Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-01-17
Legislature of Virginia.

dScutS, was passed..
The President presented the proceedings of a
public meeting at King William Court House,
which adopted resolutions invoking the Legis-
lature to admit Mr.. B. B. Douglas to his seat in
the Senate, notwithstanding his disability in
Cured by engaging in duel. Laid on the ia
BILE.
House.-The Finance Committee made an in
formal report of the condition of the Treasury
The estimated excess of means over charges
Oct. /, 1861, is 1851 $685. This does not in
clude any estimate for charges created by the
present Legislature. Mr.. Barbour also men
toned that the amount of taxes in the hands of
sheriff, which the sherifs had failed to pay into
the Treasury is $446,294 This large deficit
had all accrued under the new constitution.
After some debate the Covington and Ohio
RAILROAD bill was postponed till Thursday.
The amendments of the Senate to the House
bill providing for the payment of claims growing
out of the Harpers Ferry affair, were considered.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Christian, virtu-
ally Incorporating the provisions of the House
bill on the Senate's amendment, and an addition
al ana endment limiting the appropriation to
sum not exceeding 100000, were adopted
Also priviso that no railroad company in debt
to the Commonwealth shonld share in the bene-
fits of the bill. As thus amended the bill was
pasSed-ayes III, nays q.
TUEsDAY.-Senate.- House bill making
an appropriation to the Deaf and Dumb and
Blind Institution. Was passed.
The joint resolution Tor the appointment of
Committee to visit the Lunatic Asylums, was
taken up, and amended SO as to embrace the
Deaf and Dump apd Blind Institution, and re-
quire an investigation into the Encouragement"
as well as the Condition" Of the Institutions
int 70
effect that it be enquired into how much was
expended on suppers and wines at festivities in
the institutions; but after a teW words from
Mr.. Sllart~=who said that it would be the duty
OF proper committee to make thorough in
vestigation-Mr. Newton Withdrew the motion.
The resolution was adopted.
House.-Mr. Raymond introduced resolu-
tion oi inquiry IS TO the sxpeateney CT sepafatng
the collection of taxes from the office OF Sheriff
On motion of Mr.. Kemper, the bill making
an appropriation for the manufacture and pur-
chase of arms and munitions of war, was taken
up. The bill directs the Governor to procure
suitable machinery for che manufacture OF arms
&C., and appropriated 100000. After some
discussion, motion to lay the bill on the table,
was voted down, and the House adjourned.
| WEDNESDAY bill tor the pay
ment Of expenses incurred in consequence Of ,he
|
| House, and the Senate refused to concur in the
House amendments.
| Bills to complete the Central Railroad, the
Covngton and Ohio Railroad, &C., were re-
pogted.
| a Joint resolution communicated from the
! House, for the appointment of a committee to
receive Col. Memminger, Commissioner from
South Carolina, was adopted, and the following
committee on the part OF the Senate was app
pointed: Messrs. Beale, Stuart, Thomas of Fair
lax, Coghill and Thompson.
| House-On motion Of Mr. Fleming, the Board
of Public Works Were required to report to the
House the present condition, resources, ETC., OF
the Staunton and Rarkersburg sufnpike.
| Messrs. Barbour, Hopkins, Robertson, Ruther-
| ford, Caperton, Seldom and Foreman were ap-
polluted on the part of the House to receive Dol.
Memminger
| The bill for arming the State was taken up
and debated. All She amendments proposed
were rejected by large majorities. Mr.. Cowan
presented substitute, and the House ad iourned.
| THURsDAY.-Senate.-A number Of bills were
reported, and others passed-none of general in
terest.
The Harper's Ferry expense bill being return
| ed from the House, the Senate refused to re-
cede from, but resolved to insist upon, their a
mendments.
House-The House insisted upon its amend
ments to the Harper's Ferry bin.
The Senate bill providing for the appoint
ment of persons to visit and inspect the Lunatic
Asylums of the State having been taken up, Mr..
Christian defended the Western Asylum against
all interences and imputations. The subject was
laid over to take up the unfinished business of
| yesterday.
The consideration of the bill for arming the
State was resumed. Mr.. Cowan offered SUBJ
stitnte, providing that not more than 100000
shall be expended in the purchase of arms &C.,
| to be paid out of money In the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated.
| Mr.. Ball advocated the substitute. He doubt
ed the expectancy OF establishing the armory,
and did not believe the condition of the State
was such as to require the action proposed by
the bill. The conservatism of the North was
making itself felG and he did not despair of JUS
tice from that section.
! At one o'clock the Speaker announced that
the hour had arrived for taking up the Coving.
ton q Ohio and Central Railroad bills. Both
bills were postponed ill -morrow.lA
| Mr. Watson, of Accomac, offered an amend
ment to the substitute, providing for remodeling
&c, the arms now on hand, which Mr.. Cowan
accepted. Mr.. W. did not believe any necessity
existed for the large expenditure ($5O0, 000) pro-
posed by the bill. He saw evidences of better
feeling at the North.
Mr. Bentley, of Loudoun, opposed the bill, and
specially the expenditure of over 100000 on
the armory. We were not at war, nor did he
believe we would be- Still less did he believe
that the days of the Union were numbered.
Mr.. Kemper warmly advocated the passage
of the bill. He said that gentlemen of all shades
OF opinion agree that it is necessary for the
State to arm herself in one way or another
Mr.. Porter, OF Brooke and Hancock, said the
people of the Panhandle would fight the South
as willingly as the North, if she trampled on
the Constitution. The Brown raid had been ex
aggerated. There was no danger from the slaves
and the cry that the Union was in danger was
wonderfully efficacious in eleVating candidates
to office. He regarded the bill as principally
beneficial to the city OF Richmond, aud also OBJ
jecled to it because it proposed to borrow the
money. Ii the Legislature proceeded in this way
another question would arise-that OF laying an
ad gatcfum tax On slaves.
Mr.. Cowan. dissented from some of Mr.. Ps
views. The people OF the Northwest would
never arm against the South. He proceeded to
vndcate that section of the State, elciting APP
plause, and Tie Speaker warned the House that
if it was repeated the Legislature would sink to
the level of the Congress of the United States.
Mr.. Collier advocated the bill, and the vote
was then taken On the substitute, which was de-
feated-ayes ~, noes l0S
The original bill was then passed-ayes 1873,
noes 2. Messrs. Ball, Bentley and Keen sever
ally explained that they had voted aye while
utterly opposed to some features OF the bill.
Al