The Legislature.
In the
Senate, on motion of
Mr. Alderson' five hundred extra copies of the
Governor's message were ordered to be printed.
The Auditor of Public Accounts, in response to a resolution of the Senate, adopted on 31st October last, made "a statement of the amount of revenue assessed under the 11th section of the act imposing taxes for the support of Government, passed 28th March, 1863, on all profits from trade, use of money, buying or selling
real estate, &c." The report and accompanying documents were tabled and ordered to be printed.
The rules which governed the late extra session of the Senate were adopted for the present without amendment.
The Chair announced the standing committees to be the same as those of the late extra session, with but one or two exceptions.
On motion of
Mr. Carson, a resolution was adopted authorizing the admission of deeds to record and wills to probate, upon proof of handwriting of attesting witness, when they are in the army of the
Confederacy or in the lines of the enemy.
On motion of
Mr. Christian, of
Augusta, a resolution was adopted to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the
Auditor of Public Accounts to tender to the judicial officers of the
State an equivalent in the current paper of the country during the existing war, in lieu of the payment in specie of their annual salaries.
On motion of
Mr. Ball, it was resolved to inquire into the expediency of increasing the appropriation to the Virginia Military institute.
On motion of
Mr. Douglas, it was resolved that the
Committee on Finance be, and are hereby, instructed to report as speedily as may be, the bill of the extra session, or a similar one, providing for a commutation of the pay of members of the General Assembly.
Mr. Dickinson presented a joint preamble and resolutions in regard to the death of the late
Major John Seddon, of
Stafford county, a member of the Senate, who died in
Richmond on the 3d inst.
Mr. Dickinson paid a feeling tribute to the memory of the deceased, as also did
Messrs. Douglas and
Newman of
Mason.
The preamble and resolutions having been adopted were reported to the
House by
Mr. Dickinson.
The Senate then adjourned in honor of the memory of
Mr. Seddon.
In the
House of Delegates, the
Clerk called the roll, when, seventy- eight members answering to their names, the
Speaker announced the organization complete, there being one more than a quorum present.
On motion of
Mr. Haymond, a committee was appointed to wait upon and inform the
Governor that the
House, having organized, was prepared to receive any communication he might desire to make.
The committee soon returned, when the
Governor's annual communication was received and read by the
Clerk.
Adjourned.
