Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-19
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
EXTRA SESSION.
SENATE.

SATURDAY, Oct. II, 1868.
The Senate was called to order by Vice President J.
r. johnson at the usual hour.
Prayer by the Rev. DR.. Sprigg of the Episcopal
| Church.
REMOVAL OF MAcHrsKRY.
A communication was received from the Governor,
accompanied by letter from the Secretary Of War,
and copy of deed from Virginia to the Confederate
States in response to resolution of the Senate calling
for information in regard TO the removal OF machinery
/ from the Virginia Armory.
The following is the message Of the Governor:
"Beiore the commenced, and in anticipation Of
its occurrence Virginia determined t. fix up her Ar
mory for the manufacture OF arms. She had, there
FORE made contracts for the supply of all the necessary
machinery and in process of construction, when
the war was precpitated upon her. Not having been
delivered she directed her attention to the Harpers
Ferry establishment as furnishing the necessary cup
plies complete the establishment and prepare it fully
for the cherished purpose Virginia had in view. When
the machinery to her possession, she determined
therefore, 10 place in her State Amory and she has
never lost sight of abandoned this purpose. She
therefore oarsiy provided for this object in all her
future action md the written contract will demonstrate
it. Hence is that the contract the right OF
property in the machinery aud in the real estate to the
State of Virginia.
And it is further provided: The Confederate States
shall have the right TO erect such buildings, and to
make such repairs and changes in the present budng
upon the ground 10 be transferred to them, shall be
Il
/ c!ole the same in proper manner: Provided however,
that inasmuch the transfer will be without pecuniay
consde ra on the right and title OF the State in rever
sion being expressly reserved shall not be subject 10
any repair changes. Improvements or new buildings
/ made under this arrangement"
| The provision shows tie care and attention with
| which tie whole subject was guarded, from the COM
meucement of the negotiation to its conclusion. But
before this contract entered into received letter
from Hon L. P. Walker, the then Seoret,ry of War of
L IL n1uE .Io Ofata hat
sent intention of this department to continue the ope
ration Of the machinery in the armory at Richmond,
and under all circumstances so long az possible, to
continue the OF the armory for the objects 10 which
il has been devoted in the service OF the Confederate
| States.
commend tho whole Subject to the consideration of
the Legislature. Respectfully,
JOIN LrrcHxR
Mr. DOUGLAS moved to refer the whole subject To a
special committee of five. Agreed TO. "a,
The Chair appointed Messrs Douglas, Logan, New
lon, Peters and Ball to constitute the committee.
BILLS REPORTED.
A bill to incorporate the Home Insurance Company
| of the city of Petersburg.
bill to incorporate the Southern Insurance and ga.
wings Society Of Petersburg.
| BILLS PASSED.
bill to provide for the payment Of certain claims
against the Eastern Lunatlc Asylum.
Senate bill TO provide for the trial of friendly suits in
chancery for partition, &C., arising in counties in the
possession Of the enemy, or threatened with invasion.
MPREssISG SUPPLIES.
On motion of Mr.. PRINCE it was resolved to confer
the power Of impressng necessary supplies may not be
so used as to be more uniform in its operation among
| tho PEOPLE of this Commonwealth.
| ADVERSE REPORT
! Mr.. NEWMAN, of Mason, from the Committee on
Military Affairs, reported that the committee have had
under consideration Senate bill aud House amendments
thereto for the Reorganization of the militia and that
they had instructed him TO report the back the
Senate and ask to be discharged from the further
| sheraton of the subject in committee -
This report gave to considerable discussion. F.
naly the report laid the table and made the or.
der Of the day for Monday, at haifpast IL O'clock
| THE BILL REGULATING PRICES
Was next called up.
Mr.. CHRISTIAN, of Augusta, said the evils againss
which this bill to provide great that all feel
anxious to find in il the proper remedy In cases Of
| extreme Sickness the earnest desire that something
should be DONE controlled by the obvious Importance
Of the utnos: prudence and skill beng observed, est
a, improper remedy being re,or;ed 10 prove itself
disastrous This bill and the argument by which it is
supported assumes that the disease Of The country
sss in high prices aud that these the quencl
of speculation and extortion herce it proposes the
remedy an arbitrary reduction OF prices OF certain ar
ticles TO suppress speculation and extortion Mr. @.
invertng the case that in fact speculation and extor
ton were rather the sequences OF high prices and these
originated In causes which this BILL framed, will
not cure, but only sggravate The high prices Of the
Becessares of life caused by their virtual scarcity
| an increased demand and superabundance of money
that stimulates competition among buyers And these
facts all inevitably arise out Of the peculiar
| oppressing the country. S eculation and extorton
have their origin and foundation in scarcity of necessary
commodities. Scarcity of food must occur in this war
from diminished productions from sending to the army
consumers all white aboreIs from Is to As years of age
from loss of negroes horses and implements Of labor
from utter insuicency of transportation to distribute
any surpus 10 the point whe,e il il needed Scarcity
of clothing because the blockade cuts of our
former sources Of supply il the North and Europe
The army and Government uses in Virginia greatly in
crease the local demand. The profuse sue of paper
added TO the vast amount of capital set free
other pursuits stopped by the war, stimulates compe
on among the buyers of these scarce necessares OF
hfe-under an apprehension OF still greater coming
scarcity. The seller Is often virtually compelled
cept more than be would have asked by tae importu
mites and compeiol of buyers, and to his sur
prise is called Spectator and extortiber. Buyers not
sellers firing prices. II the first seller would
fix low price, second is still besieged and tempted
to part with the indispensable article an advanced
price, IL is that much Of the country salt ia sell
dom permitted to remain in the hands of the original
dstributee but goes out at high prices. The Crsnshaw
woolens were pushed to high prices by the purchasers
Alone The prices Of subsistence and clothing being
thus made high and entering into the cost of production
OF all other articles necessarily rise of prices in
everything. But high prices will in the end regulate
themselves and meanwhile relieve the wants of the COM
munity They send the SPECTATOR through the dangers
of blockade and spur the producer to increased energy
and expense to procure these articles indispensable
the people, and thus supplying the demand eventually
reduce the price.
Speculation is thus the inevitable consequence Of
high price and scarcity of necessary commodities but
will in the end correct ITSELF But boarding and en-
crossing and extortpg fungi excesses growing ont
Of this state of THINGS are crea and should be dis
tinctly punished by Law. The pending bill would rather
punish him who increases the quantity of the Leeded
commodity. by refusing him the measure Of compensa-
ton which induces him incur the labor and risk ne.
cessary to procure it. It thus increases still farther the
demand and opens wider the door for the extortioner
10 short It does not increase production or increase