Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-03-15
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA

co, D0th Houses c0ncurrlng IN a report from
the Commlttee of Conference, to whom the sub
ject had been referred. The notifications OF
the act as heretofore published are not material.
The Senate adopted the House joint resolu-
ton relating to Virginia land scrip, and adopt
ed report from the Committee on Roads de-
claring that no further legislation In relation to
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad is necessary.
This gives a qniietus to the proposed investiga-
ton of the contract with Messrs Huntington
and others. A bill was passed regulating con-
sanguineous marriages.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES. --In the House of Del
egates the Homestead bil'' was further dis.
cussed, and is still the unfinished business.
SENATE-Monday, March 7th.-The Senate
held short session to-day. No business of
general Importance was done. The subject of a
reorganization of the militia was introduced and
referred to the Committee on General Laws.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES. In the House several
reports in regard to contested elections were
presented. A resolution was adopted proyid
ing for an investigation OF certain charges a
gainst the colored delegate from Surry county
The homestead bill vas discussed until the hour
of adjournment.
SENATE Tuesday, March sth.-Nothing Of
general Importance was done in the Senate to-
day. The contested election case from the
Gloucester district was decided Ia favor OF the
sitting member. A resolution contemplating
the repeal Of the tobacco inspection law was
introduced.
Mr. Pendleton offered a resolution proposing
to change the hour OF meeting to | p. NJ, SO as
to give the various committees more time for
work. The heaviest work of Legislation is done
10 the committees, and it is desirable that they
should have ample time. AS it is, the Senate
is so far ahead in work that it is forced to ad
journ at an early hour each day simply because
there is no hJlSIneSS on the calendar.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES. the House of
Delegates two contested elections were decided.
confirming the right of Mr. Jones of Gloucester
to his seat, and oustiDg Mr. Tatum of Lancas-
ter. gsai la aof
A lengthy message on finances was received
from the Governor.
He shows the debt of the State to be $45.
S72, 900. This debt, he thinks, can be reduced
by selling out the State interest in The railroads
which would bring to the Treasury over Sl0,
100000 He recommends funding all the liabili
ties OF the State, except the foreign debt, and
the issue of new bonds, to run from ten to thir-
| ty years, with the interest payable semi annual
| ly in New York. Taxation should be so levied
that the interest on this funded debt should be
| paid with unyarying regularity. Referring to
| the proposition for relief from debt, he recon-
mends that no sales of property for debt incurr-
ed before the close Of the war shall be made IN
der execution unless the property shall bring its
| assessed value He recommends that the money
accruing from the college land grant of the
| United States be divided between colleges for
white and coored equally
! The discussion of the Homestead Bill was re-
suued, and an amendment to allow waiver OF
the benefits OF the act was rejected by adhesive
VOTE The bill is still pending.
SENATE. w ednesday, March 9th.-The
| Senate was chiefly engaged to-day in discussing
the merits of the several cities and towns COM
peting for the distinction Of being selected a.
places for holding sessions OF the Supreme Court
of Appeals, in addition to those to be held in
the city of Richmond. Wytheville and Staun-
ton were finally selected. A joint resolution re-
lative to the Central water line was adopted
A report declaring that members Of the Legis-
lature are entitled to mileage for the current
session was under discussion, when motion to
adjourn prevailed.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES The only subject Of
interest before the House was the homestead
BILL which was considered from l o'clock until
the hour OF adjournment. The bill is still pend
ing
SENATE-Thursday. March l0th.-In the
Senate, the question OF mileage was referred t.
the Attorney General for his opinion. The Sen
ate bill in regard to the Supreme Court of APP
peals was perfected and passed. It provides
|
at Staunton and WyGheyille as well as at Rich
nond The bills defining the jurisdiction Of the
county courts and the boundaries of townships
were pos poned' until tomorrow. 4 repor
!, adverse to the proposition to legage gam blins
in this State was adopted
HOUSE OF DELEGATES. The House perfect
ed the homestead bill and ordered it to be en-
crossed for third reading. 4 substitute fol
the Senate bill prescribing the oath ofofiice wa
adopted. The bill, as amended, was then pass
ed One of the amendments of the Senate tt
the House bill amending the charter Of tfe
Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire railroad
company was amended So the bill goes back
to the Senate. A report conhrp,atory of the
charges against the colored delegate from Surry
was presented a bill for the removal of the
peniientiarg was reported The Senate bill fol
districting the State for county judges will b.
considered tomorrow.
SENATE Friday, March llth.-The Senate
made some progress with the business OF State
reorganization. A Senate bill was passed pre-
scribing and defining the jurisdiction Of TIT
county courts. The House bill dividing the
State ilto townships was also passed with ar
amendment in the foras Of substitute. The
substitute from the House for the Senate bill
prescribing the oath Of office was agreed to, but
q motion to reconsider was submitted, and il
pending Among the subordinate subjects thai
claimed the attesstion of the Senate was a reso
luton for the recovery iron: The Illinois His
torical Society of the gilt American eagle which
formerly decorated the chair of the presiding
officer, and vas removed thence at the close
Of the war. The resolution was adopted. 4
resolution for the investigation Of freight charges
by the railroad companies, and one contemplate
ing the suppression Of gambling III Virginia
were also adopted
HOUSE OF DELEGATES. The House passed
its Homestead bill. and the bill froal the Sen
ate to district the State for county judges, with
amendments Several bills of minor importance
we're also passed. The amendmentso of the Sen.
ate to the water liae'' Joint resolution were
concurred in. A report was presented from the
Committee or Elections adverse to the claim OF
G. W. Butte to seat in the House. The bill
to Incorporate the International Lan1 Company
was made the order of the day fer Thursday
next.
The Bait Gazette says that. to the transpa-
rent and Infamous ususpations Of the Federal
Congress this journal has advocated, and will
advocate, active resistance where that be posi-
BILE, PASSIVE resistance where that is available,
and non acq ulescence under ell circumstances
and at any cost. The Fifteenth Amendment is,
as all men know, and none better than the Rad
cal majority in Congress, the result Of force
and fraud. It is not, as they know, the work
of the American peopl.e. 1t has not, as they
know, been fairly ratified. 1t is not, gs they
know, legally part and parcel of the Constitu-
| ton. * r i : If the capacity
of the American people for selfgoveonment be