May 17, 1862, entitled an act to authorize a force of ten thousand men to be raised for the defence of the commonwealth, was taken up, read a third time and passed. On motion, the title was amended, so as to read as follows: "A bill to authorize the reorganization of the state troops under the command of Major General John B. Floyd." Ordered, that Mr. HUNTER carry the same to the senate, and respectfully request their concurrence. Mr. ROBERTSON presented the following preamble and resolutions; which, on his motion, were laid on the table: The general assembly of Virginia, moved by a deep sense of the importance, at this time, of raising, above all things, an abundance of provisions and of forage for the uses of our armies and of the people at large-confident in our ample resources of production, as well as in the public spirit and patriotic zeal of our citizens, and fearing no deficiency or serious inconvenience, beyond what at all times may occur from unfavorable seasons, except such as might result from over confidence in those resources, or from not sufficiently adverting to the large space of our territory temporarily disabled from furnishing its usual contribution to the public wants, and to other considerable portions of the Confederacy cut off for the present from their usual sources of supply-but still deeming it their highest duty to guard as far as possible against even the chance of so great a calamity as a scarcity of provisions, do, therefore, Resolve, 1st, that they earnestly recommend to every citizen of the state, that he shall aim to increase greatly beyond his usual amount, all his agricultural products of every kind whatever; his grain and his grass crops; his live stock; his fruits and his garden vegetables-every thing, indeed, that goes to the sustenance of man and beast, before he shall apply his labor to any other object or employment whatever-that he constantly practice frugality in using his resources of food, and bear in mind always to consume first what is most perishable, in order that he may husband his whole stock to the best advantage: and they enjoin it upon, and make it the special charge of every justice of the peace throughout all the state not occupied by the enemy, to visit his neighbors, and urge it upon them to act promptly and effectively on this recommendation, as a work of true patriotism, a sacred duty to the cause of the independence and safety of the Confederate States, and as furnishing to the world the evidence of their firm and immovable determination to incur every sacrifice, and to omit no effort that may be necessary to the success of that holy cause. 2d. That as many copies of the foregoing preamble and resolution, attested by the president of the senate and speaker of the house of delegates, as they shall deem expedient, be printed in such form as they may direct, for the use of the members of the general assembly, to be by them sent to the justices of their counties, and otherwise disseminated, so as best to advance the object in view. No. 78. A bill authorizing fiduciaries to invest funds in their hands in certain cases, and for other purposes, was taken up, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time. The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the governor, enclosing a communication from the governor of South Carolina, transmitting certain acts and resolutions of the legislature of that state, in relation to the guarantee by the state of the bonds of the Confederate States; which were ordered to be referred to the committee on finance. Mr. NEWTON presented the following preamble and resolution; and the question being on agreeing thereto, was put, and decided in the affirmative: This house having learned with pleasure the presence in this city of Major Gen. A. P. Hill, whose name is conspicuously associated. with the most brilliant achievements of our arms: Resolved, that Major General A. P. Hill be invited to occupy a privileged seat in this house during his sojourn in this city, and that the SPEAKER appoint two members to convey this invitation to Gen. Hill, and to introduce him to the house. The question being on agreeing thereto, was put, and decided in the affirmative. The SPEAKER announced the following committee under the resolution: Messrs. Newton and Fry. Major Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, attended by Messrs. Robertson of the city of Richmond and Crockett of Wythe, appeared in the hall, and was introduced to the SPEAKER, and through him to the house of delegates, by Mr. Robertson. The house rose to receive him. General Stuart was then received by the SPEAKER, and having returned his acknowledgments for the honor conferred upon him, took the seat assigned to him. Major General Ambrose Powell Hill, attended by Messrs. Newton of Westmoreland and Fry of Madison, appeared in the hall and was introduced to the SPEAKER, and through him to the house of delegates, by Mr. Newton. The house rose to receive him. Gen. Hill was then received by the SPEAKER, and having returned his acknowledgments for the honor conferred upon him, took the seat assigned to him. Mr. REID moved to take up the resolution heretofore submitted by him, fixing the time for the adjournment of the general assembly; and the question being on agreeing thereto, was put, and decided in the affirmative-Ayes 43, noes 34. On motion of Mr. MALLORY, the vote was recorded as follows: AYES-Messrs. Ambers, J. T. Anderson, F. T. Anderson, Bayse, Bigger, Booton, Car- . penter, Cecil, Clarke, Coffman, Crockett, Edmunds, Ewing, Fleming, Fletcher, Flood, Fulton, Harrison, J. H. Hopkins, James, Johnson, Jordan, Lively, Lundy, Mallory, Mathews, Mayo, McLaughlin, Montague, Orgain, Reid, Robinson, Shannon, Staples, F. G. Taylor, Thrash, Tredway, Vermillion, West, Williams, J. L. Wilson, S. M. Wilson and Worsham-43. NOES-Messrs. Sheffey (speaker), Baker, Bradford, Buford, Burks, R. H. Carter, Cazenove, Dabney, Forbes, Gatewood, George, Green, H. L. Hopkins, Hunter, Huntt, Jones, Laidley, Magruder, McCamant, A. W. McDonald, I. E. McDonald, McKinney, Murdaugh, Newton, Pitman, Richardson, Riddick, Robertson, P. Saunders, Thomas, Tomlin, Ward, Wright and Wynne-34. The resolutions heretofore submitted by Mr. BRADFORD, in relation to the commissions of officers of the state line, and the pay of the same, were taken up, on his motion, amended, and on motion of Mr. HUNTER, referred to the committee on military affairs. On motion of Mr. STAPLES, Resolved, that leave be granted to withdraw from the files of this house, bill 66, entitled a bill compensating Peter P. Penn for the loss of his slave Albert, and that the same be referred to the committee of claims. The following bills were read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time: No. 58. A bill appropriating money to finish and repair the road from Tazewell courthouse to Chapmansville in Logan county. No. 65. A bill refunding to Matthew Harris a sum of money. No. 70. A bill for the improvement of the north fork of the Holston river in the county of Smyth. The following bills were read a second time, and on motions severally made, laid on the table: No. 63. A bill to authorize free negroes to be employed as laborers on the fortifications and other public defences. No. 67. A bill to provide for filling vacancies in the general assembly of Virginia. No. 82. A bill regulating the mode of binding out free negro apprentices, and for other purposes. Mr. CAZENOVE gave notice that he would on to-morrow move an amendment to the rules, providing for a standing committee on the subject of printing. No. 49. An engrossed bill authorizing the issue of treasury notes of a less denomination than one dollar, was taken up; and the question being-Shall the bill pass? the roll was called, with the following result-Ayes 45, noes 24: AYES-Messrs. Sheffey (speaker), Ambers, F. T. Anderson, Baker, Bayse, Bigger, Booton, Bradford, Buford, Burks, Cazenove, Coffman, Crockett, Daniel, Ewing, Fletcher, Franklin, Fry, Fulton, Gatewood, Green, J. H. Hopkins, H. L. Hopkins, Hunter, Lundy, Mathews, Mayo, McCamant, McLaughlin, Montague, Murdaugh, Newton, Noland, Pitman, Reid, Riddick, Robertson, Robinson, Sherrard, F. G. Taylor, Thrash, Tredway, Ward, West, Williams and S. M. Wilson-45. NOES-Messrs. Cecil, Clarke, Edmunds, Fleming, Flood, Forbes, George, Harrison, Huntt, James, Johnson, Jordan, Mallory, A. W. McDonald, I. E. McDonald, Orgain, Rowan, P. Saunders, R. C. Saunders, Shannon, Staples, Tomlin, Vermillion and Worsham-24. Resolved, that the bill be rejected. On motion of Mr. FORBES, the rule was suspended, with a view to reconsider the vote by which the bill was rejected, and the bill was laid upon the table. No. 68. A bill to authorize county and corporation courts to cause impressments to be made of certain articles for county purposes, was taken up and read a second time. Mr. JAMES submitted an amendment to the bill. Pending the consideration of which, On motion of Mr. TAYLOR of Hanover, the house adjourned until to-morrow, 11 o'clock. 16 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1863. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Doggett of the Methodist church. A communication from the senate, by their clerk, was read as follows: IN SENATE, Feb. 16, 1863. The senate have agreed to the amendments proposed by the house of delegates to senate bills entitled: An act to amend and re-enact an act entitled an act to amend section 11 of chapter 29 of the Code, so as to exempt the property of persons in the military service of the state from distress for rent payable in money, passed February 19, 1862, No. 46. An act to enlarge the powers of the circuit courts of the several counties and corporations in cases of attachment against non-residents, No. 49. They have passed bills, entitled: An act authorizing the county court of Henrico to establish a public pound, No. 48. An act to repeal an ordinance of the convention of April 24, 1861, providing for a pay department of the Virginia forces, No. 56. In which bills they respectfully request the concurrence of the house of delegates. No. 48. A senate bill entitled an act authorizing the county court of Henrico to establish a public pound, was read a first and second times, and ordered to be referred to the committee of propositions and grievances. No. 56. A senate bill entitled an act to repeal an ordinance of the convention of April 24, 1861, providing for a pay department of the Virginia forces, was read a first and second times, and ordered to be referred to the committee on military affairs. Mr. BARBOUR, from the committee on finance, presented the following bill: No. 102. A bill amending and re-enacting the 42d section of chapter 87 of the Code, edition of 1860. Mr. HUNTER, from the committee for courts of justice, presented the following reports: An adverse report to a resolution enquiring into the expediency of adjourning sine die on the 26th instant. A report upon a resolution enquiring whether the present session shall be considered as a continuation of the session held in May last. The report declares that the present session commenced on the 15th of September last. Mr. BUFORD presented the petition of E. N. Sorey and William E. Boisseau, praying to be refunded the amount of a license tax paid by them; which,, on his motion, was referred to the committee on finance. The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the governor, in reference to a resolution of this house, adopted on the 14th instant, in relation to the compensation agreed to be paid to agents for the distribution of salt; which was ordered to be referred to the committee on salt. No. 68. A bill to authorize county and corporation courts to cause impressments to be made of certain articles for county purposes, was taken up, amended, and as amended, read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. The hour of twelve o'clock having arrived, the following summons to show cause, &c. against Joseph H. Crenshaw, was read for the information of the house: The Commonwealth of Virginia-To the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Delegates of Virginia-Greeting: We command you, that you summon Joseph H. Crenshaw, agent of the Crenshaw woolen manufacturing company, to appear at the bar of the house of delegates, in their hall in the state capitol, at 12 o'clock M. on Tuesday, February 17th, 1863, to show cause why he should not be fined and imprisoned for failing to obey the summons of its committee: And this he shall in no wise omit: And have then there this writ. Witness, Hugh W. Sheffey, speaker of the house of delegates of Virginia, the 16th day of February 1863, in the 87th year of the commonwealth. HUGH W. SHEFFEY, Speaker of House Delegates. Executed on Joseph H. Crenshaw, by delivering to him a copy of the within on this day at 15 minutes to 2 o'clock P. M. R. W. BURKE, Feb. 16, 1863. Sergt. at Arms House Delegates. Mr. Crenshaw appeared at the bar of the house. Resolved, that Joseph H. Crenshaw be discharged. A similar summons to show cause, &c., with a similar endorsement, against George Whitfield, was read for the information of the house. Mr. Whitfield appeared at the bar of the house, and was duly sworn by the SPEAKER, to answer questions. After examination of the witness, Mr. FORBES submitted the following resolution: Resolved, that further proceedings under the summons issued on yesterday directing George Whitfield to appear at the bar of this house, to show cause why he should not be fined and imprisoned for his contempt of the summons therein set forth, be deferred until Tuesday the 24th instant. Mr. HUNTER moved to amend the resolution, by striking out the following words: "deferred until Tuesday the 24th instant," and inserting "discharged;" and the question being on agreeing thereto, |