Messrs. HAYMOND of Marion and MAGRUDER of Albemarle were appointed a committee to inform him of his election and conduct him to his seat.

The house then proceeded to the election of a Speaker; and thereupon Mr. ROBERTSON nominated Hugh W. Sheffey of Augusta; and the roll was then called with the following result:

For H. W. Sheffey—Messrs. Parramore, Magruder, Branch, Bryan, Flood, McCue, Walker, W. Johnson, Burwell, R. W. Hunter, Nighbert, James, L. D. Haymond, N. W. White, Meade, Deane, Marr, Butler, Bowles, Bouldin, Ambers, Rixey, Irving, Worsham, Huntt, Brooke, R. E. Nelson, F. Saunders, Patterson, Kaufman, Ward, A. Fry, Jones, Dickey, Mathews, Woolfolk, Lundy, Barksdale, Monroe, Hiett, Williams, Lurty, Holden, English, Mullens, Fleming, J. L. Wilson, Duval, Melvin, Burnett, Hendrick, Tomlin, Lynch, Winston, Winn, T. S. Haymond, Morgan, Hoge, Richardson, Evans, Stewart, Rowan, Lively, Douthat, Riddick, Shelton, Baker, Murdaugh, S. M. Wilson, Scott, Pendleton, Edwards, Hughes, Rust, Staples, E. S. Saunders, Keiley, Buford, Gilmer, Tibbs, McNeil, T. W. Taylor, Cowan, Cresap, Coke, Draper, Herndon, Crawford, Fletcher, Robertson, Burr, D. J. Saunders, Deyerle, Reid, R. J. White, Harris, Walker, Kenney, Smith, Walton, Pitman, Pretlow, Marye, J. A. Robinson, Woodley, Thomas, Graham, Ferguson, Hall and Crockett—110.

For Wood Bouldin—Mr. Anderson—1.

The house then proceeded to the election of a sergeant at arms.

Mr. MCCUE nominated Robert W. Burke of Augusta, who was unanimously appointed.

The house then proceeded to the election of a first doorkeeper.

Mr. WILSON of Isle of Wight nominated William H. Freeman of Norfolk City, who was appointed unanimously.

The house then proceeded to the election of a second doorkeeper.

Mr. MAGRUDER nominated George W. Wilson, jr. of Botetourt, who was elected by an unanimous vote.

On motion of Mr. MAGRUDER,

Resolved, that the SPEAKER be authorized to appoint the usual number of pages.

On motion of Mr. WALKER,

Resolved, that the SPEAKER be requested to invite the reverend clergy of the city to open the daily sessions of the house with prayer.

A message was received from the senate by Mr. CHRISTIAN, the senator from Augusta, who informed the house of delegates that the senate had agreed to the following joint resolution:

Resolved, that a committee of three senators be appointed to inform the house of delegates that the senate is now organized, and that the same committee be authorized to act conjointly with a committee of the house of delegates to inform the governor of the commonwealth that the general assembly is organized and prepared to receive any communications he may have to submit.

The resolution was concurred in.

Ordered, that Mr. TOMLIN inform the senate thereof.

The SPEAKER announced the following committee on the part of the house: Messrs. Tomlin, Haymond of Marion, and Worsham.

Subsequently, Mr. TOMLIN, from the joint committee, reported that they had discharged the duty assigned them, and that the governor would communicate a message to the house immediately.

The governor's message was then received and read; which, on motion of Mr. JONES, was laid on the table, and twelve hundred extra copies ordered to be printed.

[For message, see Doc. No. 1, appended to this volume.]

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the secretary of the commonwealth, transmitting the returns of the election of governor and lieutenant governor; which was read, and on motion of Mr. HALL, laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Doc. No. 3.

On motion of Mr. HAYMOND of Marion,

Resolved, that the rules of the last house of delegates be adopted for the government of this.

The said rules are as follow:

1. No member shall absent himself from the service of the house, without leave, unless he be sick and unable to attend.

2. When any member is about to speak in debate or deliver any matter to the house, he shall rise from his seat, and without advancing, shall, with due respect, address “Mr. SPEAKER,” confining himself strictly to the point in debate, avoiding all indecent and disrespectful language.

3. When any member rises and addresses the chair, the speaker shall recognize him by his name; but no member shall designate another by name.

4. No member shall speak more than twice in the same debate without leave.

5. A question being once determined, must stand as the judgment of the house, and cannot, during the same session, be drawn again into debate.

6. While the speaker is reporting or putting a question, none shall entertain private discourse, read, stand up, walk into, out of, or across the house.

7. No member shall vote on any question in the event of which he is immediately and personally interested, nor in any other case where he was not present when the question was put by the speaker or chairman of any committee.

8. Every member who shall be in the house when any question is put, shall, on a decision, be counted on one side or the other.

9. A majority of delegates shall constitute a quorum to do business; and every question shall be determined according to the vote of a majority of the members present, except where the constitution otherwise provides; any smaller number, together with the speaker, shall be sufficient to adjourn; twenty may call a house, send for absentees, and make any order for their censure or discharge.

10. On a call of the house, the doors shall not be closed against any member until his name shall have been once enrolled.

11. Any member, sustained by thirteen others, shall have the right, before the question is put, to demand the yeas and nays on the decision of any question; and on such occasion the names of the members shall be called over by the clerk, and the yeas and nays respectively entered on the journal, and the question decided, as a majority shall thereupon appear. After the yeas and nays shall have been taken, and before they are counted or entered on the journal, the clerk shall read over the names of those who voted in the affirmative and of those who voted in the negative; at which time any member shall have the right to correct any mistake committed in enrolling his name.

12. No business shall be introduced or considered after 12 o'clock, until the orders of the day be disposed of, except messages from the senate or executive. Among the orders of the day, those which are general in their nature shall have precedence over such as are private or local.

13. The speaker may call any member to the chair, who shall exercise its functions for the time; but no member, by virtue of such appointment, shall preside for a longer time than three days.

14. The speaker shall set apart convenient seats for the use of the members of the senate and executive, and of the judges of the superior courts of this commonwealth and of the Confederate States, and of such other persons as he may invite within the bar of the house.

15. All bills or other business shall be dispatched in the order in which they are introduced, unless the house, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, shall direct otherwise. In future, all bills of a general nature shall, after their first reading, be printed for the use of the house.

16. The clerk shall not permit any records or papers to be taken from the table or out of his possession; but he may deliver to a member any bills depending before the house, on taking his receipt for the same.

17. The journal of the house shall be drawn up by the clerk on each day, and, after being examined by the speaker, shall be printed and delivered without delay.

18. The clerk shall publish with the laws all resolutions of a general nature, annex general marginal notes to each law or resolution, and subjoin an index to the whole.

19. The clerks of the senate and house of delegates may interchange messages at such time, between the hour of adjournment and that of meeting on the following day, as that the said messages may be read immediately after the orders of the day.

20. When the previous question is demanded and seconded by twenty members, the speaker shall, without debate, state the main question to the house, and thereupon propound the question, “Shall the main question be now put?” If decided in the affirmative, the main question shall then be put; if decided in the negative, the house may proceed instanter with the debate.

21. No petition of a private nature, having been once rejected, shall be acted on a second time, unless it be supported by new evidence; nor shall any such petition, after a third disallowance, be again acted on. The several clerks of committees shall keep alphabetical lists of all such petitions, specifying the sessions at which they were presented and the determination of the house thereon; and shall deliver the original petitions to the clerk of the house, to be preserved in his office.

Prayer by Rev. Dr. Duncan of the Methodist church.

The following delegates appeared, were qualified and took their seats:

Messrs. Bowen of Tazewell, W. O. Fry of Madison, Goode of Mecklenburg, Cummings of Washington, Goodall of Hanover, Goodykoontz of Floyd, Horton of Scott and Wise, Hutcheson of Mason, Jordan of Bedford, Kindrick of Russell, Powell of Amherst, Rutherfoord of Goochland, Sherrard of Morgan, Tredway of Prince Edward, Taylor of Amelia and Nottoway, and Thompson of Smyth.

The SPEAKER presented a communication from the governor, enclosing a letter from Capt. McDaniel, in relation to river defences; which was read, and on motion of Mr. HAYMOND of Marion, referred to the committee on military affairs.

The SPEAKER presented the petition of William Gray, Alexander Brown and Robert A. Mayo, praying that the money arising from the sale of the tobacco damaged by the burning of the public warehouse be equitably distributed among the owners of the same; which was ordered to be referred to the committee on finance.

On motion of Mr. COWAN,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as refers to the act of October 1777, entitled an act to prevent forestalling, regrating, engrossing and public vendues, be referred to the committee for courts of justice.

On motion of Mr. LIVELY,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as refers to confederate issues, be referred to the committee on finance.

On motion of Mr. BUFORD,

Resolved, that the committee on banks be instructed to enquire into the expediency of restricting by law the traffic in gold and silver coin and the legal paper currency of the state, and of suppressing all trade whatever in the treasury notes or other paper currency of the United States.

Mr. ROBINSON of Berkeley submitted the following resolution; which, on motion of Mr. COWAN, was laid on the table:

Resolved, that a special committee be appointed to enquire into the office of the state treasurer, as to how many clerks could be dispensed with, and who are subject to duty under the conscription law, and whether their places could not be filled equally well by disabled soldiers.

On motion of Mr. ROBINSON of Berkeley,

Resolved, that the committee on finance be instructed to enquire into the propriety of paying such claims as have been audited and allowed by the auditing board.

On motion of Mr. RUTHERFOORD,

Resolved, that leave be given to withdraw from the files of the house the petition of Mrs. Henningham C. Harrison, presented at the last session, and that the same be referred to the committee on agriculture and manufactures.

On motion of Mr. HAYMOND of Braxton, &c.

Resolved, that the committee on finance enquire into the propriety of authorizing the payment of a judgment in favor of the commonwealth against George J. Arnold, at a rate of interest not exceeding six per centum per annum.

On motion of Mr. EDWARDS,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as refers to the salaries of public officers, be referred to the committee on finance.

On motion of Mr. WILSON of Isle of Wight,

Resolved, that the auditor of public accounts be instructed to report to this house, as early as practicable, a synopsis of the financial condition of the commonwealth, with an estimate of the revenues and expenditures of this and the next fiscal year, terminating on the 30th of September 1864, and all other information required by the resolution of the last general assembly.

Mr. JAMES submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, that the committee on military affairs enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for the effectual suppression of the crime of desertion; and the question being on agreeing thereto, Mr. ENGLISH moved to lay the resolution on the table; and the question being on agreeing thereto, Mr. JONES demanded the previous question; which was sustained by the house; and being put, was decided in the negative. The resolution was then agreed to.

On motion of Mr. ANDERSON,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as relates to the military defences of the country be referred to the committee on military affairs.

On motion of Mr. HUTCHESON,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as relates to the depreciation of the currency of the country be referred to the committee on finance, with instructions to report, by bill or otherwise, the expediency of fixing by law the prices of all articles of merchandise, production and consumption, and wages for labor, &c., to a gold and silver standard, and imposing such restrictions and penalties as may be necessary for the purpose of restoring confidence in the finances of the country.

On motion of Mr. WOOLFOLK, the house adjourned until to-morrow, 12 o'clock.

Committee of Privileges and Elections—Messrs. Jones, Murdaugh, Wilson of Isle of Wight, McCue, Jordan, Fry of Madison, Pitman, Winston, Parramore, Hall, Edwards, White of Brooke and Hancock, Hunter of Berkeley, English, and Robinson of Taylor.

Committee for Courts of Justice—Messrs. Rutherfoord, Brooke, Goode, Bouldin, Gilmer, Magruder, Marr, Irving, McKinney, Marye, Cowan, Haymond of Braxton, &c., Barksdale, Staples and Kenney.

Committee of Schools and Colleges—Messrs. Tredway, Crockett, Reid, Custis, Taylor of Amelia, Noland, Wright, Evans, Woodley, Snowden, Graham, Deyerle, Butler, Hunter of King George and Stafford, and Taylor of Prince George and Surry.

Committee of Propositions and Grievances—Messrs. Magruder, Riddick, Kaufman, Fleming, Woolfolk, Worsham, Sherrard, McCue, Smith, Cresap, Walker of Rockingham, Thompson, Patterson, Miller, and Nelson of Prince William.

Committee of Claims—Messrs. Kaufman, Pitman, Walker of Augusta, Mathews, Huntt, Fry of Madison, Robinson of Berkeley, Tibbs, Walton, McCutchen, Lynch, Draper, Crawford, Coke and Goodall.

Committee on Confederate Relations—Messrs. Robertson, Shackleford, Cummings, Baker, Ward, Powell, Irving, Williams, Pretlow, Hoge, Cowan, Bland, Nelson of Prince William, Flood and Rust.

Committee of Roads and Internal Navigation—Messrs. Burwell, Ward, Wilson of Norfolk, Buford, Rowan, Staples, Ambers, Keiley, Morgan, White of Rockbridge, Bryan, Hendrick, Branch, Buffington and Herndon.

Committee on Military Affairs—Messrs. Anderson, Cummings, Robertson, Jones, Tomlin, Burwell, Richardson, Lundy, Pendleton, Goode, Shackleford, Randolph, Monroe, Duval and Stewart.

Committee on Finance—Messrs. Bouldin, Tomlin, Haymond of Marion, Flood, Thomas, Reid, Noland, Marye, Powell, Pendleton, Deane, Burr, Harris, Bowen, and Wilson of Isle of Wight.

Joint Committee to examine the Penitentiary—Messrs. Haymond of Marion, Jordan, Fleming, James, Fletcher, Saunders of Richmond, White of Rockbridge, Hall, Hughes, Rixey, Fauntleroy, Patterson, Chalmers, Cox and Crawford.

Joint Committee to examine the Armory—Messrs. Richardson, Wright, Fletcher, Burr, Duval, Hutcheson, Lurty, Kindrick, Linkous, Melvin, Monroe, Fry of Giles, Dickey, Nighbert and Bowles.

Joint Committee on the Library—Messrs. Baker, Anderson, McKinney, Crockett, Gilmer, Tredway, Nelson of Fluvanna, Burwell, Evans, Butler, Magruder, Saunders of Franklin, Scott, Kenney and Meade.

Committee on Agriculture and Manufactures—Messrs. Riddick, Johnson of Barbour, Nelson of Fluvanna, Lively, Saunders of Franklin, Hiett, Shelton, Johnson of Carroll, Winn, Welsh, Mullens, McMillan, McElroy, McNeil and Horton.

Committee on Enrolled Bills—Messrs. Huntt, Worsham, Rowan, Saunders of Pendleton, Chalmers, Williams, Hiett, Holden, English, Burnett, Hunter of King George and Stafford, Betts, McElroy, Fauntleroy and Melvin.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the governor, enclosing the papers transmitted by Col. Stevens of the engineer department of the Confederate States, relating to the recent call for slaves to work on fortifications, which was read, and on motion, laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Doc. No. 4.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the auditor of public accounts, in response to a resolution of the house of delegates, asking for a synopsis of the financial condition of the commonwealth, &c.; which was read, and on motion, laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Doc. No. 5.

The SPEAKER announced the following select committee under the resolution heretofore agreed to respecting contracts for salt made by Stuart, Buchanan & Co., with the counties of the commonwealth: Messrs. Magruder, Ambers, Haymond of Marion, Deane, Fleming, Woolfolk, McCue, Gilmer, Worsham, Walton, Ferguson, White of Rockbridge, and Hunter of Berkeley.

Mr. PITMAN, by unanimous consent, was added to the committee on military affairs.

On motion of Mr. ANDERSON,

Resolved, that the committee on military affairs have leave to sit during the sessions of the house.

On motion of Mr. HALL, the communication from the governor in relation to the confinement of persons convicted of offences by military courts, in the penitentiary of the state, heretofore laid on the table, was taken up and referred to the committee on confederate relations.

Mr. SAUNDERS of Richmond presented the petition of W. G. Paine, president of the Old Dominion trading company, praying a change of the charter of said company, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of propositions and grievances.

Mr. BARKSDALE presented the petition of Capt. E. R. Young and others, in relation to the contested election from the county of Halifax; which was ordered to be referred to the committee of privileges and elections.

On motion of Mr. HAYMOND of Marion,

Resolved, that the committee on military affairs be requested to enquire into the propriety of extending the term of service of the first class militia from six to twelve months, and that the militiamen who have furnished substitutes in the confederate service be constituted the first class.

On motion of Mr. JAMES,

Resolved, that the committee on finance enquire into the expediency of increasing the allowance to sheriffs for removing prisoners and convicts from one jail to another, and from the different jails of the commonwealth to the penitentiary.

On motion of Mr. HAYMOND of Marion,

Resolved, that the committee on finance enquire into the propriety of offering bounties to the female heads of families for family manufacturing of cloths of all descriptions.

On motion of Mr. MEADE,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as relates to the call recently made by the secretary of war for slaves to work on fortifications, be referred to the committee on confederate relations, with instructions to report what legislation (if any) is necessary to secure a just and equal apportionment of said slaves among the several counties of the commonwealth.

The resolution heretofore submitted by Mr. WOODLEY, that the committee on finance be requested to enquire into the expediency of opening a correspondence between this state and the other Confederate States of America, as to the propriety of issuing state bonds to the amount of the outstanding treasury notes of said Confederate States, in proportionate sums, according to the population and property of each, &c., was taken up and agreed to.

On motion of Mr. HUTCHESON,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice be requested to enquire into the expediency of suppressing by law all auction establishments within the limits of this commonwealth during the existence of the present war.

On motion of Mr. DEANE,

Resolved, that the committee of roads and internal navigation enquire into the expediency of regulating by law the use of the rail roads of the state by the Southern express company.

On motion of Mr. MCCUE,

Resolved, that it be referred to the committee of agriculture and manufactures to institute proper legislation to protect sheep, not only from injudicious marketing the same, but also of safety from dogs.

On motion of Mr. LURTY,

Resolved, that the committee on military affairs enquire into the expediency of this house doing nothing whatever to weaken the confederate government.

On motion of Mr. BARKSDALE,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of providing for the payment to the owners thereof the value of slaves impressed for the use of the Confederate States, who have died in consequence of negligence on the part of the authorities of the said Confederate States.

On motion of Mr. PENDLETON,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of amending the 12th section of chapter 184 of the Code of Virginia, so as to increase for a limited period the charge for printing records in the supreme court of appeals.

On motion of Mr. STEWART,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice be requested to enquire into the expediency of prohibiting the distillation of liquors from grain by individuals within the state, and of prohibiting the purchase of grain for that purpose.

On motion of Mr. FLEMING,

Resolved, that the committee on the salt question be instructed to enquire into and ascertain as near as possible the cost per bushel of the manufacture of salt by the state superintendent, J. N. Clarkson.

On motion of Mr. WALTON,

Resolved, that the committee of roads and internal navigation enquire into the expediency of prohibiting by law the sale of the rolling stock, rail road iron and other machinery of the rail roads of this state into other states of the Confederacy, to be used beyond the limits of this state.

On motion of Mr. HERNDON,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of passing a law to prohibit the purchase of the necessaries of life for the purposes of speculation.

On motion of Mr. GOODE,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of providing by law that no judgment creditor whatever shall hereafter be entitled to have levied any execution, unless there be endorsed thereon a willingness to receive confederate money in satisfaction of the same.

On motion of Mr. SHACKLEFORD,

Resolved, that the committee on finance be instructed to enquire into the expediency of exempting from taxation those counties of the state which have been or are now occupied by the public enemy.

On motion of Mr. GILMER,

Resolved, that leave be granted to withdraw from the files of this house, bill 68, passed at the last session, entitled a bill to authorize county and corporation courts to cause impressments to be made of certain articles for county purposes, and that the same be referred to the committee for courts of justice.

On motion of Mr. MAGRUDER,

Resolved, that the committee of propositions and grievances enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill amending the 3d section of the charter of the James river canal packet company, so as to increase the capital thereof.

Mr. MAGRUDER presented the petition of the said packet company, praying a change in their charter.

On motion of Mr. CUSTIS,

Resolved, that leave be granted to bring in a bill to amend the act passed March 30, 1863, for the production and distribution of salt.

On motion of Mr. MARYE,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice be instructed to enquire into the expediency of providing by law that whenever, by reason of the presence of the public enemy, or other causes produced by the existing war, the administration of justice cannot be conducted in the courts of any county of this commonwealth, then all friendly proceedings and orders in chancery and at law needful for the division, distribution and settlement of the estates of decedents, and in other cases needing judicial action, which occur in said counties, wherein the rights of no person will be prejudiced by judicial action had therein in the courts of another county, may be conducted and had in the courts of any neighboring county wherein the administration of justice is not so obstructed.

On motion of Mr. PRETLOW,

Resolved, that the committee on confederate relations be instructed to enquire into the propriety of exempting the county of Southampton, and other counties on the confines of the enemy's lines, from the late call of the secretary of war upon the governor of this commonwealth to furnish slaves for working upon fortifications.

On motion of Mr. HUNTER of Berkeley,

Resolved, that the committee on salt be instructed to enquire into the expediency of furnishing salt to such of the counties of the commonwealth as have not been so furnished under the acts of the general assembly heretofore passed on that subject.

On motion of Mr. ROBERTSON,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as relates to confederate affairs be referred to the committee on confederate relations.

Prayer by Rev. Dr. Duncan of the Methodist church.

A communication from the senate, by their clerk, was read as follows:

The amendment proposed by the senate to the resolution was agreed to.

The resolution as amended is as follows:

Resolved, that with the concurrence of the senate, this house will, in the presence of the senate, proceed, on to-morrow at 1 o'clock, to open the returns of the election for governor and for lieutenant governor, to count the votes, and determine who have been elected by the people to the said offices; that the speaker of the house of delegates shall open the returns from the several counties and corporations; and as each county or corporation is announced, the senator and delegates representing the same (or if either be absent, then such person as the speaker may appoint instead) shall receive said returns and count the votes. They shall record the vote of each precinct, and adding all together, deliver the sum thereof to the clerk of the house, who shall embody the several results in a general statement; thereupon, a committee of three senators and five delegates shall add up the entire vote for governor and for lieutenant governor thus ascertained, and add to it such other votes as may have been taken elsewhere under existing laws—and the speaker of the house of delegates shall announce the result, and declare thereon who is elected.

The SPEAKER announced the following committee under the joint resolution: Messrs. Rutherfoord, Magruder, Buford, Crawford and Marye.

Mr. RUTHERFOORD, from the committee for courts of justice, presented the following bills:

No. 3. A bill to increase jailors' fees for keeping and supporting prisoners.

No. 4. A bill to authorize the county court of King William to dispense with the existing laws in regard to enclosures, so far as that county may be concerned.

Mr. BOULDIN, from the committee on finance, presented the following bills:

No. 5. A bill making an appropriation to pay certain expenses of government.

No. 6. A bill to prevent public officers from speculating in confederate notes.

On motion of Mr. HAYMOND of Braxton, &c.

Resolved, that leave be given to withdraw from the files of this house, senate bill 77, passed March 24, 1863.

Prayer by Rev. Mr. Sprigg of the Episcopal church.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the governor, enclosing an order from the hustings court of the city of Richmond, declining to make any provision in answer to the requisition for slaves to work on the fortifications around the city; which was read, and on motion, referred to the committee for courts of justice.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the board of public works, enclosing the report of said board, acting, under an act of assembly, as a board of supervisors for the production and distribution of salt; which was read, and on motion of Mr. COWAN, laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Doc. No. 6.

No. 6. A bill to prevent public officers from speculating in confederate notes, was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

A senate bill entitled an act amending and re-enacting the 109th section of an act entitled an act imposing taxes for the support of government, passed March 28th, 1863, was read a first and second times, and on motion of Mr. ANDERSON, was read a third time and passed—Ayes 118, noes 2.

AYES—Messrs. Sheffey (speaker), Anderson, Baker, Barksdale, Bouldin, Bowen, Branch, Brooke, Bryan, Buffington, Buford, Burnett, Butler, Burwell, Chalmers, Coke, Cowan, Crawford, Cresap, Crockett, Cummings, Deane, Deyerle, Dickey, Douthat, Draper, Duval, English, Evans, Ferguson, Fleming, Fletcher, Flood, A. Fry, W. O. Fry, Gilmer, Goodall, Goode, Goodykoontz, Graham. Harris, L. D. Haymond, T. S. Haymond, Hendrick, Herndon, Hiett, Holden, Horton, Huntt, Hutcheson, Irving, James, J. B. Johnson, W. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kaufman, Keiley, Kenney, Kindrick, Lively, Lundy, Lynch, Magruder, Marr, Mathews, McCue, McCutchen, McElroy, McKinney, McNeil, Meade, Melvin, Miller, Monroe, Morgan, Mullens, R. E. Nelson, Nighbert, Pitman, Pretlow, Powell, Reid, Richardson, Rixey, J. A. Robinson, Rowan, Rust, Rutherfoord, D. J. Saunders, E. T. Saunders, F. Saunders, Shackleford, Shelton, Sherrard, Smith, Snowden, Staples, Stewart, R. F. Taylor, T. W. Taylor, Thomas, Thompson, Tomlin, Tredway, J. C. Walker, Walton, Ward, N. W. White, R. J. White, Williams, J. L. Wilson, S. M. Wilson, Winn, Winston, Woodley, Worsham and Wright—118.

NOES—Messrs. Edwards and Hall—2.

Ordered, that the clerk inform the senate thereof.

Mr. JONES, from the committee of privileges and elections, submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, that the committee of privileges and elections be authorized and empowered to send for persons and papers in considering and determining the contested election case from the county of Halifax; and the question being on agreeing thereto, was put, and decided in the affirmative.

On motion of Mr. NELSON of Fluvanna,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of so amending section 29 of chapter 158 of the Code of Virginia (edition of 1860), as to authorize judges of the circuit courts to hold special terms for the trial of cases involving violations of the act of assembly imposing penalties for the unlawful distillation of grain, &c.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the governor, enclosing a pamphlet by Capt. B. J. Sage, in regard to private warfare, not only on the ocean, but on the coasts, sounds, bays and rivers; which was read, and referred to the committee on military affairs.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the governor, enclosing a report from Colin Bass, superintendent of the penitentiary; which, on motion of Mr. HAYMOND of Marion, was referred to the committee on the penitentiary, and ordered to be printed. Doc. No. 7.

ON motion of Mr. LUNDY,

Resolved, that the committee on military affairs enquire into the expediency of investing county and corporation courts with power to impress, when necessary, such articles of food in the hands of persons who may have purchased the same for profit by resale, as may be necessary for the supply of the indigent poor, at the prices prescribed by the Confederate States.

On motion of Mr. WORSHAM,

Resolved, that the committee on agriculture and manufactures be requested to enquire into the expediency of exempting molasses, cane or sorghum, from the operation of the act passed October 2, 1862, entitled an act to amend and re-enact an act entitled an act to amend and re-enact an act to punish the unnecessary consumption of grain by distillers and other manufacturers of spirituous and malt liquors.

On motion of Mr. AMBERS,

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of so amending the 28th section of the 52d chapter of the Code of Virginia of 1860, as to increase the penalty for failure to work on any road to which the party failing may be appointed.

On motion of Mr. WORSHAM,

Resolved, that the committee on finance enquire into the expediency of exempting from a license tax persons engaged in the distillation of ardent spirits from molasses, cane or sorghum.

On motion of Mr. WALKER of Rockingham,

Resolved, that the committee on the penitentiary be instructed to enquire into the expediency of providing for the sale of all slave convicts now in the penitentiary.

On motion of Mr. ENGLISH,

Resolved, that the committee of roads and internal navigation enquire into the rates of tolls on the York river rail road.

On motion of Mr. HAYMOND of Braxton.

Resolved, that the committee on military affairs enquire into the propriety of authorizing the separate enrollment and organization of the officers and students of the various institutions of learning throughout the state, so that such organization may be drilled and officered by members only of said institutions.

Mr. HUGHES submitted the following preamble and resolution:

Whereas the waste and consumption of grain in the distillation of liquor is frightful and enormous: and whereas it can be incontestably shown that heinous frauds are continually practiced by agents for the distillation of liquor under government contract, as is patent, indeed, in such agents offering and paying from eight to ten dollars per bushel for grain, while they are only getting three, at most four dollars per gallon for the whiskey they contracted to make for the government; and as every body knows, who has any knowledge of distilling, that when the distiller gives a greater price for grain per bushel, than he gets for his whiskey per gallon, that he is losing money in the operation: and whereas it can be readily exhibited that such contractors do sell the whiskey so manufactured (and perhaps by far the largest proportion), to others than the government, and for many times more than the government price, in open violation of the law under which they are permitted to make it, and no notice taken of it by those whose duty it is to detect and punish all such offences:

Resolved, that a special committee be appointed to enquire into and report the facts in relation to such frauds, and the best corrective for the same; and as to the expediency (so far as lies in this legislative body) of abolishing all distillation of liquors of any kind whatsoever, even if necessary by the collection of all the still caps and worms, and holding the same in possession until the end of the war.

Mr. HAYMOND of Marion moved to amend the resolution, by striking out the words “even if necessary by the collection of all the still caps and worms, and holding the same in possession until the end of the war;” and the question being on agreeing thereto, was put, and decided in the affirmative.

The resolution as amended was then agreed to.

The question recurring on agreeing to the preamble, was put, and decided in the negative.

On motion of Mr. SAUNDERS,

Resolved, that the committee on finance be requested to enquire into the expediency of making some provision for the support of such of the poor of the commonwealth as have been driven from their homes by the enemy, and have located in other cities and counties of this state.

On motion of Mr. GOODE, the resolution heretofore submitted by himself, instructing the senators from Virginia in the confederate congress, and requesting our representatives to urge upon that body the passage of a law making an appropriation for the compensation of citizens of this commonwealth whose slaves have died in, or escaped from the confederate service, was taken up.

Mr. JONES moved to amend the resolution, by adding thereto the following:

“And to pay for other property which has been destroyed by, or appropriated for the use of the confederate government.”

The question being on agreeing to the amendment, Mr. COWAN moved that the resolution and amendment be referred to a select committee.

Mr. HUTCHESON moved that the resolution and amendment be referred to the committee on confederate relations; and the question being on agreeing thereto, Mr. KEILEY demanded the previous question; which was sustained by the house; and being put, was decided in the negative.

The question recurring on agreeing to the reference to a special committee, was put, and decided in the affirmative.

On motion of Mr. BROOKE,

Resolved, that the committee on salt be instructed to enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill providing for the supply of a due proportion of salt to refugees residing in the different counties of the commonwealth.

On motion of Mr. CUMMINGS,

Resolved, that the committee on finance enquire into the expediency of imposing a graduated tax for the support of the families of soldiers, upon all incomes and profits except salaries, realized since the 17th day of April 1861; that the committee further enquire into the propriety of providing for the contributions of a certain proportion of surplus corn and wheat by producers thereof, and of giving the right of impressment in those cases where the proper agents are unable to procure the necessary supplies by purchase.

The following bills were read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time:

No. 3. A bill to increase jailors' fees for keeping and supporting prisoners.

No. 4. A bill to authorize the county court of King William to dispense with the existing laws in regard to enclosures, so far as that county may be concerned.

No. 5. A bill making an appropriation to pay certain expenses of government.

No. 7. A bill authorizing special terms of the circuit courts to be held to carry into effect the provisions of the law to prevent the unlawful distillation of whiskey or other spirituous or malt liquors.

No. 8. A bill to amend the 3d section of an act to incorporate the James river canal packet company.

No. 1. A bill amending and re-enacting the 109th section of an act entitled an act imposing taxes for the support of government, passed March 28th, 1862.

On motion of Mr. WARD, the house adjourned until to-morrow, 12 o'clock.

Mr. BOULDIN, from the committee on finance, presented the following bill:

No. 10. A bill prohibiting sales by auction in certain cases; which, on his motion, was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time.

Mr. RIDDICK, from the committee on agriculture and manufactures, presented the following bills:

No. 11. A bill to amend and re-enact the act passed on the 13th day of February 1863, entitled an act amending and re-enacting the 1st and 2d sections of an act entitled an act to repeal the fence law of Virginia, so as to include the county of Henrico.

No. 12. A bill to amend the 4th and 5th sections of the 87th chapter of the Code of Virginia.

Mr. MAGRUDER, from the select committee on salt, presented the following bill:

No. 13. A bill to amend and re-enact the 6th section of an act passed the 30th of March 1863, entitled an act to provide for the production and distribution of salt; which, on his motion was read a first time, and two-thirds concurring, read a second time, amended, and on motion of Mr. BOULDIN, laid on the table and ordered to be printed.

The SPEAKER announced the following committee under the resolution of yesterday, in relation to instructions to the senators from Virginia upon the subject of payment by the confederate government for slaves lost in their service: Messrs. Goode, Jones, Bouldin, Robertson, Haymond of Marion, Tomlin, Marye, Cowan, Magruder, Hall, Buford, Walker of Augusta, Draper, Fleming and Crockett.

The SPEAKER announced the following committee under the resolution agreed to on yesterday, in reference to distillation: Messrs. Hughes, Marr, Winston, Tredway, Barksdale, Riddick, Hutcheson, Richardson, Maxey, Rixey, Herndon, Lynch, Deyerle, Meade and Butler.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from John Knote, general agent of the penitentiary, in response to a resolution of the house of delegates; which was read, and on motion of Mr. WILSON of Isle of Wight, was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Doc. No. 8.

On motion of Mr. DEANE,

Resolved, that the clerk of the house of delegates be directed to have published for one week, in the several papers printed in the city of Richmond, the act authorizing the receipt, by sheriffs and collectors, of all Confederate States treasury notes.

On motion of Mr. DEANE,

Resolved, that so much of the governor's message as refers to the act of 20th of November 1862, exempting persons of certain religious denominations from military service, be referred to the committee for courts of justice to enquire into the constitutionality of said enactment.

On motion of Mr. EDWARDS,

Res