General Assembly of Virginia.
Senate.
Friday, December 15, 1865.
The Senate met at the usual hour;
Mr. Trout, of
Augusta, in the chair.
Prayer by
Dr. Minnigerode.
The following bills were received from the
House:
An act incorporating the Rockbridge Insurance Company.
Taken up and passed.
An act authorizing
William R. Graham to construct a bridge across
Powell's river.
Referred to Committee of
General Laws.
An act to amend and re-enact thirteenth and fourteenth sections of chapter fourteenth of the Code.
Read three times and passed.
An act amending the charter of the town of
Danville.
Read three times and passed.
An act to incorporate the
Snowville Woolen Factory of the county of
Pulaski.
Taken up and passed.
A bill to incorporate the
Catawba Coal and Iron Company was passed.
On motion of
Mr. Gilmer, the joint resolution establishing the State Guard was taken up and passed unanimously.
A bill authorizing the trustees of the town of
Manchester to build a bridge across
James river at
Richmond was read a third time and passed.
On motion of
Mr. Gilmer, the joint resolution that
Virginia prays
President Johnson to grant a general amnesty to the citizens of
Virginia was taken up and passed.
The bill incorporating the
Virginia Porcelain and Earthenware Company was read a third time and passed.
A bill amending and re-enacting the act incorporating the Southern Express Company, and incorporating the National Express Company, was read a third time and passed.
By
Mr. Mitchell:
"
Resolved, That the
Committee on
Banks be authorized to inquire into the disposition made by the independent banks of the Commonwealth of the
State stock held as a basis of their active capital or converted into Confederate bonds or stock, and by what authority." Passed.
Mr. Robinson, by leave, introduced a bill to incorporate the
Virginia and
North Carolina Land, Emigration and Colonization Society.
Referred to Committee on
General Laws.
Mr. Gilmer, from a select committee, made a report in favor of the election of a Public Printer, and offered a resolution that the Legislature go at once into the election.
Mr. Coleman, of
Louisa, moved to lay the report on the table.
This gave rise to a long and animated discussion, in which
Messrs. Gilmer,
Gray,
Coleman and Keen took active part.
The motion was voted down.
Mr. Gilmer made a long speech in favor of the election of a Public Printer.
Mr. Gilmer gave way to allow
Mr. Keen to introduce an act to ratify and confirm the action of the
North Carolina Legislature, incorporating the Piedmont railroad, and empowering it to alter its gauge to that of the Richmond and Danville railroad.
The bill was passed.
Mr. Gilmer resumed and concluded his remarks.
The Senate then adjourned.
House of Delegates.
The
House met at 12 o'clock. Prayer by
Dr. Burrows.
Mr. Garrett, from the
Committee on Lunatic Asylums, reported a bill to provide for the liabilities of the
Lunatic Asylum at
Staunton incurred prior to the 1st day of July, 1865.
Mr. Garrett stated that the committee had no report to make relative to the
Eastern Lunatic Asylum, the report of the
Superintendent of that institution not having been printed.
The following bills were considered and passed:
Senate bill to incorporate
Tanner's Creek Drawbridge Company.
House bill to authorize the
Auditor of Public Accounts to allow the claims of sheriffs, jailors, clerks, constables, and other public officers, for official services rendered to the
Commonwealth since the 2d day of April, 1865, provided such claims were of a kind properly chargeable against the
Commonwealth under the laws existing at the time such services were rendered.
A bill to authorize
William H. Parker and others to obtain a grant for certain land.
A bill to amend the charter of the
Fire Insurance Company of
Alexandria.
Senate resolution relative to the release of
Jefferson Davis and all other political prisoners, and the restoration of the writ of
habeas corpus.
House bill ratifying the ordinance of the
State of North Carolina incorporating the Piedmont Railroad Company.
By
Mr. Gibboney.--A resolution of inquiry into the expediency of prohibiting the future issue of warrants by the Register of the Land Office until the General Assembly has acted upon the recommendation of the
Governor in regard to that subject.
Agreed to.
By
Mr. Merritt.--A resolution of inquiry relative to the adequate compensation of citizens of the
State who have rendered, or shall render, service as members of the courts established by the
Freedmen's Bureau in the various cities and counties of the
State.
Agreed to.
By
Mr. Merritt.--A resolution that the
Committee on Courts of Justice be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the laws in relation to the right of married women, and in relation to dower, discount and distribution, so as to enlarge the rights of married women, and so as to exempt a larger part of the property of decedents from the claims of creditors, for the benefit of widows and infant children, and to report by bill or otherwise.
Agreed to.
By
Mr. Stearns.--A resolution of inquiry relative to authorizing the Richmond and Danville Railroad Company to secure certain liabilities of the Piedmont Railroad Company.
Agreed to.
By
Mr. Walker.--A resolution that the
Joint Committee on Executive Expenditures inquire into the expediency of making repairs to, and of adding furniture to, the
Governor's house.
Mr. Dunnington, from the joint committee to whom was referred so much of the
Governor's message as relates to the
Public Printer, reported:
"That, after consultation with a number of the employing and practical printers of the city of
Richmond, and taking counsel, also, of the experience of the past, they have arrived at the conclusion that no change is necessary or expedient in the present mode of selecting the
Public Printer."
The committee, in conclusion, recommend the adoption of the following resolution:
‘
"
Resolved, That this House, the Senate concurring, will proceed to the election of a Public Printer at two o'clock to-day."
’
Mr. Word made a minority report from the same committee in favor of letting the
Public Printing out to the lowest bidder.
The question was debated at great length,
Messrs. Dunnington,
Patterson and Word advocating the election of a Public Printer, and
Messrs. Lee and
Dickenson advocating the contract system.
On motion, by
Mr. Grattan, the reports of the committee were recommitted to them, with instructions to report a plan for letting out the public printing to the lowest bidder.
By
Mr. Word.--A resolution that it is the sense of this
House that the public printing should be done by contract, and that provision should be at once made for procuring contracts to do the printing of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and that this resolution be referred to the
Joint Committee on Printing.
After debate, the question was taken on the resolution, which was agreed to — ayes, 51; noes, 40.
Mr. Word introduced the following, to be adopted as a joint rule:
‘
"There shall be a Joint Committee on Printing, composed of three members of the Senate and five members of the
House, whose duty it shall be to make contracts for the printing of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and to supervise the proper execution thereof, and of all printing done for the
State."
’
Laid over under the rules.
Mr. Lee introduced a bill to authorize the Richmond and York River Railroad Company to borrow money.
Mr. Straughan moved to take from the table his resolution that a committee of seven be appointed to take into consideration the propriety of calling a convention, to alter and reenact the
Constitution of the
State.
Mr. Grattan hoped it would not be the pleasure of the
House to take up the resolution.
The
House refused to take up the resolution.
Senate bill providing that the principal office of the National Express Company shall be established in
Richmond, unless moved to some other point in the
State by order of the stockholders, was considered and referred to the Committee on Propositions and Grievances.
On motion, by
Mr. Herndon,
Mr. Robertson's resolution in relation to a general amnesty was referred to the special joint committee appointed to consider the subject of general amnesty.
Mr. Ellis introduced a bill conferring on the circuit courts of cities and the judges thereof the same powers and jurisdiction in cities as they have in their counties.
Also, a bill in relation to the adjourned terms of the Circuit Court of the city of
Norfolk.
Agreed to.
Mr. Ellis introduced a bill in relation to attorneys for the
Commonwealth, which was referred to the
Committee on Courts of Justice.
Mr. Ellis presented the memorial of the Merchants' and Mechanics' Exchange of the city of
Norfolk, showing that at a recent meeting it was resolved that, in the opinion of the association, the Legislature should immediately abolish the usury laws and establish the rate of interest at nine per centum per annum, with liberty to parties to contract for such other rate as they may think proper.
The
House adjourned at half-past 2 o'clock P. M.
