Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-12-12
Virginia Legislature.

Virginia Legislature.
sExArE.-Monday, Dec 4, 1865 On calling
the roll of the Senate, there was found to be q
Senators present and absent.
In the absence of Lieut. Gov. Cowper, Mr.. e.
c. Robinson, of Norfolk, was appointed Speak
er, pro tenn.
The Speaker announced that the next business
in order would be the election Of Clerk of the
Senate, whereupon Mr.. Shelton C. Davis, of Rich
mond former clerk of the Senate, was nomina-
ted. No other person being in nomination, the
vote was taken, and resulted unanimously for MIR.
Davis.
For the office of Sergeant at arms, Messrs. J..
A. Jordan, F. V. Sutton, of H anrico, VIM. Writ
Harrison, of Richmond, and N. A. Thompson
were nominated. There was no election on the
first vote. Second vote-Harrison q, Thompson
2, Sutton l. Harrison was elected Sergeans-at-
arms of the Senate.
The election of Doc orkeeper being next in order
Messrs. Mi les G. Eggleston, of Henrico, Dr. Clay
ton G. Coleman, jr., of Louisa, August Rozime
of Richmond, Sheffey Baldwin, of Augusta, and
Edwin c. Moore, of Orange. were nominated
No choice on the first, second and third vote
Fourth vote-Rozine, 18; Moore, s. Necessary
to choice, 49, Rozine elected
The election of Printer to the Senate being ne 1t
in order, there was motion made to postpone,
which was lost-ayes 8, noes, IA Messrs. j. w.
Lewelen, of Richmond, James Goode. the for
mer printer, and Richard NJ. Smith, of Richmond
were then put IN nomination, and on the third
vote, Mr.. Goede was elected, having received lS
votes,
The rules of the Senate Of 1861 were adopted
until further orders
On motion of Mr.. Boiling, the following rosolu-
tion was adopted
Resolved, That the House Of Delegates be in
formed that the Senate is now organized, and.
with the co nsent of the House of Delegates, that
a joint committee be appointed, consisting of
hree members ON the part of the Senate, and Ave
members on the part of the House, to inform tn 0
Governor that both Houses Of the General As
semby organized, and that the General AS
ssmby is ready to receive any communication Q
may desire to make.
Mr.. Boiling was designated by the Speaker to
communicate the above resolution t o the House
The Senate having been informed that the
House was organized and ready to proceed to
business,
The Speaker thereupon appointed Messrs Boil
ing, MeEeier and Carter, committee on the par,
of the Senate, to unite with committee of the
House, to wait on the Governor of the State and
inform him of the organization of the two Houses
and their readiness to receive any communities
tion he may deem proper to make. M
Soon thereafter, Mr.. Boiling, Of the Senate's
| committee, announced that the joint committee
had waited on the Governor, who informed them
that he would forthwith make communication
to the Senate.
The message was handed in and FIVE hundred
copies ordered to ba printed.
Mr.. Gray rose and said, as the reading Of the
Governors message was occupying the attentior
of the House, and no other business likely TO bt
before the Senate to-day, he moved that the Sen
ate adjourn.
Agreed to, and the Speaker announced the Sen
ate adjourned until II o'clock, Tuesday.
HoUsE.-At twelve o'clock, the Virginia House
of Delegates assembled in the Hall in the Nor,i
wing of the State Capital, and was called to or
der by John Bell Bigger, late assistant Clerk
Mr.. Bigger elected Clerk Of the House, BY
| a vote of 48 to A.
The Clerk announced the election Of Speaker
as next in order.
Mr.. Grattan, of Richmond city, nominated F
N. Watkins, who, he said, al though new mem
Der, had had great experience in presiding owe
| important delberative bodies Moreover he is
a high-toned Virginia gentleman, and possessed
all the qualities necessary for the Office. In hi
decisions members might rest assured, he woulC
ever be prompt and decided.
| Mr.. Word, of Botetourt, nominated John B
Baldwin, of Augusta. Though there are man.
strangers in the House, there were none who ha
not heard of the gentleman named. Invent
| years ago he was member of the House and O
once took high rank among its leading members
| His perfect acquaintance with parliamentary lay
renders it highly immportant that, at this partic
uar time, he, of all others, should be elevated t.
the Speakers chair.
Mr.. Kilby, of Nansemond nominated Mr
Joynes, of Petersburg, who, he said, had preside
in the Circuit Court of mis- district with marke
ability. The fact that he has not had much leg
islative experience did not, in his opinion, unii
| him for the Speakership.
| Mr.. Woodson said-Coming he did, fron
| the county adjoining that which Mr.. Baldwin rep
resented, he thought it proper that he should Sc
cond his nomination He said Col. Baldwin wa
a gentleman of high character, great legislativ
experience and remarkable decision. In a word
that he combined, in very high degree, all til
qualities requisite in Speaker, and, if elected
| could enter, without preparation, upon the dis
charge of the important duties which would de
volve upon him.
Mr.. Straughan agreed with the gentleman VIII
had preceded him, to the qualifications of thei
candidates, but he also desired to present to tn
House the name of q gentleman, who possesses
high qualifications for the Speakership. He allu
ded to Muscoe Garnett, of Essex, wao, in addi
ton to having served in the House for numbe
of years, member of the lengthy Conven
| ton of '50-'5l.
Mr.. Garnett said-Tendering to nay friend from
Northumberland my grateful ledgement
for the very fattering manner in which he ha
placed my name before the House, for the higl
and honorable posi- ition of its presiding officer,
very respectfully ask him to withdraw it. ! an
unwilling to be party even to seeming contes
here for anything. came for no such purpose
! Mr.. Joynes withdrew his name, and paid
high compliment to the ability of Mr.. Baldwin
but he preferred him on the floor as member o.
the Judiciary Committee, instead of in the Speak
er's chair. He would, therefore, support Mr.
Watkins, who, he thought, would make an excel
lent presiding officer.
| Mr.. Baldwin here arose and said that his
friends who had approached him upon the subject
| would bear him out in the assertion that he had
declined being acontestant for the office Of Speak
er, and if his friends thought that the floor was
the proper place for him, hs would remain there