Richmond (VA) Enquirer, "House of Delegates - Bills Passed," March 7, 1856

                WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1856.

            HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

  The House met at 10 o'clock.

                  SENATE BILLS PASSED.

   The following Senate bills, communicated from the Senate this morning, were read a third time and passed:

   A bill to incorporate the Law Library Association.

   A bill providing for the payment of dividend of joint stock companies into the public treasury.

   The SPEAKER appointed the following committee to take into consideration that portion of the Governor's message received yesterday, in relation to vaccination:––Messrs. CLAIBORNE, FLOYD , BUSH, MALLORY, CRAMMAR, BROWN, REFNER, CRADDOCK, B[illegible] and TAYLOR.

   A few resolutions directing the appointment of special committees to bring in bills on subjects of a private character, were adopted. 

          EMANCIPATION OF FREE NEGROES.

   The unfinished special order, being the bill to amend chapter 198 of the Code, was taken up.

   The pending question was the motion of Mr. FLOYD to strike out that section of the bill which repeals the 17th section of chapter 197 of the code, which provides that persons having less than one-fourth of negro blood in them, are entitled to a certificate which exempts them from the penalties and disabilities of negroes. 

   The question on this motion was put, and decided in the negative. So the 17th section of the Code stands. This bill was then ordered to be engrossed.

          BILLS PASSED.

   The following bill reported by the Joint Committee to provide more effectually agains the escape of slaves, &c., &c., was taken up on motion of Mr. MALLORY, and read a third time and passed:

   A bill providing additional protection for the slave property of the citizens of this Commonwealth.

   Mr. TAYLOR of Alexandria, said that he regretted he could not vote for the bill, because it contained provisions that were against the Constitution of the United States, and injurious to the commercial interests of the town he represented. 

   A bill to amend the 4th section of chapter 165, so as to increase the reward for the arrest of runaway slaves, was next in order.

   Mr. HOGE offered the following ryder to this bill, which was advanced to the same stage with the bill, and passed with it: The amount herein provided to be paid by the Auditor of Public Accounts to the person holding the certificate of the County Court, as aforesaid, shall only be payable out of any money in the treasury, arising from fines, forfeitures, and confiscation imposed and made under the provisions of law now existing and hereafter to be enacted, providing for the punishment of persons aiding and abetting in the escape of slaves, or interfering with the rights of property in slaves, and from funds arising from the sale of free negro convicts, failing to leave the State after the expiration of their term of imprisonment."

   The question on the passage of the bill and ryder, was then put, and decided in the affirmative. Ayes 104, noes 4. 

   The following bill of this class was then read a third time and passed:

   A bill to amend the 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th chapters of the Code of Virginia, so as more effectually to prevent the escape of slaves.

   Mr. MALLORY said that the alterations made in the bill were as follows: It proposes to increase the term of confinement in the penitentiary, which, as the law now stands, is this: it cannot be less than two years nor more than five. The bill proposes to increase the minimum term of confinement from two to five years, and the maximum from five to ten. In addition, the jury, in its discretion, may order the offender to be whipped; and if he is a master or owner or attached to a vessel, the said vessel is to be forfeited. 

   The next alteration is this: There is no punishment now provided for a slave detected in the act of inducing and aiding another slave to escape. Acts of this sort were known to have taken place in his town, (Norfolk.) in more than one instance, within twelve months past. This bill provides for the punishment of the slave by having him whipped, sold and driven from the State. If he returns again, he is to be sold, one half of the proceeds of sale to go to the Informer, and one half to the commonwealth. 

   In addition to that, a reward of $500 is offered for such information as will lead to the arrest and conviction of any white person engaged in carrying off slaves from this commonwealth. The clause in regard to negro testimony, as reported by the committee, has been stricken out, and with my (Mr. MALLORY'S) concurrence. 

   I need say nothing more to show the necessity of the passage of this bill, than to mention the fact that the last paper I received from my town contains information of another stampede which recently took place in that locality. I hope the House will pass the bill. I do not know that any serious objection exists to it, and I therefore feel assured that it will pass without difficulty. 

   Mr. NEWTON offered the following as a ryder to the bill: "Provided such whipping shall not exceed thirty nine lashes on any one day. [The amount herein provided to be paid by the State to any informer, under the 27th section of said chapter of the Code, as amended by this act, shall only be payable out of any monies in the treasury, arising from fines, forfeitures and confiscations imposed and made under the provisions of laws now existing and hereafter to be enacted, providing for the punishment of persons aiding and abetting in the escape of slaves, or interfering with the rights of property in slaves, and from the funds arising from the sale of free negro convicts, failing to leave the State, after the expiration of their term of imprisonment."]

   On motion of Mr. ANDERSON, the portion of this ryder within brackets was stricken out.

   After some debate, the question on the passage of the bill was taken by yeas and nays, and decided in the alternative, as follows:

   AYES––Messrs. Crutchfield, (Speaker), Anderson, Bass, Bondurant, Boreman, Brady, Brannon, Brown, Baweil of Patrick, Burwell of Bedford, Bush, Byrd, Cabell, Calvert, Carpenter, Cannnier, Carroll, Carter, Christian, Clarke, Claybrook, Collins, Cox, Craddock, Crammer, Crockett, Davis of Greenbrier, Duane, Dejournette, Dickinson of Richmond City, Deland, Draper, Drew, Drumogoole, Edmunds, Eilyson, Floyd, French, Garnett, Gregory, Hatterez, Hurdy, Hewes, Hoynes, Hays, Haskell, Hubbs, Hoge, Holman, Howell, Imboden, Johnston, Jones of Appomattox, Jones of Rappahanock, Jones of Gloucester, Kemper, Laughitt, Lee, Lundy, Mulberry, Mays, McHesney, Murdaugh, Nelson, Nielson, Newtha, Patterson, Paul, Pendleton of Giles, Pendleton of Louisa, Pitman,Powell, Riddick, Ruffner, Samuels, Seddon, Segnz, Salmanie, Smith, Spady, Spitier, Sprickle, Taylor, Thomas of Mason, Thompson, Thrift, Tomlin, Towner, Tredway, Triplett, Tyers, Vanondall, Wellman, Welton, West, Wood, Wright, Yancey––98.

   NOES––Messrs. Barnes, Brandon, Caruthers, Crabtree, George, Holden, Kee, Kelly, Lantz, Melver, Newton, Parsons, Riggs––13.