Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-02-26
E2GzsLaigaG NE .{.:;::;;';4ys.
Tuesday, FsT -, - aSG /.
SENATE.

Tuesday, Fsp -. aSGI.
- SENATE.
The Senate was called +, or,Ier ut l.. NJ.
by the President. Lieut.. Gov PRlcg.
Ol motion Of Nlr. CHRISTIAN, Of MiIdleseI
it was resflvcd thai tha Senate mea. he-eat-
tor daily at il o'clock, A. N.
INrRgssNEaT OF SLAVES.
The President presented 4 roulnunicasicr
from the Governor, enclosing q letter trcm tit
Secretary Of Var in relation to the impress
ment of slaves, in which the Secretary says
that, ut present, the work on the fertilization
is deemed Of high Importance, but that late1
in the season, when The planting. interests be.
come mere urgent, q large majority, If not al
the slaves. will be discharged.
On motion of Mr.. CHRISTIAN, Of Augusta
it was
Resolved, That the Committee on Banks in
quire into tho e1pediency OF increasing the
msximum capital of tho Bank of tho City Of
\ lPetefsbarg .sS two millions of dollars.
Mr.. BALES, by leave, reported bill to pro-
vide for tho holding Of the sessions of the
County Court Of Lee county, which was read
the third time and passed
The bill relating to the settlement Of tdrI
| ciarics' accounts, was taken up. discussed by
Mcssrs. Armstrong, Cn@hill, Hunter, Lewis
and Carson, and gain laid upon the table.
On motion Of Mr.. LEWIS, the joint .rcsolu
ton proposed by him, foF the appointment Of
| L committee of three OH the part Of the Senate,
und five on tho part of the House of Delegates,
for the purpose Of enquiry into the abuses and
inhumanities said to be prac,ised towards
conseripts at Camp Lee, was taken up.
Mr.. LEWIS explained the importance AMI
necessity of making the enquiry proposed.
Mr.. Dickinson thought it very singular
that the Legislature of this State should be
30 frequently engaged in discussing matters
| hs!onging to tho Confederate authority. He
believed the inquiry rrcrosel had already
been Instituted 10y the Confederate authorities.
and he could gee no good to result from the
| freQn ,nt Interference of this Legislature in
such matters.
Mr.. CnGIiILL was ~ Il loss 10 know what in.
Jury :onli result from the resolmti"n. 1t was
due to the culnnandant at Camp Lace to make
tho inquiry, and it waA tue to o,r GwE citi-
Zsns.
Mr. ARMSTRONG said lie had becn well in
formed that there was no gruuiid for the
statement that abuses had been practisCd ut
Camp Lee.
Mr. DELANEY thought the resolution could
do no harm, ard he li0pd that i; wUuid he
agreed to.
Mr.. ,JoNzs sA.d the r'imor that several con
scripts had perishcd lrlm cD.i bg exposure at
Camp Lee was entirely destitute Of !ounda-
tian.
Mr.. Wiley said it w:ls our duty 30 make
the inquiry proposed l,y the resolution. lie
had evidence that eOnserips had hecn inhu-
manly treated, and it was dmr duty 10 see tba:
our citizens wcrO hot allowed TO suffer from
the negligence Of tlioscunicr whom they were
temporarily placed.
The resolution was then passed, and Measrs.
Lewis, Coghill and Armstrong were appointed
the committee on tho part Of tho Senate.
On motion OF Mr.. CARSON, tho Senate then
went into secret session with closed doors.
Shortly afterwards the doors we're re.opcnet.
ELLIS Passed.
The following bills were read third time
and passed:
To amend the charter and extend the
corporate Limits Of the town Of Charlotte lille;
10 provide for the holding CT the Superior
Court Of tue county Of Lee
TO extend the time for the exercise of ce1-
tain civil rights and remedies;
TO increase TIE fees and compensation Of
shcriffs and sergeants;
Amending the 10Th section Of chapter 10
Of Code of Virginia, concerning the service Of
process
Amending jtl, rcctou, chapter Isl Of Code
of 1850, concerning fces 0t commissioners in
chAncery.
On motion of Mr.. kEES, it was
Resolved, That the Committee On General
Laws inquire into the expcIicnsq uf amending
the law go as to authorize the courts Of counties
and corporations to sell the boi:ds Of their
counties and corporations, payable ut Il time
subsequent to this date not exceeding fifteen
years; and, also, what legislation, if any, is
necessary to legalizc the order Of the County
Court Of Pittsylvania, making provisi"nl for
the sale of certain bonds, payable at the expi
ration Of ten, and certain other bonds payable
a: the expiration CT fifteen years after date.
The bill imposing taxes for the support Of
the Government and the bill amending and
rc-enactinS all act entitled IN act to extend
the time for the exercise Of certain rights and
remedies, passed March II, lSG22, were read
first time.
The bill to authorize the Bard Of Public
Works to increase the rates 0f :0ll to be charged
by railroad and other ron panes was taken up
and laid upon the tsblr.
The bill concerning .iai!ors' fees was ordered
to be cngrossed.
On motion of Mr.. ARMSTRONG, the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The House was called to order at o'clock
A. NJ, by Mr.. PINDLEToN, in the absence Of
the Speaker, Mr.. SuErFEY.
A bill Was passed authorizing the Board 81
Public Works to suspend the payment Of any
subscription OH tie part of the State, TO inter-
nal improvement companies.
A bill was reported to recall absent citizens
Of the Commonwealth, read and placed on the
calendar. The bill provides that those wEn
fail 10 return shall, in certain specified case.
be deemed and held alien enemies.
A bill was reported tn prevent the destruc-
ton of enclosures ard their private property,
except on public highways,
A message was received fr0m Cav. Smith en-.
closing thereply cr the Secretary Of War to the
Joint resolution Of the Lcgisatrr" !or suspen-
sion of tho cali on the State for Law, labor OF
fort6 cations, &C. Tho cnnmunis ..tiOn was read
and Ibid On the table.
A resolution was iOpte1 in9':.ring into the
e1pedienc Spf providing BY las f.'r the eschsat.
forfeiture or eontiication Of tn real estate of
alien enemies.
The subject Of salt YVES broug!.: 20 the atten-
ton Of the House by snnlry resolutions which
wero adopted.
The bill providing for amen ling the Code Of
1860 so rs TO provide for the pini 'hment Of free
negro convicts in certain cases, was taken up
and after explanation was passed.
The bill Increasing the char. now allowed
to be made by sleitfJ ard serg,ant5 Of cities for
services rendered, WIS passed.
The House took up the bill relative 10 The
mpressment OF free negroes for labor on fortiil-
cations. 1t was discussed and laid on the taba.
a resolution was adopted TO hnd night ses-
sions for the balance of the prs5eh. session.
WEDNESDAY,, FEs. 24, 1864.