Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-16
LEGISLATURE OF JlNGsE!a.
extra SESSION.
THURSDAY, OcToREg Is. 1863.
SEN ATE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER ID. 1868.
SENATE
The Senate was called to order at - o'clock,
NJ, by the President, Lieutenant Gl"crnor
MONTAGUE.
Prayer Ivy Rev. DR.. Sprigs, of the Episcopal
Church.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
The Committee On Military Affairs reported
that they have had under consideration a res
~olution to inquire into and report upon what
terms and by what authority Confederate Ca
dots are received into the Virginia Military
Institute, and ask to be discharged from the
further consideration of the same.
that they have had under consideration il res.
~olutiOn inqu;rins into the cxpediency Of pre-
venting auy one man from holding two or more
commissions in the militia Of the Common
wealth, and ask 10 be discharged from the
further consideration of the sane.
ELL. TO SUPPRESS GAMING.
The Senate bill to Suppress Gaming was
received from the House Of Delegates. with
several amendments. The amendments nut
IN additional penalty upon the iirU-dcaler By
giving him thirty-nine stripes 1T the public
whipping post, and Was rather more stringent
in other respects than when the hiii was pass
cd by the Senate.
Mr.. NEWMAN, Of Mason. morci Tia. the
amendments proposed by the House If DIE
gates be agreed 10.
Mr.. KEEN moved that the Bill and amend
ments he referred to the Committee Tor Courts
of Justice.
Mr.. ALDEnsoS was ofro-cd to the amend
ment iniiicting lashcs. lie %tii0ngit suck pun
i.hment was too degrading and would render
| the law almost imperative. for he did not be-.
lieve that any Jury would give such a verdict.
lie was willing, however, to take the bill as il
was rather than run the risk of doing nothing
BY n rccommitment.
Mr.. HART said, if men violate tho law, they
should receive the s;vcrest punishment"f that
law. Gambling is an infamous vice. He did
not believe the penalty could be too strong
IF men desire to escane the penalty, let them
cease the ~ofancc. lie opposed Il rcronimit-
ment.
Mr.. MARSHALL. said he should not have said
aught on this subject, hut TO put himself
right on the question. If gambling could be
put down he was ready to do all that could be
done to accomplish that object. Bur he did
not believe that the law now before US wonld
do any good. Legislation has been tried
abundantly tried. and has proved utterly ir-
adequate to stop gaming. lie hoped ii worlA
be the pleasure Of the Senate 10 refer this bill
to the proper committee, and let them report
what has been the former Legislation on this
subject. lie was, therefore, in favor Of re-
committing the bill.
The question on recoumit;ing he bill was
decided in the negative.
Mr.. NEWMAN Of Mason. said the only fea.
ture in the bill different from former lcgisla.
ton, was that the bill c0nliscated the proper
ty. lie was in favor also of laying on the
thirty nine lashes.
MIR. JOHNSON moved TO strike out that part,
OF the amendment proposed by the House, and
providing for giving the gambler 80 lashes at
the public whipping post.
The question was taken and the motion WIS
agreed to-aycs 81, noes II.
Mr.. CHRISTIAN, of Augusta, moved an
amendment to the bill, giving the Common
wealth's Attorney ~ per cent. Of the entire
value Of the property conliscateI. lie believed
this amount would stimulate the zeal and
compensate the Attorney for additional labor
imposed by the law.
Mr.. NASH hoped the amendment comnen-
sating the Attorney would be adopted. All
the other officers named in this hill arc com
pensated, and he thought it was nothing more
than Just to give the Commonwealth's .Attor-
ncy an additional compensation for services in
this case of felony.
Mr.. HART should vote for the amendment.
He had voted for all the propositions in the
bill. If this would be any ~stimulant, he
should 60 for it. lie desired to put down
gambling, this most infamous vice which was
ruining.many Of our youth, and some Of the
best men in the country.
Mr.. GUY rather thought this amendment
would operate disadvantascously. He, there
fore. hoped it would not bc agreed to.
Mr.. TAYLOR, of Montgomery, thought if the
amendment we're adopted it might. in .so,nc
cases, prevent n conviction. 1t might deprive
the Commonwealth of the testimony Of the
commemorative Attorney, rs an interested
witness, and thereby defeat the object Of the
bill and the ends of justice. For this reason,
ae should vote against the amendment.
The question on agreeing othe amendment
was then taken and decided in the affirmative.
Mr.. NEWMAN, Of Mason, moved an amend.
ment, providing thar. in addition to Tho fnc,
30 stripes may be given ut the discretion Of
the Court.
Mr.. ARMSTRONG favored the amcndment.-
lie was in favor 6f furnishing vice az it de-
serves to he punished he desired to degrade
he gambler: he would whip him through the
streets. He would deter men from gambling
by fixing upon them the s~everest punishment.
MIR. TAYLOR, Of Montgomery. doubted very
much, il this law was Gl0nted. whether it
| would ever he executed. After taking AWAY
I'll the gamblers property. he did not think
chat any Judge would ever order him to be
whipped. lie had found that tho man who
takes the medium rule in prosecuting offences
llways succeeded better than him who went
'or a most rigorous punishment. He. there
core, thought the amendment Objectionable.
The question un agreeing to thr amnndmcnt
vas decided in the afirmative-aycs 10. nocS
Ii.
The remainder of the amendments proposed
by the House of Dclcgates were agreed to.
The action Of the Senate on the bill was
then communicated 10 the House of Delegates.
DAY OF ADJOURNMENT.
On motion of Mr.. DAY. the resolution pro-
viding for an adjournment Of the Legislature
on Tuesday next was taken up. Some dis:
cussion ensued on the subject.
On motion of MIR. NELSON. the resolution
was laid upon the table.
BILLS PASSED.
The following bills were read 4 third time
and passed:
a bill to supply a deficiency in the app7o-
%priatiOn TO support the Central Lunatic -Asy-
lum.
A bill to enlarge the powers Of the Com
mon Council Of the city of Petersburg.
RELIEF BILL.
The Committee TO whom were referred a
House bill on the subject. reported 4 substi-
tute for the same, authorizing county and cor
poration courts to provide necessary mai1tc-
NANCE for families of rersonsi in the military
and naval service.
Mr.. ARMSTRONG moved that the bill and
substitute be laid upon the table and printed,
and made the order of the day for Monday.
Mr.. NrEsoS nynlained the merits of tho suh.