WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1863.
The House met according to adjournment.
Prayer by Rev. Samuel Barnes.
Minutes read and approved.
The Speaker laid before the House a communication from the Auditor, relative to the transfer of books and papers to the Auditor of Virginia; also a communication from the Auditor of Virginia respecting the same.
A communication from the Senate transmitted the following joint resoluton, which was adopted:
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, That his Excellency Governor Boreman, be requested to address a letter to the Governors of the several loyal States, asking them to furnish for the use of the State of West Virginia, a copy of the statutes of their several States.
Mr. Van Winkle offered the following, which, on motion of Mr. Lamb, was laid on the table:
Resolved, the Senate concurring, That the communication of the Auditor just received, be referred to the Governor with authority to take such steps in the premises as he may think proper.
The Speaker then announced the standing committees as follows:
Committee on Elections and Privileges - Messrs. Crothers, Teter of Barbour, Rader, Fleming, and Wheat.
On Taxation and Finance - Messrs. Ruffner, Goff, Shriver, McGrew, and Keeney.
On Military Affairs - Messrs. Kramer, Crawford, Crothers, Boggs, and Teter of Upshur.
On the Judiciary - Messrs. Lamb, McGrew, Kramer, Van Winkle, and Zinn.
On Education - Messrs. Ross, Dawson, Bowyer, Sweeney, and Copley.
On Counties, Townships, and Municipal Corporations - Messrs. Van Winkle, Lamb, Lough, Ruffner, and Fleming.
On Private, Corporations and Joint Stock Companies - Messrs. Davidson, Holman, Shriver, Keeney, and McWhorter.
On Roads and Internal Navigation - Messrs. Bowyer, Barns, Crooks, Lough, and Bumgarner.
On Forfeited and Unappropriated Lands - Messrs. McGrew, Forster, Kittle, McWhorter, and Wright.
On Claims and Grievances - Messrs. Zinn, Bee, Robinson, Griffin, and Dunbar.
On Humane and Criminal Institutions - Messrs. Hale, Crawford, Hinchman, Hagar, and Barrick.
On Printing and Contingent Expenses - Messrs. Goff, Dunn, Sheets, Mann, and Sutton.
On Executive Offices - Messrs. Ballard, Wiant, Turner, Little, and Michael.
On Enrolled Bills - Messrs. Holman, and Dawson, (on part of House.)
House Bill No. 1, entitled "An Act relating to the powers and duties of the Recorder," on its third reading, was taken up.
Mr. Lamb moved to amend by inserting as an independent section, after the first, the following:
"2. The parties in charge thereof, shall deliver to the Recorder of the proper county, the books of records of deeds, contracts, powers of attorney, wills inventories, and other writings, and the books in which judgments, decrees, and bonds and recognizances having the force of judgments, lis pendens, and attachments, are entered or docketed, and all other books and papers relating to the duties of his office."
The amendment was adopted, and the bill ordered to engrossment.
House Bill No. 2, entitled "An Act concerning oaths and affirmations," was taken up on its second reading, read a second time, and orderd to engrossment.
House Bill No. 3, entitled "An Act relating to official Bonds," was taken up on its second reading and read the second time.
Mr. Crothers moved to amend in the 66th line by striking out the word "fifty" and substituting "twenty-five;" which was agreed to.
Mr. Lamb moved to amend in the 54th line by filling the blank with "three thousand dollars;" and in the 55th line by filling the blank with "ten thousand dollars;" both of which amendments were adopted.
Mr. Van Winkle moved, and it was agreed to, to amend by adding to the fifth section: "during his tem and until his successor is elected or appointed, and qualified."
Mr. McGrew moved, and it was agreed to, to amend in the 38th line by striking out "thirty" and substituting "twenty."
The bill was then ordered to engrossment.
House Bill No. 4, entitled "A Bill in relation to the taxes for the year 1863, assessed within the several counties, under the laws of the State of Virginia," was taken up on its second reading and read the second time, after a motion by Mr. Van Winkle had prevailed, reconsidering the vote by which it was on yesterday referred to the committee on Finance and Taxation. Mr. Lamb moved to amend in the 6th line by inserting after "elected," "and qualified;" and the amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Wheat moved, and it was agreed to, to amend in the 15th line by inserting after "elected," "and qualied."
Mr. McWhorter offered the following, which was adopted, to come in as the third section:
"3. That the Sheriffs elected and qualified under the constitution of this State and the ordinances of the late Constitutional Convention, of those counties in which the taxes for the years 1861-2, in whole or in part, have not been collected, and where the commissioners' books have not been placed in the hands of a collecting officer, proceed to collect and account for the taxes for the years 1861-2."
The bill was ordered to engrossment.
The order of the date, it being the joint resolution of the Senate asking the extension of the Department of the Monongahela, so as to embrace all West Virginia, was taken up.
Mr. Kramer offered the following substitute, which was adopted.
Resolved, That in the opinion of the Legislature of West Virginia, the military interests of the United States and of this State will be best promoted by erecting West Virginia and the adjutant territory of Kentucky into a separate military department.
Resolved, That such department can be effectively and economically defended by the troops heretofore raised and to be raised therein.
Resolved, That the Governor be requested to open a correspondence with the President, upon the subject indicated in the foregoing resolutions.
Mr. Dawson presented the petition of J. H. Diss Debar, contesting the seat of Ephraim Bee, sitting member from the county of Doddridge.
Mr. Van Winkle offered the following, which was laid over.
Resolved, That the parts of the Constitution hereinafter designated, be referred to the following committees, with instructions to report bills carrying the same into effect:
1. The last clause of the fourth and tenth sections of Article II, to the Committee of the Judiciary. 2. So much of the same article as relates to crimes, misdemeanors and criminal prosecutions, not already provided for by existing laws, to the same committee.
3. Articles III and V, to the Committee on Elections and Privileges.
4. Article VI, and so much of Article VII, as relates to civil and criminal jurisdiction and powers of justices and constables, to the Committee on the Judiciary.
5. The residue of Article VII, to the Committee on Counties, Townships, &c.
6. Article VIII, to the Committee on Taxation and Finance.
7. Article IX, to the Committee on Forfeited and Unappropriated Lands.
8. Article X, to the Committee on Education.
9. The fifth section of Article XI, to the Committee on Private Incorporations and Joint Stock Companies.
10. The eighth and ninth sections of Article XI, to the Committee on the Judiciary.
A communication from the Senate announced the passage of the following resoluction, and requested concurrence therein:
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, That a joint committee by appointed, consisting of two members of the Senate and three members of the House of Delegates, with authority to determine what books and papers in the late Auditor's office of the State of Virginia, belong to the said State, and should be delivered over to the Auditor thereof; and that the said Committee make report to the Legislature.
Resolved, further, That said committee be directed to ascertain and adjust the amount coming to this State under the act of February 4th, 1863, passed by the General Assembly of Virginia, entitled "An Act making an appropriation to the proposed State of West Virginia, &c.," and to cause the said moneys to be passed to the credit of the Treasury of this State; and make report to this Legislature.
Mr. Van Winkle moved the following as a substitute for the first of the foregoing resolutions:
Resolved, the Senate concurring, That the communication of ths Auditor be referred to the Governor with authority to take such steps in the premises as he may deem proper.
The substitute was adopted.
On motion of Mr. Van Winkle, the second of the foregoing resolutions was laid on the table.
Mr. Van Winkle offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the committee on Printing, &c., inquire into the propriety of an official publication of the Acts of the Legislature, in all or some of the newspapers printed within the State, immediately after their passage, and report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Ross asked and obtained leave of absence for Mr. Holman.
On motion of Mr. McGrew, the House adjourned.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: June 1863