Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-12-23
Legislature of Virginia.

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MONDAY, Dec 14.-Senate.-Mr. Dougla
from the Finance and Claims Committee, pre-
ented bill providing for the payment of none
on account Of purchase by the Board of Publ
Works of the Junction Valley Turnpike.
The following resolutions Of inquiry were o.
fered, among others:
BY Mr.. Johnson-Of incorporating join
stock company to construct and complete tn
Covington and Ohio railroad in the State, SUI
rendering to said company the States interest i
said road the said company to be required to com
plete said road within specified time.
By Mr.. Daughtrey-O inquirirg whether o
not authority exists under any of the laws of thi
yond the limits of the State, tor any purpose
the arms of the State, and of repeating or modi
flying said law if any such exists.
! Mr.. Coghill submitted the following resolu
ton:
ResOlced, That the committee for Courts o
Justice be instructed to report q bill prescribing
the manner of filling the vacancy which will oc
cur in the office of Lieut.. Governor at the expi
ration Of 80 days from the commencement of THU
session of the General Assembly. After long
debate the resolution was laid on the table.
House.-The following among other bills were
TeUOIteu lTOLl lNe SlduulDS COluIulIleco'
To increase the capital stock of the Manassas
Gap Railroad Company, and authorizing the
Board OF Public Works to subscribe thereto.
To increase the capital stock of the James
River and Kanawha Company, and to authorize
a subscription thereto by the Commonwealth.
To incorporate the Valley Railroad Company
For further subscription to the Alexandria,
Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad Company
provides for subscription not exceeding three
tifths OF Sl,sO0,OOO)
A large amount of other business was trans.
acted, but nothing of interest.
TUESDAY, Senate-After some other bust
ness Mr.. Coghill's resolution in reference to the
election of Lieut.. Gov. was taken up. Mr.. Smith,
of Greenbrier, maintained the power OF the Gov
ernor to fill the vacancy, and Of the Legislature
to elect Lieut.. Gov. at the expiration of 30
days after assembling Mr.. Stuart, of Augusta,
dissented and spoke at some length. The dis
cussion was continued by Messrs. Rives, Logan
and Others, and, pending the debate, the Senate
adjourned.
House.-Bills were reported relinquishing any
claim of the commonwealth to the estate of
Margaret Slayer, bequeathed to the poor chill
dren of Staunton; and to provide for the enlist
ment of young men between the ages of Is and
% in the Public Gnard, to provide for their in
struction and appropriating a sum OF money for
these purposes.
The bill previously passed by the Senate, au-
thorzing the trustees of the Episcopal Church
in Stanton to hold two acres of land, was pass
ed.
WEDNESDAY. Douglas inrodu-
ced resolution OF inquiry as to the expediency
of increasing the capital stock of the Richmond
and York River Railroad, and authorizing the
Board of Public Works to subscribe thereto.
The resolution in regard to the Lieut.. Gov.
was amended and after further discussion, pass
ed.
Tie election of Second Auditor Public Print
er &c. came up as the joint order of the day, but
the House not being ready to proceed the Senate
adjourned.
House.-The Speaker announced the first bust
ness to be the election of Auditor, Printer &C.
Mr.. Seldom, of Stafford, moved that the election
of Printer be postponed till Monday, Mr. Clay
brook, Of Westmoreland, enquired the reason for
the motion. Mr.. S. assigned three reasons for
desiring time to investigate the matter-1st. He
was not prepared to say whether he would go
for any Printer. End. 1t was rumored that Mr..
Richie was about to go abroad as Minister to
Naples, and he was re elected, the office would
be left vacant. Ord. He did not wish by the re-
election of Mr.. Richie to be considered as en-
dorsing the recent course of the Richmond En-
quirer.
Mr.. Claybrook replied, urging an immediate
electing. Mr.. Crane, of Randolph, took the
same side. Mr.. Raymond, of Marion, advocated
d postpoDement lie had been told that the
profits of the office were $4,000 each session,
aud that the printing could be done for 20 per
cent. less than the present cost. The debate
was continued by other members, and Mr.. Clay
brook finally waived his objection to postpone
ment But the Senate having adjourned in the
mean time, the joint order fell and the House
then adjourned.
THURSDAY. -Seaate-Among the bills report
ed were the following
Senate bill OF last session providing for run
ming the boundary line between Virginia and
Maryland, and bill making an appropriation to
the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institution at Staun-
ton.
On motion of Mr.. Daughtrey, it was resolved
to request the Executive to furnish information
in reference to the muskets loaned to Governor
Lyon.
James NJ. Bennett was elected Second Auditor,
and r. NJ. Nimmo Penitentiary storekeeper.
House.-The following bills were reported, a.
mong others:
Establishing an election precinct at Newport
in Augusta county; establishing third election
precinct at Midway in Augusta county; to a
mend the act concerning general elections so as
to provide for the manner of filling vacancies in
the office of Lieut.. Governor; to supply the de-
ficiency in the support fund for the Deaf, Dumb
and Blind Institution to authorize the Dora
Coal and Iron mining company to construct
railroad to its mines increasing the capital stock
of the Virginia Central Railroad company, and
authorizing the Board of Public Works to sub
scribe therefor; for the relief of Benz. Crawford
and W. W. Donagbe.
Mr.. Bennett was elected Auditor, and Mr..
Nimmo Penitentiary Storekeeper.
Mr.. Seldom offered resolution for the ap.
pointment of joint committee by the Senate
and House to inquire into the subject of the pub
lie printing. Mr.. Howerton offered substitute.
and ON his motion the House adjourned,
FRIDAY-Senate.-T reports were receiv-
ed from the Committee Of Courts of Justice on
the question of filling the vacancy in the office OF
1t. Governor, one for filling the Office by the
General Assembly, another for the duties devolv-
ing Cd the President of the Senate pro. tenn, and
another providing for an election hereafter to fill
the Office.
Mr.. Douglas offered two resolutions, deeming
it unwise, in view of the present depressed state
of financial affairs, TO make aay appropriation to
works of internal improvement, save such rea-
sonable sums As may be required To keep works
nearly or fully completed, from falling into de-
cay, requesting the Governor to convene an extra
session, should revival in commercial affairs
take place before the next regular session. The
resolutions were made the order of the day for
the first Wednesday in January.
On motion of Mr.. Johnson, it was resolved
that the Senate, with the concurrence of the
House, take a recess from Wednesday, Dec. 23d,
to Monday, the 4th of January.
Bills were passed authorizing the payment of
money on account of the purchase of the juno