Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-02-26
Virginia Legislature.

SATURDAY, Feb. l6tl--A lumber of bills re-
ported 10 the Senate on Saturday-among them
bills amending the present law respecting the
inspection of guano, &C., in Richmond and Pc
tersburg, and works ofinternal improvement; =
limiting the right OF action tor the recovery o
Western lands; amending the charter of the City
of Alexandria, and Danvie Bank, and for the
Company. A resolution was offered to authorize
the docketing of a judgment of a Justice of the
Peace, so as to make it lien on real estate. A
number of amendments We're offered to the bill
for the relief of the Banks, which were adopted
and ordered to be printed with the bill. Senate
bill authorizing the reissue of State stock in lieu
of two bonds burned on The steamship Austria.
aud House bill amending the act increasing the
capital stock of the Danville Railroad. and for
other purposes, were passed. ~ Ba at
In the House, bills were reported amending the
law respecting the voluntary enslavernent of free
negroes, end providing for the purchase Of books
of instruction tor militia officers. Resolutions
were offered for repealing the laws requiring the
annual publication of Bank statements, and for
suspending for time The law requiring one-fifth
of coin to be held in the Banks. The bill provi-
ding for staying executions on trust deeds on re
fusal to receive Bank notes, and substitute off
cred therefor, were made the order of the day
for next Wednesday. A number of Senate bills
were passed. The bill incorporating Railroad
between Washington and Alexandria, on French's
plan, was debated and laid on the table. A res
olution was offered (and objected to- rendering
the use of the Hall to the members of the State
Convention till four o'clock, P. M, each day.
MONDAY, Feb. 18th-In the Senate, to-day,
bills were reported for incorporating number
OF railroad, oil, coal, and mining and Inanufactu.
ring companies. A resolution was offered fol
prohibiting the sale of ardent spirits to free me-
groes.
The House of Delegates was opened with pray.
er to day by minister of the Hebrew persuasion
Senate bills were reported to authorize the Mer
chants Bank to establish branches, and making
an appropriation for publishing the last edition
of the Code; also, three local bills from House
committees. The House passed a bill paying the
construction of the Hillsville Railroad for theil
work.
| DlsGRAoEFUL Disclosures We printed or
yesterday an abstract of the Report from the
Select Committee appointed by the House Of
Representatives to investigate the recent defal.
cations in the Indian Trust Fluid. The report
proposes to establish these facts, namely
That ex-Secretary Floyd was implicated in the
robbery. That the President was notified of the
fraud year ago. That the Clerk, Bailey, was
made an instrument of by the conspirators.- =
That Russell is fearfuly involved in the transac.
ton; and that the Government loses over sz
millions Of dollars. The report also shows what
disposition was made of the stolen bonds, and
that they were forced upon the market in al
parts of the country
The evidence of Senator Benjamin, OF Lousi-
ana, is perhaps the worst record against Floyd
/ Mr.. Benjamin testfes that having been writer
to by Messrs. Duncan, Sherman & Co., of New
York. for bis opinion as To the legality OF accep'
tances issued by Governor Floyd to Russell, Ma
jors u Wadde1l, it was mentioned in THAI letter
hat these drafts, as they were then called
were offered for negotiation tn the assurance
that they were issued with the appreciation o1
the President and Attorney General. Mr.. Ben
jarnin therefore visited the President and sub
united the inquiry to him The President re-
piled that he knew nothing about the matter
that they had been issued without any knowl
edge Of his, that he did not know by virtue O
what law they were issued but that he (Mr
BeDjamin) might rely, if Gov. Floyd had issuet
them, be had issued them prope'ly and tia
he had better apply to him Governor Floyd
to ascertain by virtue OF what law he wa
acting. Mr.. Benjamin accordingly made ap-
plication to Floyd, and after hearing yer,
lame explanation from him, suggested that ht
was acting imprudently. The Secretary gave
the Senator assurance that he would accep
no more. Nevertheless, it is further in evi
dence that, subsequently, to his promise, an(
subsequently to an acknowledgment of the lille
gality Of his proceedings, Mr. Floyd actually is
sued over two millions of ceptances.-Rich
| Whig.