Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-01-23
The Legislature.

In the Senate, on Wednesday last, the
bill to amend the charter of the Buch-
anan and Clifton Forge Railroad COM
pany was passed by vote of 2S to IL.
In the House, the duelling disability
bill coming up on its passage was oppos-
ed by Mr.. Stuart and advoca ted by Mr..
Lacy. 1t was rejected-not being car
ried by two-thirds majority. The vote
was, ayes So; noes So. Stuart and Craig
voted in the negative, and Hanger in
the affirmative. A motion to reconsid-
er was carried by vote of IS to "a. The
passage of this bill would relieve oftheir
disabilities all who had incurred them
heretofore by violating the anti-duelling
law.
In its report of Mr.. Stuart's remarks,
the Richmond IHhig says:
"Mr. Stuart, of Augusta, spoke at
length against the bill, beginning by
making pleasant reference to ex-Gov-
ernor Smith (who few DAYS since had
so eulogized the ladies and the duello),
as SO devout an admirer of the ladies, as
so impressible and impulsive, that it was
dangerous in his constituents to send
him to Richmond. He compared the
power granted to the Legislature to
relieve of these disabilities to the Gov
ernor in other cases. Did the Governor
relieve by proclamation The amend
ment was to remedy the Constitution,
which had placed no power of reliefany-
where, and is analogous to like power
vested in the Executive in other in
cfo 1cf TO h< IL
Manner
Stuart, of Augusta, addressed the House
in opposition to the bill. He said that
he regarded duelling as 'relic of bar
barism,u and that it was calculated to
do more mischief than any other prac-
tice that had prevailed in Virginia. He
gave a historical resume of the legisla-
ton against duelling in this State from
1910 to the present time, and admonish-
ed the House against the passage of the
bill because it would have a tendency to
prevent the immigration of Northern
people into Virginia, and would perhaps
encourage dueliing among the impetu-
Gus and heightened students at the Uni
versity, to the detriment of that institu-
ton, which is now receiving young men
from nearly every State in the Union u
| On Thursday, the bill referred to above
which was defeated on Wednesday was
dismissed from the calendar, whereupon
a bill was introduced by Mr.. Gordon fol-
the removal of disabilities incurred by
Mr.. James Barbour of Cuipeper, for hay.
ing, whilst editor Of the Richmond En-
quiyer, challenged Mr.. Walker, member
of the House of Delegates from Madison
county. Under a suspension of the rules
the bill was ordered to second reading
and being then open to amendment mo-
tons were made to insert the names o
General A. D. Payne and Colonel John
S. Mosby of Fauquier, SO as to include
them in the amnesty Considerable OPP
position to the insertion in the bill o
Col. Mosby's name was developed, bu
the motion to insert prevailed. The
names of several other persons who have
been implicated in duels were also in
corporated in the bill, which was ther
ordered to be engrossed for third read
ing.
On Friday, in the House, the bill re
moving the duelling disabilities ofHon
James Barbour, Of Culpeper, and twelve
other gentlemen, was passed without de
bate by so ayes to SO noes.
On Saturday, it passed the Senate by
} vote of % to 4.