of the State of West Virginia
(Wheeling: John F. M'Dermot, Public Printer, 1863)
[seated additional member, ordered auditor to work with Virginia records to determine number of taxpayers, slaves, and amount of taxes assessed and collected in 1862 in West Virginia]
TUESDAY, July 7, 1863.
The House met pursuant to adjournment.
Prayer by Rev. Robert Hager member of House.
Journal of Thursday last read and approved.
On motion of Mr. Holman,
Ordered, That the committee on Roads and Internal Navigation, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of granting to the Monongahela Navigation Company, the right and privilege of making the Monongahela river navigable by locks and dams, to the town of Fairmont in Marion county, or to incorporate a joint stock company for the same purpose; and that said committee report by bill or otherwise.
On motion of Mr. Zinn,
Ordered, That the committee on the Judiciary, be requested to inquire into the expediency of prohibiting, by law, all persons who at any time have been engaged in aiding the rebellion, as citizen or soldier, from prosecuting any suit in the courts of law or equity, or enforcing any judgment, decree, deed of trust, lien or mortgage, heretofore obtained, in any courts in the bounds of the State of West Virginia.
Mr. Zinn submitted the following, which was adopted:
Resolved , That the Auditor of Public Accounts be requested to furnish this House with a statement showing the amount of money arising from the capitation tax, fines, forfeitures, bank stock, and all other sources of revenue properly belonging to the Literary Fund, under existing law, for the year 1863.
On motion of Mr. Bumgarner,
Ordered, That the fifth section of the eleventh article of the Constitution be referred to the committee on Private Incorporations and Joint Stock Companies; and that they be required to report by bill or otherwise.
On motion of Mr. McGrew,
Resolved , That the Auditor be requested to compile from the records of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and furnish as soon as possible, for the use of this Legislature, a statement, arranged in convenient form for reference, showing under separate and appropriate headings the assessed value of the real and personal property within the limits of the State of West Virginia, upon which taxes were levied in the year 1862; the amount of taxes collected therefrom; the number of white males over the age of twenty-one years, and the taxes collected therefrom; the number of male free negroes over the age of twenty-one years, and the taxes collected therefrom; the amount of taxes collected for the same year from each and every other subject of taxation as fixed by the Code of Virginia; also the probable number of slaves within the State of West Virginia, and the value thereof, on the 5th day of July, 1863.
The Executive of Virginia is respectfully requested to give the Auditor of West Virginia the facilities necessary to enable him to accomplish the purpose of this resolution.
Mr Zinn offered the following, which being objected to, was laid over under the rule:
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia , That it will proceed on Saturday, the eleventh day of July, 1863, at eleven o'clock, A. M., to the election of two United States Senators for the State of West Virginia.
James I. Barrick, member from the county of Hampshire, having appeared in his seat, came forward and was qualified.
Engrossed House Bill No. 13, entitled "An Act to authorize the Superintendent of Schools for Preston county to pay certain claims for the tuition of indigent children," was taken up, and on motion of Mr. McGrew, the rule was suspended and the vote by which it passed to engrossment was reconsidered, and it was referred to the committee on Education.
House Bill No. 14, entitled "A Bill to regulate the tax on seals," on its second reading, was taken up, and on motion of Mr. Van Winkle referred to the committee on the Judiciary, with instructions to inquire whether the tax proposed by the bill is constitutional.
House Bill No. 15, entitled "A Bill to prescribe the manner in which money may be paid into the treasury of the State," on its second reading, was taken up.
On motion of Mr. Lamb, the bill was amended by striking out of the thirty-sixth line the words "in the city of Wheeling," and substituting the words "printed at the seat of government."
On motion of the same gentleman, the bill was laid upon the table.
Mr. Bowyer presented a petition of William H. Shaw, Sheriff of Putnam county, praying restitution of twenty-seven dollars captured by the rebels and claiming compensation for making copies of tax tickets, &c., taken at the same time; which at his request, was referred to the committee on Taxation and Finance.
On motion of Mr. Kramer, Senate amendment to House substitute for Senate joint resolution relative to an extension of the Department of the Monongahela, which had been referred to the committee on Military Affairs and favorably reported on, was taken up; and upon his motion to concur in its adoption, the House refused to concur.
Mr. Lamb gave notice that he should offer the following as an additional standing rule:
"The Speaker or Clerk shall have authority to administer any oaths required by the business of the House."
On motion of Mr. Crothers, the House adjourned.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: July 1863