The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-18
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

The House met ut II O'Clock H., Mr.. COL
LIsH, OF Petersburg, in tins Chair. Prayer BY
ksv. DIR moore.
the House agreed to the Senate's amend.
ment to the bill constituting NswRiver n law.
fal fence; also 10 the joint resolutions passed
BY the Senate relative TO the defence OF Yves.
tern Virginia, and avowiEg Tho determine.
ton VI tne Commonwealth 70 retain u III.
risdiction over that section.
A bilt for the relief Of John Otis. late
jaaiOr Of Jefferson county, was reported from
the COMMITTEE on Claims.
Mr.. ANnIRsoE, of Bo,etourt, from the Com.
misteo on military Affairs, reported the tOl-
lowing bill:
IAN act to amend and re.enact an ordi.
nance to provide tor the enrolment and en-
ploy menl Of tree negroes in the public ser.
vice, passed by the convention JuIysl, 1861. !"
mr.. BARBOUR, from the COMMITTEES ON FL.
nance, reported q bill to authorize the trans
for OF cersaln bonds Of the state held in trust
by the Government of the United States for
certain Indian tribes, and pro yiding for lh Q
payment OF interest thereon.
also, an adverse report AZ to the expediency
OF re1undIng to kuda and Gresham, OF Ches-
.erfeld county, d license tax.
disacy Of refunding damages paid by sureuss
OF Il. w. Gin, Sheriff OF Chesterlieid.
Mr.. NBwr0H's joint resolutions, sulogizipg
the Virginia Voiunte and inviting them
to 70 list for the war. (having been slightly
modifled,) were read by the Clerk, and tie
same adopted.
On motion of MI. BuroHD, the bill pro.
viding for the CONSTRUCTION OF q railroad con-
nection between the Orange and Alexandria
and Manassas Gap Railroads and the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Rail
road was taken up.
Messrs BSFokD and LYNN strongly urged
the passage of The bill as a means for prop.
eriy defending our military lines on the Pc.
tomac. 1T was then passed without opposi-
ton.
mr.. <olloryfr~ r..oIu<;or. ~ Snouirv vvsra
referred to the appropriate committees:
BY Mr.. BAxER: OF so amending the crimi-
nal laws of the Commonwealth as to provide
for the punishment Of slaves and free negroes
person, would be treason, or OF treaso nable
and d:sloyal character.
BY Mr.. WARD: Of SO amending the exist
ing law as to provide that fiduciaries shall
not forfeit their commissions for failure to
settle their accounts within the time now
repaired by law.
BY MIR. SHIrYEY: OF amending the SD, SD,
and 9th sections Of chapter 81 Of the Code OF
1850.
One O'Clock having arrived, the House took
mp the order of the day, which was the bill
providing tor filing the. vacancies In the
Senate from the 18th and 5oth districts.
The bill underwent several amendments.
On motion Of Mr.. BAsKERyILLE, the bill
with pending amendments, was laid on the
table.
Mr.. BAsKIRvrLLx then moved to take up
the resolutions Qaid on the table some day $
ago) providing for the House to proceed to
the filling OF vacancies In its own body,
caused by the occupation of a part Of til >
Commonwealth by the public enemy. which
was carried.
After tho Clerk had read the resolution
Mr HAK1IeoS moved that they be postponed
indefinitely.
A long discussion ensued. Mr.. RUTHERFORD
argued that the late Convention had the right
to provide for the filling of vacancies In the
House. He was Of tho opinion, however,
that no exigencv had yet arrived to justify
the House to avail itself Of the privilege. He
was followed by Messrs. G1ArrAS, SPADY,
DABsrr, and RIvEs, in opposition to the pro .
posed action OF the Legislature. and Messrs
AsDxKsoH OF Botetourt, RIcHARpsoN, and
BuRxs, in favor Of filing the vacancies from
Western Virginia.
Without taking vote the House, ON motion
OF MIR. BASxE1vILLB, adjourned.