Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-23
Letter from Richmond.


RICHMOND, Dec. 22.--Both houses Of the Leg
islsturo TO- day agreed to prolong the recess un-
Til Monday, the I'd of January.
Tho Conservative reapportionment committee
Of the Legislature had meeting last night, at
which majority report of the sub committee
was made, favoring re.apportionment and de-
clsring tho constitutional right of tho present
Legislature to increase or decrea.e thu number
| of Senators and Delegates. a minority report
WAS also submitted declaring that the Legisa-
ture hiss no power TO increase OF decrease the
representation. After a long and spirited dis
cussion, the whole matter was recommitted,
and the subject postponed until the 9Th of JAN
uary, when the committee will again moot.
Every bill passed by the Legislature up 20
| yesterday-twenty-o in number-has been
properly enrolled, signed and sent to the Gov
ernor In addition to this, number have
| passed one or tho other Of the two houses and
| await action.
| The present session has been devoted to work,
and it is thought more has been accomplished,
in important legislation, SO far, than during
| December CT any previous meeting.
The committees have number of very i'm
djligent in attending 10 their duties
| In the Senate to-day, the bill relating TO the
unloading Of ballast in the Potomac-giving
| the courts and magistrates of Alexandr iuris-
| diction in The promises outside of tho corpora
! ton and county limits-wss passed.
| A Joint resolution looking 10 an amendment
Of tho constitution, repeating the Usury clause,
was introduced by Mr. Roller, of Rockiugh am,
and laid on the table for future consideration.
The bill incorporating tho Bank of Virginia,
| at Norfolk, WAS passed, is was the bill p1ovid-
ing for psy Of Ovorseers of the Poor
| The bill extending the time for tho exercise
Of certain civil rights, was tabled.
In The House of Delegates q number OF bills
were introduced and referred, and q few of q
| private character passed.
Among tho bills placed On the calendar was
ono amending the charter OF Warrcntor.
The Senate Committee on Public Institutions
| and tho House Committee on Schools and Col
leges have for q fortnight past had under con-
sheraton tho applications o: cigh! or ten COL
| leees for share of the Congressional appro-
prstion of 300, 0O0 acres of land for the encour-
agenent Of instruction in agriculture and me-
| cnanlc arts. 1 he coiieScS WHoso ClaiiAo ne'o
been heard are Washington. ut Lexington the
University of Virginia; Hampden Sidney, in
Prince Edward Randolph Macon, in Han
over; Richmond, at Richmond; Roanoke, in
| Roanoke county; William and Mary, on the
Pennsuls; tho Newmarket Polytechnic In
stitutc, in shenandoah. and the Hampton (col.
ored) Institute Thcio has been considerable
display of spread eagle oratory and not little
real cloquence. Some commended that tho APP
preparation should be divided between the Uni
vcrsity and the Hampton School; others ia
vored division between three colleges, and q
! few urged that every college should hsve q
share, which would allow each about $4,000
| Ex-Governor Wise and Rev, Dr.. Edwards were
the champions of the Last scheme. What will
| be the result cannot BIO foretod. The COM
nlittees meet aran on tho 5th Of January. The
| argument OF B. Johnson Bsrbour,- esq last
night, was truly bciIi.nt etfsr!. He appear
| dfqE, the University of whose Board of Visit
Tho Legislature adjourned tonight for the
holidays.