Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-03-05
Virginia State Legislature.

WEDNESDAY. Feb, 27th-A report was return
ed in the Senate adverse to the petition for the
enslavement OF certain free negroes The report
of the Commissioner to the Seeded States wa:
read and ordered to be printed. The bill con
corning the American Agency was made the or
der for Friday next. The bill respecting suits
for the recovery eff Western lands will be consid
cred on Monday. A number of local bills were
passed.
The House passed number of Senate bills
A bill was reported no encourage ship building
in Virginia" A petition was presented from
Preston and Monongalia counties, asking relief
in the matter of taxes upon the license of mer-
chants beginning business. House bill for the
partial suspension OF the sale of State bonds and
to provide for complying with existing contracts
already made upon the Covington and Ohio Rail.
road, was taken up, and ryder being affixed, it
was put on its passage and defeated. The vote
was afterwards reconsdered, and the bill made
the order of the dey for Friday next The Direc
tors of the Penitentary were requested to report
to the House the financial condition of that insti
tuition and the store connected Herewith. A
communication was sent in from the First Audit
or, enclosing statement of the condition of the
Banks of the State.
THURSDAY, Feb. 2Sth-In the Senate, bill
was reported to extend the corporate limits Of
Fredericksburg. A petition was presented for
an appropriation for camp OF instruction for
cavalry officers. A joint resolution, to adjourn
on the 18th inst. to the LIST Monday in December,
was offered, and laid over under the rules. The
bill concerning the voluntary enslavement of free
negroes was indefinitely postponed. The bill au-
thorizpg the issue of Treasury notes will be con-
sidered next Wednesday. A bill was passed to
egalize proceedin gs on Sunday, in certain cases.
In the House resolutions were offered as fol-
lows: For amending the law exempting certain
specific property from levy, so as to allow $500
worth in value to be selected; for providing a.
gainst the dscontinuance of motions in behalf OF
the Commonwealth &C.; of amending the law
so as to prevent fraudulent conveyances for ap-
propriating sum of money to experiment on q
recently Invented cannon, and for authorizing
the banks, during the suspension of specie pay
ments, to issue notes of less denomination than
five dollars. A number of bills were reported.
A report was returned adverse to increasing the
salaries Of officers of the Lunatic Asy ums.-
The Senate amendments to House bill for the re-
left of the banks from the penalties of suspen-
sioa OF specie payments, were agreed TO.
FRIDAY, March 1st-The Senate adopted the
joint resolution heretofore proposed, in reference
to the Hllsboro' and Cincinnati Railroad sun
dry bills were passed, among them one to incor-
porate the Staunton Arms and Ordnance Com
pany. The Senate receded from lis amendment
striking out the fourth section of the bill for the
relief of the Banks 1t is now law.
The House requested the Senate to return the
bill for the relief of the Banks, which being done
a proviso was adopted that the Banks shall not
be required to contribute specie on State account
beyond the amount necessary to pay the interest
on the public DEBT number of bills were
passed. Resolutions were offered for amending
the law in reference to damages against Sheriffs;
for allowing two military companies in Wheeling
to form battalion, and for providing that sug-
gestions may be sued ont by, and be returned
before, Justice. Bills were reported for the
organization of an additional volunteer regiment
of cavalry, and for amending the militia law
The House accepted an invitation to visit Old
Point tomorrow, via York River Railroad, and
took recess till evening, but did no business on
assembling