The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-04
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.


The Speaker called the House to order at II
O'Clock NJ, and opened with prayer.
BUtS Reported.-The following bills We're
reported, viz: To increase the capital stock of
the Richmond and Y Iork River Railroad Com
pany; incorporating the Preston and Angus ta
Railroad Company incorporating the Lees
burg and Points of Rocks Turnpike Com
pany; amending and e-enacting the 10th sec
ton of chapter II of the Code of Virginia,
with regard to abatement of tolls, in certain
cases, on turnpikes under the control of the
Board of Public Works: incorporating the
Leesburg and Aide Turnpike Company.
1nlending the Rules.-Mr. HOPKINS gave
notice that he would move the following
amendment to the rules of the House: That
all questions upon motions TO suspend the
rules, to lay on the table, and to take up bus
mess from the table, shall be decided without t
debate.
Notion to adjourn TempOrdriIy.-Mr. NAL
LoRY moved that when the House adlourns to-
day it adjourn to meet next Wednesday,
Obiec ted to by Mr.. RAYMOND and many others,
and Withdrawn.
Bitls Passed.-The following bills were read
| the requisite number of times and passed. viz
Amending the l07th section of chapter 80 of
the Code of Virginia, and providing for the
correction of erroneous assessments of taxes
on lands, and amending the charter of the
Dauville Railroad Company, SO as to authorize
the said Company to extend its road three
miles further than the ten miles already au-
thoriZed by law.
| Sale of State Muskets.-The Committee on
Military Affairs, ia pursuance of a resolution
of inquiry referred to them by the House of
| Delegates, having had under consideration so
! much of the report of the Commissioners, ap-
! pointed by the Governor under the act of As
| sembly, passed January 2lst, 1862 as refers
| to the sale of public arms to Joseph r. An =
| derson & Co., under an agreement made the
| Esd dav of August, 1860, between the said
| Commissioners and the said Joseph r. Ander-
| son & Co.; and approving the action of the
| said Commissioners in the premises, made the
fol1ayyjnp which received
Resoped. That the sale of old muskets by the Ex
| eutive to Messrs. Joseph X. Anderson Co is ap-
| proved, and the Governor IS hereby, authorizcd
and directed deliver them to the said Joseph K
! Anderson Co, as they shall make requislti0n
for them, excepting the reservation of ten thou
sand muskets as stipulated in their contract Pro-
tided horerer, That for any muskets delivered IL
advance of estimates for work DONE to said Joseph
| r, Anderson 4 Co., as voluntarily proposed by
| them, they shall be required TO deposit with the
| Treasurer as security an amount Of State bonds
rated at par, equal to the value Of the muskets SO
issued in advance, estimated at the contract price.
| fNote.-The State ownes about 5000 flint lock
| muskets.
| oIutionS-Resolutions of inquiry into
| expediency were offered as follows: BY Mr..
| Christian. of amending the law of general
| elections" so as TO authorize the Commission
| ers conducting elections, at precinct where
| the house prescribed by existing law for hold
| ing the polls is inaccessible, or inconvenient
| to open the polls at such convenient house as
| the Commissioners may select; by Mr.. Edg-
| ington, of providing by law for the erection OF
| a fort or other suitable military defences, al
| the city of Wheeling.
| DecimnL Currency Weights and Measures
| A letter was read from the Governor, in which
| he said II transmit herewith a communica-
| ton from His Excelleney, Israel Washburne
| Jr Governor of the State of Maine, and sun
| dry resolutions, in relation to an uniform de
cimal system OF weights, measures and cur
/ rencies."
| The pre8mble states that there now exists
| throughout the civilized world divers un-
equal incongruous, and inconvenlent systems
| of weights measures, and currencies, with
| ont n proper basis, or any uniform ratio OF
| divisions and multiples, suSeetlng all people
to difficulty In computation ana trade, and
| that reform in these ineq ualities and irregu-
| larities is demanded by the highest interests
| of education and commerce
The resolutions instruct the Maine Senators
| and Represen tatives to use their in1uence t0
/ have that body consider the proposed subject
| and establish an uniform decimal system ol
| weights, measures, and eurreneies RECON-.
mends the appointment OF an international
| commission for the purpose OF producing an
| uniform system Of NEUROLOGY throughout the
| world. Recommends, also, that Congress Of
| fer premium for the best system:
| On motion of Mr. HAyhoSp, referred 10 the
| Committee on Agriculture and Commerce.
| Ne,c Jersey and the Unfoa.-The Speaker
| laid before the House Message from Gov,
Letcher, transmitting communication from
| Charles s. Olden, Esq, CHIEF Magistrate OF
the State Of New Jersey, accompanied @ by Ger
| January, 1861, by the Legislature Of thai
| State, in relation TO the Union OF. the
States"
a synopsis of the preamble exhibits ths
fact that the people Of New Jersey. LOT rea
| sons set forth, have an enlarged idea ''of thu
| immense value Of the National Union TO theil
individual happiness" aud believe u ths
''pallaslium Of their political safety and pros
! perity:" Wherefore, they