Speaker Hanger in the chair.
Prayer by rev. W. A. Campbell, of the Manchester Presbyterian church.
Bills, &c., reported and placed on the calendar.
Senate bills authorizing Stephen Bond, late sheriff of Carroll county, to collect taxes advanced and paid into the treasury by him, which were assessed in 1869; to incorporate the Bridgewater and Rawley Springs Turnpike Company; to incorporate the Bridgewater and Mount Crawford Turnpike Company. House bills to incorporate the James River and Surry County Railroad Company; for the relief of the sureties of Benjamin Robinson, late sheriff of Greene county; to amend the law in regard to abandoned turnpikes.
Contested Elections.
The Committee on Privileges and Elections presented a report reviewing the testimony in the Goochland contested election case, and concluding with a resolution declaring that Henry Turpin (Republican), the sitting member, is entitled to the seat from Goochland. The report was agreed to.
The report of the same committee in the Lunenburg election case came up as unfinished business, the question being upon agreement to the minority report, which declares G. M. Jennings (Republican) entitled to the seat. After remarks in opposition thereto by Messrs. Critz and Daniel, the report was rejected.
The majority report, which declares the election illegal and void, was then agreed to—yeas, 82; nays, 27.
Internal Improvements.
On motion of Mr. Walker, Senate bill repealing the 8th section of the act directing the Board of Public Works to sell the State’s interest in the various internal improvement companies of the Commonwealth was taken up under a suspension of the rules. After considerable debate, a motion to recommit the bill (made by Mr. Kincheloe.) was lost.
The bill was then passed. (If this bill is approved by the Governor, the proposed sale on the 5th of February will be postponed.)
Educational Land Scrip.
The bill for the distribution of the proceeds of the sale of the educational land scrip came up as the continuing special order.
Mr. Brooke offered the following under a suspension of the rules:
“Resolved, That the following plan for settling all questions connected with the land scrip fund now pending in this house be, and is hereby, agreed to: The roll shall be called, and each member, as his name is called, shall indicate his preference for one of the schemes which have been submitted. The proposition or scheme receiving the least number of votes shall be dropped, and the process continued in like manner until but one shall remain, which then stands for the adoption of rejection of the House, in the consideration and decision of which no proposition or scheme so dropped shall be renewed.”
The proposition was rejected:
The consideration of the bill was then resumed, the question being upon the adoption of Mr. Gilman’s substitute, which divides the fund between Richmond College, Hampden Sydney, and the Hampton School.
Mr. Fitzgerald moved to amend the substitute by striking out Hampden Sydney and inserting Roanoke College , and forcibly presented the claims of the last-named institution.
Mr. Bagwell proposed to strike out Richmond College and insert Margaret Academy, in the county of Accomac.
Mr. Stovall spoke earnestly in favor of Richmond College and Hampden Sydney.
Mr. William Gilliam was particularly anxious that the colored people should not be overlooked in the distribution.
Mr. Bagwell’s amendment was rejected, receiving only two votes.
The amendment of Mr. Fitzgerald (in favor of Roanoke College) was agreed to—yeas, 55; nays, 53.
Mr. Hill moved to amend by striking out Richmond College and Roanoke College.
The amendment was rejected—yeas, 52; nays, 57; and a motion to reconsider was lost.
Bills, &c., Presented and Referred.
By Mr. R. S. Jones : Resolution as to the expediency of reducing the official bonds of township collectors.
By Mr. McMullan : Joint resolution authorizing the employment of counsel to assist the Attorney-General to defend the interest of the Commonwealth in contesting the constitutionality of the coupon feature of the funding bill.
By Mr. Bagwell: Referring so much of the message of the Governor as refers to the boundary line between Maryland and Virginia to a special committee.
By Mr. Head: Bill to take the sense of the qualified voters of the Commonwealth on the ratification or rejection of the amendment to the Constitution in respect to usury.
By Mr. Robertson: Petition of James E. Moore praying for compensation for services as commissioner of the revenue for Pocahontas county[/future] in 1861.
By Mr. Coghill: Bill for the relief of John M. Chapman and Thomas T. Slaughter.
By Mr. Lewis: Petition of citizens of Prince William county for removal of the court-house.
On motion of Mr. Strother, the House adjourned.
