The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-23

THURSDAY, February %, 1859.
SENATE

Lieutenant. Governor CowPER in the chair.
Prayer by DR.. Converse.
WINCHESTER AND POTOMAC RAILROAD.
House bill for the relief of this road was
passed
sustained by the road during the war, enacts
that the company shall pay into the StaIe
Treasury on the first day of January, 1858, the
sum of eighty three thousand three hundred
and thirty three dollars, in satisfaction OF all
claims by the State against It, ~.
THE FACILITY BILL.
Senate bill to facilitate the continuous trans
portation of baggage and tonnage as between
the Virginia and Tennessee, Southside, Nor
folk and Petersburg, and Richmond and Dan
Vile railroad, came up.
advocated In IN able speech. A correspondence
between General Malone and MIR. Buford, oil
the Danville road, was read.
MIR. GILMEE opposed the bill.
Mr. KEEN opposed the bill with great energy.
The hour having arrived for the consldera-
ton of the joint order of the day, the Dill was
passed by, and the Senate proceeded to the
ELECTION OF JUDGES.
Mr.. Power presented a lengthy petition from
Judge Gregory in relation to the Judgeshlp OF
his district, which was read. coo.o shor,d
Mr.. ROBINSON moved that the Senate shoulo
60 into secret session in considering the no
limitations ,;ro5
Mr.. GILMER opposed, and said he would
always oppose secret sessions. II the SENATE
insisted upon it, he would retire lie would
never sit with closed doors.
Mr.. KEEN replied, urging that the Executive
nominations be considered in secret session.
Mr.. GRAY opposed secret sessions as antaSo-
nistic TO the spirit of the Virginia law OF VotihS
Uird rOce. ..
The Senate negatved the motion for secret
session by a vote of sixteen to thirteen.
The election being made by the two Houses
Jointly, the joint vote and the names OF tue
Judges elect will be found in the report OF the
proceedings of the House of Delegates. The
remainder of the day was spent in the eiec-
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Speaker BALDWIN in the chair.
THIRD ARTICLE OF THE CONSTITUTION.
The report of the Committee of Conference
on the subject of altering and amending the
third article of the Constitution was taken up
and agreed to- As reported, the ordinance
now provides that every white male citizen OF
the age of twenty-one years, who has been n
resident of the State for five years, and OF the
county, city, or town where he offers to vote
for twelve months next preceding, and VINO
has paid all State taxes assessed TO nm, anu
shall have actually paid the same within the
preceding year, shall be qualified to vote LOT
members of the General Assembly and all
officers elective by the people. The other pro-
visions are the same as already published.
THE TAX BILL.
House bill imposing taxes for the support of
Government was taken up out of its order and
pasSeG-ayes, So.
UsURY LAWS
Mr. DUYyINGToN moved to reconsider the
vote by which the Senate bill to amend the
usury law was rejected on yesterday. This
motion prevailed, and extracts were read from
letter which Mr.. DUNNINGToN had received,
stating that the farmers could obtain as much
money as they needed if the old usury laws
We're but repealed; but that without that mea-
sure the seven thirty bonds would absorb that
capital which would otherwise come to Nlr-
GINA.
Mr.. ROBINSON strongly advocated the pass
age of the proposed bill, and argued that, in
consequence of the advance in the prices OF
articles of general consumption, farmer
could now pay eight per cent. better than he
could formerly pay six per cent.
Mr.. CLARK, of Campbell, moved to recon-
slider the vote by which the bill had been
passed to its third reading, with view TO its
recommitment.
Mr.. TURNER was an advocate of the Senate
bill so far as to be willing to try the expert
ment but he thought it best simply TO pass the
bill as it came from the Senate; and Mr..
STRAUGHAN expressed the same opinion.
Mr.. CLARK then withdrew the motion to re-
commit
Mr. WHITE said that he was an uncondi-
tonal advocate of the bill, and he appealed 10
the people of the Valley to return him now
that support which he had extended to them
on the subject of those railroads which they
said were necessary to their prosperity. The
bill was also supported by Mr.. SCOTT
Mr.. BAYLOR was willing, i'll consideration of
the appeals that had been made 10 him, TO
change his vote and Mr.. GARRETT then moved
| to pass the bill by; which motion was agreed
TO.
INCORPORATED COLLEGES.
Senate bill for the relief of the incorporated
colleges and SeminarieS OF learning was taken
up and rejected.
The bill provides for the payment to the col
leges and Summaries of learning in the State of
the interest due on Virginia stock or stocks or
bonds guaranteed by the State, and held by
them. one-half of such interest to be paid on
| July l. and one half on January /.
The act TO remain in force until the State
resumes the regular payment of the interest on
| the public debt.
The vote rejecting the bill was then recon-
sidered, and the bill passed.
BILLS PASSED.
House bill appropriating eighteen thousand
dollars for payment of the liabilities of the
Eastern Lunatic Asylum;
House bill providing for the printing of n
certain number of copies Of acts of the Gene
raj Assembly of public character, and now
mrepealed;
Joint resolution authorizing the sale of
English paper, &C, now on hand in the library.
HON. J. c. UNDERWOOD.
Joint resolution in relation to John G.
Underwood came up, and, upon the question
of passing the resolution to a third reading,
Mr. STRAUGHAY offered a substitute; pending
the discussion of which, the hour arrived for
the execution of the special order of the day.
SECRET SESSION.
Mr.. WADDELL moved that the joint order in
relation TO the election Of Judges be executed
in secret session, which was negatiyed.
ELECTION OF JUDGES.
In accordance with the joint order of the
day, the election of Judges upon the nomina-
lions of the Governor was proceeded with,
Messrs. PATTERSON, NEwBERRY, and MANN,
being appointed House Committee to superin-
tend the balloting. A discussion then ensued
as 10 whether members had the right to vote
for other persons than those nominated by the
Governor; and Mr.. GRATTAS said he pre-
sumed that the only correct course would be to
accept or reject the nominee of the Executive.
The SPEAKER said he knew no rule TO prevent
any member from voting for any person who
pleased him, but the constitutionality OF the
election was altogether different matter.
Mr.. GRATTAS dissented altogether from this
view, and contended that no nomination Of
any person not nominated by the Executive,
and no vote for any person not so nominated,
should be allowed TO appear on the record OF
the House.
The SPEAKER then said that he had no power
to control the voting of members, but their
votes, if not for the nominee of the Governor,
would amount 10 nothing, and would produce