Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-03-06
LEGISLATURE of Virginia.

Legislature of Virginia.
MONDAY, Feb -Senate.-Bils were re-
ported, among others, for the better organiza-
ton of the militia, and for the better regulation
of the Lunatic Asylums and d. & D. u b. In
stitution.
The Senate agreed to the resolution adopted
by the House on Saturday, to refer the James
River & Kanawha Canal bill to a joint commit
tee.
Mr. French offered joint resolution extend
ing the session to the 10Th of March. Lies
over
The bill to incorporate the Pttsylvania Rail-
road Company was debated and rejected.
The substitute for the bill to incorporate the
Fredericksburg & Fauquier Railroad Company
was ordered to be engrossed. 1t authorizes a
subscription of ,three-ffths of 100000 to con-
struct road thirty miles long, to connect with
the Manassas Gap and Orange & Alexandria
Railroads.
A communication was read from the Com
mssoners appointed to audit and settle the ex-
penses incurred at Harper's Ferry.
The bill to re-arrange the judicial Circuits
was amended and ordered to be engrossed.
House-A message from the Governor rel
alive to the boundary line between Virginia
and Tennessee, was received.
The bill incorporating the Rockbridge Alum
Springs Railroad Company was passed.
The militia bill was considered.
TUEsDAY.-Sen0te.-T vote rejecting the
bill Incorporating the Pittsylvania Railroad Com
pany having been re-considered, the bill was
taken up and passed.
The bill authorizing the Winchester & Poto-
mac Railroad Company to extend their road to
Strausburg was discussed, and then rejected
ayes 5, nays %.
The substitute for the bill Incorporating the
Fredericksburg & Fauquier Railroad Company,
was rejected. Reconsidered and laid on the
table.
| The bill to incorporate the South-Side Ex-
tension Railroad Company was advocated by
Messrs. Paxton and Stuart. 1t was passed, and
the title of the bill was then amended by styling
it "a bill authorizing the Virginia Central Rail-
road Company to construct branch of their
road to Lexington"
A joint resolution communicated from tie
House, for the extension OF the session to the
18th of March, was debated and ost-ayes %
noes l2-not constitutional majority. Re.
considered and laid on the table.
House.-Several, bills were passed.
A resolution to extend the session to March
18th was passed-ayes l02, nays "a.
A select committee was ordered and appoint
ed to inquire into the expediency of requiring
| Railroad Companies in which the State is in
terested to establish remunerative rates of char
ges.
WEDNESDAY Observation-Disclosures some other bust
ness, the joint resolution for an extension of the
session to March 18th was agreed to-ayes 33
nays 5.
The General Appropriation bill was consd
cred, and the blank respecting the salary of the
Adutant General was filled with the sum O
$500.
House Nothing of interest.
THURsDAY.-Senate.-T Senate bill making
an appropriation of $4,000 to the Richmond
Medical College was passed-ayes %, noes 9.
| The Senate bill allowing pension to Sarat
Shepherd, wife of the coored porter who was
killed at Harper's Ferry, was rejected for wan
of constitutional majority-ayes 10. noes Is
The vote was reconsidered and the bill laid or
the table.
The Senate bill to limit the right Ito 10 years
to make an entry or bring an action to recover
lands, or the possession thereof, west Of the AL
ieghany mountains, was taken up. Mr.. Stuar
opposed the bill as being unjust to nonresident
proprietors, and as being a new species of Squat
ter Sovereignty. Mr.. Newman believed the bill
to be necessary to prevent the depopulation Of
the western part of the State. Mr.. Smith op
posed, and Mr.. French supported the bill. The
vote Oh It's passage SLOou, ayes D, noes 1o-nt
quorum.
Home-Bills to extend the charters Of various
old Banks, including the Bank of the Valley
were introduced. Also bill authorizing tb,
Bank of the Valley to establish branch in Rich
mond.
The bill for the better organization of thu
militia was passed-ayes 104, noes 6.
Enthusiastically Senate bill concerning
land suits west of the Allegheny was taken up
and advocated by Mr.. Newman and opposed BY
Mr. Stuart. 1t was then reiected-ayes Is, noes
Is.
The Senate bill to re arrange the Judicial Cir
cults &c, was passed.
A bill to take the sense of the votes of Acco
mac and Northampton as to what shall be done
with the free negroes Of those counties, was lai(
on the table after brief consideration.
H0use.-A special committee upon making
further provision for expenses at Harpers Ferry
was appointed.
The substitute for the bill amending the char
ter of the James River and Kanawha Cana
Company was further discussed and then passed
I-ayes 80, noes 81.
! SATURDAY.-Senate.-A lengthy and interest
ing letter from the Mississippi Commissioner
Gen. P. Fl. Starke, was read in both branches 0
the General Assembly In view of the early
adjournment of the Legislature, he invites th'
earnest attention of that body to the subject o
bis mssion-a proposed Conference ofthe South
ern States. The consideration of the letter wa
made the order of the day for Tuesday. A join
resolution was introduced by Mr.. Isbell to gran
sixty new uniforms Cat cost not exceeding
$1,000 to the Jefferson Guards as bounty, the.
having been on duty at the scene Of Johl
Browns raid since October 10th, the date of it
inception.
House-A bill was passed making an addition
al appropriation of SIS, 900 to defray the Har
per's Ferry expenses. The bill which passed thu
Senate for the arrangement of the Judicia
Districts of the State, was referred to the House
Committee on Courts of Justice. A bill was
passed repeating certain sections of the law pro
vidng for more uniform currency OF the banks
of the Commonwealth The Senate bill appro
priating 100000 to the Virginia Military In
stitute and for other purposes, was defeated fol
want of constitutional majority. Subsequent
ly the bill was reconsidered and laid on the
table.
The Mexican Treaty.
| The United States Senate has been consider
| ing, in secret session, for some time past, the
treaty concluded by our Minister, Mr.. McLane
with the Juarez government of Mexico. The
details of the treaty have not been made public,
but it is said to contemplate direct interference
on the part of the United States with the affairs
of Mexico, and to require the payment by US OF
fonr millions of dollars Half of this sUfn Is tO