Alexandria Gazette

LEGISLATIVE.

In the Virginia Senate, when the resolution for the removal of Judge Stevens came up, Mr. Smith, without any remarks, presented Judge Stevens' demurrer. Mr. Marshall demanded the previous question, which was ordered; and being taken, the House resolution was adopted by the following vote:

Ayes.-Messrs. Beazley, Bland, Clark, Claughton, Cochran, Critcher, Daniel, Dunfield, Eastham, Elliott, Eubank, Finney, Gayle, Greever, Grisley, Hairston, Herndon, Hinton, Hurt, Johnson, Lawson, Marshall, Newberry, Nunn, Peño, Powell, Quesenberry, Sinclair, Stew, Spitler, Tanner, Ward, Wood, and Wortham-34

Noes.-Messrs. Allan and Stevens-2.

Absent or not voting.-Messrs. Dawson, Dickenson, Lathrop, Maddox, Moffett, Smith, and Terry-7.

Before the vote was announced, Mr. Smith asked that he be excused from voting, and said: "It is well known to this body that I am not in the habit of shirking any representative duty, especially on a grave question like the one now pending, and an explanation from me is due to the Senate, my constituents, and myself. Before this unfortunate affair had become public I advised Judge Stevens to resign, being assured from newspaper reporters of this city and other places that if it were done, so far as they were concerned, there the matter should end. On account of such advice Judge Stevens has been offended, and for that and other reasons has quit speaking to me. Therefore, delicately situated as I am, if I should vote against the removal Judge Stevens might misconstrue my motive, and if I were to vote for it his (Stevens') personal friends and relatives in Nelson and elsewhere might impute to me resentful and improper reasons for such a course. This personal feature of the matter is the sole reason I do not care to vote, and I have not said and never shall say how I would have voted."

Mr. Hinton subsequently presented a joint resolution for the election of a judge to fill the vacancy occasioned by the removal of Judge Stevens on the 27th of March at 1 o'clock p. m.

The Senate bill to provide for a separate vote on the amendments to the Constitution, was passed by the following vote:

Ayes.-Messrs. Bland, Claughton, Cochran, Dunfield, Elliott, Finney, Greever, Grisley, Hinton, Hurt, Lawson, Marshall, Newberry, Nunn, Peño, Quesenberry, Sinclair, Stew, Smith, Spitler, Tanner, Wood, and Wortham-23.

Noes.-Messrs. Beazley, Clark, Critcher, Daniel, Dawson, Eastham, Eubank, Hairston, Herndon, Johnson, and Powell-11.

In the House of Delegates a bill has been passed to authorize the trustees of the Front Royal Academy to appropriate the fund arising from the sale of said academy to the erection of a public free school building at Front Royal.

The House bill to provide for the payment of chemists and experts for their services in the case of the Commonwealth against Lloyd, of Loudoun county, was rejected.

A bill was passed for the relief of J. H. Nelson, administrator of William M. Hume, deceased, late Sheriff of Fauquier county; also for the relief of the sureties of S. F. G. Beale, late Treasurer of Fauquier county.

In the Senate, on Saturday, the report on the Second Auditor's office and Register of General Land office was returned. Passed bills: For the relief of J. H. Nelson, of Fauquier; amending the charter of Lebanon, Nelson county; concerning Board of Visitors of Blacksburg College and curators of Hampton Academy; dividing counties into magisterial districts; extending corporate limits of Bowling Green, Caroline county; distributing proceeds of sale of Front Royal Academy; for the relief of Beale, late Sheriff of Fauquier; for the relief of Phillips, late Treasurer of Surry county. Mr. Hinton offered a resolution requesting the clerk of the Senate to furnish a copy of the statement of Senators who voted for the removal of Judge George S. Stevens, giving their reasons for such action. Mr. Johnson, of Richmond, opposed, and Mr. Allan, of Farmville, advocated the resolution, insisting that it was the right of Judge Stevens to claim that much at the hands of the Senate. Rejected. House bill in relation to compensation of county treasurers, was passed.

The bill to incorporate the Jennings Association, was passed.

In the House of Delegates, a joint resolution was offered, requesting the Auditor of Public Accounts to set apart public free school funds. Senate bill appropriating the public revenue for 1876, was debated and passed.

The House agreed to the Senate resolution to elect a Judge of the County Court of Nelson on March 27th.

The bill for the repeal of the charter of the Southern Association for the relief of the Widows and Orphans of the South, reported from the committee, with a recommendation that it do not pass, was ordered to its engrossment and third reading.

The Senate bill to incorporate the Alexandria Abattoir Company, was passed.

A bill was passed to define the corporate rights, &c., of the Potomac, Fredericksburg and Piedmont Railroad Company; also to incorporate the Orange Courthouse and Harrisonburg Railroad Company; also House bill to provide for a special election of a Commonwealth's Attorney for Prince William county.