The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-05-24
General Assembly of Virginia.

MONDAY, May 90, 1870.
SENATE.
The Senate met mt II o'clock NJ, Mr.. An
DERsoN, Of Pittsylvania, in the chair. No
prayer.
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.
House bill No. "a, entitled an act to pre-
scribe i'm what manner and on what cOndi-
tons householder or head Of Il family shall
set apart and holda homestead and personal
property for the benefit Of himSelfand family
exempt from sale for debts, with action of
the House of Delegates on the amendments;
Of the Senate, was taken up. To some of
the amendments the Senate agreed, but i'll
others they refused to concur.
HAMPTON NORMAL AND AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGE.
Senate bill No. sc, entitled an act to in
corporate the Hampton Normal and ASri-
cultural College" with House amendments,
was taken up and the amendments agreed
to.
OFFICERS OF THE TOWN OF LEESBURG.
Senate bill No. 1872, to authorize the cleo
ton of certain officers in the town of Lees
burg, Loudoun county, on the first Satur-
day in June. 1870, was taken up, OH motion
of Mr.. TAYLOR, of Loudoun, and passed
with its title.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
Mr.. RIDD1ck, from the Committee on Gen.
cral Laws. reported, with q substitute there
for, Senate bill No. 10. cllarteriny the Eir-
.inia Cane and Fibre Company.
The same committee reported with
amendments Senate hill No. 1G6, to incor-
porate the Shenandoah Iron, Lumber,
Mining, and Manufacturing Company.
The same committee presented report
in relation to Il resolution of inquiry rs to
the cXpcdcncy of providing by law that no
bridge company in the Commonwealth he
allowed to charge tolls to persons going to
or returning from churches OIL Sabbath
days, or funeral professions at any time,
| that it is incXpedicnt to legiSlatc upon the
subject.
| RESOLUTIONS, BILLS, ETC.
| Mr.. MASSEY offered the following pream.
| bic and Joint resolution which lies over
| under the rules:
| Before Offering the resolution, however,
| he said he desired the Clerk to read from
the Wing of the 18th an article entitled
"BY Their FRUITS" He then presented
the resolution
"Whcreas a charge has been made by the
Richmond Wing, one of the daily papers OF
this city, of May 18th, involving neither
more nor less than the purity and indepen-
ticncc of the Legislature itsclf-to wit, that
Il refusal to stand by and succor our i'm
proyemenls, while substantial aid is given
| to foreign corporation, would raise vo-
lent presumption against the integrity of
members Of the General Assembly. it would
everywhere excite the suspicion that t,ncy
had tempered with, and. tlla;, The honor OF
I The Legislature, and along with it the best
interests of the Commonwealth. had been
bartered for foreign gold. We already hear
rlmors from beyond the Potomac that
| there is a list of the Virginia Senate in the
hands of certain parties, who point to GER
tain significant marks in said list and assert
that consolidation is dead, and the Balti-
more and Ohio corporation triumphant.
| of there be truth in this, and it means
anything, it implies that the freedom and
| independence of our Legislature is ut an
end, and that our laws are already sub
stantially dictated by foreign corporations.
| The onuS of rebuttng the presumption
which such unpatriotlc and lln-Nlrginian
conduct will provoke must rest on tho
members themselves. IF they can satisfy
the Virginia people that by Striking down
| our own improvements and subjecting us,
our political freedom and material prosper
ity, to the tender mercies of a foreign COR
poration, they were honest, and had not
| taken brides from our enemies, we'll and
| good. But they will have to show it.,
| though in vindicatin9 their integrity they
expose their intellects. Therefore
"Resolred, That joint committee Of
| three on the part of the Senate and five OH
| the part of the House be appointed to in-
veStigate the charges mentioned in the fore
going preamble, and that they have leave
and power to send for persons and papers,
and to do all things necessary to effect a
thorough investigation of the said charges"
On motion of Mr.. MASSEY (the rules sus-
pended therefor), the resolution was taken
up when, on the suggestion of Mr.. AMBER
SON, of Rockbridgc, the resolution was
modified to read as follows:
"RfSolued, That select committee of
five be appointed to investigate all the
charges mentioned in the foregoing pream-
bic, and that they have leave and power to
send for persons and papers, and to do all
things necessary to effect thorough inves-
tigation of said charges
The question on the adoption of the rcso-
luton as modified being put was deter
mined in the affirmative.
On motion of MIR. TAYLOR, of Norfolk
city, the ayes and noes were called, which
resulted as follows:
AYEs-Messrs. Anderson of Piisylvania, An
derson of Rockbrldge, Austin, Beazley, Camp
Grimsley Haskill, kendrick, Latham, Lyons,
!nowden,. Taylor Of Loudoun, Teamoh, Terry,
and ood--23
NoES-Messrs. Harris, Lewis, Martin, Riddick,
ind Taylor of Norfolk-5.
The following committee was appointed
by the CHAIR MeSsrs. Massey (chairman),
Thomas n. Latham, Washington l.. Rid
dick, Thomas p. Fitzpatrick, and William
T.. Austin.
Mr.. ANDERSON (by leave) presented bill
to provide for dividing the townships of the
state into voting districts; which was Or
uered TO its second reading and referred to
the Committee for County, City, and Town
Mr.. LATHAM (by leave) presented bill to
incorporate the Potomac and Manassas
Railroad Company; which was referred to
the Committee on Roads, &c.
Mr.. MASSEY (by leaverMeseftcd bill an
pointing commissioners t6 inquire into the
eXpediency of and to receive proposals for
a sale of the stocks held by the State in
works of internal improvement which
was referred to the Committee on Finance.
BY Mr.. GRINsLEY:
"ReSolred, That the rule which requires
House bills and resolutions to rertairi under
tho control OF the sesats for tho siiaea Of
I'VE gaps assss passage ps fstretlfn fe s.ssi