On motion of Mr. HIETT the vote thereon was recorded as follows: AYES-Messrs. Custis, Finney, Hart, Layne, Boak, Small, Thompson of Botetourt, Mosby, Dickinson, Lacy, Cardwell, Slaughter, Roane, Love, Scott, Wall, Jones of Gloucester, Leake, Calwell, Lee, Lancaster, Howard, Hunter, Thompson of Jefferson, Patrick, Wallace, Gresham, Schooley, M'Intyre, Oldham, Browne of Mathews and Middlesex, Brown of Monongalia, Breathed, Kelly, Perrow, Newton, Watts, Happer, Nelms, Edgington, Syme, Tunstall, Stone, Anderson, Tyler, Strother, Harper, Dorman and Stephenson-49. NOES-Messrs. Powell, Sheffey, Johnson, Byrd, Scruggs, Burwell, Bennett, Bambrick, Bocock, Morris, Thompson of Dinwiddie, Smith, Evans, Stillman, Street, Carper, Carson, White, Carroll, Walker, Major, Stovall, Hiett, Thompson of Hampshire, Dillard, Richmond, Ballard, Harrison of Loudoun, Edmondson of Lunenburg, Banks, Williams, Beirne, Edmundson of Montgomery and Pulaski, Yerby, M'Pherson, Tatum, Newman, Cackley, Fairfax, Daniel, Sturm, Bare, Brown of Rockingham, Morison, Hill of Shenandoah, Stickley, Tate, Goodwin, Hargrave, Freeman, Gillespie, Horner, Castleman and Goodson-54. The second amendment proposed by the senate was agreed to; the third amendment was on motion of Mr. TYLER disagreed to by the house, and the remaining amendments were agreed to. Ordered, That Mr. DORMAN inform the senate thereof. Mr. Bocock, from the committee for courts of justice, presented the following bills: No. 341. A bill concerning the state courthouse; and No. 342. A bill concerning the police of the Richmond dock. Mr. BURWELL, from the committee of schools and colleges, reported with amendment the following bill: No. 91. A bill to establish the Virginia armory school. Mr. HUNTER, according to order, presented the following bill: No. 343. A bill authorizing the Shepherdstown and Smithfield turnpike company to extend their road to the town of Winchester. Mr. OLIVER presented a petition of citizens of the county of Nottoway, praying for the passage of an act to prevent the destruction of sheep by dogs, which was ordered to be referred to the committee on agriculture and manufactures. No. 47. A bill, entitled "an act changing the times of holding the circuit superior courts of Cumberland and Appomattox, and the town of Lynchburg," with the amendments thereto proposed by the senate, was taken up on motion of Mr. Bocock, and the said amendments being read, were severally agreed to, and it was ordered that the clerk inform the senate thereof. The following engrossed bills were read a third time and passed, viz: No. 211. A bill establishing the county of Boone of parts of the counties of Kanawha, Cabell and Logan; and No. 271. A bill to incorporate the Western branch railroad company. Ordered, That the clerk communicate the said bills to the senate and request their concurrence. A message was received from the senate by Mr. GALLAHER, who informed the house that the senate had passed the bill, entitled "an act authorizing the state's guarantee to certain bonds of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal company." No. 126. A bill to authorize the Farmers Bank of Virginia to establish a branch of said bank in the town of Alexandria, was read a second time, and on motion of Mr. HARRISON of Loudoun, the farther consideration thereof was indefinitely postponed. Resolved, That said bill be rejected. No. 117. A bill to facilitate the construction of an electric telegraph line on the great northern and southern mail route, was read a second time; thereupon a substitute thereto was submitted by Mr. CARSON, and then on motion of Mr. LEAKE the said bill and amendment were laid upon the table. No. 136. A bill concerning the Virginia military institute was read a second time; thereupon a motion was made by Mr. LACY that the farther consideration of said bill be indefinitely postponed, and it was determined in the negative. Ayes 45, noes 46. On motion of Mr. SMITH the vote was recorded as follows: AYES-Messrs. Finney, Powell, Scruggs, Burwell, Small, Bambrick, Bocock, Morris, Mosby, Dickinson, Lacy, Cardwell, Thompson of Dinwiddie, Smith, Carper, Leake, Carroll, Walker, Major, Stovall, Hiett, Thompson of Hampshire, Dillard, Howard, Richmond, Schooley, Banks, Williams, Kelly, Happer, Oliver, Edgington, Davis, Tatum, Syme, Cackley, Anderson, Daniel, Sturm, Stickley, Goodwin, Hargrave, Freeman, Horner and Castleman-45. NOES-Messrs. Custis, Layne, Sheffey, Johnson, Byrd, Boak, Thompson of Botetourt, Bennett, Slaughter, Roane, Love, Stillman, Wall, Carson, Jones of Gloucester, Calwell, Lancaster, Thompson of Jefferson, Patrick, Wallace, Gresham, Harrison of Loudoun, M'Intyre, Oldham, Browne of Mathews and Middlesex, Brown of Mo nongalia, Beirne, Edmundson of Montgomery and Pulaski, Breathed, Perrow, Watts, Yerby, Nelms, M'Pherson, Newman, Tunstall, Fairfax, Strother, Harper, Dorman, Bare, M'Elhenney, Morison, Hill of Shenandoah, Tate and Burdett-46. A motion was made by Mr. YERBY to amend the same by striking therefrom the following: "And that for the purpose of erecting a suitable residence as aforesaid, and providing a laboratory and apparatus, the further sum of four thousand five hundred dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated out of the public treasury." And the question being put thereupon, was determined in the affirmative. Ayes 83, noes 5. AYES-Messrs. Finney, Harvie, Powell, Sheffey, Johnson, Scruggs, Burwell, Boak, Small, Thompson of Botetourt, Bambrick, Bocock, Morris, Dickinson, Cardwell, Slaughter, Thompson of Dinwiddie, Roane, Love, Evans, Stillman, Carper, Wall, Carson, Jones of Gloucester, Leake, Calwell, Walker, Major, Stovall, Hiett, Lancaster, Dillard, Howard, Thompson of Jefferson, Patrick, Wallace, Gresham, Richmond, Ballard, Harrison of Loudoun, Schooley, M'Intyre, Edmondson of Lunenburg, Banks, Haymond, Oldham, Browne of Mathews and Middlesex, Brown of Monongalia, Beirne, Edmundson of Montgomery and Pulaski, Breathed, Kelly, Perrow, Newton, Watts, Yerby, Nelms, Edgington, Davis, M'Pherson, Tatum, Newman, Tunstall, Cackley, Fairfax, Anderson, Daniel, Tyler, Sturm, Strother, Bare, Brown of Rockingham, M'Elhenney, Morison, Hill of Shenandoah, Goodwin, Hargrave, Freeman, Burdett, Horner, Castleman and Stephenson-83. NOES-Messrs. Layne, Byrd, Mosby, Smith and Harper-5. The said bill was further amended by the house, and as amended ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. No. 166. A bill amending the act, entitled "an act to amend and modify the act, entitled 'an act to prevent the destruction of oysters in the waters of the county of Accomack,' was on motion of Mr. CUSTIS ordered to be laid upon the table. The following bills were read a second time and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, viz: No. 113. A bill to incorporate the Clarksburg and Western turnpike company. No. 114. A bill to incorporate the Mount Vernon cotton manufacturing company in the town of Alexandria. No. 115. A bill divorcing Mary Margaret Sims from her husband Robert Sims. No. 116. A bill to incorporate the Weston and Lewisport turnpike company. No. 118. A bill authorizing the governor to grant conditional pardons. No. 119. A bill to suspend on certain conditions the payment of interest on the loan to Emory and Henry college. No. 120. A bill to increase the annuity to the Virginia institution for the education of the deaf and dumb and of the blind, and for other purposes. No. 121. A bill concerning Franklin Tavenner. No. 122. A bill concerning Thomas Brown and James Saunders of the county of Lancaster. No. 123. A bill to amend an act, entitled "an act concerning William M. Atkinson." No. 124. A bill to authorize a separate election at Faber's mills, in the county of Nelson. No. 128. A bill authorizing the circuit superior courts of law and chancery to make allowances to keepers of courthouses. No. 129. A bill authorizing jailors to receive into their jails slaves taken under attachment. No. 130. A bill concerning Charles W. and Helen M. Coleman. No. 131. A bill to amend an act, entitled "an act concerning certain chancery proceedings and for other purposes," passed February 17th, 1823; and No. 153. A bill to incorporate the Potomac navigation company. No. 255. A bill to establish a public free ferry across the Corotoman river in the county of Lancaster, was read a second time, amended on motion of Mr. GRESHAM, and as amended ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. No. 327. A bill making further provisions for the revisal of the statutes of this commonwealth was read a second time and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. The following bills were read the first and ordered to be read a second time, viz : No. 137. A bill authorizing an additional troop of cavalry in the county of Charles City within the limits of the 52d regiment. No. 138. A bill to incorporate the Phoenix mining and manufacturing company of the state of Virginia. No. 139. A bill establishing an inspection of tobacco on the land of William H. Macfarland and Moncure Robinson, near the Richmond and Petersburg railroad depot in the City of Richmond. No. 140. A bill to revive an act providing for the construction of a road from Guest's station to the Tennessee line. No. 141. A bill to revive the act passed 1st February 1839, incorporating the Dunkard creek turnpike company. No. 142. A bill amending the 12th section of the act relating to banks, passed April 4th, 1839. No. 143. A bill concerning John Thompson. No. 144. A bill concerning Edward S. Gay of the public guard. No. 149. A bill releasing to Nancy Mumford alias Walden and others the commonwealth's right to certain real estate. No. 150. A bill to incorporate the Beverley and Philippi turnpike company. No. 151. A bill directing the Board of public works to pay Shadrach White's claim as a contractor on the Price's turnpike and Cumberland gap road. No. 152. A bill providing for the payment of contractors on the road from the Ohio river to the Maryland line. No. 154. A bill to declare Buffaloe creek a public highway. No. 155. A bill providing for the construction of several bridges on the Staunton and Parkersburg road. No. 156. A bill changing the boundary line between the counties of Marion and Monongalia. No. 157. A bill to incorporate the Armory iron company for the purpose of manufacturing iron. No. 158. A bill authorizing a separate election at the house of James Ferguson in Wayne county. No. 159. A bill amending the act, entitled "an act forming a new county out of parts of the counties of Giles and Tazewell." No. 160. A bill exempting Carter's ferry across James river from the operation of the 23d and 24th sections of the act passed January 30th, 1819, regulating ferries. No. 161. A bill amending the statutes of distribution. No. 162. A bill to authorize the Bank of the Valley to establish a branch of said bank at Staunton. No. 164. A bill changing the time of holding certain courts in the fourth judicial circuit. No. 165. A bill allowing to purchasers of land sold for nonpayment of taxes further time to obtain deeds, and for other purposes. No. 167. A bill incorporating the Shenandoah lodge No. 32 of the Independent order of Odd Fellows. No. 168. A bill authorizing the collection of certain state rifles. No. 170. A bill changing the times of holding the county courts of Nicholas. No. 171. A bill divorcing Amanda Woodyard from her husband John Woodyard. No. 172. A bill to incorporate the trustees of the Piedmont institute in the county of Bedford. No. 174. A bill to incorporate the Woodstock female seminary. No. 175. A bill increasing the capital stock of the Leesburg and Snicker's gap turnpike company, and authorizing a subscription of two fifths of the said increase by the Board of public works; and No. 176. A bill incorporating the Appomattox savings bank in the town of Farmville. The following reports of the committee of propositions and grievances were read and agreed to: The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of the trustees of the Berkeley springs in the town of Bath, Morgan county, and others, to them referred, praying the passage of an act authorizing them to establish or permit a billiard table to be kept in the town of Bath during the bathing season at that place: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected. The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of sundry citizens of that portion of the territory of this commonwealth which was originally part of Fairfax county, comprehending the town of Alexandria, and that which was lately the county of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, which having been retroceded by the congress of the United States, and accepted by the general assembly, has become again a part of this commonwealth, to them referred, praying that a new county may be laid off and established out of those portions of the state above indicated, and within certain boundary lines in said petition set forth and particularly described, and referring to the town of Alexandria (" where there is already a courthouse and other public buildings,") as a place proper for the seat of justice for such new county, comprehending within its limits all of the said late county of Alexandria, the town of Alexandria, and that portion of the county of Fairfax lying between the limits above indicated, the Potomac river, and what was lately the county of Alexandria as aforesaid. And also the memorial of sundry justices of the peace residing in that part of the county of Fairfax proposed to be included within said new county, praying that they may be retained in the commission of the peace for said new county and be commissioned as such for said new county, and in point of seniority, according to the dates of their present commissions severally in the said county of Fairfax; together with the memorial of sundry other citizens of the county of Fairfax, remonstrating for various reasons against the annexation of any part of said county to the county of Alexandria, as aforesaid: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected for want of notice as required by the 23rd rule of the house of delegates, as also the notice required by the act, entitled "an act concerning the formation of new counties," passed April the seventh, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight. The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of sundry citizens (550 as counted by themselves,) of the county of Grayson to them referred, praying that the bill of the last session of the general assembly, for ascertaining the centre of said county, and fixing thereat the permanent seat of justice thereof, which passed the house of delegates, but was not acted upon in the senate, may be again reported to the house and passed into a law with the following amendment, to wit: That the surveyor who is to be employed in ascertaining the centre of the county shall, instead of the mode directed by that bill, be required to ascertain the geographical centre of said county, and there or near it, to fix the permanent seat of justice for said county of Grayson, having due regard to a plentiful supply of water and timber: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of the petitioners be rejected for want of notice, as required by the 23d rule of the house of delegates. The following report of the committee of claims was read and agreed to: The committee of claims have, according to order, had under consideration the following resolution: "Resolved, That the committee of claims be instructed to enquire into the propriety of allowing a claim to Robert K. Dabney of seventy-four dollars and sixty-eight cents, advanced by him for the education of the poor children of Powhatan beyond the amount received by him as treasurer of the school fund for the year 1846," and have agreed upon the following report thereupon: Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is improper to allow the claim aforesaid, and that the same be rejected. The following reports of the committee for courts of justice were read and agreed to: The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, had under consideration the remonstrance of the people of Greenbrier county against the removal of the court of appeals from Lewisburg to the White Sulphur springs, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration thereof. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of repealing so much of the 17th section of the act, entitled "an act to reduce into one the several acts to regulate the solemnization of marriages, prohibiting such as are incestuous or otherwise unlawful, to prevent forcible and stolen marriages, and for the punishment of the crime of bigamy," as prohibits a man from marrying his wife's sister, and his brother's widow: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to change the existing laws upon the subject referred to. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of John B. White, administrator of James Hopkins deceased, "praying for the passage of a law authorizing him to pay certain money therein mentioned to the executors or distributees of said Hopkins in the state of Pennsylvania," to them referred, and have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of the said petition be rejected. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into "the expediency of providing more effectually for the protection of the rights of married women, so as to secure the property of the wife at the time of marriage from the debts, liabilities or engagements of the husband:" Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to pass a law containing the provisions aforesaid. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of "increasing the compensation of the jailors of this commonwealth for the support of runaway slaves confined in the said jails for safekeeping:" Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to increase the compensation of jailors for the support of runaway slaves confined in said jails. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of enacting by law that the provisions of the 89th and 96th sections of the act regulating the militia of this commonwealth, 1 Revised Code ch. 35, be made to apply to volunteers in the Virginia regiment and to such other volunteers as may hereafter be called into the service of the United States: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient that the provisions of the law referred to be made to apply as aforesaid. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of reviving and extending the act passed in 1829, authorizing the raising by way of lottery a sum of money for improving the Fauquier and Alexandria turnpike: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to revive and extend the act referred to. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of allowing clerks of superior courts the same compensation for special as for regular terms: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to legislate upon the subject aforesaid. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of extending the jurisdiction of justices of the peace in this commonwealth: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to extend the jurisdiction of justices of the peace of this commonwealth. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of amending the laws of this commonwealth, in relation to imprisonment for debt: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient now to legislate upon the subject aforesaid. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Fauquier, "praying for the extension of the jurisdiction of single justices," and have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of the said petition be rejected. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of the president and professors of Washington college, and superintendent and professors of the Virginia military institute, asking additional penalties upon vendors of spirituous liquors to students at the colleges and academies of this commonwealth, and have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to legislate upon the subject aforesaid. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of repealing all that portion of the fourth section of the act of the last session, entitled "an act to provide for the revisal of the Civil Code of this commonwealth," after the words "before the passage of the above recited act:" Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to repeal the portion of the act referred to. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of the Protestant Episcopal church of Virginia, to them referred, "praying for a law authorizing the religious congregations of this state to hold property to a limited amount," and have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved, That the prayer of the said petition be rejected, it being in the opinion of this committee inexpedient to legislate upon the subject. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of the Baptist state societies "praying the passage of a law authorizing them to receive and apply bequests," to them referred, and have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved, That the prayer of the said petition be rejected, it being in the opinion of this committee inexpedient to legislate upon the subject. The following report of the committee of roads and internal navigation was read and agreed to: The committee of roads and internal navigation have considered the petition, to them referred, of Jacob Shafer for further compensation for building a pier of the bridge over the North branch of the Potomac on the Northwestern turnpike; and the committee have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved, That it is inexpedient to allow such compensation. A report of the committee on the register's office, was read as follows: The committee appointed to examine the register's office have, according to order, had the same under consideration and thereupon respectfully submit the following report: Upon examination of the books, plats and other papers connected with the office, the same were found well arranged; the handwriting in the books strong, plain and remarkably well executed, and all in a good state of preservation. The number of grants issued during the year preceding the 1st day of January 1847 is 988, of that number 88 are within the Northern neck. Within the first six months, commencing on the 10th day of October 1845, and ending on the 10th day of April 1846, the fees received into the land office were as follows, to wit: On surveys in Northern neck, other surveys, military warrants, copies, &c. caveats, First half year ending 10th April 1846, |