The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-01-28
West Virginia Legislature.
SATURDAY, Jan. 26.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

House.
Mr.. FERGUSON arose to personal eI-
PLANTATION. He said he did not wish to
trouble the House with his private af-
fairs. but as the article in question IN
measure reflected upon the standing OF
the House, he desired to state the facts
in the case. The day after the election
in 1864. he visited the town of lronton,
Ohio: he fell in with jolly crowd, and
drank more alcoholic spirits than he had
ever done in his life before; the result
was that, for the first time in his life, he
became intoxicated. During the day he
took n boat and started for Catlettsburg,
kentucky; ON the boat he roomed with
a man named Burns; during the night
some person entered the state-room and
carried off Burns carpet-sack and over
coat; did not know Burns,
nor did he know me; the missing
articles were found on the hurricane
roof of the boat; Burns insisted that
I had taken them, and while at Catletts-
burg We were talking about the matter;
crowd of ruffians were standing near
by, and thinking it good chance 20
have d row, pitched into and handled
me very roughly; was knocked down
and rendered insensible; was taken TO
hotel, and the next morning L was
still unconscious; as soon as recover
ed, and while in bed, sent for Burns,
and asked him if he thought had sto-
| len his carpet-sack and overcoat; he
said he did not and thus the affair rest
ed for O time Everybody who. knew
me knew that would not steal while
| in Kentucky the Grand Jury was in ses-
sion, but no indictment was found
against me; / left that State and came
to Wheeling, and when the Legislature
assembled here took my seat, and assist
ed in getting up number of stringent
laws i'm relation to rebels and their
sympathizers; some designing men in
nv county determined to get me
out of the way. Boyd county, KY, is
an ultra coppcrhead hole, and these
men in my county knew they could con-
yict me there some rebel sympathizsrs
in nv county came to Inc and advised
me to leave in order to save trouble; i
thanked them for their advice, but wont
| to Catlettsburg and gave bail for my
appearance l do not know, but have
heard that an Indictment was found
against me in Kentucky. Then came
the election of 1865; some persons III
my county thought it would be stroke
Of policy to have me pardoned, and
went to Kentucky and obtained the
pardon; knew nothing of their action
until the pardon had been granted. MI.
Speaker, do not know whether | took
the carpet-sack and overcoat or not, as
I was not in a condition to know any
thing. | am 10 pardoned thief, and
such words cannot be used about mo
with impunity. This is all the notice l
intend TO take of this affair in the
House.
Mr.. HARRIS said the explanation
was satisfactory to him, and he had no
doubt it was to all members of the
House. These charges had appeared in
public journal circulating in every
county Of the State, and rs they re-
ficctcd upon the House as we'll as the
gentleman from Cabell county, it being
said that this body was led by par
doned thief, he moved that committee
of live be appointed to investigate the
whole matter.
| The motion prevailed.
The following resolutions Of enquiry
were adopted:
Bv Mr.. BOWER, as to the expedien-
cy of amending the law so that after the
time given or specified in the trust deed
expires, and the sale not enforced that
the rents and profits be subject to cred
| itOrs.
BY Mr.. KOONCE, as to the expediency
of amending the road law so as to abol-
ish the system of requiring persons to
work on public roads; and as to expcdi-
ency of amending the law so as to levy
tax on real and personal property for
road purposes.
BY Mr.. BEE, what, if any, legislation
is necessary relative to lands returned
delinquent for the non-payment Of taxes
for years intervening between 1881 and
1865. And rs to the expediency of
amending the law in relation to the
sale of forfeited and unappropriated
lands.
BY Mr.. ARMSTRONG, rs to the expe-
diency of providing additional clothing
for convicts ut work on penitentiary.
The hour having arrived, the special
order of the day, being the considera-
tion of the bill locating the Capital, was
taken up.
The House went into Committee of
the Whole on the consideration of the
bill.
Mr.. CRACRAFT placed the name of
the town of Charleston, Kanawha
county, in nomination.
Mr.. SPENCER placed the name of the
town of Parkersburg, Wood county, in
nomination.
Mr.. PINNELL placed the name Of the
town Of Buckhannon, Upshur county,
in nomination.
After much debate the Committee
arose, reported progress, and asked
leave to sit again at two o'clock. The
report was adopted.
Mr.. LIGHTBURN, by leave, intro
duced "a bill to divide Lewis county
into townships" and "An act for the
relief of Minor c. Hall and his securi-
ties.r
Mr.. JOHNSON presented petition Of
citizens of Mason county, asking that a
small corner Of said county be annexed
to Jackson county.
House took recess.
AFTERNOON SESSION.