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by a bill and resolution adopted by the legislature of that state, in relation to restricting the cultivation of cotton; which were read, and on motion of Mr. BOULDIN, referred to the special committee on the subject of restricting the cultivation of tobacco.

Also enclosing a preamble and resolutions adopted by the general assembly of the state of Florida, in relation to the guarantee of the debt of the confederate government by the states; which were read, and on motion of Mr. MAGRUDER, referred to the committee on finance.

Also enclosing a resolution adopted by the general assembly of the state of Florida, in relation to the present war; which was read, and on motion of Mr. JONES, laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Doc. No. 10.

On motion of Mr. LYNN,

Resolved, that the committee on finance enquire into the expediency of releasing the citizens of Prince William county, for the years 1862 and 1863, from taxation: also to provide for the support of women and children whose husbands and sons are in the war, or have been slain in battle.

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

Resolved by tlre general assembly of Virginia, that our representatives in congress be and they are hereby requested to procure the passage of a bill by the confederate congress, providing for the payment of slaves impressed into the service of the Confederate States, and not returned to their owners, by reason of having escaped to or been captured by the public enemy.

Mr. WILSON of Isle of Wight submitted the following preamble and resolution; which being objected to, were laid over under the rule:

Whereas the general assembly did, on the 1st day of October 1862, pass an act to provide for the production, distribution and sale of such quantity of salt as would, in the judgment of the governor, be sufficient, to supply the people of this commonwealth: and whereas the governor did, by virtue of the authority vested in him as aforesaid, on the 15th of November 1862, issue his proclamation proposing to distribute 150,000 bushels of salt, the amount he has contracted for under the authority vested in him as aforesaid, among certain counties, cities and towns of this commonwealth: and whereas, in the rules and regulations for the sale and distribution of salt, which he has adopted and published along with his said proclamation, there is and has been no provision made for the sale and distribution of salt to the people of the county of Isle of Wight: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the general assembly, that the governor of this commonwealth be instructed and required to provide for the people of Isle of Wight the just and equitable quota of salt to which they are entitled: the said salt to be delivered to the agent in Petersburg, at the same time and upon the same terms the quotas of salt are delivered, distributed and sold to the citizens of other counties of the second congressional district.

On motion of Mr. MALLORY, the resolutions submitted by him on yesterday, in relation to funding the public debt, and guaranteeing the debt of the confederate government by the states, were taken up, and referred to the committee on finance.

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

No. 38. A bill for the relief of the clerk of the hustings court of the city of Richmond.

Mr. RUTHERFOORD, from the same committee, presented an adverse report to the petition of B. P. Todd and others.

Also, a report upon the petition of the commissioner of the revenue for Petersburg; asking that the same be referred to the committee on finance; which was concurred in.

On motion of Mr. BARBOUR,

Resolved, that leave be given to bring in a bill to modify the act of last session in relation to fences.

The SPEAKER announced the following committee under the resolution: Messrs. Barbour, Grattan and Fletcher.

Subsequently, Mr. BARBOUR, from the committee, presented the following bill:

No. 39. A bill amending and re-enacting the 2d section of an act entitled an act to repeal the fence law of Virginia as to certain counties, and to authorize the county courts to dispense with enclosures in other counties, passed October 3, 1862.

On motion of Mr. AMBERS,

Resolved, that the committee on finance be instructed to enquire into the expediency of repealing the 81st section of the tax bill passed 'March 27th, 1862, so that sheriffs and commissioners of the revenue may receive the compensation allowed prior to the passage of said

act.

On motion of Mr. AMBERS,

Resolved, that the board of public works be directed to report to the house of delegates in what manner they have performed the duty directed by a joint resolution passed October 6, 1862.

Mr. CROCKETT presented the petition of W. H. Neighbours; which was ordered to be referred to the committee for courts of justice. On motion of Mr. MAGRUder,

Resolved, that the committee on military affairs be instructed to enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill subjecting all able bodied men who harbor, conceal or employ deserters, to service in our army, and imposing a fine upon others thus convicted, who are not competent for military duty.

On motion of Mr. HARRISON, the resolution heretofore submitted by him in relation to making the treasury notes of the Confederate States a legal tender, and to that end looking to an amendment of the constitution of the Confederate States, was taken up.

Mr. HARRISON moved to amend the resolution, by striking out the entire resolution, and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

"Resolved, that in the opinion of the general assembly of Virginia, the congress of the Confederate States have the power, and should

at once make the notes issued by the Confederate States a legal tender in payment of debts; and our senators are instructed and our representatives are requested to procure the passage of a law to that effect."

And the question being on agreeing thereto, Mr. HUNTER moved that the resolution and pending amendment be referred to a select committee of seven members; which was agreed to.

The SPEAKER announced the following committee under the motion: Messrs. Harrison, Hunter, Anderson of Botetourt, Bouldin, Robertson, Forbes and Burks.

The SPEAKER announced that the following newly elected members were assigned to committees as follows: Mr. Marye, to the committee on finance and the library; Mr. Powell, to the committee on military affairs and finance; Mr. Fry, to the committee for courts of justice and of claims; and Mr. Fulton, to the committee of roads and internal navigation and on lunatic asylums.

On motion of Mr. WYNNE,

Resolved, that a special committee be appointed to enquire into the expediency of amending chapter of the Code of 1849, relating to public health.

The SPEAKER announced the following committee under the resolution: Messrs. Wynne, Gilmer, Hopkins, Rives and Marye.

On motion of Mr. BURKS,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of amending the 11th section of the 29th chapter of the Code of Virginia, edition of 1860, in such manner as to confine the exemption therein provided, to actions upon contracts, and to render the said exemption more effectual.

On motion of Mr. WORSHAM,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of exempting, from seizure or sale under execution, one slave in every family.

On motion of Mr. BooTON,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice be instructed to enquire into the propriety of so amending the existing laws of the state, subjecting free negroes to confinement in the penitentiary for certain offences, as to subject them to sale for a term of years or for life.

Ón motion of Mr. WILSON,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of so amending chapter 128 of the Code of Virginia of 1860, as to relieve guardians or other persons from the payment of interest or principal due by any guardian or other person acting as guardian, at the end of any year, which ought to have been invested or loaned out, and cannot be except at reduced rates, within a reasonable time, for the benefit of the ward, and which remains in the hands of such guardian or other person.

No. 27. A bill to suppress extortion, was taken up, on motion of Mr. HOPKINS, and recommitted to the committee on that subject.

On motion of Mr. HOPKINS, the committee was enlarged by the addition of five members.

The SPEAKER announced the following gentlemen as added to the committee: Messrs. Rives, Powell, West, Wilson of Isle of Wight, and Rowan.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the governor, in response to a resolution of the house as to the strength of the state line, the number subject to conscription, and the expenses attending the same; which was read, and on motion of Mr. ANDERSON of Botetourt, referred to the committee on military affairs.

Mr. MAGRUDER Submitted the following preamble and resolution; and the question being on agreeing thereto, was put, and decided in the affirmative:

Whereas it has been represented that the slaves impressed for the confederate government, pursuant to the act of the general assembly, passed in October last, are not provided with sufficient and proper food, although that act expressly requires they should be furnished with soldiers' rations:

Resolved, that the governor be requested to enquire into the facts, and make such representations to the proper officers of the confederate government as will procure prompt and effectual relief.

On motion of Mr. RIVES,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as relates to the prisoners captured by the Virginia state line, be referred to the committee on military affairs.

On motion of Mr. MALLORY,

Resolved, that the committee on finance enquire into the expediency of paying to Charles Turnbull, sheriff of Brunswick county, commissions on the increased amount of taxes.

On motion of Mr. KAUFMAN,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as relates to free negroes and slaves, be referred to a select committee of five members, with instructions to report by bill or otherwise.

On motion of Mr. MARYE,

Resolved, that the committee on finance be instructed to enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill providing for the relief of the inhabitants of the town of Fredericksburg from, all state taxes, for the year 1862, upon real property, and upon such slaves and other personalty as may have been abducted or destroyed by the public enemy; and for a like relief to the inhabitants of Spotsylvania county from all such taxes upon personal property so abducted or destroyed.

Mr. ANDERSON of Rockbridge submitted the following joint resolution :

Resolved, that a committee of nine on the part of the house, and five on the part of the senate, be appointed to consider the expediency of removing the present session of the legislature from the capital; and the question being on agreeing thereto, was put, and decided in the negative.

No. 20. An engrossed bill for the relief of the securities of William

Paris, late sheriff of Appomattox, was taken up, read a third time, and on motion of Mr. FLOOD, recommitted to the committee on finance.

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

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1863.

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

The SPEAKER announced the following committee under the resolution adopted on yesterday in reference to free negroes: Messrs. Kaufman, Woolfolk, Riddick, Prince and Shannon.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the governor, enclosing a letter from the governor of Alabama, in relation to rail road transportation; and also a resolution adopted by the general assembly of Alabama, on the same subject; which were read, and on motion of Mr. JONES, laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Doc. No. 11.

On motion of Mr. WEST,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of so amending an act to further provide for the public · defence, passed October 31, 1862, as to increase the compensation to owners of slaves employed in the service of the Confederate States, and pay full value for all such slaves as may die while in the service aforesaid, whether through neglect or not, provided they were sound at the time they were received by the confederate authorities. On motion of Mr. FLEMING,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as refers to magistrates and other county officers who have taken the oath of allegiance to the United States government, be referred to the committee for courts of justice.

Mr. BURKS submitted the following preamble and resolution; and the question being on agreeing thereto, was put, and decided in the affirmative:

Whereas the general assembly, by joint resolution adopted on the 19th day of May 1862, declared "that it is the sacred and patriotic duty of every good citizen of the Confederate States, not under duress of the enemy, to receive in his business transactions the notes of the Confederate States; and to refuse to receive them must depreciate their credit, and will tend to deprive the confederate government of the means of defending our liberty and independence; and such conduct cannot be too strongly denounced as most effectually affording aid and comfort to the public enemy:" Therefore,

Resolved, that the special committee appointed to consider the resolution touching the legal tender of confederate notes, enquire into the expediency of punishing, by suitable penalties, any citizen of the commonwealth who shall refuse to receive the treasury notes

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