Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-16
s.gsssshTURa OF VIRGINIA.
extra SESSION.
TUESDAY. OCTOBER Is, 1863.
SENATE,

TORS, US-"dS GCClNCu iltLll Nv
gates with amendments. TIL amendments
were agreed to, and the bill was passed.
DEATH OF CAPT. wM. l.. NEWTON.
\ communication in relation to the
death of CAPTAIN Vim. B. Newton was received
from the Governor, read and ordered TO be
spread upon the Journal. The communica-
ton will he found in the proceedings OF the
House Of Delegates.
4 hill was reported from the Committee for
Courts of Justice to enlarge the powers of the
Common Council of the city of Petersburg.
ADVERSE REPORTS.
The Committee on Military Affairs were
released from the farther consideration OF the
following subjects:
OF making it the duty of all judges, justices,
commissioners in chancery, sheritts, sergeants
and constables to take active steps in arrestIns
all deserters, absentees without leave and con-
scripts within the several counties.
OF enquiring into the expediency Of amend
ing the law in respect to exemptions.
OF reporting bill No. 81, entitled ia bill to
erganize homo guards"
LAID on TIE TABLE.
On motion of Mr.. JOHNSON, the report of
the committee asking to be discharged from
the further consideration of the act of 20th
November, 1862, authorizing persons in GER
tain religious denominations in the State to
exempt themselves from military service By
the Of $500 each, was laid upon the
table.
RESOLUTIONS.
The following resolutions were offered,
J adopted and referred to appropriate commit
tees:
Ry Mr.. QUEsENBERRY-Of making somc
arrangement with the Confederate authorities
by which n sufficient supply of -four and the
necessasies of life may he secured to the cltl-
zens of the cities and towns Of the Common
wealth free from impressment.
BY Mr.. ALDERsoN-Of reporting Il bill
making an appropriation to purchase fuel and
lights for the Governors house.
BY Mr.. SrITLER-Of so amending the act
in relation to exemptions, passed February
18th, lSG2. as to exempt Commissioners of the
Board of Public Works from military duty.
BY Mr.. TAYLOR, of Montsomcry-What
additional legislation is necessary for the fur
Their relief and comfort Of Virginia soldiers,
now serving in the army of the Confederate
States.
DAY OF ADJOURNMENT.
-NIr. DAY offered the following Joint resolu-
ton. which lies over under the rule:
Resolved, That the Senate will, with the
concurrence of the House of Delegates. ad.
%iourn on Tuesday, the Goth inst.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
Mr.. DICKINSON said At the request Of the
Senator from Richmond City. (Mr. RANDOLPH)
the condition Of whose health units him, for the
present. for the discharge Of his duties, l move
that leave of absence for that Senator be granted
for one week. That Senator regrets the necessity
which obliges him to be absent at this time,
when important measures are coming to a vote
but y temporary absence Is absolutely necessary
to his recovery.
He also desired it to be stated that in the alb
sence of any manifestation, by the people of
Richmond, of opinion and wishes contrary to
those expressed by the meeting held in the City
Hall on the 10Th inst, he should regard the res
solutions of that meeting rs instructions to vote
for the regulation of prices by law, and if present
when that vote is taken, should obey those in.
structions. His opinion of the impolicy of the
proposed measure remains unchanged, rs tend-
ing to increase the existing deficiency of the ne.
~cessaries of life, Danish capital from the State, and
keep down the wages Of labor; but his c~onstitu.
ents think differently, he should carry out their
wishes.
The motion was agreed TO.
"a P~ESITENTIARY.
The bill amending the law relating to the State
Penitentiary was taken up-tho question being
on It's engrossment. The bill abolishes the Office
of store. keeper of the Penitentiary, the board of
directors, and makes other radical changes in the
management and general affairs of the institu-
ton.
Mr.. CHRISTIAN, Of Middlesex, suggested sew
eral amendments. which were agreed to.
Mr.. Seldom said that in his opinion. injustice
had been done to the Directors of the Penitentias
ry by the committee that reported this bill, in not
calling the directors before them, and obtaining
tt -. -. Al. no1.o,, ctIo h,n-o, n.a-a.l
to be made in the laws governing the institution.
The radical changes proposed by the bill, should
have Induced the committee to call the directors
before them aud allow them to be heard in their
own defence. and on the merits Of the pending
propositions.
Mr.. ARMSTRONG thought the bill should not
be pressed to an engrossment to-day. lie was
not fully prepared to vote on the measure /;
and he hoped the directors of the peniten-
tiary would be called before the committee,
and be heard before final action was taken in
the matter.
Mr.. CHRISTIAN, Of Augusta, believed, and
had understood that tue bill, in abolishling
the directory, had only substituted another
and more efficient organization. The board Of
directors had been found to be inefficient.
Mr.. CHRISTIAN, of Middlesex, stated that
the gentlemen composing the directory visited
| inc UsIlIlelJlUl Y uGCi.SlDlllly " d lCN uoulE'
dined with the Supcrinteudent-as he had
been informed-never made any examination
into the affairs of the institution and. it had
been suggested, were an entirely useless ap-
pendage. lie, however, had no desire to
press the bill to an engrossmcnt to-day. lie
would, therefore, move that the bill be laid
upon the table, in order that Senators might
have further time to examine into. its mer-
its.
The lii was accordingly laid upon the
table.
TIE MILITIA ELL.
On motion of Mr.. NEWMAN, Of Mason, the
militia bill, received from the House of Dele
gates to-day, with amendments, was referred
to the Committee on Military Afairs.I
On motion Of Mr.. BILLIARD, the Senate adj
iourncd.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The House was opened with prayer by the
Rev. Mr.. Pcttigrew.
Senate bills to authorize the arrest of de-
| ~serters. by the civil authorities, and to arm
and equip the militia, were reported, read a
second time and committed. Senate amend
ments to the House bill to settle certain claims
against the Eastern Lunatic Asylum, were
read, and on motion of Mr.. RAYMOND, of Ma
rion, the whole subject was referred t" the
| Committee on Finance.
Mr.. RUTHERFORD, from the Committee on
! Courts, reported back with certain amend
ments, Senate bill to suspend sales in certain
cases, and Senate bill to suppress gaming.
also, with certain amendments.
Mr.. BoULDlN, from the Committee on FL
nance, reported a bill to correct erroneous as
sessment, and omitted taxes. On resolutions
as to the expediency of cxempting from taxa
ton counties within the lines of the public
enemy; of providing for the support of fami-
lies in the lines of the enemy in the State
and of the support of families driven from
their homes. the committee rennrted It ineSnc-