Legislature of Virginia.
Senate.
Monday, Jan. 13, 1862.
The Senate was called to order by the
President,
Lieut. Gov. Montague. Played by
the Rev. Dr. Burrows, of the First Baptist Church.
The President laid before the Senate a communication from the
Executive, transmitting statements of
Edward T. D. Myers acting
Chief Engineer of
Virginia, accompanied by an abstract of the certified accounts; also, an inventory of property on the various defensive works, &c. Laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.
The President laid before the Senate a note from the
President of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, tendering to the officers and members of the Senate the courtesies of that road.
Bills reported.
Mr. Coghill, from the
Committee on Courts of Justice, reported a bill to enforce payment of balances due from
Commissioners of forfeited and delinquent lands.
Mr. Logan, from the
Committee on Genera Laws, reported a bill changing the names of the counties of
Buchanan and
Scott.
Resolutions of inquiry.
The various committees were instructed to inquire into the expediency of the following propositions:
By
Mr. Anderson: Of paying to
R. W. Hundley the money due him as
Superintendent of the
Huntersville and Lewisburg turnpike.
By
Mr. Dickinson, of Prince Edward: On amending the charter of the Southside Railroad Company, so as to permit an alteration in the line of their road to and from some point of divergence at or near
Rice's depot to some point near the town of
Farmville.
By
Mr. Coghill: Of providing by law for the trial of criminal cases by juries of a vicinage other than that in which the offence is charged to have been committed, when a trial in such vicinage cannot be conveniently heard by reason of the presence of the public enemy, or the prevalence among the people therein of sentiments unfriendly to the enforcement of public justice.
By
Mr. Dickinson, of Prince Edward: Of incorporating the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the
Confederate States or
America.
By
Mr. Johnson: Of providing for the erection of hospitals for the exclusive use of the sick and disabled soldiers from this State.
Railroad in rights,
Mr. Armstrong offered the following joint resolution, which lies over under the rule:
Resolved, That a joint committee of three on the part of the Senate, and five on the part of the
House, he appointed to inquire what measures may be necessary to promote the more certain and speedy transmission of freight over the various railroads within the
State, and to report such amendments to existing laws as may be deemed expedient to effect that object.
Bill passed.
A House bill to incorporate the
Mutual Lite Insurance Company of
Lynchburg, was passed, with an amendment.
Senatorial vacancies.
The resolutions submitted some days ago by
Mr. Neeson, providing for an election by the Senate, to fill vacancies in the 46th and 50th Senatorial Districts, were taken up as the order of the day.
Mr. Neeson addressed the Senate in support of his propositions.
Mr. Robertson could not consent that propositions which, in his opinion, involved a violation of the
Constitution, should be passed over without further consideration.
He therefore submitted a motion to lay the resolutions upon the table.
The Senate refused to agree to the motion — ayes 15, noes 20.
The constitutional question involved was discussed by
Messrs. Johnson,
Neeson,
Robertson,
Newton, and
Thomas, of Henry.
The vote was then taken on the first resolution, and it was rejected.
Mr. Robertson moved the indefinite postponement of the remainder of the series.--Agreed to — yeas 21, nays 17.
On motion of
Mr. Thomas, of
Fairfax, the vote by which the first resolution was rejected was reconsidered, and laid upon the table.
On motion, the Senate adjourned.
