The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-18
LOCAL MATTERS.
NOTES FROM THE CAPITOL.

The Governor, Notwithstanding the many
Interruptions caused by the calls OF office
seekers and the many persons on more inn
portant business, is busily engaged in the
preparation of his message on the financial
affairs of the State, and it will. probably
be ready for the General Assembly early
next week. He will propose some import
ant measures, the nature of which has not
yet publicly transpired. - o
The Senate was in session yesterday but
a short time, and transacted little business.
1t is worthy of note that the Radical sena-
tors voted against Mr.. Herndon's bill to
legalize the acts of the existing State OIL
GERS and to fill vacancies. They seemed to
look upon a vote in its favor as assisting to
drive the members of their party away
from the pleasant pastures in which they
have been for year or more past regaling
themselves. Nevertheless, the bill passed
the Senate by a large majority, and goes to
the House.
The report of the Joint Committee on
Printing having been agreed to by both
Houses, the General Assembly will proceed
on Monday next, at l p. NJ, to elect a
Superintendent of Public Printing. The
candidates for the position are numerous
and nearly all from Richmond. The
committee was competent, they heard a
great deal Of testimony, and their conclu-
sion that the present system is the best will
be concurred in by all who have inyestiga-
ted the subject.
The discussion in the House of Delegates
on the report of the Committee on Courts Of
Justice about the election of Senator john
ston's successor brought to light wide
difference of opinion as to when the organi-
cation of the present Legislature was
perfected. None thought that Mr.. john
ston's term expires before the lst of March,
1871 but the supporters of the report
adhere tenaeiously to the idea that the Le-
gislature which met in October last was
merely provisional body, and that on the
9th instant it first met as the constitutional
Legislature of the State. Hence they main
tain that under the act of Congress pre-
scribing the time and mode of the election
of United States senators, it is incumbent
upon the body on Tuesday next (Which
they claim is the second Tuesday after its
constitutional assembling) to elect United
States senator for the term commencing
March 1871 and ending in 1877. The,views
embodied in the substitute of Major Bell
seemed, however, to obtain most support
ers, and the indications are that it wall
prevail. .., .y
Mr.. Budd's joint resolution for an in
crease of the penitentiary guard was intro
duced and passed under suspension Of the
rules. The mover prefaced its introduc-
ton by the statement that the convicts are
not OF all pleased with the prospect Of a
change in the administration at that insti-
tuition, and as might have been expected
there are already signs of insubordination.
Some have been detected in preparations
for an escape,s threats have been openly
made against the life of MIR. Strother, and
fears are entertained of o general revolt.
The House very promptly passed the reso-
luton, and it will to-day be acted upon by
the Senate. ,i - ~ sr.,.s,5stst..
It was thought when the Legislature first
met that the present magisterial districts
throughout the State would be converted
into townships. We now have good au-
thority for stating that this proposition has
not been actsd ppoa faYosably by the
-