Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-02-19
Virginia Legislature.


MONDAY, Feb. 11th-A bill was reported in
the Senate to-day to authorize the Governor to
commission "Home Guards" independent of mil
itary organizations. Resolutions were offered
for authorizing the standing committee to report
all bills OF last session not acted on by the House
of Delegates, and for Incorporating the Southern
Institution for the amelioration of the condition
of deaf, dumb and blind negroes A number oil
acts of incorporation were passed.
In the House, bills were reported for increas.
ing the salary of the Clerk of the Penitentiary
and for paying the recently appointed Commits.
sioners for their services to the state. Resolu.
tons were offered for authority to free negroes
to eDsave themselves, and for allowing the Wise
Light Dragons to arm with less number than
now required by law. Sundry local bills were
passed. A petition was presented from Glouces
ter, asking the repeal of certain restrictions or
the catching of oysters. A report of Hon. Johr
Robertson, Virginia Commissioner to certain Sc
ceding States, was returned by the Governor te
the House, read and ordered to be printed.
TUESDAY, Feb. 12th-The report of Hon. Johr
Robertson, Commissioner to the seeding States
was read in the Senate to-day; also, the Louisi
ana Secession Ordinance and joint resolutions o.
the Legislature of that State respecting the free
navigation of the Mississippi, and certain resolu
tons adopted by the Indiana and New York Leg
lslatures, in reference to the appointment of Com
missioners to Washington, all of which were or
dered to be printed. Several local bills were re.
ported and petitions presented. The Senate a.
greed to meet hereafter at 10 o'clock A. M. A.
mong the resolutions of inquiry was one for bill
to incorporate the Baltimore and Fredericksburg
Steamboat Company. Bills were passed to legal
ize the purchase and running of steamboats, in
connection with the York River Railroad: te
protect the interest of the State in railroad and
steamboat companies plying between Baltimore
and Weldon; also, to authorize Clerks of certain
Courts to take orders of publication ia vacation
In the House, number of Senate bills were
received, read by title and referred. Two were
passed. Among the House bills passed was one
incorporating the Richmond City Insurance Com
pany. The secession ordinance of Louisiana anG
certain resolves of the General Assemblies of H.
diana and New York were read and ordered te
be printed.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 13th-A bill was reported
in the Senate to-day, to incorporate the Baltimore
and Fredericksburg Steamboat Company. Bill.
were passed for the protection of the fisheries in
the waters OF the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay
and for the protection and announcement of Ger.
tain military companies in Wheeling.
The House passed Senate bill amending the
charter of the Richmond and York River Railroad
Company, and referred number of others to al.
propriate committees.
THURSDAY, Feb. 14th-Sundry petitions were
presented in the Senate, to-day, and referred. -
Resolutions were offered for amending the char
ter OF the Bank OF Commerce and Bank of Dam
vile. 1t was resolved to meet, hereafter. at II
o'clock A. M. each day. A number of local bills
were passed-none of special Importance howey
err The bill for the reliet of the Banks will be
considered to-day.
The House passed Senate bill for the protec-
ton OF the fisheries on the Potomac and Chesa-
peake bay, and referred number of others to
appropriate committees: Bills were reported fol-
amending the act inco' porating the Planters Sa-
wings Bank OF Petersburg, and to incorporate the
Virginia and Maryl Railroad Company also
ollls providing for bonus on bank capital, and
for the mode of paying the same into the Treas
ury; and making an appropriation to meet the
expenses incurred by holding the present session
OF the General Assembly and the State CONVEX
ton. The meeting hereafter was fixed at II o.
clock A. M. An invitation was extended to the
members of the Convention to occupy the privil
eyed seats in the hall of the House. A number
OF resolutions were offered, viz: Of extending
the time of the payment Of the revenue by tht
oherlffs due March 18th; of increasing the mini
mum rate OF compensation to teachers of indipeD
ehildren to ten cents per day, and of authorizins
County Courts to fix and regulate annually TN,
rates of Ordinary keepers in the Common wealth
Among the petitions was one for a more pertec
organization of the militia of the State. Tn,
Governor sent 10 a message relative to the Stat,
muskets sold j. r. Anderson & Co. by which i
appears that 5000 have been delivered. and As
9oo are still in possession of the State. A com.
mlttee reported against allowing the Wise ORA
goons TO arm with less number than now re.
Gnired by law.
FRIDAY, Feb. IA number of bills were re
ported Id the Senate to.day-amoDg them bill
for the appointment OF public administrator +
each county and city in the State; legalizin.
proceedings on Sunday in certain cases: ant
suDdry acts Of incorporation for Banks. a res
olqtlon was offered for repeating so much of tn.
law as imposes penalties upon Sheriffs for failins
TO pay into the Treasury moneys received by
them Tor the State. number of local bill
were passed-among them, one increasing the
number OF basement Clerks in the Capitol. The
House bill for the relief of the Banks was called
up and discussed, and certain amendments being
offered, it was made ting order for to- morrow.
The House passed several Senate bills, ano
the following were reported from committees OF
that body: incorporating the Stanton Armo
ry and ORDNANCE Company, and company te
construct Railroad between Washington and
Alexandria; also, Senate bill staying proceed
ings under trust deeds, in certain cases; and
House bills incorporating the Home Saving.
Bank and Aid Savings Bank of Richmond. -
Resolutions OF inquiry were offered for amend
ing the Code SO as to allow greater rate of in
terest than per cent under special agreement
for SO changing the penalty of conviction fol
petty larceny, and to authorize Offenders to be
rut To fof Aho NH 1io
ding by law that writs shall hereafter be made
returnable to quarterly Courts, instead of month
ly rules. pc ition was presented for the for
nation OF new county one of paris of Greer-