of the State of West Virginia
(Wheeling: John F. M'Dermot, Public Printer, 1863)
[Received joint resolution from Senate about appointing committee to investigate Weston Lunatic Asylum construction and finances, ordered to committee measure to adjust Mercer County border, forfeiture of lands belonging to enemies of the state]
TUESDAY, July 14, 1863.
Prayer by Rev. Joseph Teter, jr., member of the House.
House Bill No. 27, entitled "A Bill providing for and regulating township meetings and elections," on its second reading, was taken up, read the second time, and on motion of Mr. Van Winkle, laid upon the table.
On motion of the same gentleman,
House Bill No. 26, entitled "A Bill defining in part, the powers and duties of townships," on its second reading, was taken up and read the second time.
On motion of Mr. Ruffner, the bill was amended by filling the blank in the fortieth line with the word "five;" and further amended on motion of the same gentleman, by filling the blank in the forty-fifth line with the same word; and still further amended on motion of the same gentleman, by filling the blank in the forty-eighth line with the word "ten."
On motion of Mr. Lamb, the bill was further amended by filling the blank in the fifty-third line with the word "five."
The bill was then ordered to engrossment and third reading.
A message from the Senate announced the passage by that body of the following joint resolution, and asked concurrence therein:
Resolved , That with the consent of the House, a committee of two from the House and one from the Senate, shall be appointed to inquire into and report the progress made in the construction of the Lunatic Asylum at Weston; how soon the same or any part thereof, will be ready for use or occupancy; the character of the work done; the amount already expended in the construction of said Asylum; what balance (if any) of the appropriations heretofore made is unexpended. If the committee cannot otherwise procure the information desired, it is hereby instructed to go to Weston, and inspect said work, and examine the accounts and vouchers of expenditures.
On motion of Mr. Ruffner, the resolution was laid upon the table.
On motion of Mr. Dunbar,
Ordered, That the committee on Counties, Townships, &c., be requested to inquire into the expediency of reported a bill or otherwise changing the boundary line of Raleigh county so as to include that part of Mercer known as the Madam's Creek Precinct.
On motion of Mr. Barns,
Ordered, That the committee on the Judiciary, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the law on the subject of "money and interest" comprised in the one hundred and forty-first chapter of the Code of Virginia, so as to admit of a higher rate of interest than six per cent., to be charged on special contract.
On motion of Mr. Bee,
Ordered, That the committee on the Judiciary, be requested to inquire into the expediency of providing by law, for the forfeiture of the estates of all persons who may hereafter engage in levying war against the State of West Virginia, or who shall adhere to her enemies or give them aid and comfort; also, of all persons who may attempt to overthrow her State government or to establish or sustain by force, any other government, with intent to usurp the power and authority of the said State, or shall by writing or speaking endeavor to incite or instigate others to overthrow and usurp the power and authority of the government of the said State, and establish any other government over it; also, of all persons, who after the nineteenth day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, shall have abandoned their homes in West Virginia and gone into any of the insurrectionary states or part of states, being enemies of the State of West Virginia, and sympathisers with the so-called Southern Confederacy, and shall remain absent from their homes for the space of sixty days after the passage of the law creating such forfeiture; and also of all persons, who after the period last aforesaid, shall abandon their homes as aforesaid, as enemies and sympathizers, and shall remain absent until the institution of proceedings to consummate such forfeiture; which committee shall report their conclusions to this House by bill or otherwise.
On motion the House adjourned.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: July 1863