Legislature of Virginia.
Senate.
Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1862.
The Senate was called to order at 12 o'clock by
Mr. Johnson,
President pro ten.
Mr. Wm. Frayzern, the newly elected
Senator from the Rockbridge district, appeared and took his seat.
Free Negroes.
A preamble and joint ressolutions from the House of Delegates was read, authorizing
J. Marshall McCue, or any other citizen of the
Commonwealth, engaged in the manufacture of saltpetre, etc., to carry out of the
State to any other State of the
Confederacy, any number of free negroes, for the purpose of manufacturing saltpetre, etc., who may voluntarily agree to go, and declaring that at the expiration of the term for which said free negroes may agree to hire themselves, liberty is reserved to them to return to the
Commonwealth of
Virginia.
The Senate concurred in the said preamble and resolutions.
Extortions, &C.
The President laid before the Senate a message from the
Executive, transmitting a communication from his
Excellency,
Joseph E. Brown,
Governor of
Georgia, accompanied by joint resolutions adopted, and a bill passed by the Legislature of that State.
The bill is entitled ‘"An act to prevent monopolies and extortions"’ in the
State of Georgia ‘"during the existing war."’ The Governor of
Virginia commends the resolutions and bill as eminently deserving of the favorable consideration of the Legislature.
The 32d District.
Mr. Thomas, of
Fairfax, from the
Committee of Privileges and Elections, reported the following resolution, which was adopted:
‘
Resolved, That
James D. Armstrong was duly elected a Senator to represent the 32d Senatorial District, at the special election held in said district on the 26th December last.
’
Resolutions of inquiry.
By
Mr. Lynch: Of paying to the securities of
Robert O. Doss, late
sheriff of
Campbell county, a sum of money retained in the treasury as a payment by said securities upon two executions issued in the year 1860 against said
Doss and his securities.
By
Mr. Whittle: Of raising and equipping a force not less than 10,000 men for the defence of this Commonwealth.
By
Mr. Thomas, of,
Fairfax: Of compensating
David W. Frobel for his services rendered the
State of Virginia in organizing the militia in the western part of the
State.
By
Mr. Robertson: Of releasing
Edward Kersey and
Hammett A. Pearce from the payment of the penalty of a forfeited forthcoming bond now on file in the
Cleark's office of the Court of Hustings for the city of
Richmond, held by the
Judge thereof.
By
Mr. Newman: Of appropriating so much of the public debt of this State and other securities held by resident citizens of the
United States and the District of Columbia, as may be necessary to indemnify the citizens of
Virginia, who are loyal to the
State, for losses sustained by them in consequence of any confliction act of the Congress of the United States, or any other act growing out of the war.
Election ordered.
On motion of
Mr. Thompson, it was
Resolved, That a writ of election be issued to the 6th Senatorial District to supply the vacancy in the Senate occasioned by the resignation of
John H. Claiborne,
Esq., and that Tuesday, 14th inst., be fixed as the day of said election.
Bonds and Stocks.
On motion of
Mr. Newman, it was
Resolved, That the several banks of this Commonwealth, and the several railroad and other incorporated companies, be requested to report to the Senate, as soon as practicable, the amount of stock and bonds of such banks and other incorporations held by resident citizens of the
United States and the District of Columbia, and, as far as practicable, to report the names of such stock and bondholders, their residence, and the amount held by each, distinguishing between stock and bondholders.
The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of the foregoing resolution to each corporation included in the foregoing resolution.
Anthracite coal Company.
On motion of
Mr. Christian, of
Augusta it was
Resolved, That a special committee be appointed with leave to bring in a bill incorporating ‘"The Virginia Anthracite Coal Company."’
On motion of
Mr. Ball, it was
Resolved, That
Col. Henry Hill,
Paymaster of the
Virginia forces, be requested to communicate to the Senate the number and character of the Virginia volunteers now in the field, whether infantry, artillery or cavalry, so far as the records of his office may show the same, and also the dates of their respective terms of service.
Mr. Thomas, of
Fairfax, presented a plan for the re-organization of the
Virginia forces for the war, which, he said, was prepared by a distinguished officer of the Army of the Potomac.
Referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
On motion of
Mr. Pate, so much of the
Governor's message as refers to the making out and filing in the State Department ‘"complete lists of all our forces in the field,"’ was referred to a select committee of five with instructions to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill authorizing the
Governor to carry out his recommendations in that respect.
Senatorial vacancies.
Mr. Neeson presented a series of resolutions setting forth that the Senate was authorized by the
Convention to fill such vacancies in its body as cannot be filled, by reason of the presence of the public enemy, in the manner prescribed by the
Constitution and laws; and that the vacancies in the 46th and 50th districts, for that reason, cannot be filled in the manner thus prescribed; and that it is the duty of the Senate to elect members to fill said vacancies at as early a day as practicable; and that it will proceed to fill them on the — day of the present month.
On motion of
Mr. Neeson, the resolutions were laid upon the table, the
Senator indicating that he would call them up at the proper time.
The Governor's message.
The unfinished business of yesterday, being the motion to print 5,000 extra copies of the
Governor's communication setting forth the grievances which impelled the people of the
South to dissolve their connection with the Federal Union, was taken up.
Mr. Robertson, while admitting the importance of the message contended that the people needed no argument to strengthen their purpose in the present war. He opposed the motion to print on the ground of economy.
The motion was then agreed to — yeas 20, nays 11.
The Georgia resolutions.
The joint resolution submitted yesterday by
Mr. Douglass, affirming and adopting the resolves of the Georgia Legislature, that the separation of the
Confederate States of America from the
United States is, and ought to be final and irrevocable, were taken up and unanimously agreed to.
Defence of the Western Border.
Mr. Christian, of
Augusta, offered the following joint resolution, which lies over under the rules:
Resolved, by the General Assembly, That a joint committee of five members of the Senate and seven members of the House of Delegates, be appointed to confer with the
Confederate authorities, and devise co-operative movements on the part of the
State with the Confederate Government, for prompt protection to the persons and property of citizens, and the general defence in
Western Virginia against the invasion of the enemy.
Mr. Christian, in explanation of the motive for offering this resolution, said it was of course in no spirit of criticism of the conduct of the war by the
Confederate authorities, but in view of emergent facts.
It is well known that the bogus government at
Wheeling publicly proclaims its intention to extend its jurisdiction over all Trans-
Alleghany, at least; and also that authentic information has just reached us, that the
Lincoln troops have advanced in force and taken possession of the county seat of
Pocahontas, hitherto the headquarters of our armies; that they have invaded
Greenbrier,
Monroe,
Mercer and other counties, whence we drew the supplies of beef for our armies; that they are pillaging the property and harassing the faithful citizens of that country.
Dream-like, the Confederate forces, doubtless for proper reasons, have been withdrawn, even the forces organized in that same country for its defence, constituting nearly all its fighting material, and transferred to the distant fields of
Kentucky and
South Carolina.
It is further understood that
Gov. Letcher has already tendered the services of the militia brigade under
General Chapman for home defence, but the
General Government has declined accepting it; hence, the
Executive having exhausted his resources, it becomes proper that the Legislature should provide other or some relief for this distressed portion of our Commonwealth.
The reorganization of the militia being now under consideration, it is peculiarly proper to consider all these circumstances.
Bill passed.
A Senate bill to amend the act incorporating the
James River Insurance Company, in the town of
Howardsville, was taken up and passed.
On motion of
Mr. Whittle, the Senate adjourned.
