Tate, Goodwin, Holladay, Fitzhugh, Hargrave, Freeman, Burdett, Gillespie, Horner, Castleman, Goodson, Chandler, Stephenson and Floyd-123.

No-Mr. Lanier-1.

The title of the bill was then agreed to as aforesaid, and it was ordered that Mr. WATTS carry the same to the senate and request their concurrence.

Mr. Bocock, from the committee for courts of justice, presented the following bill:

No. 2. A bill changing the time of holding the terms of the county court of Wetzel.

On motion of Mr. STOVALL, Resolved, That this house will, with the consent of the senate, proceed on Friday next to the election of a public printer.

Ordered, That the clerk communicate the same to the senate and request their concurrence.

On motion of Mr. EDGINGTON, Resolved, That the committee on banks be instructed to enquire into the expediency of authorizing the banks of the commonwealth to issue for a limited time and to a limited extent, bills of a denomination less than five dollars.

On motion of Mr. Bocock, Resolved by the general assembly, That the public printer be instructed to cause to be delivered to the speakers and members of both houses of the general assembly one copy each, of the revision of the criminal code of the state, completed by Robert G. Scott, Esq., and the residue of the copies ordered to be printed shall be deposited in the custody of the librarian, subject to the future order of the general assembly. Ordered, That the clerk communicate the same to the senate and request their concurrence. Mr. M'DEARMON submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That this house will, with the joint vote of the senate, proceed on Tuesday, the fifteenth instant, to the election of a United States senator, to supply the vacancy which will occur on the fourth of March next, by the expiration of the term of service of William S. Archer, Esq.; also, on the same day, with the concurrence of the senate, proceed to the appointment of a judge of the court of appeals, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of Robert Stanard, Esq.

Mr. STEPHENSON asked for a division of the question, so as to take the vote upon each branch of the resolution separately. And then on motion of Mr. DORMAN, the said resolution was ordered to be laid upon the table. On motion of Mr. NEWTON, Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be instructed to enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill authorizing the Independent order of Odd Fellows of Norfolk City, to hold a limited amount of property, and for other purposes.

On motion of Mr. TYLER, Resolved, That so much of the governor's message as relates to the extension of the jurisdiction of this commonwealth over the town and county of Alexandria, with a view to perfect the act of retrocession, be referred to a select committee of nine, with authority to report thereon by bill or otherwise.

Ordered, That said committee be composed of Messrs. Tyler, Harrison of Loudoun, Scott, Love, Lee, Jones of Chesterfield, Holladay, Leake and Fitzhugh.

On motion of Mr. ScoTT, Resolved, That so much of the governor's message as relates to the supreme court of appeals, and to the circuit superior courts of law and chancery; and also so much thereof as relates to Hunter Hill, be referred to the committee for courts of justice.

On motion of Mr. SYME, Resolved, That the committee of roads and internal navigation enquire into the expediency of authorizing the Petersburg railroad company to increase their capital stock by loan or subscription to an amount not exceeding $500,000.

On motion of Mr. STROTHER, leave was granted to withdraw the petition of Catharine Hillary, presented at the last session of the general assembly.

Mr. LEE presented a petition of Emily Washington, a free woman of colour, asking to be permitted to remain in the commonweath until the expiration of the term of service of her youngest child.

Mr. BROWN of Albemarle a petition of the bar and citizens of the county of Albemarle, asking a change in the judicial circuit composed of the counties of Albemarle, Augusta, Rockbridge, Amherst and Nelson.

Mг. THOMPSON of Hampshire a petition of Abraham G. Leatherman, asking to be divorced from his wife Mary Ellen.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee for courts of justice.

Mr. CARROLL presented a petition of citizens of the county of Grayson, asking for the passage of an act to change the location of the seat of justice of the county.

Mr. BALLARD a petition of citizens of the counties of Kanawha, Cabell and Logan, for the formation of a new county out of said counties.

Mr. STURM a petition of citizens of the county of Randolph, for the formation of a new county out of parts of the counties of Randolph and Preston.

Also the pollbooks for and against the said county, taken in the counties of Randolph, Preston, Pendleton and Hardy.

Mr. THOMPSON of Botetourt a petition of citizens of the county of Botetourt, to change the place of holding a separate election in said county from the house of Col. John Shirkey to Dibrell's springs.

Mr. GOODWIN a petition of citizens of the county of Southampton, for the removal of the separate election heretofore held at Griffin's store to the store of William C. Stephenson in said county.

Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the committee of propositions and grievances.

Mr. Cockε presented a petition of Edwin C. Blankinship, asking to be paid for the tuition of poor children in the county of Powhatan for the year 1845, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of claims. Mr. STOVALL presented a petition of Clement M. Atkisson and others, asking for certain amendments in the laws relating to owners of mills.

Mr. LANCASTER a petition of Stephen Duval and others, for an act incorporating a company for manufacturing purposes in the county of Goochland.

Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the committee on agriculture and manufactures.

Mr. BREATHED presented a petition of citizens of the county of Morgan, for an appropriation to enable them to construct a graded road from the town of Bath to a point on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad at St. John's run. Mr. THOMPSON of Botetourt a petition of Jacob Price, asking the extension of his charter for a turnpike road, and a change of the location of a part of said road.

Mr. BENNETT a petition of citizens of the county of Braxton, for the passage of an act for the improvement of the navigation of the Little Kanawha river.

Also five petitions of citizens of the county of Lewis, for the passage of an act to incorporate a company to construct a railroad from some point on the Potomac, to some point on the Ohio river, not further south than the mouth of the Little Kanawha river.

Mr. DUNCAN a similar petition of citizens of the county of Randolph.

Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the committee of roads and internal navigation.

Mr. GOODWIN presented a petition of citizens of the county of Southampton, for the passage of an act incorporating an Eclectic medical institute to be located in the City of Richmond.

Mr. Bocock a similar petition of Thomas W. M'Craw, and other citizens of the county of Buckingham. Mr. HOLLADAY a petition of the school commissioners of Spottsylvania county, praying that that county be exempted from the operation of the act of the fifth of March 1846, amending the primary school system, and for other purposes.

Mr. DUNCAN a petition of citizens of the county of Harrison, praying the endowment of a new professorship, and for other legislative aid to the Northwestern Virginia academy.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee of schools and colleges.

Mr. WILLIAMS presented a petition of William Townes and others, asking for the establishment of a savings bank in the town of Clarksville in the county of Mecklenburg, which was ordered to be referred to the committee on banks.

A message was received from the senate by Mr. WALLACE, who informed the house that the senate had passed unanimously, a bill, entitled "an act providing for the pay and subsistence of the Virginia regiment of volunteers, called into the service of the United States, under a requisition of the president of the United States of the 16th of November 1846." (No. 1.)

On motion of Mr. WATTS, the house adjourned until to-morrow 12 o'clock.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1846.

The SPEAKER Submitted a communication from the clerk of the house, enclosing in conformity to law, an abstract from the reports of the clerks of the court of appeals, and of the circuit superior courts of law and chancery, exhibiting the actual state of the suits instituted within their respective courts, and the number of days the courts were in session during the year ending the 30th of August 1846, which, on motion of Mr. STOVALL, was laid upon the table and ordered to be printed. [Doc. No. 7.]

The SPEAKER also submitted the following letter from Walter Gwynn, president of the James river and Kanawha company, which was read, and on motion of Mr. DORMAN, ordered to be laid upon the table, viz:

To the honourable the Speaker of the House of Delegates.

RICHMOND, 10th DECEMBER 1846.

SIR,-In obedience to an act of the legislature, passed on the 24th March 1843, I have the honour to lay before you a report of the condition of the James river and Kanawha company for the year ending the 31st October 1846; and also a supplement by the late president of the company, to the report of the preceding year, together with copies of both documents for the several members of the house of delegates. I beg leave to add that reprints of the first named report, with the proceedings of the stockholders of the company at their late annual meeting, and other documents, will be transmitted to you for the use of the house of delegates; as soon as they are received from the press. I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

WALTER GWYNN, Pres't J. R. and K. Co.

Mr. Bocock presented a report, which was read as follows:

The committee, composed of the chairmen of the several committees for courts of justice, of roads and internal navigation, schools and colleges, finance, propositions and grievances, claims, privileges and elections, banks, on agriculture and manufactures, militia laws, and trade and the mechanic arts, have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of reorganizing the duties of clerks of committees, diminishing their number, and amending the several laws in relation thereto, and have adopted the following resolutions thereon:

1. Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient at this time, to take any legislative action in regard to the number and duties of the clerks of committees.

2. Resolved, That this committee be discharged from the further consideration of the subject.

The said resolutions were severally agreed to by the house.

On motion of Mr. LANIER, Resolved, That the committee on banks enquire into the expediency of prohibiting by law any director of any of the banks of this commonwealth, from voting for himself as president, or for any other office, place or appointment in the same.

On motion of Mr. WATTS, Resolved, That so much of the governor's message as recommends a bounty on shipbuilding in Virginia, be referred to the committee on trade and mechanic arts.

On motion of Mr. STOVALL, the following preamble and resolution was agreed to, viz:

Whereas it is represented to the general assembly that many of the counties of this commonwealth failed to avail themselves of the provisions of a law, passed at the last session of the general assembly, in relation to school commissioners:

Be it therefore resolved, That the committee of schools and colleges enquire into the subject, and report by bill or otherwise.

On motion of Mr. THOMPSON of Jefferson, Resolved, That that part of the governor's message which relates to weights and measures, be referred to the committee on finance.

On motion of Mr. MOSBY, Resolved, That the committee of roads and internal navigation enquire into the expediency of passing a law authorizing the Lynchburg and Salem turnpike company to relocate certain parts of their road, so that they deviate from no point named in the original act of incorporation; and also authorizing said company to appropriate their dividends and other means to the improvement of said road, by M'Adamizing the

same.

On motion of Mr. MAYO, Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of authorizing by law the transfer of stocks in joint stock companies of this state, held by persons living in other states, by their executors or administrators living out of this state, and who have not qualified as such in this state. On motion of Mr. JONES of Chesterfield, Resolved, That so much of the governor's message as relates to the subject of finance, be referred to the committee of finance.

On motion of Mr. CoсKE, Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be instructed to enquire into the expediency of providing by law for a just compensation to be allowed to the keepers of the polls in all elections in which polls are required.

On motion of Mr. CARSON, Resolved, That the committee of propositions and grievances be instructed to enquire into the expediency of defining by law the plan of holding separate elections in Newtown, Stevensburg, Frederick county.

On motion of Mr. NEWMAN, Resolved, That so much of the governor's message as relates to the penitentiary institution, be referred to the committee to examine the penitentiary.

On motion of Mr. IRVING, Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be instructed to enquire into the expediency of amending the act passed the 17th February 1827, entitled "an act to prescribe the method of proceeding in suits and on petitions for divorces."

Mr. M'PHERSON submitted the following resolution :

Resolved, That a select committee be appointed with instructions to report the bill No. 23, of the session of 1844 and 1845, which had for its object the question of taking the sense of the people upon the propriety of calling a convention to amend the constitution of the state.

A motion was made by Mr. DORMAN, that the said resolution be laid upon the table, and it was determined in the affirmative.

A message was received from the senate by Mr. GARRETT, who informed the house that the senate agreed to the resolution for the election of a public printer; and also to the resolution for distributing certain copies of the revision of the criminal code, with sundry amendments, in which they request the concurrence of the house of delegates.

The said amendments being twice read, were severally agreed to, and it was ordered that the clerk inform the senate thereof.

On motion of Mr. TUNSTALL, Resolved, That the committee of roads and internal navigation be instructed to enquire into the expediency of constructing a railroad, upon state account, or upon such other terms as they may deem expedient, from the City of Richmond, or from some point on the Richmond and Petersburg railroad, to the town of Danville, in the county of Pittsylvania.

On motion of Mr. SHEFFEY, Resolved, That the committee of roads and internal navigation be instructed to enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill providing for an increase of the capital stock of the James river and Staunton turnpike company, and for the regrading and M'Adamizing said turnpike.

On motion of Mr. M'DEARMON, the resolution submitted by him on yesterday, was taken up and read as follows:

Resolved, That this house will, with the consent of the senate, proceed on Tuesday the 15th instant, to the election of a United States senator, to supply the vacancy which will occur on the 4th of March next, by the expiration of the term of service of William S. Archer, Esq.; also on the same day, with the concurrence of the senate, proceed to the appointment of a judge of the court of appeals, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of Robert Stanard, Esq.

On motion of Mr. ANDERSON, the same was amended by striking therefrom the words "Tuesday the 15th instant," and inserting in lieu thereof the words on the 15th of January next.

The question recurred on the first branch of the resolution under the division called for by Mr. STEPHENSON, and it was adopted; and the question being then put upon the second branch thereof, was determined in the negative.

The resolution as amended is the following:

Resolved, That this house, with the consent of the senate, will proceed on the 15th of January next to the election of a United States senator to supply the vacancy which will occur on the 4th of March next, by the expiration of the term of service of William S. Archer, Esq.

Ordered, That the clerk communicate the same to the senate and request their concurrence.

On motion of Mr. Cook, Resolved, That this house will, with the concurrence of the senate, proceed on the to the election of a judge of the court of appeals, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of Robert Stanard, Esq.

A motion was made by Mr. FLOYD, to fill the blank in the resolution with the words "9th of January," and a motion was made by Mr. MORISON, to fill the same with the words "fifteenth instant ;" and the question being put upon the longest time, it was determined in the negative; the said blank was then filled with the last words proposed, and the resolution as amended was agreed to.

Ordered, That the clerk communicate the same to the senate and request their concurrence.

No. 2. A bill changing the time of holding the terms of the county court of Wetzel, was read the first and ordered to be read a second time.

Mr. HIETT, from the committee on the subject, presented the following bill:

No. 3. A bill authorizing the Literary society of Romney to establish and endow a seminary.

The said bill was read the first, and the rule of the house having been suspended on motion of Mr. HIETT, the second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

Mr. BAMBRICK presented a petition of citizens of the county of Brooke, asking for the formation of a new county by dividing said county.

Mr. DUNCAN a petition of citizens of the counties of Harrison, Lewis and Barbour, for the formation of a new county out of parts of said counties.

Mr. GILLESPIE a petition of citizens of the county of Tazewell, for a separate election at the house of Thomas Shannon, in said county.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee of propositions and grievances.

Mr. SCOTT presented a petition of Robert T. Ashby, praying that compensation may be made him for his reports as adjutant of the 44th regiment of the Virginia militia, of the strength of the said regiment for the year 1844 and 1845, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of claims.

Mr. STEPHENSON presented several petitions of citizens of the county of Jackson, for the incorporation of a company to construct a railroad from some point on the Potomac river, not below the mouth of the South branch thereof, to some point on the Ohio river, not below the mouth of the Little Kanawha river.

Mr. DUNCAN a similar petition of citizens of the county of Harrison.

Mr. BARE a petition of citizens of the county of Rockingham, asking an extension of the Louisa railroad. Mr. HORNER a petition of citizens of the county of Tyler, asking the passage of an act to declare M'Kim creek a public highway.

Also a petition of citizens of the county of Tyler, and one of citizens of the county of Harrison, each praying for an appropriation to aid in making a road from Sistersville, in the county of Tyler, to Salem, in Harrison county, to intersect the North western road.

Mr. DUNCAN also presented a petition of citizens of the counties of Harrison and Lewis, for the location and construction of a turnpike to connect the Staunton and Parkersburg road at Buchanan town, with the Northwestern road at Clarksburg.

Mr. HILL of Fayette and Nicholas presented proceedings of a meeting of the people of Fayette, in favour of completing the connection between the James and Kanawha rivers, and in case of a failure to make the same, then in favour of allowing the Baltimore and Ohio railroad company an unrestricted right of way through the

state, with the privilege reserved to the James river and Kanawha company to connect with their road at some given point.

Mr. HAYMOND Several petitions of the various contractors on the Maryland and Ohio road, praying the legislature to provide funds to pay them for labour executed on said road, under contracts made with the commissioners of said road, who were officers of government.

Mr. BROWN of Monongalia a memorial of citizens of the county of Monongalia, remonstrating against any change in the route and terminus of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, from those now allowed by law, or the charter of the company.

Ordered, That said petitions and memorial be referred to the committee of roads and internal navigation. Mr. MOSBY presented a petition of the notaries public of the town of Lynchburg, praying an increase of their fees for notarial services.

Mr. HUNTER a petition of Henrietta Briscoe, asking to be divorced from her husband John T. Briscoe.
Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the committee for courts of justice.

Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition of citizens of the county of Harrison, praying for an appropriation and other legislative aid to the Northwestern Virginia academy, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of schools and colleges.

Mr. HILL of Fayette and Nicholas presented a petition of Seaton B. Rowzey andothers, citizens of Fayette county, asking that said Rowzey may be exempted from certain taxes, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of finance.

On motion of Mr. CALWELL, the house adjourned until to-morrow 12 o'clock.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1846.

The house, according to the joint order of the day, proceeded by joint vote with the senate to the election of a public printer. Mr. STOVALL nominated Samuel Shepherd, and the senate having been informed thereof, and no person having been added to the nomination in that house, the vote was recorded as follows:

For Samuel Shepherd-Messrs. Goode, (speaker,) Custis, Finney, Brown of Albemarle, Hart, Layne, Powell, M'Dearmon, Sheffey, Johnson, Byrd, Scruggs, Burwell, Small, Thompson of Botetourt, Bennett, Bambrick, Maclin, Bocock, Morris, Mosby, Fox, Dickinson, Cardwell, Jones of Chesterfield, Slaughter, Irving, Thompson of Dinwiddie, Chisman, Roane, Love, Scott, Smith, Hill of Fayette and Nicholas, Evans, Stillman, Carper, Wall, Carson, White, Jones of Gloucester, Leake, Carroll, Calwell, Walker, Majors, Stovall, Hiett, Thompson of Hampshire, Darracott, Lee, Duncan, Lancaster, Dillard, Howard, Hunter, Thompson of Jefferson, Patrick, Wallace, Gaines, Robinson, Gresham, Richmond, Ballard, Harrison of Loudoun, Schooley, M'Intyre, Poindexter, Edmondson of Lunenburg, Banks, Haymond, Oldham, Waggoner, Williams, Brown of Monongalia, Beirne, Edmundson of Montgomery and Pulaski, Breathed, Kelly, Perrow, Newton, Watts, Happer, Yerby, Nelms, Oliver, Edgington, Davis, M'Pherson, Tatum, Newman, Syme, Lanier, Tunstall, Cackley, Cocke, Fairfax, Stone, Anderson, Daniel, Tyler, Sturm, Strother, Mayo, Cook, Harper, Dorman, Bare, Brown of Rockingham, M'Elhenney, Morison, Hill of Shenandoah, Stickley, Tate, Goodwin, Holladay, Fitzhugh, Hargrave, Freeman, Burdett, Gillespie, Horner, Castleman, Goodson, Chandler, Stephenson and Floyd-127.

For William F. Ritchie-Mr. Shimnuel Godwin-1.

Ordered, That Messrs. Stovall, Godwin, Kelly, Thompson of Dinwiddie, Carroll, Scruggs and Perrow, be a committee to act jointly with a committee of the senate to ascertain the joint vote; Mr. STOVALL reported that vote to be, for Samuel Shepherd 156, scattering 1; thereupon SAMUEL SHEPHERD was declared duly elected public printer for one year.

On motion of Mr. BURDETT, Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of changing the time of holding the terms of the superior courts of law and chancery in the 18th judicial circuit, so that the time now allowed by law for holding the courts in Taylor county may be extended.

Mr. BURDETT presented a document to accompany the said resolution, which was ordered to be referred to the same committee.

Mr. LEAKE, from the committee on banks, presented the following bill:

No. 4. A bill to incorporate the Clarksville savings institution, which was subsequently taken up, read the first, and on motion of Mr. STOVALL, the second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

No. 3. An engrossed bill authorizing the Literary society of Romney, to establish and endow a seminary, was read a third time and passed.

Ordered, That the clerk communicate the same to the senate and request their concurrence.

No. 2. A bill changing the time of holding the terms of the county court of Wetzel, was read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.