of the State of West Virginia
(Wheeling: John F. M'Dermot, Public Printer, 1863)
Monday, July 20th, 1863
Prayer by Rev. Mr. Blakeney.
The Journal was read and approved.
A message was received from the House of Delegates, by the Clerk, informing the Senate that the house on Saturday had concurred in the joint resolution of the Senate appointing a joint committee to divide the State into Congressional districts, with the following amendment: Insert "ten" instead of "nine" as the committee on the part of the House.
Also, that the House had concurred in the amendment of the Senate to the House joint resolution relative to the election of United States Senators, with this amendment: Strike out "6th" (of August) and insert "5th" (of August).
Also, that the House had passed
House Bill No. 30, "A Bill to provide for the trial of offences committed in counties in which the administration of justice may be interrupted by war or insurrection." in all of which they ask concurrence.
On motion of Mr. Brown, the Senate took up the resolution in relation to dividing the State into Congressional districts, and concurred in the amendment adopted by the House.
Ordered, That the Clerk inform the House of Delegates thereof.
On motion of Mr. Carskadon, the Senate took up the resolution upon the subject of electing United States Senators, and refused to concur in the House amendment fixing the 5th of August instead of the 6th of August as the day of election.
The Senate then reconsidered its vote fixing the 6th of August, and substituted "Tuesday, the 4th of August," in lieu of "Thursday, the 6th of August."
Ordered, That Mr. Mahon inform the House of Delegates thereof, and ask their concurrence.
The following is the vote fixing the 4th of August:
Yeas - Messrs. Bechtol, Brown, Bunker, Carskadon, Copley, Hawkins, Haymond, Mahon, Maxwell, and Rollyson - 10.
Nays - Messrs. Phelps, (President,) Bowen, Farnsworth, Hubbard, Slack, Stevenson, and Young - 7.
On motion of Mr. Maxwell,
House Bill No. 30 "A Bill to provide for the trial of offences committed in counties in which the administration of justice may be interrupted by war or insurrection," was read the first time and laid on the table.
Mr. Maxwell, from the committee on Courts of Justice and General Laws, reported back the following bill, with a recommendation that it pass:
House Bill No. 21,"A Bill defining the jurisdiction and powers of the Supreme Court of Appeals and the Judges thereof," which was read the third time and passed with its title:
Yeas - Messrs. Phelps, (President,) Bechtol, Bowen, Brown, Bunker, Carskadon, Copley, Farnsworth, Hawkins, Haymond, Hubbard, Mahon, Maxwell, Rollyson, Slack, Stevenson, and Young - 17.
Nays - None.
Ordered, That the Clerk inform the House of Delegates thereof.
On motion of Mr. Bunker,
House Bill No. 20, "A Bill to authorize the payment of outstanding claims for the tuition of indigent children," was taken up, read the third time and passed with its title:
Yeas - Messrs. Phelps, (President,) Bechtol, Bowen, Brown, Bunker, Carskadon, Copley, Farnsworth, Hawkins, Haymond, Hubbard, Mahon, Maxwell, Rollyson, Slack, Stevenson, and Young - 17.
Nays - None.
Ordered, That the Clerk inform the House of Delegates thereof.
Mr. Stevenson, from the committee on Township, &c., reported the following bill, which was read the first time and ordered to be printed:
Senate Bill No. 10, "A Bill prescribing, in part, the duties of supervisors."
On motion of Mr. Maxwell,
Senate Bill No. 8, "A Bill allowing further time to officers now elected, in which to qualify and give bond," was taken up and ordered to be engrossed, and being forthwith engrossed, it was read the third time, and passed with its title:
Yeas - Messrs. Phelps, (President,) Bechtol, Bowen, Brown, Bunker, Carskadon, Copley, Farnsworth, Hawkins,Haymond, Hubbard, Mahon, Maxwell,Rollyson, Slack, Stevenson, and Young - 17.
Nays - None.
Ordered, That the Clerk inform the House of Delegates thereof, and ask concurrence.
House Bill No. 24, "A Bill for the relief of Milton Wells," was taken up, but subsequently laid on the table.
Mr. Bunker offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate be, and is hereby instructed to have three hundred copies of the Acts that have been passed (except No.'s 1, 2, 3, and 4, House Bills,) printed for the use of the Senate.
Mr. Maxwell moved to amend the said resolution, by striking out "three hundred" and inserting "two hundred," which was agreed to.
The resolution as amended, was then adopted.
On motion of Mr. Stevenson,
Resolved, That the committee on Privileges and Elections be requested to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for a general election law.
On motion of Mr. Bowen,
Resolved, That the committee on Elections, be requested to inquire into the expediency of adopting a form for poll books of elections in this State, and that they report said form by bill or otherwise.
On motion of Mr. Stevenson,
Senate Bill No. 5, "A Bill relating to townships and township officers," was taken up.
On motion of Mr. Brown, the ninth section was amended by inserting in the ninety-fourth line after the word "first" the words "and thirteenth."
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed and read the third time.
On motion of Mr. Stevenson,
House Bill No. 5, "A Bill to provide for the division into townships of the several counties in the State," was taken up.
The question being upon the amendment of Mr. Atkinson to strike out of the first section, as amended, the words "either by adopting or altering the present magisterial districts as they may deem proper,"
Mr. Stevenson moved that the amendment be amended by adding after the word "altering" the words "increasing or diminishing the number."
The amendment to the amendment was adopted, but the amendment was rejected.
The bill was then laid on the table.
And on motion of Mr. Brown, the Senate adjourned.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: July 1863