Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-12-25
VIRGINIA NEVIS.

The closing paragraph in the Auditors
report to the General Assembly, soon to meet,
reads as follows: by our revenue laws toe
value of lands and slaves are not subject to
annual augmentation or depression. With
these principal subjects of taxation, ascer-
tanned four years ago, and without any in
crease of taxes On them, except for improve
ments made on lands, and the increase IN
the number Of slaves, the taxes have been
increased for the year 1860, over the year
1850, by the sum OF Sal, 9S5.GS, which IN
dicates an increase in the value Of property,
other than land and slaves, Of $50, 400, 42o IN
one year This increase, in a geometrca
progression, is all that the most enthusiastic
friend Of progress could desire, and promi-
nently presents us, in the vast future, rs an
example for emulation even by the most
powerful and prosperous OF States"
In the latter part of last week there was a
Convention of the Contractors on the Coving-
ton and Ohio Railroad, in Richmond, TO con-
slider the question whether they would 90 on
with their contracts under the present low
prices of S1lte stocks Or nor. The subject
was considered most earnestly, and it was
finally determined that, without some aid
L
isature. the work must be suspended. APP
plication, it WAS determined, should at once
be made to the Board and Il unsuccessful, to
the Legislature when it meets.
Tie Richmond Dispatch says:--"Wc I'M
derstand that party Of gentlemen IN this
city have extended an Invitation to Messrs.
Ashmore, Mcqueen, Bonham and Boyce,
members OF Congress, from South Carolina,
who resigned their seats as soon as they
heard Of the passage uf the Secession Ordl-
nance by their State, to accept IL dinner IN
this city. on Wednesday next. The letter OF
invitation was mailed last Saturday night,
and will probably be answered this after
noon"
The citizens of Rockhridgc held Il meeting
on the 18th instant, ut which resolutions
were adopted recommending a convention OF
commissioners from all the slave States, and
all the border non-slaveholding States, aud
from all the large cities, and from every
State or community Of the country taV0ra-
BILE 10 the object, to be assembled on the ear
lest day practicable, at some central point
within the border slave States, for consider
ing redress of grievances.
The late meeting in jefferson county, was
addressed by several gentlemen, among them
A. NJ. Barbour. He favored the call Of
a convention, and ardently maintained the
right OF secession; but was unwilling To be
led by South Carolina Being Nirginan
in all his feelings, he was at al! times ready
to yield his services to the Old Dominion.
There was great disorder at one time IN the
meeting
The police in Richmond, OF Sunday were
busy in endeayoring TO arrest two gentle
men, who, it was feared, were going to settle
their misunderstanding by duel. The
Dispatch says that, about 9 o'clock in the
morning :, party left the city in carriages,
and it may be that they have already ex-
changed fires and made friends. We give no
names, because we arc not at liberty to do so.
There has been formed in Stafford county
new cavalry company. eighty strong, COM
posed Of young men. This company has re-
ceiyed fifty splendid swords, but the demand
is so great for arms that The full implement
could not be procured. One of the lieuten
ants of this company is u grandson of Capt
Thomas Towson, Il former citizen Of Daltl-
more.
On Wednesday night of last week, the
Mechanics and work Ing men held meeting
in Lexington in reference to the condition
of the country, which was numcrously at
tended. The most conservative views were
| expressed by all who participated in the
meeting. 1t adjourned without passing any
resolutions to meet again.
Capt. Dmmock, superb ntendcnt Of the
State Arnory, publishes the following no.
tice: Volunteer Officers Of the State are re-
| IN -. Il. tx, J.
CURED by law, there must be an nClr,' from
the Adjutant General to authorize the Su-
perintenlent Of the State Armory to issue
arms &c.
Mr.. Garnett, Of Virginia. took occasion i'll
the House Of REPRESENTATIVES, on Thursday
last, to say that Virginia would never pay
her portion Of the bonds authorized by the
Pacific railroad bill.
The farmers and graziers Of Harrison
county have passed resolutions complaining
Of the high rates of tol! for cattle on the Bal
tmore and Ohio Railroad
\ drove Of very fine cattle from Lynch
burg, (per Orange and Alexandria Rail
road passed through this place yesterday,
on their way to Baltimore.
At Petersburg Dec %, Dunlap and Craw
ford's tobacco factory, and several buildings
adjoining, were destroyed by fire. Loss $50
600, partly insured.
W. a. Northern, convicted of robbng the
mails at Warsaw, Va, has been sentenced
to the penitentiary, at Washington, for ten
years.
j. Marsden Smith, has been elected presi-
dent of the Farmers Bank Of Norfolk, vice
D. Robertson, resigned.
A young man named Henry Jarvis, was
frozen 10 death at Richmond, Va, Oh Satur-
day night.
John O'Brien was killed in Hampshire
county, Va, last week, by falling into cui-
vert.
Vigilance Committees for organizing Min
ute Men are appointed in Madison county.
FOREIGN MISCELLANY.
| A cnrTeSnou3ent writnn from Jerusalem