Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-01-31
Legislature of Virginia.

Legislature of Virginia.
MoNDAY.-Jan. 23-.Senate.- bill to re
peal the anti-duelipg act was taken up, and the
question being on Mr.. Brannan's substitute, il
was adopted-ayes %, noes 49,. The ill wat
then ordered to be engrossed.
Mr.. Wickman offered rider to the bill max
ing an appropriation to the Military Institute
requiring that not less than fifty Cadets, one from
each Senatorial District, shall be admitted free
OF charge tor board and tuition. The bill and
rider were laid on the table.
The Governor communicated letter from Mr.
.. l.. Chaplain, of New Haven, Connecticut, who
was appointed to bear to Virginia the resolu
lions adopted by Union meeting in that city
After some debate, the resolutions. &C., were or
dered to be printed.
The bill for paying expenses incurred by the
Harper's Ferry affair, which WIS agreed upon by
the Committee of Conference of the two Houses
was reported to the Senate, and passed unani
mously.
| bill to complete the Virginia Central Rail
road was taken up, and, on motion of Mr.. Stuart
was amended, and was ordered to be engrossed
and read third time.
| H0use.-Mr. McCue introduced q resolution
OF inquiry as to to the expediency of establish.
ing an election precinct at Parnassus, Augusta
county,
The Committee of Conference on the Harper's
Ferry expense bill made report recommending
the passage of bill appointing the Secretary o.
the Commonwealth, the Auditor and Attorney
General Board to audit the claims and issue
warrants, to be paid by the Auditor, provided
not more than $4,000 be SO paid; and that al
claims shall be presented within six months
and provided when doubts arise as to the claims
they shall be reported to the House, The bill
also excerpts and requires to be reported to the
Legislature the claims of all general staff and
| field officers, and all railroad companies. ! The
report was concurred in, and the bill passed
unanimously.
| Mr.. Hopkins offered resolution for the ap-
/ pointment of a joint committee to report re-
/ spouse to the communication from South Carroll
na Laid on the table.
| A bill was reported from select committee
providing for the sale into slavery, or the re-
moval from the Commonwealth, of free negroes
convicted second time, in court of record, OF
offences punishable with stripes or imprison-
ment. The bill was read the first time
The bill making an appropriation for the
completion and equipment of the Covington and
Ohio Railroad, came up. Mr.. Raymond, of Ma
rion, spoke at length, in opposition to the BILL
/ TUEsDAY.-Senate.-Mr Paxton reported a
x,
after some opposition by Mr. Beale, was made
the order OF the day for Tuesday next
i The Governor communicated a letter from
Gen. Taliaferro concerning the military ex-
penses connected with the Harper's Ferry affair
} He estimated the whole cost, except transport
!, alton and such claims as have been paid out OF
the contingent fund, at about $72, 900. He says
also, that although the law allows him four staff
officers, he never had more than three and part
of the time only one. Other aids served volun.
tarily, without pay.
| House-Mr. Raymond concluded his speech
in opposition to the Covington & Chic Railroad
| bill, and offered an amendment that no contract
! shall be made till one fourth of the bonds au-
thorized to be issued shall be sold at par and
the money paid into the Treasury.
t Mr.. Smith, of Kanawha, followed in advocacy
of the bill.
WEDNEsDAY-Senate.-A bill was reported
to ameud the Code so as to repeal the prohibit
ton against man marrying his brothers wild
{ ow.
Mr.. Paxton introduced resolution of inquiry
in regard to incorporating a company to con
struct railroad from Goshen to the Rockbridgt
Alum Springs.
/, Mr.. Stuart called up the Senate bill making
an appropriation of $l3, 900 for the construction
of laundry &c., at the Western Lunatic Asy
lum. The bill was passed and communicated te
the House.
The bill appropriating 900 to the Military
J, Institute was taken up. Mr.. NeesOn offered
t substitute for Mr.. Wickham's rider, which wa:
adopted.
Lieut. Gov. Montague being absent in conse
quence of Sickness the Senate elected Mr.. Isbel]
t of Jsffferson, President pro tenn.
| The resolution communicated from the House
for the appointment of joint Committee to II
} port a response to the message received from
South Carolina, through Mr. Memminger, was
| dopted, and the following are the Senate Com
mittee !: Messrs. Coghill, August, Neeson, Chris
tian, Stuart. e s
House.-After some business of no general in
, terest, Mr.. Seldom called up his resolution pro
vidng for Convention of Southern delegates
at Atlanta, Ga Mr.. Sibert, of Shenandoah
offered an amendment providing that the Vir
GINA Commissioners be instructed in no even
to commit the State to the dissolution of til,
, Union, now or hereafter. The resolution ant
, amendment were laid on the table.
Mr.. Hopkins then called up his resolution fo
the appointment of joint committee to con
slider the matter The resolution was adopted
and the foregoing resolution and amendmen
, were referred to the Committee.
Mr.. Smith, of Kanawha, concluded his speech
in favor of the Covington & Ohio Railroad bill
and Mr. Wilson, OF Isle of Wight, spoke on thu
other side.
THURSDAY .Senate.-Mr. Stuart from thu
Joint Committee on the Harper's Ferry outrage
presented report The report commences will
history of the invasion; the subject of the in
PRODUCTION of slavery into this country is fully
f examined, the political agitation of the slavery
question is traced step by step, from the time O
!, its inception to its bloody contamination al
Harper's Ferry. 1t atfirms that Virginia is ant
has ever been willing to maintain peaceful re
lations with her sister States of the North, and
does not desire to rupture the ties which bind
the two sections together. The report closes
with resolutions urging the arming and equip
ping of the militia the encouragement of do
nestle manufactures and direct trade with for
eign countries; asking the cooperation OF other
Southern States in carrying out these meas
ures; instructing committees to report bills fol
the more prompt punishment of persons at
tempting to incite slaves to instructions and
declaring that the evidence before the committee
amply vindicates the course Of the late Govern
or On motion of Mr. Thomas, of Fairfax, q
500 extra copies Of the report were ordered to
be printed.
The bill making an appropriation to the Mill
tary Institute was called up, and Mr.. Paxton
moved to strike out the part of the bill making
an appropriation out of the Literary Fund
The motion prevailed.
A ryder was then adopted appropriating al
additional sum of S., 500 for the support of State
Cadets The bill was ordered to be engrossed
The tax bill was considered and postponed til