Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-04-03
Legislature of Virginia.

bills passed was one allowing pension OF $96
year to Geo. Richardson, of Martinsburg, who
was wounded while attacking John Browns
party.
The resolution concerning the claims of the
89th Regiment was up. Messrs. August and Is
bell advocated, and Mr.. Wickham opposed it.
The latter said that he was informed by two
members OF the commission appointed to audit
and pay the Harper's Ferry claim, that if the
principle involved ia the resolution was recog
nized. it would entail further expense of $780,
600 on the State. The whole subject was finally
indefinitely postponed.
The bill concerning licenses was then consid-
cred.
House.-A bill was passed for furnishing
Mayo's Guide to the clerks OF courts and magis
trates.
The resolution introduced by Mr.. Thompson,
OF Putnam, authorizing the prosecution OF the
work on the Western end of the Covington q
Ohio Railroad, was debated and rejected.
TUEsDAY.-Senate.-A large number of House
bills were passed. Senate bills incorporating the
Fredericksburg and Fauquier Railroad, and for
increasing the capital stock of the South Side
Railroad, for thepurpose of constructing branch
road to the Roanoke river, were rejected
The House bill appropriating $4,000 to pay
penses, was passed. House bill providing for
the better organization of the militia of the
Commonwealth was discussed and amended.
House.-A large number of bills were passed,
among them various acts of incorporation. The
bill amending the charter of the North and
South Railroad increasing its capital stock $780,
600, was rejected The bill making an addition
al appropriation to the Virginia Military Insti-
tute, underwent various notifications, and the
amount of the proposed appropriation was re-
duced to 100000 The bill was finally passed.
WEDNESDAY Senate.-The House bill au-
thorizing the sale of free negroes into slavery
who are sentenced to receive certain punish
ment and Imprisonment, was amended so as to
put the proceeds into the Treasury, and then
passed.
The House bill charging the exemption from
distress or levy the property of poor debtors,
was passed.
The House bill for the better organization of
the Militia was amended and passed.
House-A bill for the relief of Geo. A. Ar
mentroHt, OF Augusta, was passed.
An Executive communication, transmitted to
the House, states the total expense of guarding
Stevens and Hazett till the day of their execu-
ton, from 1st. of January inclusive, to be, ST.,
32O.43. The House confirmed the DECISION of
the Auditing Board Of Harper's Ferry expense
adverse to paying the saith Regiment of militia,
who were ordered to hold themselves in resdi-
ness, but performed no actual service. Senate
amendments to House bill, appropriatiDg $780,
600, to pay balance ofindebtedness on account
OF the Harper's Ferry affair, were concurred in.
The Senate amendments increased the amount
of the bill 81 900. 4 loug debate sprung up on
the resolution, sometime since offered, relative
to settlement with Selden, Withers Il Co., late
agents of the State.
-,Senate.-Among the House bills
passed were the following; For the relief of G..
| A. Armentrout; allowing pension to Bridget
Burley, whose husband was killed at Harper's
Ferry; authorizing County Courts to appoint
special police guards in certain cases; increasing
the salary OF the Auditor of Public Accounts to
the sum Of $4,000 per annum.
| The Committee of Conference on the Bank
redemption law reported that after meeting
with the House committee they found it i'm
possible to frame bill which would secure the
assent of both branches Of the General Assem-
| bly,. The Senate in the act passed on the sub
| ject had retained the redemption feature, and
the House repealed it, The bill concerning taxes
on merchants licenses was debated till the hour
of adjournment and its consideration was re-
sumed at the night session.
House.-The Senate bill authorizing the Val
| ley Bank to establish a, branch in Richmond,
| was passsa. =
| The Militia bill was taken up, with the a.
mendment adopted by the Senate, giving the
appointment of General officers to the Govern
or. After debate the House refused to agree to
the amendment,
The billimposing taxes On persons and prop
erty was debated. The House struck out the
section giving the Auditor power to discharge a
~ e 81 ~
| the Mount Vernon Association was exempted
| from taxation by unanimous vote.
FRlDAY.-Seaate. The House bill authorizing
the Bank of the Valley to establish Branch in
| Richmond, was passed. Also the bill imposing
taxes on persons and property: The section OF
this bill concerning merchants licences was dis
posed of Thursday night by resolution, which
was adopted, to let the tax stay as under the
present law. A number of bills were rejected
| among them, the House bill exempting the Fair
| Grounds of Agricultural and Mechanical Socie-
ties from taxation. The bill incorporating the
Lynchburg and Richmond Railroad was passed
| House-The House passed few local bills,
aud rejected the Senate bill to ssenable the South
| Side Railroad Company to construct branch
of their road from Blacks and Whites to the
Roanoke River" The bill imposing taxes on
persons and property came up as unfinished bu-
sness, and was discussed during the day and at
the night session.
Mr. Duckwall, from the special committee OF
the subject of the correspondence between the
Governors of Iowa and Ohio and the Governor
of this State relative to the surrender of certain
of John Browns men to justice, made report
| on behalf of the committee, concluding with the
subjoined resolution:
3That the Governors of Iowa and Ohio, by
refusing to surrender to the Governor of this
Commonwealth Barclay Coppic, Francis Merri-
am and Owen Brown, charged with, and known
| to have committed within this State, crimes Of
the highest grade, wilfully and deliberately vio-
lated the Federal compact, disregarded the CON-
ity which should exist between sovereign States,
and made themselves morally, if not legally, ac-
cessories to the offences committed by these
criminals and fugitives from Justice"
Mr.. Jones, of Appomattox, offered to amend
the resolution as follows:
THAT any citizen of the States of Iowa and
Ohio found within the limits of this Common
wealth, shall be required to give bond and secu-
rity for their good behavior while in this State y
On motion of Mr.. Blue, the report and resolu-
lions were laid on the table and ordered to be
printed.
SATURpAY.-Senate.- THE Senate concurred
in certain House amendments to bill for the as
sessment of taxes on persons and property one
of which exempted Mount Vernon from taxa
ton. House bills restricting the catching of
oysters in the months of June, July or August
and to encourage direct foreign trade by ex-
empting from taxation -four exported in vessels
owned by citizens of Virginia, were passed
Senate bill for the relief OF the Roanoke Valley
Railroad was defeated. The House bill author