The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-06
GRNFRAL ASSEMBLY, or VIRGINIA.
First Days Session.
"WEDNESDAY, December B. 1871.

gltss------------------------A
FIRST Days Sesnion.
j. WEDNESDAY, December 5, 1877.
,s, SENATE.
The Senate Of Virginia convened ut 1905
O'Clock, and was called to order by-bieu.
tenant Governor FL. W. THOMAS.
: SENATOR'S PRESENT.
The following senators responded to their
names: Messrs.- Belts, Bland, Bliss, Brooke,
Chiles, Elliott, Fulkerson, Gayle, Goode,
Griffin, Grimsley, Hairston, Hurt OF Hall
fax, Hurt Of Pittsylvania, johnson, koiner,
Lee, Marshall, Massey, Moulton, Murray,
Nash, Norton, Num-, Paul, Phlegar, Pow
ell, Quesenberry, Sherrard, Slemp, Smith,
Splitter, Tanner, Tyler, Wal>ton, Ward,
Wood, and WORKMAN.
Senators Daniel, Dickinson, Hinton, SIN
clair, and Stevens did not answer to their
names. sh% ',..f
SENATORS SWORN IN.
immediately after the roll had been called
the CBAIR announced that the flrst business
in order would he the swearing III OF the
newly-elected senators.
The senators assembled aroundthe clerk $
desk, and the oath was administered TO
them by Lieutenant Governor THOMAS.
ELECTION OF CLERK.
The CHAIR announced that the next bllsl-
ness in order was the election OF clerk.
Mr.. QUEsENBERRY nominated for Clerk OF
the Senate Shelton G. Davis, OF Henrlco
county; and having received thirty.nlne
votes, majority of all cast, was declared
duly elected. ......,. ,,......
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. --
For the Office OF Sergeant-at-Arms OF the
Senate Mr.. CHARLES T. SMITH nominated
Mr.. W. w. Harrison;, and be was duly
elected, having received thirty-eight votes.
.e.. 49, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPoRE. na ...'..
Mr.. NUM- nominated Mr.. WILLIAM ID.
OuEsENBERRY, OF Caroline, as President
pro .ten,pore OF tho Senate. Unanimously
elected. 49, Il ...,. ........
RULES ADOPTED.
MIR. BLAND presented resolution for the
adoption OF the rules of the last session 1or
the government OF this body.
. MIR. Hurt, of Halifax, presented an
amendment to the rules providing that the
committees shall appoint their own clerks
instead of the Clerk of the Senate, as at pre-
sent.
MIR. CH1LEs presented a substitute for the
rule as follows: The Clerk OF the Senate
shall appoint first assistant clerk; the Senate
will elect the second assistant clerk, and tive
committee clerks shall be elected by the
committees to which they are to be respcc-
lively assigned under this rule.
Mr.. CHILEs spoke warmly in advocacy OF
his proposition. He thought, the commit
tees ought to have the right to bcstoW this
patronage. ...
Mr. BLAND opposed the change.
Mr.. MARSHALL favored the change because
the Senate was personally interested in. the
appointment of the = reading " clerk. The
comfort of the body should be considered;
and he hoped the charge would be made.
Mr.. GAYLE and Mr.. SMITH opposed any
change. 'E.'.
The substitute was reiectcd-ayeS, IL;
noes, 26. ,.. t...-.
Mr.. HURT now asked TO withdraw his
which was allowed.
The rules OF last session were then
adopted. -.l.'f ..
MIR. JOHNSON presented resolution for
the appointment Of a committee OF nine on
education. ...... .-.
The resolution provoked considerable
discussion, pending which MI BococK,
from the House, reported that the "House
OF Representative" had organized and was
ready for business. -.n. --.. ..., e. .r
The resolution WAS agreed to-,
Mr. MASSEY was requested to inform the
House that the Senate was ready for busl-
ness. ..m1...H a.if l. :. .... 80 .'. ~
ill, PRAYER FOR, THE SENATE. ri --,
Mr.. QUEsENBERRY presented a resolution
inviting the resident clergy Of Richmond
and Manchester to open the daily sessions Of
the Senate with prayer. ''',' W. ~.
CONTESTED ELECTION. .....
The CHAIR laid before the Senate nuHl-
Der OF dispositions in the contested-electlon
case from the Twenty-fourth Senatorial dis
trict. hIr. Bliss is the senator returned, and
Mr.. Coleman is the contestant. .-,a..
On motion OF Mr.. GeIMSLET the papers
were referred to the Committee on Priv
leges and Elections. ..t..-.. ..--......
....... g.. .-ia.,f BOORKEEPER. 3d.. ,--..
On motion of Mr.. PHLEGAR the ianitor
was directed to discharge the duties OF the
doorkeeper and to receive s. per day addi-
tioual compensation therefor. .-ss -, ~.
7s TO WATT on THE GOVERNOR.
Mr.. MARSHALL presented 4 resolution for
the amendment OF Il committee OF three on
the part of the Senate and tiveon the part OF
the House to wait on the Governor. inform
him Of the organization OF the two houses OF
the General Assembly, and inform him that
they are ready to receive any comulunica-
ton he may have to make. Agreed to-,
The CHAIR appointed Slcssrs. MARSHALL,
EoINER, and FuLKERsoH.
The committee retired, and after a BRIEF
absence reported that they had discharged
the duty imposed upon them; that the Gov
ernor welcomed the return OF the Legisa-
ture; that the condition OF the Common
wealth was prosperous and that he would
communicate 1t once to the General Assem-
bly, in writing.
Message from, the Governor.
Immediately after the return OF the COM
mittec the Governors private secretary,
Mr.. Whipple. presented to the Senate the
following message from the Governor.
The Clerk was proceeding to read the
message. when, on motion OF Mr.. NUM-, the
message was laid on the table and ordered
to be printed.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGISIA,)
GOVERNORS OFFICE,
RICHMOND, 9Th December, 1877. }
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Det-
cgQteS:
On the eve OF laying down the powers Of
this department, l greet Legislature
which comes into being to-day ut the bid
ding of the sovereign people. Performing
for the last time the duty cnioined by the
Constitution of communicating to the Gen
eral Assembly the condition OF the Com
monwealth. / embody the results OF four
years Of observation and experience in the
administration OF the government.
is cause for profound congratnlatlon
that the worst evils possible to befall the