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On motion of Mr. McCAMANT,

Resolved, that a committee be appointed to wait upon the governor, and inform him that this house is now organized, and ready to receive any communication he may have to transmit.

The SPEAKER announced the following committee under the resolution, viz: Messrs. McCamant, Magruder, and Hopkins of Rocking

ham.

Subsequently, Mr. MCCAMANT, from the committee, reported that they had discharged the duty assigned them, and that the governor would communicate a message to the house immediately.

The governor's message was then received and read, and on motion. of Mr. MALLORY, was laid on the table, and five hundred extra copies ordered to be printed.

[For message, see Doc. No. 1, appended to this volume.]

On motion of Mr. HOPKINS of Rockingham,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the propriety of so amending the 2d section of the act repealing the fence law of Virginia, passed the 2d day of October 1862, as to include the county of Rockingham in the said 2d section; and also to legalize the action of the county court of Rockingham, taken in pursuance of said act, as if the said county had been included in said act.

On motion of Mr. WEST,

Resolved, that the two houses of this general assembly do proceed, on Tuesday the 13th day of the present month, to elect a Confederate States senator, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the Hon. William Ballard Preston.

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

Mr. HOPKINS of Petersburg presented the petition of B. P. Todd and others, clerks of courts, praying an increase of compensation.

Mr. HOPKINS of Petersburg presented the petition of J. H. Smith, commissioner of the revenue for the city of Petersburg, praying an increase of compensation for himself and other commissioners of the

revenue.

Said petitions were ordered to be referred to the committee for courts of justice.

On motion of Mr. HOPKINS of Petersburg,

Resolved, that leave be given to bring in a bill to incorporate the Southern female college of the city of Petersburg.

The SPEAKER announced the following committee under the resolution: Messrs. Hopkins of Petersburg, Reid and Laidley.

On motion Mr. GATEWOOD,

Resolved, that the committee on finance be instructed to enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for the relief of the sureties of John I. Grandstaff, sheriff of Shenandoah county.

On motion of Mr. REID,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of amending the stay-law of this commonwealth, so as to enable creditors to collect debts due them, in the currency of the country.

On motion of Mr. TREDWAY,

Resolved, that the committee of propositions and grievances be instructed to bring in a bill to incorporate the Prospect tan yard company in Prince Edward.

On motion of Mr. MALLORY,

Resolved that the committee on finance enquire into the expediency of increasing the pay of sheriffs, so as to allow them commission on the increased amount of taxes, from 40 to 60 per cent.

On motion of Mr. ANDERSON of Rockingham,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of so amending the law as to allow the court of appeals to hold its court at some other place during the war.

On motion Mr. WEST,

Resolved, that a committee of seven members be appointed to enquire into the expediency of so limiting the cultivation of tobacco in this commonwealth, by taxation or otherwise, as not to allow any person in any one year to cultivate more than five thousand hills to the hand.

On motion of Mr. ROBERTSON,

Resolved, that the committee of roads and internal navigation enquire into the expediency of incorporating the Confederate express company.

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1863.

Prayer by Rev. Dr. Moore of the Presbyterian church.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a letter from Henry W. Thomas, Esquire, second auditor, enclosing a petition from certain officers of the government, asking for an increase of their salaries, and those of the clerks in their several departments; which, on motion, was referred to the committee on finance.

J. G.. FULTON, a delegate elected from the county of Augusta, to supply a vacancy created by the resignation of WM. M. TATE, and WILLIAM O. FRY, a delegate elected from the county of Madison, to supply the vacancy created by the resignation of JAMES L. KEMPER, appeared, were qualified, and took their seats.

Mr. McDONALD of Hampshire submitted the following resolution : Resolved, that that portion of the governor's message recommending the taxing of extensive and extravagant profits, be referred to the committee on finance; and that they be directed to enquire into the expediency of so amending the act imposing taxes for the support of government, passed March 27, 1862, as to provide for the taxing of net incomes (from whatever source derived), whenever they shall exceed thousand dollars; and of so regulating the tax as that the same shall be increased in proportion as the increase shall exceed thousand dollars, with a view to prevent extortion, specu

lation and the accumulation of mammoth fortunes in the hands of parties not in the military service of the state or of the Confederate States, and to distribute the burdens of the war; and the question being on agreeing thereto, Mr. BOULDIN demanded the previous question; which was sustained by the house; and being put, was decided in the affirmative.

On motion of Mr. MAGRUDER,

Resolved, that the committee on finance be instructed to take into consideration the resolution adopted by the general assembly on the day of May last, declaring that the state should guarantee, in proper proportions, the confederate debt, and that they report, by bill or otherwise, such further legislation as may be deemed necessary for pledging the faith of this state for her fair proportion of the

same.

On motion of Mr. EVANS,

Resolved, that the committee on military affairs be instructed to enquire into the expediency of providing by law further facilities for transporting clothing and other supplies to the soldiers from their respective counties.

On motion of Mr. WOOLFOLK,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as relates to the penitentiary, be referred to the joint committee on the penitentiary; and that the said committee be instructed to enquire into the expediency of having the able bodied convicts of the penitentiary put to work on fortifications around the city.

On motion of Mr. WEST,

Resolved, that the committee on the cultivation of tobacco be enlarged to thirteen members.

The SPEAKER announced the committee under the resolution as follows: Messrs. Bouldin, West, Burks, Buford, Mallory, Worsham, Powell, Nelson of Louisa, Taylor of Amelia, Flood, Staples, Lundy and Orgain.

On motion of Mr. JAMES,

Resolved, that the committee of roads and internal navigation enquire into the expediency of transferring to the counties in which it is located, the Southwestern turnpike road, extending from Buchanan in Botetourt county, to the Tennessee line.

On motion of Mr. STAPLES,

Resolved, that the governor of the commonwealth be requested to furnish this house information as to the number of troops in the Virginia state line; what proportion of the same were liable to the conscript law of the confederate government; and the probable cost of the same to the state, from the time of its organization to the 1st of January 1863.

On motion of Mr. CROCKETT,

Resolved, that the committee on banks enquire into the expediency of amending the 58th chapter of the Code of 1860, 1st section, so as to read "that no one shall be elected or appointed a director in any bank in the state, unless he owns at least five shares in the bank in which he is appointed or elected a director."

On motion of Mr. RUTHERFOORD,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice be instructed to enquire into the expediency of allowing some compensation to the clerk of the hustings court of Richmond city, for his services rendered in felony cases in said court.

On motion of Mr. PRINCE,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of amending section 11, chapter 200, Code of 1860, so as to increase the punishment for the offences therein prescribed. On motion of Mr. RIVES,

Resolved, that the committee of schools and colleges enquire into the expediency of paying to Peyton A. Tiney a sum of money for the tuition of indigent children.

Mr. DAVIS presented the petition of J. W. Murrell and others, for relief from assessment; which was ordered to be referred to the committee on finance.

On motion of Mr. DAVIS,

Resolved, that the committee on finance enquire into the expediency of exempting from taxation, interest and dividends payable by persons resident in places occupied by the enemy, so that such interest or dividends cannot be collected.

On motion of Mr. BOULDIN,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as relates to the act of the recent session, entitled an act further to provide for the public defence, be referred to the committee for courts of justice, with instructions to report such amendments to the same as may be deemed necessary.

On motion of Mr. STAPLES,

Resolved, that the committee on military affairs enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for enrolling and organizing into companies, regiments and brigades, all able bodied men of this commonwealth between the ages of 18 and 45, who are exempt from service in the confederate army by the employment of substitutes, or from any other cause. Said force to be subject at all times during the war to the all of the governor.

On motion of Mr. ANDERSON of Botetourt,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as relates to military subjects, be referred to the committee on military affairs. On motion of Mr. BUFORD,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice be instructed to enquire into the expediency of investing the county and corporation courts of the commonwealth with additional powers to procure the means of subsistence for the families of soldiers in the confederate service.

Mr. HARRISON submitted the following resolution; which being objected to, was laid over under the rule:

Resolved, that the congress of the Confederate States should have power, in their discretion, to make the notes issued by the Confederate States in time of war, in payment of the expenses thereof, a legal tender in payment of debts, and to that end, that the commit

tee for courts of justice be instructed to report an amendment of the constitution of the Confederate States, for adoption by the general assembly of Virginia, and to be presented to the other states of the Confederacy.

Mr. MALLORY offered the following resolutions; which being objected to, were laid over under the rule:

1. Resolved, by the general assembly of Virginia, that the funding of the public debt will be one of the most effectual means to reduce the amount of our circulating medium, and to secure for our currency the confidence of the people; and that it is the duty as well as the interest of the citizens of the Confederacy to invest their surplus funds in the bonds of the confederate government.

2. Resolved, that the state of Virginia will agree to guarantee the debt of the confederate government, in proportion to its representation in the congress of the Confederate States: provided, that each of the other Confederate States shall accept this proposition; in which event, these resolutions shall be the guarantee of this state for her proportion of said debt.

3. Resolved, that our senators be instructed and our representatives in congress be requested to bring this subject to the attention of the approaching session of congress, and urge the adoption of such measures as will carry the object of these resolutions into effect.

Mr. HOPKINS of Petersburg, from a select committee, presented the following bill:

No. 37. A bill to incorporate the Southern female college of the city of Petersburg.

Mr. HOPKINS of Petersburg submitted a substitute to house bill entitled a bill to suppress extortion; which, on his motion, was laid on the table and ordered to be printed.

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

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1863.

Prayer by Rev. Dr. Moore of the Presbyterian church.

The following senate bills were read a first and second times, and referred to the committee of privileges and elections:

No. 16. A senate bill entitled an act with regard to general and special elections of members of congress during the present war. No. 14. A senate bill entitled an act to prescribe the mode of filling vacancies in the general assembly of Virginia in certain cases. The following senate bill was read a first and second times, and referred to the committee of propositions and grievances:

No. 12. A senate bill entitled an act to enlarge the powers of the common council of the city of Richmond.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the governor, enclosing a letter from the governor of Georgia, accompanied

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