Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-02-05

Virginia Legislature
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 3Oth-The Senate, TO-DAY,
made the bill amending the charter of the Win
chester and Potomac Railroad Company the or
der for to-day. Bills were reported for authori-
zng the issue of Treasury notes; for paying the
Adjutant General for recognizing the militia,
and for increasing the pay of the commissioned
officers of the Public Guard. Bills were passed
for providing efficient police regulations at the
poor houses in this State, and for allowing the
Central Railroad to construct a branch to Lexing-
ton out OF funds to be contributed by parties in
terested in the scheme. House bill for the relief
of the Banks was referred to q committee.
In the House, message was received from
the Executive, enclosing joint resolutions adopt
ed by the Tennessee Legislature, proposing GER
tain amendments to the Federal Constitution
also, series of coercion resolves, adopted by the
Black Republicans of the Pennsylvania Legisla-
ture, sent to the Governor by A. G. Curtin, CHIEF
Magistrate of that Commonwealth. The COM
muuication of Governor Letcher and the Tennes
see resolutions were ordered to be printed, and
referred to the Committee Oh State and Federal
Relations. Resolutions were offered for building
railroad in, Henrico county, to connect with the
York River Road, and for connecting the Balti-
more and Ohio and Central Railroads by branch
beginning in Preston and ending in Augusta
county. A bill was reported for amending the
act providing additional protection to the slave
property of Virginia. The Bank Relief bill was
passed. The House laid on the table motion to
adjourn till Feb. 11--objection being made there
to. The proposition for stay law was also laid
on the table.
THURSDAY, Jan. 31st-The Senate to-day, Or
dered Gov. Letcher's message concerning the
Banks to be printed, and appointed a special
committee to inquire into the expediency of re-
porting bill exempting schr. Pauline, of New
bern, N. c., from the penalty of violating the
inspection law. Bills were reported for amend
ing the charter and increasing the capital stock
of the York River Railroad Company for incor-
porating the American Agency; and for the re-
lief of the banks. A bill was passed for staying
proceedings on executions, trust deeds, and other
demands, in cases of refusal to receive Bank
notes. The bill amending the charter of the
Winchester and Potomac Railroad was then de-
bated.
The House passed several Senate bills, among
them one authorizing the Central Railroad to
construct branch. The Metropolitan Gnard,
(miitary company of Richmond petitioned to
be exempted from ordinary duty and certain
railroad contractors, that the State would receive
its own bonds at par, in payment of hire of negro
convicts from the Penitentiary. Resolutions
were introduced, for giving Justices of the Peace
jurisdiction in cases of garnishee summons; for
providing by law proper penalties for the trans
mission of false intelligence by telegraph, and
for increasing the pay of members to IS per di.
elm. A bill was reported to amend the charter
of the Virginia Life Insurance Company. Gov.
Letcher's Bank Message was ordered to be prin-
ted, and referred to the committee on that sub
ject.
FRIDAY, Feb. 1st-The Governor, to- day, sent
to the Senate detailed report of the acts of Hon
John Tyler as Commissioner from Virginia, &C.
companied by copy of the correspondence be-
tween that gentleman and the President of the
United States, which were read ard ordered to
be printed. Bills were reported relative to the
two Courts of Appeal; providing that railroads
in which the Senate is interested shall use mate
rails produced and manufactured in the State
incorporating the Southern Arms Manufacturing
Company of Richmond, and for organizing a
military force to be called the Virginia Volun-
teer Legion. Mr.. Thomas, of Fairfsx, made a
strong speech in opposition to the bill to amend
the charter of the Winchester and Potomac Rail-
road Company. Pending its consideration, the
Senate adjourned.
In the House, resolutions were offered to char
ter the Citizens Insurance Company of Rich
mond, and to consolidate, under one administra-
ton, the Virginia and Tennessee, South Side, and
Norfolk and Petersburg Railroads. Bills were
reported to amend the laws regulating Mining
and other companies, and for partial suspension
of State bonds, and providing for complying with
contracts already made upon the Covington and
Ohio Railroad. A report was returned adverse
to the petition asking for the formation of a new
county out of parts of Monroe and Fayette.
communication from Elk President Tyler relative
to his recent mission to Washington, was read,
laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.