Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-12-19

virginia LegislafuRe.

~ ~ IL " "A i " ~ n i
Virginia Legislature.
SENATE Wednesday, December lathe Sem
ate was called to order by the Lieut.. Governor,
President. Pray by the Rev. DR.. Minnegerode.
The House bill to incorporate the Virginia In
motion of Senator Trout, the rules being suspend
ed, it was read third time, and passed.
The reports from the Standing Committee be-
ing called for, Senator Gilmer, from the Commit
tee for Courts of Justice, reported the following
bill, which was laid upon the table and ordered to
be printed:
BILL to repeal all acts and parts of acts hereto
fore passed, and was in existence in relation to
the status of slayes'and free negroes, and to le-
galize the testimony of freedmen.
!. Be 1t enacted By the General Assembly of Vir-
ginia, That all acts and parts of acts heretofore
passed, and by reason of any previous legislation
of Virginia in relation to slavery, slaves and free
| negroes, be, and the same are hereby repealed.
| 2. That hereafter oil persons named and en-
braced in the proceeding section may, and shall
be allowed to testify in all suits and controversies
| in law and equity in which persons of the same
status directly indirectly interested, and in
all criminal cases.
| 8. This act shall be in force from its passage.
| Senator Trout, from the Committee on Public
Institutions, reported bill establishing the name
| of the Western Lunatic Asylum, which was read
twice and ordered to be engrossed,
| The same Senator, from the same committee,
| reporter another bill entitled
A bill to repeal section 8, and to amend and
re-enact section Of chapter eighty FIVE of Code
| of Virginia, so far as the Western Lunatic Asy-
lum is concerned, SO far as to give to the Direc-
tors power to dispense with the Office of Treasu-
rer, and to direct the funds of said Asylum to be
kept in one Of the banks at Staunton or some 9th
er place of safe keeping, which was read twice
and ordered to be engrossed.
Senator Lamosey offered the following pream-
BILE and resolution, and the rules being suspended,
it was on motion, referred to the Committee on
Courts of Justice:
Whereas, The Congress of the United States
did, on the LIST day of February. 1865, enact tina
the following article be proposed to the Legisla-
lures of the several States amendment to
the Cons tuition Of the United States which, when
ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures
shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part
Of the said Constitution:
ART. Is, Sec. Neither slavery nor inv olun-
tary servitude, except as punishment for crimes,
hereof the party shall be duly convicted shall
exist within the United States or any place sub
ject TO their jurisdiction.
Sec. 2, Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation.
And Whereas, by reason of the smallness of the
representation in the General Assembly, which
ratified the said amendment, at Alexandria, on
the 9th day Of January, 1865, doubt may arise,
that the will Of the people Of this State was
then and there not fully expressed; therefore be
lit
Resolpea by this General Assembly, That the
aforesaid amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States be and the same is hereby ratified
and the action of the General Assembly, which
,J,:o h. 1or, Of ,hor
1864, relative to the said amendment, is hereby
approved and fully confirmed.
Senator Mercier offered the following preamble
and resolutions, which he desired to have referred
to the Committee for Courts of Justice and General
Laws, but which the Senate, on motion, referred
to the Committee on Federal Relations.
Whereas, The President of the United States,
snd the Congress thereof, have, by frequent Ex-
exutive and legislative acts fully recognized the
restored government of Virginia, and the Consti-
tuition thereof, as adopted at Alexandria and,
whereas, the General Assembly of Virginia, in
due form, have elected United States Senators,
Hon. John Underwood and Hon. Joseph Segar,
| therefore, be it
Resolued, That the General Assembly of Virgin
ia, now assembled, by virtue of said Alexandria
Legislature and Constitution, do declare the cleo
| ton of said John Underwood and Joseph Segar,
to have been constitut ionally effected, and that
the State of Virginia claims for them their seats
| in the Senale of the United States.
| Resolved, That, in as much as we have accepted
the Constitution and legislation enated at Alexan-
dria, we intend to act in good faith, and abide by
and uphold them.
| Resolved That Joint CO mmittee composed of
| three Senators and seven members of the House,
| be appointed, who shall take into consideration
| the communication to the Governor of J. NJ. Ben
nett, who signs himself late Auditor Of Accounts,
in reference to the specie distributed by ocder OF
William Smith, then acting as Governor under
the so-caTled government of Virginia, and that
said committee have lower to send for persons and
papers, and report to each House by bill or other
| wise.
On motion of Senator Saunders, the Senate
| then adjourned
| HoUsE.--The House met at noon, the Speaker,
Mr. Baldwin in the Chair.
/ PRAYER by the Rev. DR.. Jeter, of the Baptist
Church.
resolution inviting immigration was offered by
l Mr.. Hansbrough, of Stafford.
/ Mr. Davis of Louisa, offered a resolution, thai
the Committee of Courts of Justice be instructed
to enquire into the expediency of making stealing
; O. capital offence, and report by bill otherwise
| Mr.. Baylor, of Augusta, offered resolution
that the Committee ON Asylums be and they are
hereby instructed to enquire into the expectancy
of making special appropriation to discharges
/ the outstanding liabilities OF the Wessern ana
Eastern Lunatic Asylums.
i By the same-That 80 much Of the Governors
message as relates to interest on money be REFER
ed to the Committee on Finance, with instruc
tions to report by bill or otherwise.
A bill authorizing the Va. Central Railroad te
borrow a sum of money, not to exceed three hun
bred thousand dollars, was passed.
On motion, the House adjourned
/ SENATE Thursday, December 1.-The bill te
authorize the Virginia Central Railroad Company
to borrow money was read twice, and on motion
of Senator Coleman, the rules were suspended
and the bill read third time and passed, by the
following vote: Ayes 81, Noes l.
The Senate bill establishing the name OF the
Western Lunatic Asylum, was taken up and
passed.
Also the Senate bill to repeal section eighth,
and to amend and enact section ninth OF chap
ter eighty-fve, of the Code of Virginia. SO far as
the Western Lunatic Asylum is concerned, SO far
as to give to the Directors power to dispense with
the office of Treasurer and to direct the funds Of
said Asylum to be kept in one of the banks a.
Staunton or some other place of safe keeping.
i The passage of the last two bills was, on mo-
ton of Senator Trout, communicated to the House
of Delegates, he being requested to make Inc
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