The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-23

| for certain officers of this Commonwealth.
A bill making an appropriation to defray
the expenses Of commissioners appointed
to settle with West Virginia.
A Senate bill to amend and reenact sec.
tion IL of chapter Is4 Code Of 1860, in
relation 70 the printing Of records in the
District Courts and Court Of Appeals
| fAmended at the suggestion Of the Gem
mittee Of Courts Of Justice In an unimpor.
tant particular.
HOMESTEAD BILL.
The Homestead bill from the Senate,
with the recommendation of the House
committee that it do not pass, came up in
order.
Mr.. GARRETT moved its postponement to
Tuesday next, when he hoped the House
would be prepared to meet the test ques-
tion whether we were to have Homestead
law or not.
The motion was agreed to. So the
Homestead bill was made the special order
for the 29th instant, (Tuesday,) and the
continuous order until disposed of.
FREDERICKSBURG AND G0RDONsvILLE RAIL.
The bill to increase the capital stock oi
the Fredericksburg and Gordonsvlle Rail
road Company came up on the question OF
its passage.
Mr.. HERNDoN explained and sustained
the bill. Mr.. Z. TURNER opposed it on
the ground that it was not substantial
and real company; that its existence was
only legal.
Mr.. HANsBRouGH opposed the bill, repre-
senting the country through which the
road passed as the poorest in the State. II
could not furnish any support to railroad
For any practical purpose he would as soon
think of building railroad to the moon
Jacob saw angels ascending to Heaven and
angels descending to the earth by ladder
but no nobody paid for the ladder. No
body would ever pay for this railroad
Governor Barbour said Of the country ira
versed by the road, "that no man living
there could make more wheat than he
could carry in a big shirt-tail."
Mr.. HERNDON continued the debate IN
favor Of the bill. The people of Frede-
ricksburg had spent much of their means
in the road, and desired to recover that by
finishing the road. 1t was not from the
country between Fredericksburg and Cor.
but from the trade beyond its terminus.
Mr.. ROBERTSON considered the road de-
signed to promote the interests beyond the
State-by connection with road across
Maryland to Baltimore.
Mr.. 4. Turner made some additional
remarks on the bill, after which 1t was re.
'jected-ayes, 80 noes, 40.
EASTERN LUSATIC ASYLUM. do.
The bill to provide for the liabilities OF
the Eastern Lunatic Asylum, incurred
prior to the first day of July, 1865, came
up on the question of its passage.
Mr.. A. J. CLARK raised question as to
the nature Of the claim provided for in
the bill. He expressed his doubt as to
the propriety of the passage of the
bill, when so many thousands of our
citizens, including women and children,
were denied all claims against the State
incurred during the war, notwithstand-
ing many of them were suffering for the
necessaries Of life.
Messrs. SMITH and GARRETT defended
the bill. Both gentlemen considered the
constitutional objections completely an
syered by Mr.. BALDWIN. The institution,
at the time these claims were incurred,
was beyond the reach of the State, and its
inmates were left to starve or to be sue
cored by private aid. Mr.. GARRETT said
half of the claimants were ladies who
were in great need of their money.
Mr.. WooDsoN wanted to know who
claimed the other half. He was willing to
pay the women. He wanted to know the
nature of the claims set up by the males
Mr.. CLARK had moved the recommt-
ment of the bill. Mr.. BEKEM, expressing
his desire to vote for it, sustained the re-
commitment in order that the nature Of
the claims might be investigated. The bill
was recommitted.
Bills were considered in their early
stages.
On motion of Mr.. HANCOCK, the House
adjourned. ----