Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-22
Virginia Legislature----Extra Session
MONDAY, JANUARY 81, 1861.
cY<~r . nv,

Lieut.. Gov. MONTAGUE in the chair.
Prayer by the Rev. Dr.. READ OF the Pres
byterian church.
A message was received from the House an'
nouncing the passage Of sundry bills, also Of
joint resolutions as follows:
l.. Resolved, by the General Assembly, That
in the present alarming condition OF affairs, il
is a dangerous dclusion 70 suppose that the In
tereSts OF Virginia arc not those Of her South
ern sisters, aud that any impression that heI
people are locking to any other combination,
IN the last resort, than q union with them, Is
calculated to weaken the position Of OUT
friends and strengthen the hands Of our enc
mics.
,. Resolved, That in the opinion Of the Gen
cral Assembly, no reconstruction OF the Unio!
between the slaveholding and the non-slave'
holding States can be permanent, just and sat
isfactory, which will not secure to each section
q self-protecting power against the invasion Q;
the Federal Union upon the reserved rights OF
either.
On motion OF Mr.. BKASSoS, the resolutions
we're laid on the table.
Mr.. ArGrsr reported . bill. authorizing the
Superintendent Of the Arrnory to provide
quarters for q portion o. the Public Guard
The bill was read q first time and ordered to &
second reading.
Mr.. McKESNEY and Mr.. CLAIBORNE request
cd leave to have their votes recorded in favor
of the joint resolution concerning the ultimate
destiny Of Virginia, offered By Mr.. BRUCE on
Saturday. They stated that had they been
present when the question came up, they would
have given the resolution their cordial support.
Mr.. SMITH, of Grcenbrier, by leave, reported
a bill authorizing the payment OF a sum OF mo.
ncy to Robert ". Handler.
The President laid before tho Senate q con-
munication from the Executive, containing 4
letter from VIM. NJ. Brooke, Esq, President OF
the Alabama State Convention, enclosing q
copy of the ordinance Of secession adopted by
that State on the 18th inst
On motion of Mr.. THOMPSON, the communi-
cation was ordered to be printed.
Communications were also laid before the
Senate from the Alabama Commissioners, con-
corning an application made to them by a COM
mittec Of the Legislator. for their speeches for
publication.
On motion CT Mr.. AUGUST, the comnunica-
tons were ordered 20 he printed.
RESOLUTIONS, &C.
BY Mr.. NEwMAH-Fer amending the charter
of the Bank Of Mason, in the county Of Mason.
Mr.. DOUGLAS presented a petition OF the Pre-.
sident and Directors Of the Richmond and York
River Railroad Company, praying for en- act 10
~legalize the purchase, OF a steamer, and to give
authority to make connections; also, q petition
from the same Company asking for aid.
By Mr.. NgAL-Rcsolution for aiTordins relief
to the heirs Of Charles Holden, late sheriff OF
Harrison county, from a fine.
Ny Mr.. C~RITcHEK-For appointing q Board
to examine and decide upon the qualifications
Of surgeons, and to send an agent to Europe to
make himself acquainted with the means and
appliances there employed, to give efficiency to
the medical officers OF an army, as we'll As TO
purchase models and specimens Of the same.
By Mr.. DICKINSON, of Grayson-For report
ing Senate bill No. dis, Of last session, for the
relief Of Robert Coleman, late sheriff OF Car
roll county.
By Mr.. CARaAwAY-For amending the list
and Cd sections Of the act passed February q,
1860, incorporating the Princess Anne Savings
Bank, in the county of Princess Anne.
By Mr.. ARMsTRoHG-For amending section 9
OF chapter IA of the Code Of Virginia, as to
prohibit any bank from recovering dainages1o Tor
non.pavment of drafts or bills Of exchange
during the suspension Of specie payment by
such bank.
By Mr.. CLAlBoHNE-For restraining the
banks from charging more than o certain per
centum on exchange during the suspension OF
specie payment.
BY Mr. NEAL-For allowing representatives
OF deceased persons to execute deeds for real
estate sold in the life time Of such deceased
persons when the purchase money, or the resi-
due, is received by such representative, or 50
.-~l:rs.~ IT, Lac, - ralofinn thoyntn - IN
cause more expedition and lessen the expenses
attending suits for such purpose.
Bv Mr.. CARrER-For allowing compensation
to the officers and p~rivatcs OF the North Fork
Rife company, io- services rendered during the
John Brown raid.
By Mr.. CARrEE-For allowing compensation
to the officers Of the HillSboro Guard, FOR ser
vices rendered during the John Brown raid.
By Mr., AUcusr-For reporting bill No. 25s
of the last session, rcfunding a sum of money
to the Virginia Rifles, paid b. thcIl for sword
bayonets.
By Mr.. THOMAS, Of Hcnry-For authorizing
n certain sum to be expended in repairing and
furnishing the Governors house.
By Mr.. D.cEEHsoS, Of P. E.-For so amend
ing the charter Of the Farmville ard Bucking-
ham plank road company, 81 as to dispense
with the use Of plank on such parts OF their
road as may be necessary.
By Mr.. BRANSoN-(JoiAt resolntion):
Whereas, The State Of Virginia holds in her
OWL right certain bonds Of the Hillsboro and
Cincinnati railroad company, which, from the
unfinished condition of said road and tho IN
certainty surrounding its future prospects, rem
ders it necessary to convert the same into other
securities, or to make sale thereof. Therefore,
Be it Resolved, by the General Assembly,
that the Commissioner Of the Sinking fund,
be and they are hereby authorized TO convert
said bonds into stocks or other securities, or to
make sale thereof, as in their Judgment may
be deemed most conducive ~ the interest OF
the State.
BY Mr.. FRsScu-ror attaching a portion Of
the Cumberland Gap Turn:.ike to the Salt Sui
phuy and Mountain Lake Turnpike.
A Joint resolution, introduced from the
House, informing the Commissioners from Ala-
bana of the action OF the Legislature Of Fir.
ginia with regard to n Convention, and OF the
Of certain propositions for settling the
controversies between tho North and
South, was taken up and concurred i'll.
DEFENCE OF THE STATE.
House bill appropriating one million of dol
lars for the defence Of the State was taken up,
being the order Of the day.
Mr.. NEWTON offered an amendment providing
that threefourths Of the million he expended in
the purchase Of arms.
Mr.. AUGUST opposed the amendment.
Mr.. NELSON moved to pass by the bill with
the view of taking up the bill creating an
ordnance bureau.
The motion prevailed, and the ordnance bill
was taken up, and, on motion Of Mr.. August.
the bill was amended By Introducing tho words
regulations for the army Of the United States"
Mr.. STUART moved to refer the bill back to
the Committee on Military Affairs, with the
view Of reporting amendments fixing specific
for the officers.
The motion was ~adoptcd-Ayes 20, noes 1.
The defence bill then came up, and on mo-
ton Of Mr.. Arcrsr, the bill was laid on the
Suudry bills were advanced a stage, and
the following bills were passed:
Senate bill to provide for taking the sense
81 49, - L. -t,a ,,.nn - -.