day-the election of Sc
| coEd Auditor, Public Printer and Keeper of the
| Psuitentiary Store, was then taken up.
Mr.. AUGUST, for the office of store keeper put in
| nomination the present incumbent, Robt. VI. MIN
| mo. of Richmond. He spoke of the ability and
| fidelity Of the nominee, and mentioned the fact
that the receipt Of the store for the last five and
| half months, were 45,56o15, while the average
yearly receipts, for the past five years. did not ex
ceed $50 000 lie also stated that since tho appoint
| ment of the present incumbent, merchants in
| Richmond had purchased goods there, which, OF
| other times, they had purchased in other States.
| Mr.. FLOYD nominated Mitchell B. Tate, of Wythe
| for the same office, with high eulogium on that
| geDteman's character. The nomination was sec
| onded by Mr.. TALIAsERRO.
| Mr.. LAYNE nominated John W. Jones, of Bedford
| remarking that Mr.. SPOTS, late Storekeeper, had
been sick six months before the Office was taken by
MIR. Nimmo, which might account for the accumu.
| lation of goods and consequent large sales. Mr.
| JOHNSON seconded this nomination.
On motion of Mr.. WEIGH, it was resolved to sus
pend much of the joint order as related to the
election of Public Printer and I'd Auditor and the
| resolution was 80 amended by Mr.. DENEALE as to
inform the House that the Senate was ready to pro-
| coed to the election of Storekeeper. Mr.. THoMp
SON was appointed to inform the House of the &C.
| tion of the Senate.
| After waiting sometime for a communication
| from the HouAe, the Senate, on motion OF Mr.
CAMPBELL, adjourned.