Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-02-10
Legislature of Virginia.


tral Bank of Virginia to change its system OF
Banking. Leave was given, and the bill was
ordered To second reading, conditionally, ION re-
quest of Messrs Old and Ambler) thatit should
then be referred to the committee on banks.
The bill authorizing the consolidation of the
Baltimore and Ohio and the Northwestern Vir-
amendment offered by Mr.. Caldwell was adopt
ed and the bill laid on the table.
HouSe-After some other unimportant bust
ness, the free negro bill was resumed. Mr.. Gil
ner spoke in opposition to the Till, and Mr.
Howerton advocated it, The vote was then ia
ken on an amendment offered by Mr.. Dickinson,
OF Prince Edward CO., proposing to exempt tree
negroes over the age of forty-tive years, etc,
from the operation of the law. This proposition
was rejected, whereupon the House adjourned.
TUEsDAY.-Senate.-Several bills not OF gen
eral interest were passed. The bill amending
the law so as more fully to define the powers
and duties of inspectors of flour, then came up
MIR. Amber, of Louisa, and Mr.. Campbell, of
Petersburg, advocated the bill, Mr.. White OPP
posed it. 1t was laid on the table.
H0use-The free-negro bill was resumed
Various amendments were adopted, and the sub
Ject was postponed.
On motion of Mr.. Lee, it was resolved that
committee be appointed with leave to report
bill authorizing the Governor to contract with
VIM. h. Barbee, for the erection in this capitol
of marble statue of James Madison, late Presi-
dent of the United States.
On motion of Mr.. Warwick, of Nelson, it was
resolved that the committee of roads, etc., en-
quire into the expediency of releasing to the
county court of Augusta so much of the Rock
fish and Howardsyille turnpike road as lies in
said county.
Observation-Disclosures communication was
received from the House, stating that it insisted
on its amendment to the Virginia Southern Nav
gation Company-Hon. A. Dudley Mann's
scheme. The amendment gives the corporate
authorities of Cities towns and counties, the
power to submit the question of voting sub
scription to the people or not, as they may think
proper. The Senate had disagreed to the a
amendment, but this morning receded from their
disagreement.
The bill appropriating $4,000 to the inaugura-
ton ceremonies on the I'D was amended 50 as
to increase the amount to $4,000, and passed.
A bill establishing branch bank at Beverly,
in Randolph county, was defeated-the vote re-
considered, and the bill then laid on the table.
RouSe-A bill was reported releasing to the
in so much of the Rockfsh and Howardsville
turnpike as lies in said county.
Mr.. Lee presented bill authorizing the Gov
ernor to contract with Vim. r. Barbee for sta
tue of James Madison. The bill was advanced
to second reading, and ordered to be engrossed.
The free-negro bill was taken up. Mr.. Jones,
of Appomattox, addressed the House at length
in support of the bill reported from the commit
Il tbo,, fl,o,
continued by Messrs. Dickinson, of Prince Ed
ward Powell, of Loudoun, Ball and Preston.
TuURsDAY-,Senate.-A bill was reported
with recommendation that it do not pass, iu-
creasing the salary of the Auditor to $4,000,
and the salaries of the other officers in proper
ton.
The bill to establish branch bank at Beverly
was passed.
Mr.. Rives moved that the biz authorizing
further subscription to the Alexandria, Loudouu
and Hampshire Railroad, and all similar bills,
De laid on the table and made the order of the
day for Tuesday. a debate ensued and it was
generally conceded that no appropriations must
oe made if an increase Of taxation should follow.
The motion was agreed to-ayes %, nays 20.
House-The bill appropriating $1,000 to de-
fray the expenses attending the erection aud in
auguration of the Washington statue, was de-
eated for the want of constitutional majority.
The vote was reconsidered, and the bill laid on
the table.
The free negro bill was resumed. Mr.. Pres
ton concluded his arguments against the meas
ure and was followed on the other side by
Messrs. Gregory and Lee.
enthusiastically petition Of Samuel A.
Kerr, OF Augusta county, asking divorce from
his wife, was presented.
The bill for the relief OF the South Sile Rail
road was called MP. ant-a discussion ensued in
which Messrs. Campbell, Stuart and others par
tioipated The bill was then laid on the table.
House-Mr. Christian, from the committee of
roads, ETC., reported bill providing for the set
clement of dividends and interest with the Or
ange and Alexandria Railroad.
Mr.. Heath presented reported in favor of
| improvement Of the Capitol. The report pro-
puses to enlarge the halls, erect stone steps in
front of the building, &c. &C., at cost not ex-
ceeding $46,2l0.
The free negro bill was resumed and further
discussed. Mr.. Powelrs substitute, providing
| for the Punishment or enslavement of only tree
negroes convicted of felony, was struck out
yeas n, nays 81. Substitutes offered by Messrs.
Keen and Osborne were also rejected. Mr.
Duckwall's substitute then came up, and it was
adopted-yeas IA, nays 63-Messrs. Christian,
Massie and McCue voting in the Affirmative
| This substitute provides that the county and
corporation courts shall each appoint overseers
of free negroes, who shall furnish the clerks of
courts with lists OF free negroes. Any free ne
gro appearing from such list to be without vsi-
ble means of support &c is to be summoned be-
fire the court and ordered to be hired out for
term not less than six months nor more than two
wears. or sentenced to labor on public works:
l. and upon second conviction the negro shall be
sold for a period at the discretion of the court
provided, however, if the negro elect to remove
from the State, six months shall be allowed him
or her for that purpose Mr.. Dickinson offered
an amendment as an additional section to the
bill, but the House adjourned without taking
the vote.
SATURpAY.-Senate.-T South Side Rail
road bill was further discussed and then laid on
the table,
House.-The Senate bill appropriating the ad-
dtional sum of Sc, 900 $4,000 in alb to defray
the expenses of the Washington Monument Gel
ebratiou was taken up, and advocated by sever
al members. 1t was passed-yeas 90, nays 81.
HORRIBLE MURDER.-The body of Mrs. Mary
S. Turley was found, week before last, in Coal
river Kanawha county. A stone weighing SO
pounds was attached to the body by rope
The verdict of the jury of inquest was that she
was murdered by her husband, P. S. Turley, who
had been arrested Immediately on finding the
body. The Kanawha Republican says: Turley
had for several years. been a preacher in the
Baptist Church. and enjoyed the confidence of
his acquaintance but about two years ago he
got out of the Church, commenced selling liquor
drinking II to excess gambling and keeping bad
women; his vrtuous wife was in the way, and
we have the result Of his fall, and his short but
rapid career of vice and crime: Since he has
been in jail, he has confessed that he put the
hody of his wife in the river, but that he did