Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-03-20
yIUCINIA LBCIsLATURE.

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
SENATE
TUESDAY, March 10, 1851
III. sa,,te was called TO order at 10 o'clock, MIR.
JonSSoN, in the Chair.
Mr. COGHILL from Committee OF Courts OF Justice,
renorted with amendments House bill for the voluntary
enslayement of free negroes without compensation 10
the Commonwealth. Mr.. C0GHlLL also reported Dill
for the incorporation of the ksnawha Salt company
Mr. PAXTON reported bill amending the charter OF
the town of Union in the county Of Monroe also bill
establishing a Board of Clsims.
A resolution offered by Mr. PAXTON, for changing
the hour Of meeting from to IL o'clock, was rejected
Mr. PAXTON moved that the James hver ana Ma
nawha Canal bill be taken up
Mr. BRANN0N said that the bill was an incubus on
the Senate He did not believe 1t could ever result III
ANYTHING He desired to have the bill referred TO COM
mttee. He understood that the bill embraced all tue
rehtng to the Canal Company, and it was wholly impos-
sble that the Senate by the mere reading It IN SENATE
could compare it with all the laws.
Mr. BRANNON'S motion prevailed, and the bill was
referred to the following committee: hessrs NELSON,
PsxroS LOGAN AUGUST, DOUGLAS and BRASNoN
The unfinished business of the preceding day, oeng
House bill with Senate amendments imposing taxes LOT
tine support of the government was taken up; and the
bill having been amended in several paris
communication was received from the House an
nouncing passage with House amendments OF Senate
bill for the incorporation of the Southern Express Com
plny. IN
Mr.. STUART offered the following to go in the tax bill
as a means of raising new tax Mr.. STUART said that
from communication he had received from the Auditor
of the State OF Pennsylvania and other sources ne had
sscertained that such a tax he proposed to raise
brought into the Treasury of that State some $4,000 or
! S5O,OOO)
"On the enrolment and registration of any private
charter granted by the Assembly by any Court OF this
Commonwealth there shall be assessed and paid spSci-
Fl, tax of $ and when the stock shall have been sub
scrbed or paid an additional tax OF per centum on
| the capital stock shall be assessed and paid
The President laid before the Senate communication
from the Executive, enclosing communication from the
President. (See House proceedingsD
The President also laid before the Senate commnni-
cation from the Executive, enclosing one from the Gov
ernor of Indiana concerning Convention to amend the
Constitution.
The communications we're laid on the table and or
dcred to be printed
Mr.. LYNCH moved to reconsider the vote by which
The VOID Keno was struck out of one OF the clauses
Of the tax BILL pending which, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
MARCH 49, 1861.
The House was called to order at II o'clock A. H. by
the SPEAKER,
A communication was received from the Senate, an
nouucing the passage OF certain bills.
SENATE BILLS PASSED.
On motion OF Nr. COLLIER, bill authorizing the re-,
tersburg Railroad Company to increase their capital
stock" was read third tine and passed
".
Treasurer OF the State to destroy certain bank notes no"
on deposit in his Office and such as may be received IN
future" was read third time and passed.
SOUTHERN DNPRESs COMPANY.
Ga motion OF MIR CHRISTIAN, Senate bill 'lncorpor
atng the Southern E1press Company
Mr.. RAYMOND proposed 10 amend the bill by adoing
uroyiso as follows Proyided That the right OF prop
ertv 20 this franchise shall not invest until the minimum
amount of capital is subscribed, aud S5OOOO actually
pad iu Of which fact it shall be the duty OF the COM
I 4 in, tho az he
officers of bank about TO be put in operation are now
required by law TO DO. And wheh said company shall
be organized and ready to go into OPERATION sna De
the duty OF the presiding officer aud the treasurer TO
make a statement upon OATH to tue Auditor OF Fuolc
Accounts OF the amount OF capital paid in, aud to make
like statement every six months thereafter with an ad-
dons statement OF their profits and gross receipts and
for failure TO make such report they shall forfeit ana pay
into the public treasury 900 for each failure to be re-
covered by motion after duys notice III the Circuit
Court Of The city Of Richmond
Mr. N.Y. RS proposed 20 amend the amendment by
striking out $4,000 and inserting 100000.
Mr. MAGRUDER opposed striking ont. The stock
holders were b7 the provisions Of the BILL liable TO the
amount Of stock subscribed and to the extent OF their
private property besides.
Mr.. gYERS understood that the stockholders were
liable ouy 10 the of stock subscribed BIC be-
sved that 10 be the construction Of the BILL no
matter what loss was sustained by parties entrusung
property in the bands Of this Express Company.
Mr. CHRISTIAN opposed the amendment to the
amendment Il was proposition 10 increase the liability
Of tae Company. IN afdt on to the 100000, which
slal be actually subscribed t proposed that 500
shall be actually paid IN 20 guarG the charter loT the
Dl9c interest and the reason given tor thus cucumber
n the bin that IL often has large amounts entrusted
10 these Companies II did not believe this proposition
oz,a.ted iu this House. A far as this fact goes why
ii not tie .el.-"au long ago move to guard against
Etpress Companies lous il operation. lie much feared
that The suggestion came from The Cor ianT ITSELF and
that the Due ic interest was looked 20 through pirate
sD.ctaeps BE ig,,s,ea tbst Mr. was mistaken IN his
o-ono-iop HAT ,ncra vas as necessity for any such
,,ns-dwCut What l. the JctY y q N! st rely on the
integrity of the sgens selected FOR purpose, OF irinspor
.son To an cases must rely on the judgment Of 'hs
rbli, that thew will not entrust their property IN I'M
Nor,hy hands. Il was Impossible TO meet all cases Uy
mere acts legislation. Tie p'st-oice daily transport,
much larger euOuus vs. those proposed to be guarded
by mi. amendment. and yet, u-se- thought OF re-
curing the postmaster to deposit 100000 secsT lot
the safe delivery "a IrOOerty entrusted 10 hn we Ie
i'm such cases upon the irte-iV Of officers, and, sec
oudiy uoa the penal laws OF the C0mmen~3c'fn to nod
them responsible Tact is all this Legislature should oe
asked - regard 10 this express Company.
Mr. RICHARDSON said the proposition -1g before tae
House i 70 incorporate an eNp'es5 company tucef Tue
General laws OF is Commonwealth any p2tsoR or per
sons NAV under license 10 be issued by the proPi V'
Ger Q. oguty o. corporation, exercise the rghS eud
perform the Cuues Of an express company quesuol
al once arsesln NY luG 7h;,l involves he prophecy o
iii, st.u on the part Of this Assembly why sho"t
special charter Ge ectnted when the same nsls end
duties NAV be acquired ecTred under license 10
BE- issued 10 the ordinary manner Oy tie tcper CAcer
Does IL not place the State in peculiar posit0hl lc
is vast difference in granting charter TO an ordinary
manufacturing company ofa local character Tins act 10
ircorporae c. ai;sny the Influence OF which will 6e !e
throughout the whole eaton Il is to become an iusts
tuition o. the country. Is not Virgins tn some extent
responsible for this csmpany's acts Sot legally oil
course but morally. Is not her credit to some extent
involved Does she not thus give TO it letter OF re-
commentator to all the world. Again it Is urged that
foreign comtauy Esl monopoly now IN this business
If this were true my vote soe9 he cast for this bill,
notwithstanding the objections haze 4Ig5 But 1t lie
Otherwise Within the State Of Virginia there oane3
ia the Adams express company fifty thousand dohaF OF
stoct throughout the Southern States five hundred
thousand dollars worth Of this stock owned and am
Informed that the President native, not an nhaoi'
| tant OF Louisiana.
Mr. CHRISTIAN. What evidence has the gente-ten
! of the fact which he ia now stating?
Here list OF Soathern stockholders read by the
clerk and certificate Of amont OF stock owned In the
South, $500 900.
Mr. RICHARDSON. l hope the evidence Just submit
ted viii be satisfactory make no factous objection to
this bill but why should incorporate one company
OF our citizens and make the. liability specific and eI-
tend only TO the amount OF their stock while other ci'i
zens of the State operating under license, and are
liable to the full amount of their private property.
Mr. BASS understood the present liabilities Of the
steel holders amply sufficient II not the genius OF
our State 20 ve foreign companies, but We should
a. least allow citizens an opportunity OF COM
! petng with them.
( Mr. MCKENZIE said the amendment o. the gentle
man from Richmond would do no good. The only safe
provision 40 Us to guard parties sending monies or
goods by this new Southern press Company, was to
require deposit of S3O,O0Q OF State stock with the