Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-03-26
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA
EXTRA SESSION
SEN ATE

: o." =; ioouou ny Ueneral Ocnoneiu, were idiu
before the Senate by the Chair, and three thou
sand copies ordered to be printed for the infor-
nation OF the magistrates and citizens of Vir-
ginia
Inc Senate bill prescribing a uniform rule
for the damages in action for the conversion Of
slaves IN certain cases, was passed.
The unfinished business House bill to
impose a tax on oysters-was taken up. 1t was
laid On the table,
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Mr.. Kelley introduced the followingresolution
which was referred:
Resolved, That the Committee on Resolu-
tons inquire into the expediency of preparing
an address to the people of Virginia with re-
spect to their present political situation and the
duties demanded thereby
UsURY.
The Senate bill authorizing greater rate of
interest than per cent, as high as per cent.
when by written contract, came up the motion
pending being that of Mr.. Pendleton to dismiss
it. are u
:. After some little debate, on motion OF Mr..
Crump the bill was then postponed until the
18th day Of April.
BILL PASSED.
The following engrossed bill was read third
time and passed.
A bill amending the 5th section Of an act
passed 18th Of February, 1866, requiring the
banks of this Commonwealth to 20 into liquidua-
ton
The House took up bills in their early stage.
THE STATE DEBT
The hour of II clock brought up the order
of the day, being the bill providing for the con-
solicitation Of the public debt and the payment
of the interest.
Mr.. Herndon moved to amend the bill by
striking out the first six sections and inserting:
BE it enacting by the General Assembly, l.
That the accounting officers Of the treasury pay
on the lst day of July, 1867, three per cent in
terest upon the principal of the public debt Of
the State, excluding therefrom the bonds given
for interest on said debt under the act of the
General Assembly passed March 2, 1866
Mr. Evans addressed the House for some time
in support of the bill
Mr.. White followed in support of the bill.
Mr.. Herndon took the floor and addressed the
House for some time in favor of his amendment
and against the proposition in the bill to conso-
lidate the public debt by issue of new bonds
Mr.. Leonard continued the debate, favoring
a middle ground between the proposition to pay
six per cent On the whole debt, and the substi-
tute to pay four per cent on twc-.hirds Of the
debt proposed as ground OF compromise, to
provide for six per cent interest upon two thirds
Of the debt. He moved to so amend Mr.. Sea
wells substitute as to make the semi-annual
payments three per cent. instead Of two
Mr.. Il. Turner got the floor, but gave way to
Mr.. Garrett, who moved that the House dourn;
which motion prevailed.
SENATE.
Tuesday, March 19th-The following bills
were passed
House bill to incorporate the Commercial
Bank of Richmond.
House bill to repeal section % of chapter 81
of the Code Of 1860, in relation to the officers
of the Military Institute.
House bill amendatory Of the charter Of the
city Of Richmond
House bill to amend the 9Th section of the
act passed February II, Sc, requiring the banks
OF the State to go into liquidation.
It provides that when ninety per cent of the
notes issued by any independent bank have been
redeemed in accordance with the provisions of
the act OF 1866, that the Treasurer be authoriz
ed to deliver to the proper officer Of such bank
or banks, the remaining ten per cent. of State
stocks deposited with the Treasurer, upon the
execution of bond as provided for in this act
House bill to authorize the payment of the
unpaid interest on the Dawson fund to the coun-
ties Of Nelson and Albemarle.
House bill to amend the 10th section of an
act passed January 80, 1867, to change the
corporate name and amend the charter of the
Richmond Savings Bank and Insurance Com
pany
House bill toamend the actrepealing, amend
ing and enacting lst and I'd sections of chapter
81 OF the Code in relation to waste and unap-
propriated lands, passed February %, 1865.
Senate bill to repeal the act of March Sd,
1866, In relation to appeals, wits Of error and
supersedeas, and to revive and re-enact and
fh1o r. oh - No1o
amended and repealed by said act.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The bill to exempts the homestead of families
from forced sales came up On its reading.
The bill exempt homestead not exceeding
one hundred and sixty acres Of land and not
exceeding in value ST 200.
Mr.. Dickinson moved an amendment modi
flying a clause in the bill so that it read as fol-
lows: mo homestead shall be exempted from
any liens or membranes by judgment or de-
cree, or from any bona fide debt existing at the
time of the passage of this act.
The amendment was agreed to-35 to 49,
Mr.. Pendleton moved reconsideration Of the
vote on this amendment; which motion was re-
jected
The bill was ordered to it's engrossment-56
to Is.
The House proceeded with bills in their early
THE STATE DEBT.
The hour Of II clock brought up the bill for
the consolidation Of the State debt &c.
The question was upon the amendment offer
ed by Mr. Herndon, which directed the sac
counting officers of the Treasury to pay on the
LIST day Of July, 1867, and the LIST day Of Janu-
airy, 1865. per cent. interest upon the prin-
cipal Of the public debt of the State, excluding
therefrom the bonds given for interest on said
debt under the act Of the General Assembly,
passed March 2, 1867
The question was put, and resulted-ayes AZ,
noes 81.
The question being upon filling the blank in
the bill as amended Mr. Goode moved to fill it
with ''two," so as to make the annual interest
-four" per cent, and Mr.. Lee moved three,
so as to make it six
The question was put upon the largest sum
and decided in the negative-ayes 16, noes 60.
The question required upon filling with two
per cent, and was carried in the affirmative
ayes 81, noes %
Mr.. Seawell moved to add the following words
to the section as amended:
That being the interest which is due by Viz
glnia upon her part of the public debt
Which was agreed to.
MIR. Garnet moved to reconsider the vote by
which MIR. SeawelPs amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Baldwin expressed his serious objections
to the amendment 1t decided positively the
question OF the relative Indebtedness Of Virginia
and West Virginia, at a time when that subject
was referred to commissioners for settlement,
and amounted in fact to reputation Of one
third of the public debt, which until arranged
with West Virrnia xroc oloory, oh tory unon