Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-21
letter from Richmond.


o.day, among the bills passed were: fixing
he fees of clerks and Corporation Courts
giving them the same fees as arc allowed in
Circuit Courts; requiring the Attorney Gene
raj to institute proceedings for the recovery Of
property which has been traudulently sold; re-
pealng that section Of the coda in regard to
roads aud ferries.
The bill to authorize the recovery of damages
when death ensues from neglect, &c.. was
amended and laid on the table.
4 bill was presented providing for the repeal
OF all laws for the punishment OF crime by
stripes, as were bills to regulate judicial sales
and prevent the sacrifice OF property, and to
provide for the collection OF the revenue 10
certain cases.
The question OF the pubic debt was further
considered, and Mr.. Abel 7: johnson, of Ac-
comac, made an eloquent and logical speech In
favor Of assuming the whole debt.
In the House of Delegates among the bills
placed upon the calendar was one amending
the charter OF Fredericksburg, aud one proYid-
INK Tor the sale OF the land scrip donated by
Congress tor educational purposes.
The Loudouu road bill was reported from
Committee
Mr.. Kelly, of Spottsylvania, offered the FOL.
loving resolution which elected long and
warm debate, and was finally adopted, ayes So
noes As Mcssrs. Johnston aud Seaton both
voting in tho negaiVe:
Reso7red, That tho Committee on Roads be
instructed to inquire and report to the House
how many shares of the capital stock of the
Alexandria and Fredericksburg Railroad Com
pany havc been regularly subscribed for accord
ing TO law, and what payments IN cash have
been bona fde made into the Treasury of the
Company on account OF such subscriptions and
not subsequently received theretrom by any OF
The said subscribers or by their authority ; for
how many shares Of stock certificates have
been issued by tho said company or by any
officers thereof, and for what consideration
such certificates have been issued also to
what amount at their par value tho bonds OF
the said company have been issued, sold or
otherwise disposed OF, and at what rate of dis
count, to whom the said bonds have been is
sued, aud what was the consideration received
tor the same.
Among the bills, resolutions, &C., introduced
we're in relation to transfer of the State 8
interest in turnpikes and plank roads to the
counties in which they are amending the gen
erel election law; several bills looking to amend
ments to the act prescribing the duties and
com peDsation OF county officers, and petition
Of the Board of Supervisors Of Fairfax coun-
ty in relation to transfer OF the States inter.
est in turnpike roads to that county.
The bill authorizing sale of the States ln-
teress in the O., a. & NJ. r. r. to the COM
pany vas taken up, but passed by without
action.
The bill requiring certain officers to reeu.
late aud supervise elections held fer school
purposes, was ordered TO he eDgrossed.
The bill repeating the 18th section of the
9th chapter Of the code 10 relation 10 roads
and ferries, was passed.
The assessment bill has been fully prepared.
The committee have agreed to exempt from
taxation 81 900 OF income, but on all sums
over that amount there is to BIO tax OF SO cts
on every 500.
The committee Ut the Conservative members
of the Legislature, meets to night to take into
consideration whether under the Constitution
decrease tic existing number OF Senators and
DELEGATES, and further whether or not Sena'
tors elected from districts bearing even num-
hers can h~iA over or must be elected in No
Vem5er next with those bearing odd numbers.
Upon tho determining Of this question rests tine
whole subject Of reapportionmcnt at this SEES
siou.
Ghe Committee of the Judiciary of The
Senate have under consideration tho question
of the arbitration Of t he public debt with West
Virginia. and will probably report tomorrow
in favor of the appointment Of arbitrators to
divide the debt between the two States, and to
award the respective amounts or the debt to be
assumed and paid to the Auditors by each
State, said settlement TO be submitted to the
Legislatures Of the two States, for their ap-
prevail, and for further legislation to carry out
The settlement.
4 bill was reported to-day aboiishing the
old rule that personal actions died with the
person." and authorizing the personal repre-.
sentative OF q person whose death had been
caused by the will!ul act, default or negligence
OF another person or corporation, to sue for
damages for the benefit of the family OF the
deceased person, but in DO case the recovery to
exceed $4,000.
GRANTS VIEWS ON TIE QUESTION OF GEN.
ERAL AMNESTY. The President said yesterday
that the omission to make any reference TO the
subject OF amnesty in his annual message was
accidental He intended to have stated his
views freely upon the question; but 10 the bur.
ry OF making up the document in time to send
it to Congress, he omitted to do so. His pur.
pose was to call attention, 10 the first place, TO
the general Misrepresentation prevalent 10 the
country, that large number Of neople are
distranohised in the South by the Fourteenth
Amendment and by the legislation of Congress.
This belief, which has been tostered By the
Democratic newspapers, is wholly an error, for
in tact 70 man has been deprived of the right
to vote By the action of Congress or by the
force Of a Constitutional amendment. All dis,
franchisement has been by virtue of laws en-
acted hy the Southern States themselves,
through their Legislatures, for which Congress
j. in no way responsible. This fact, the Presi.
dent thinks: ought 10 be moro generally under
stood
He proposed, in the second place, to have
discussed the rropriety of removing the dis
qualifications from holding Office imposed By
the Fourteenth Amendment. His view Of tho
matter is that the people OF the South ought
first to accept the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments, and give evidence that they fully
acknowledge their validity, before asking for
Amnesty under the provisions OF the first OF
these Amendments The only power Congress
has 10 GRANT amnpstJ Ia bu uirtuo of tbo on.b,,