Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-12-22
The Legislature during the session has

T T1sAtty MOIMIuS, Decs %Ss 1871.
The Legislature during the session has
been mostly engaged in preparing business,
and only during the past week have they,
so to speak, commenced Legislation. One
of the prominent questions before this body
has been the joint resolution to instruct the
Auditor to cease the funding of the State
debt under the Funding Bill. This question
gave rise to much discussion in both houses
and has evolved the general expression that
reputation is not the desire, but to stay
proceedings until the financial condition Of
the State Treasury can be enquired into and
to provide for such means Of relief as might
then be deemed necessary to the people
For this purpose, in the House, it was moved
20 refer the resolution to the finance COM
mittee, which was defeated and the resolu-
lion coming upon its passage, was passed
by vote Of 104 to 8, in the following form:
stResozved (tAe Senate coacurring,) That
until proper steps have been taken to as
certain the entire amount that will be re-
CURED to pay the current expenses Of the
State government and the interest upon the
State debt, as provided by the funding act
and the increased rate of taxation it may
necessitate, should the whole debt be fund
ed, the Second Auditor be, and lie is hereby,
instructed to discontinue any further issue
of the new bonds until such times as these
facts can be ascertained and such legislation
be perfected in the premises, should any be
necessary, as the publicsgood may require"
On the passage Of this resolution the Del
egates from Augusta voted as follows Mr..
Roller in the affirmative and Messrs. Hanger
and Lightner in the negative.
The Senate has been considering this
resolution and several amendments have been
offered, asserting, in terms, the fact that by
ibis resolution the State does not seek to
repudiate her contract with her creditors
The Senate, at this writing, has not acted
On the resolution or amendments, but it is
generally conceded the resolution will be
Among the bills passed, and offered, of
general interest, and affecting this locality,
are the following:
Bill to authorize the Presbyterian Church
Of Staunton to execute deed Of trust-pass-
ed.
Bill to confirm the Staunton Il Parkers-
burg Turnpike Company in its right to
charge toll on its road within the limits Of
Augusta-passed.
The Senate joint resolution to extend the
time for the collection Of taxes and County
and Township levies for 1871 till March
10Th 1S72-passed.
The Senate committee on Courts reported
in favor of submitting the amendment to the
"iTsuryn clause of the Constitution to the
people for ratification. This is the second
step looking to the repeal Of the IL per cent
clause.
Mr.. Donald offered resolution to provide
for registration by Assessors, instead Of
Registrars.
GIr. A. B. Lightner offered resolution
10 enquire into the expediency ofre-assessing
the lands in Augusta County.
The following State officers have been
elected:
Jas. Mcdonald, Secretary Of the Com
monwealth; ". F. Taylor, LIST Auditor
Asa Rogers, End Auditor Col. Jos. Mayo,
Stats Treasurer; W. P. NJ. Kellam, Regis
ter If Land office Geo. f. Strother. Super.
intepdent Of Penitenliary; Jos. NJ. Stevens,
stofgkeeper of Penitentiary.
On tie 18th instant, large number OF
gentlemen from all parts Of the State, met
IN convention, in Richmond, to consider the
subject Of immigration.
Hon. A. Fl. FL. Stuart, was elected per-
menent President, and on taking the Chair
made. an eloquent and appropriate address.
q Committee was appointed to prepare bus
mess for the Convention, after which the
Convention was addressed by number OF
English Gentlemen, who have located
among us, and others of this State. The
Convention then adjourned until next morn
ing, 10 give the Committee time to prepare
business On the next day the Committee
submitted the following report:
I The Legislature Of Virginia should
cause to be prepared, published and dissem-
's iuased, under its authority and supervision,
accurate and full descriptions Of the physi-
cal elements and adaptations Of the State;
Of its internal improvements ahd communi.
cations it's commercial accessibility its po.
litical and social condition together with
al; such information in detail as is needed
by all classes of people disposed to seek
homes or employ their means in Virginia.
q In order to do this work, the Legisla-
ture should constitute such executive agents
to perform it as are competent therefor, and
this meeting leaves to the Legislature to
prescribe the plan Of such board, which,
in the Judgment of this meeting, need not
exceed three or four members, and should
be 80 constituted as to represent faithfully
all the territorial and material interests of
the Commonwealth. This board could in
diligently investigate and adopt such other
aids 20 immigration as it found practically
available. This meeting feels assured that
as much as thirty thousand dollars should be
appropriated by the Legislature, and may
be wisely and efficiently supplied in said
direction.
5. The Legislature should by its anact-
ments, extend all needful perfection to i'm
migrants and a fostering policy toward CAPT
tai disposed TO embark in the physical de.
veopment Of the State
T. The railroads of Virginia should lend