Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-04-07
LegisIature...E.tra session.

House bills passed was one forming the county
of Clay out of parts of Braxton and Nicholas.
The bill, fixing August 1st as the day for the
resumption of specie payment by the banks,
was passed.
The bill to amend the charter of the Win.
chester & Potomac Railroad, so as to authorize
an extension of the road to Strasburg, was re-
jected-yeas 6, nays 80. 4
communication was received from the Audi
tor in answer to resolution. He states the a.
mount by which the State debt is increased by
appropriations to be $2,925,900. With regard
to the amount to be called for 1862, he makes
some copjectures, but states nothing certain
with regard to the necessity of increasing taxa
ton; he says the revenue is sufficient to meet
the expenses of government now, and the ne
cessity of an increase depends upon the action
of the Legislature.
House.-The bill to form the county of Clay
was passed-yeas 100, nays 0.
The oyster tax bill was discussed by MIR. Pax
ton. and then, on his motion, laid on the table.
TUEsDAY.-Senate.- bill defining the duties
and powers of the Board of Public Works was
passed. 1t gives the Board of Public Works the
right to appoint State Engineer at salary OF
$4,000 per annum the power TO direct how
State proxies shall vote, to examine the affairs
and condition of internal improvement compa-
MES, in which the State is interested, and where
company refuses to submit to such examine
ton, the Board may discontinue the working OF
the road it prohibits internal Improvement COM
panies from giving mortgages on deeds, on their
property, or disposing OF their bonds below par,
without the consent of the Board; it prohibits
presidents of such companies from being interest
ed in contracts on their works.
Another bill was passed making stealing from
the person (picking pockets) punishable by not
less than three years Imprisonment in the penl-
Tertiary.
Mr.. Rives introduced resolution of inquiry
as to the expediency of authorizing the Govern
or, with the concurrence of the Board Of Public
Works, to appoint an agent to negotiate abroad
loan necessary for the current and next fiscal
year.
The bill authorizing the connection of the
Richmond and Danville Railroad with the North
Carolina Central Railroad, by q road from Dan
vile to Greensboro, N. O., was passed-yeas 26,
nays Z.
House.-The bill Incorporating company and
appropriatng $4,000 for the construction of q
road from Wayne Courthouse to the Ohio River,
was taken up. Mr.. Plymale advocated the bill
on the ground that he had more children than
any other member of the House. He had nine
sons and nine daughters! The House failed to
recognize the force of the argument, and the
bill was lost for want OF constitutional MAORI
ty-yeas SO, nays 45.
The bill for more uniform currency of the
banks of the State, was discussed and one or two
amendments were adopted.
WEDNESDAY. Mr.. Deneale offered a
:. ,pb;ob Iao ,1p1ar tho rn1aa
approprating 100000, to deepening the chan
mel and removing Instructions from James River
| from Richmond to deep water, and deepening
the channel of the Appomattox River down to
James River.
The bill offered by Mr.. Daughtry, amending
the militia bill was taken up. Messrs. Flood and
Catlett offered amendments giving the election
of Major and Brigadier General to the officers OF
divisions and brigades. Mr.. Douglas offered an
amendment restoring all militia officers to the
positions which the action of the militia bill de-
prives them Of After debate the bill and a
mendments were laid on the table.
The bill exemptng State bonds from taxation
BY counties and corporations, was passed.
| House.-A resolution from the Senate, author
izing the publication of $500 copies of the con-
soldated and revised election laws, was read and
agreed to.
| A Senate bill making an appropriation OF $25,-
900 to the Virginia Military Institute, for the
purpose of completing its buildings, inoosing its
grounds, and providing supply of water, was
passed-yeas rs, nays &c.
| A Senate bill making an appropriation OF So
900 per annum to the University of Virgina,for
four years, was taken up and being amended, by
substituting "$12,50 in lieu of "$25, 000," the
question on the passage thereof was put, and a.
gain determined in the negative for the want OF
constitutional majority-yeas 81, nays 80.
! The House resumed the consideration OF the
bill to provide more uniform currency of the
banks of this Commonwealth The pending a.
mendment was the proposition to strike out the
discount feature of the redemption requirement,
aud the same was rejected
Mr.. Mckenzie offered the following as an ad-
ditonal section:
mo bank or branch thereof shall discount any
draft, note, or bill of exchange payable at any
point beyond the limits of the Commonwealth,
and within the limits of the United States, which
is drawn for longer time than sixty days after
its date" The bill was passed.
The Senate bill requiring the banks of this
Commonwealth to resume specie payments on
the LIST of August next, under certain penalties,
was taken up. The 1st of May was substituted
instead of the 1st of August, and the bill passed
yeas 70, nays 90
THuRsDAY-Senate.-Th House bill releas-
ing the right of the State to q turnpike running
| from Franklin to Monterey, was passed.
The general appropriation bill was taken up
and passed for the two years-lS5S-59. A.
mong the most prominent items are $163, 1914 40
for the two Legislative sessions of '57-S; 1924,
900 for salaries to officers of the civil govern
ment: $4,000 to pay for slaves executed and
transported; $4,000 to the Washington Monu-
ment; $4,367, l1s for the payment of interest on
the public debt and the gradual redemption
thereof, and for investment; $271, 647.10 to pay
the interest on the guaranteed bonds of the
James River and Kanawha Canal Company
$50, 900 to pay the interest on the guaranteed
bonds of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal; So
900 to enclose the birthplace of Washington.]
The House amendment to the Senate bill, re-
curing merchants to take an oath not to deal
with slaves, came up and was discussed. The
amendment prevents merchants from selling liq-
uor to free negroes without certificate of their
good character from three magistrates. After
debate the amendment was adopted-yeas o.
nays 10. -
Ho,lse-The Fredericksburg and Gordons-
Vile Railroad bill was taken up. the bill au-
thorizes the unpaid portion of the three 6fths
subscription ($24O, OOO) heretofore appropriated
to be issued as preferred six per cent. stock. II
was advocated by Messrs. Crutch6eld, McCue
Christian and others, and rejected-yeas 49,
nays 67. u
Mr.. Paxton moved to take up the oyster tax
bil--refused, yeas 46, nays 63.
The order of the day was then taken up, be-
ing a Senate bill to suppress the circulation Of
notes of certain denomination.
At the night session, Mr.. Christian in the
Chair the bill to incorporate the Lynchburg
and N. @. Railroad, was discussed and indefinite
ly postponed