General Assembly of Virginia.
Friday, March 6, 1863.
Senate.--The Senate assembled at 11 A. M.--Prayer by Rev. Mr. Sealey.
A message from the House of Delegates communicated the passage of the Senate act to incorporate the Submerge and Joint Stock Company.
On motion of Mr. Coghill, the stay law was taken up and advanced to its second reading, in order to put the bill upon its passage on Saturday.
The same Senator reported a bill requiring Sheriffs, Sergeants, and Commissioners to settle their accounts.
Mr. Collier introduced a lengthy resolution instructing the Committee for Courts of Justice to define by bill, or otherwise, the powers of the ordinances of the Convention that have not either been satisfied by the qualified voters or re-enacted by the General Assembly.
The resolution was referred to the committee.
The substitute of Mr. Christian for the bill limiting the production of tobacco, making it a penal offence to cultivate the plant during the war, coming up as the order of the day, the Senate, at 12 M., went into secret session in the discussion of it.
The doors were opened at 2½ o'clock, when a message from the House of Delegates was received, conveying a preamble and resolutions adopted by that body on the impressment bills now before the Confederate Congress, and instructing certain Confederate States Senators of the course that ought to be pursued by them in their support or opposition of the measures proposed, in the opinion of the General Assembly of Virginia, as prompted by the best interests of the State.
The introduction of the resolutions created a warm discussion touching the impressment acts of the Administration, in which most of the Senators participated, with various views.
Mr. Harly called the previous question, and the motion being seconded, the previous question was called, and the Senate refused to refer to a committee but left the resolutions the pending question for Saturday.
On motion, at 3½ o'clock the Senate adjourned.
[The President laid before the Senate an invitation to attend the Annual Commencement of the Medical College of Virginia, at the African Church, last evening, which was accepted.
Mr. Shelton C. Davis, Clerk of the Senate, who had been confined by serious indisposition for several weeks, resumed the duties of his position to-day, much improved in health, though still feeble.]
House of Delegates.--The House met at 11 o'clock. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Baker.
Senate amendment to bill making appropriation to the Central Lunatic Asylum was concurred in. The amendment simply declares the appropriation to be in addition to the amount received from pay patients.
The Committee on Manufactures reported a bill Incorporating the Stonewall Water Power Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Buford, from the special committee for the purpose, reported a bill establishing a flour inspection in the town of Danville.
A communication was read from the Governor, inclosing a letter from the Secretary of War relative to the breaking of the jail of Franklin county, and the forcible taking therefrom of Robert Goodson.
Goodson had been returned to the civil authorities to await trial, and Captain Harmon, under whose direction the act was done is held for trial for his misconduct either under the civil or military jurisdiction, as the Governor of Virginia may determine.
Mr. Marye, from the Special Committee on Railroads, reported a bill setting forth the monopoly exercised over the railroads of the Commonwealth by the Confederate Government, to the exclusion of almost all private transportation, and calling upon the authorities aforesaid to relax these severe measures, and apply some prompt and effectual correction.
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
On motion of Mr. Prince, the resolutions offered by himself on Wednesday relative to impressment by the Confederate Government, were taken up and considered.
Mr. Anderson, of Rockbridge, advocated the passage of the resolutions in a speech of some length and much force.
Mr. Hunt called the previous question, and the vote being taken by ayes and noes, resulted, ayes 75, noes 5--on the fleet resolution.
The second resolution was passed without opposition.
The preamble gave rise to a somewhat protracetd discussion.
Mr. Noland moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the first resolution was adopted.
Mr. Rives demanded the ayes and noes, which, being called, resulted — ayes 20, noes 61.
So the House refused to reconsider, and the preamble, after an amendment submitted by Mr. Bouldin, approving the principles of the impressment bill passed by the lower branch of the Confederate Congress, and expressing its disapprobation of the amendment offered to it in the Confederate Senate by Hon. Mr. Sime.
The preamble as amended was passed.
The order of the day (the bill providing for the filling or vacancies in the General Assembly) was taken up and discussed at considerable length by Messrs. Buford, Husks, Forbes, Greene, Anderson of Botetourt, Rutherfoord, Barbour, and Saunders of Franklin.
During the pendency of the subject, Mr. Bouldin, at 3 o'clock, moved that the House take a recess until 7½ o'clock, which was agreed to.
Evening Session.--The House re-assembled at 7½ o'clock.
The bill before the House at the hour of adjournment, providing for securing representation in the General Assembly from counties held by the public enemy, was, on motion of Mr. Robertson, laid on the table temporarily, and the bill allowing the Monticello Bank to increase its contingent fund was taken up and passed, and its title amended so as to read, "An act entitled an act, allowing the Banks of the State to increase their contingent fund."
Mr. Burkes submitted the following resolution, which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the Committee of Courts of Justice inquire into the expediency of an amending the 27th and 28th sections of chapter 57 as to dispense with the production of the certificate of any stock sequestrated as the property of an alien enemy, and ordered to be sold and transferred under a decree of a District Court of the Confederate States.
The business of the morning — for filling vacancies — was resumed, Mr. Forbes having the floor.
At the hour of adjournment the House was engaged in discussing the motion of Mr. Burkes, substituting in the second line the word "for" in place of the word "within," and upon this motion the House was further engaged during the evening session — the discussion being participated in by Messrs. Edmonds, Hunter, Burkes, Green, Rutherfoord and Buford in its favor, and Messrs. Forbes, Saunders of Franklin, and Anderson of Rockbridge, in opposition.
The vote was finally taken by ayes and noes, and the motion was agreed to — ayes 37, noes 35.
On motion of Mr. Anderson, the House Adj't. 