Year: 1867




A bill for the relief of Emanuel Gerst and
Charles H. Moseley, of the county of Halifax.


A bill to authorize the Governor to hire out
the convicts in the penitentiary to learn stone
cutting or other mechanical trades.


A bill for the relief of John W. Ransom.


A bill to authorize the Board of Public
Works to sell and convey unto the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac and Richmond
and Petersburg Connection Company portion
of the real estate of the Commonwealth known
as the penitentiary property, or to grant right
of way to said company over said real estate.


A bill to provide for the holders Of the shares
of the old James River Company.


TOBACCO INSPECTIONS.


The bill relating to inspections of tobacco, re-
turned from the Senate with amendments, was
taken up, and the amendments were concurred
ln


EVENING SESSION.


The House re-assembled at o'clock.


The following bills were read third time
and passed:


The Senate bill to prevent frauds on the AL
bemarle and Chesapeake and Dismal Swamp
canal.


A Senate bill providing for the payment of
interest on certain State bonds past due-ayes
50, noes 2.


ORANGE AND ALEXANDRIA AND MANASSAS


GAP RAILROAD.


The House took up the bill amending the
bill of the present session transferring the fran
chises, &c., of the Manassas Gap Railroad to
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad returned
from the Senate with an amendment, and the
amendment was agreed to.


ADJOURNMENT.


A message was received from the Senate that
that body was ready to adjourn until the first
Monday in December, and the House having
informed the Senate of it's readiness to adjourn
SINE die.


Mr. Pendleton offered the following resolu-
ton;


"Resozued That the thanks of the House are
due, and are hereby rendered, to the Hon. John
B. Baldwin, its presiding officer, for the dis
tinguished ability, courtesy and impartiality
tions, and that he will carry with him in his re-
tirement the kind and afectionate regard Of all
its members.


MIR. PendletOn put the question upon the
resolution, and it was unanimously adopted.


Mr.. Baldwin, with somewhat more than Or
dinary emotion for such occasions, rose to re-
spond to the resolution. He said that he had
at different times received number OF evil
dences of the kind consideration of the House
of Delegates. Such manifestations from body
of gentlemen of such intelligence and worth as
generally composed that House were always
grateful, but at the present time especially so.
They had parted often, but always heretofore
with the expectation that they would re assem-
BILE under circumstances agreeable and gratlfy-
ing But the time had come when the pain of
separation was relieved by no such pleasant an
ticipation. There was to be no re- assembling,
so far as we could look into the future. They,
therefore, parted under circumstances Off more
serious character than ever before. The sepa-
ration of gentlemen so long in association was,
under any circumstances, grave matter; but
in the present condition OF the country it was a
subject of painful suggestion Who could tell
what would come to the State whose interest
and whose welfare were so dear to our hearts


MIR. Baldwin said that he never looked to a
future more threatening and less full of promise.
He and all present had passed through the
greatest of civil wars; and in the darkest hour
of that disastrous struggle he never saw so much
occasion for dependency and depression as at
this time. 1t was impossible for any one to
foresee the result of the present dangerous ex-
pertinent in Virginia.


Although, said Mr. B., we cannot claim to
be free. nor that Virginia is State, yet we are
an organized community, and have right to
expect to be free, and that Virginia will be a
State But the situation Of public affairs at
this time, with the new element introduced by
the United States into the political arena, pre-
sents problem whose solution justified great
anxiety for the public tranquility and welfare.
This new element, under the most favorable cir
cumstances, would be matter OF concern; but
when subject to the maddening influences of
party spirit and agitation OF partlsans 1T be,
came subject of the gravest consideration and
apprehension.


1t becomes us, said Mr.. B., to look well into
the circumstances which surround us, and to
brace ourselves for the duty before us. He an
ticipated that people who had passed through
such war as we have had, and had borne
themselves with such fortitude and constancy
under its severe trials do not now intend to
give way to useless repinings or to timidity and
alarm. / take it, said he, that you mean not
only not to give way, but to perform your du-
ties to the community and the State. He ur
ged them, by every consideration OF public and
private duty, by every obligation that belongs
to good citizens, and by their love of order and
obedience to law, to forego no opportunity to
avert the difficulties which threatened the State,
and, if possible, to control and guide her des-
tiny amidst the dangers that lowered upon her.
He urged all to avail themselves of whatever
opportunities of choice or selection that might
be offered. He conjured those who could to
register their names among the voters, to advise
all others to do the same, and to take such par
ticipation in the proceedings relative to the re-
construction of the State as prudence and dis
cretion may suggest when the time arrives. If,
said he, we take care to exercise the privileges
accorded to us with discretion--with a proper
sense of our responsibilities to God and man
we shall at least discharge our duty, and will do
the best that can be done for the State in the
great emergency In which she is placed.


MIR. Baldwin expressed the hope that he had
over-estimated the peril and 0verstated the
dangers of the situation. But he had said what
he thought proper, and with a view to arouse
gentlemen to the necessity of the earnest dis.
charge of all the duties devolved upon them at
this time. For himself, though he considered
the peril great, he was not without hope. Even
that element which occasioned apprehension
had afforded proofs Of fidelity and good conduct
under excitement that commanded admiration
and confidence Through the darkest hour Of
the war, amidst all the elements of strife and
confusion, and the contrivances to excite them
against their friends and masters, the colored
race rose high above those who would have
tempted them to deeds of outrage and ofwrong.
He was not without hope that we shall again
find them superior to those who would excite
them to outrage and nislead them to their own
injury Mr.. Baldwin advised that the whites
should practice towards them the same kindness
and consideration which had characterized the
conduct of our people in their past relations to
the colored race,


In parting, Mr. Baldwin took occasion to wish
the members happy return to their homes,
families and friends and for the future he tender
ed them his best and most earnest wishes for