The Daily State Journal

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
SATURDAY, February 28.
Senate.--This body met at 12 o'clock.
Mr. President in the chair. Prayer by
the Rev. Mr. Lumpkin.
Reported from committees: Resolu-
tion requiring the committee on courts to re-
port upon the legal obligations, duties, and
powers of the Atlantic, Mississippi and
Ohio railroad, and what interest the state
has therein, was reported back with the
recommendation that it be referred to com-
mittee on roads, &c.
The same committee reported it inex-
pedient to legislate on the bill in relation
to juries, and presented bill authorizing
the school trustees of King and Queen to
sell the Smithfield tract of land; com-
mittee on laws reported bill for the inspec-
tion of steam boilers in this state.
Introduced and referred :
By Mr. Graham-Bill to repeal all laws
which provide for the punishment of citi-
zens of the commonwealth by stripes.
By Mr. Massey-Bill to authorize the
Bessemer company of New Jersey to hold
real estate and to transact business in
Virginia.
By Mr. Nowlin-Bill for the relief of
sheriffs or other officers whose official pa-
pers were lost or destroyed by fire during
the war.
By Mr. Lackland-Resolution of enquiry
in reference to amending the law in rela-
tion to the issuance of marriage licenses,
providing that the senior justice of a coun-
ty shall issue the same when the clerk's
office is vacant.
The committee of conference have failed
to agree on Senate bill regulating and de-
fininf the jurisdiction of the county and cir-
cuit courts, prescribing the terms of cir-
cuit courts, and fixing the pay of county
judges.
A number of bills were ordered to be
engrossed and read a third time.
Bill making an additional appropriation
to the Eastern Lunatic asylum, and bill
providing for the establishment of the
Southern Lunatic asylum. were made the
order of the day for Wednesday, March
4th. at one o'clock.
Adjourned.
House.-Called to order at 12 o'clock
by Speaker Hanger. Prayer by Rev. J.
Wm. Jones.
A message was received from the Sen-
ate, communicating the passage of sundry
bills, resolutions, etc., which were read
and placed on the calendar.
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Gilman,
Loving, Richmond, Moore and Thomas
the committee on the part of the House,
under resolution for the appointment of a
joint committee to confer with the author-
ities of the city of Richmond as to the
erection of a building for the use of the
supreme court of appeals, the city courts,
etc.
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Popham,
Montague and Alexander as the com-
mittee under a resolution of the House to
investigate cases of sale, transfer and
settlement of the assets of the state in
works of internal improvement.
The House resumed the consideration
of the unfinished business, being the bill
to provide a new charter for the town of
Petersburg, which was opposed by Mr.
Van Auken, of Sussex, in a vigorous and
determined effort of several hours' dura-
tion. He was replied to by Mr. Hunter,
of Winchester.
A vote was taken on the amendment of-
fered by Mr. Round to substitute the
"governor" for the "judge" and rejected,
and the bill ordered to its engrossment by
a vote of nearly three to one.
Adjourned.