Alexandria Gazette

Virginia Legislature.

In the Senate, on Saturday, Mr. Shackelford from the committee of General Laws, reported a bill to amend an act passed February 17, 1845, entitled an act to establish a system of free schools in the county of Norfolk, and that the committee ask to be discharged from the further consideration of resolutions requiring the County Courts to levy taxes upon the ad valorem principle, for the purpose of keeping in repair the county roads; allowing charters of incorporated companies to be altered or modified at the pleasure of the General Assembly unless otherwise expressly provided by law; appropriating the whole amount of money arising from the capitation tax upon the white male inhabitants of this commonwealth in aid of the literary fund for the education of poor and indigent children; and two others, providing for a system of common schools throughout the State.

On motion of Mr. Martin—Resolved, That a select committee of seven be appointed by the President of the Senate, to take into consideration the propriety of reporting a general free banking law, to take the place of the present system of special charters. [Committee—Messrs. Martin, Brent, Mason, Parker, Shands, Saunders and Barnett.]

On motion of Mr. Thomas—Resolved, That the Second Auditor be requested to furnish the Senate with the amount which the Board of Public Works may be called upon to subscribe to the various railroad companies of the State, where part of their capital stock has been raised and expended, and the remaining subscription of stock, on the part of others than the Commonwealth, has not been obtained.

Mr. Stovall called for the order of the day—the bill providing for the election and qualification of clerks of Circuit and County Courts, attorneys for the commonwealth, sheriffs, commissioners of the revenue, and surveyors. The bill was amended in many particulars but without concluding.

On motion of Mr. Stuart, the Senate adjourned—ayes 20, noes 12.

In the House of Delegates, on motion of Mr. Tomlin—the bill authorizing the people of Fredericksburg to elect a Mayor and other officers, was taken up: read first and second time (two thirds of the House voting according to the Constitution, for the 2d reading on the same day,) and ordered to be committed to the committee which brought it in.

Mr. Tomlin—Presented a substitute for the bill incorporating the Virginia Agricultural Society. Ordered to be printed.

By Mr. Stevens—That the committee of Courts, &c. enquire into the expediency of amending 31st section of the 52d chapter of the Code.

By Mr. Bowden—That the committee on Finance enquire into the propriety of abolishing the tax on law process, commonly called writ tax, in plain actions of debt, the tax on trust deeds and releasement thereof, being, under the new Constitution, at war with the ad valorem system; and, also, if a tax of the kind aforesaid is to continue, to enquire into the propriety of requiring the Commissioner of the Revenue to ascertain from the individuals of his District the amount of debt or debts put in suit against him or them, and to graduate the tax according to the amount of the debt, and so charge the same on his books.

On motion of Mr. Robinson of Richmond, the House took up the bill providing for the commencement of the official term of the Judges under the amended Constitution, and providing for their election by the voters, together with amendments made by the Committee.

Blanks were filled, and the bill ordered to be engrossed.

The House resumed the consideration of the bill concerning the Commissioners of the Revenue.

Mr. Price moved to strike out the 15th of May as the time at which Commissioners of the Revenue shall be required to make their return of lists of property—Rejected. Ayes 52, noes 65.

An amendment of Mr. Goode, of Mecklenburg, striking out in the 10th section from the beginning to the word 'may' inclusive in the 3d line, and inserting, "The Commissioners of each district shall, on or before the 15th of May next, return to the Auditor of Public Accounts, a summary of his lists duly authenticated according to forms (including paper to be furnished to him by said officer,)" was adopted.

The bill as heretofore amended, contained the following clause; "the head of each family shall be entitled to hold, exempt from taxation, neat cattle, hogs and sheep, of the aggregate value of one hundred dollars."

Mr. Russell moved to amend the same by adding—“or in lieu thereof, an equal amount of any personal property not otherwise exempted from taxation." He urged his amendment on the ground of producing equality: there was a large class of the community of limited means, who had no cattle.

The roll being called, the amendment was adopted—ayes 94, noes 34.

Mr. Tomlin moved to strike out the whole section as amended, and insert in lieu thereof: "Taxable personal property, to the aggregate value of one hundred dollars, in the hands of each citizen, shall be exempt from taxation."

Mr. Scott, of Fauquier, demanded a division of the question.

Mr. Patrick, of King George, moved as a substitute for the whole, the following; "Heads of families owning less than $100 worth of property in the aggregate, shall not be taxed on such property."

Pending this motion, the House adjourned