Mr. Coghill offered the following joint preamble and resolution: Whereas, the governor has informed the general assembly that Messrs. Isaac D. Jones, James U. Dennis and John W. Davis, commissioners appointed by the State of Maryland to communicate to this general assembly certain resolutions of the general assembly of that State touching the controversy in regard to the boundary of the two States, are in the city of Richmond and desire to execute said commission,

Resolved (the senate concurring), That a committee of two members of the senate and three members of the house of delegates be appointed to confer with said commissioners, ascertain their wishes as to the manner of presenting said resolutions and tender to them the privileges of the floor of the two houses.

Which was agreed to.

Mr. Coghill moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the joint preamble and resolution were agreed to, which was rejected.

Ordered, That Mr. Coghill carry the joint preamble and resolution to the senate and request their concurrence.

A message was received from the senate by Mr. Smith, of Russell, who informed the house that the senate had agreed to the joint preamble and resolution.

The speaker appointed Messrs. Coghill, Ould and Taliaferro the committee on the part of the house.

Mr. Morris entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which the house refused to order house bill No. 253, to amend and re-enact the thirteenth and fifty-ninth sections of chapter 78 of the Code of 1873, in relation to public free schools to be engrossed to be read a third time.

Mr. Griffith offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That a special committee of five be appointed by the speaker of this house with instructions to prepare and report a bill with the following provisions, viz: That all moneys now in the treasury (or which may hereafter be received from whatever sources), not otherwise appropriated, and not necessary to defray the current expenses of the State government, be constituted a part of the sinking fund for the redemption of the State debt as ascertained by the act of March 30, 1871, and commonly known as the funding bill, and that the commissioners of the sinking fund designated in said act be instructed to invest such moneys so transferred to said fund in bonds of the State of Virginia at their present market value.

The house refused to refer the resolution to a committee.

Mr. Anderson moved to lay the resolution on the table, which was rejected-yeas 33; nays 55.

On motion of Mr. Anderson, the vote was recorded as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Anderson, Banks, Beaton, Bohannon, Brown, Campbell, J. A. Carter, A. J. Clark, Dooley, Fitzpatrick, Franklin, Gilman, Harrison, Henderson, Hudgin, Hunter, Koiner, B. W. Lacy, Lewis, Lovell, Lovenstein, Loving, Magruder, Moss, Neeley, Shumate, Strother, Stuart, Swann, Wallace, Williams, Withers, and Mr. Speaker-33.

NAYS-Messrs. Armentrout, Armstrong, Brady, Jack Carter, P. J. Carter, Matt Clark, Cox, Crank, Finney, Foster, Friend, Fulkerson, P. Gibson, T. S. Gibson, Goodwyn, Grayson, Griffith, Haden, Hale, Hamilton, Harris, Hill, Holbrook, Wm. Hoskins, John T. Hoskins, Howard, James, Rufus S. Jones, Jordan, Lamkin, Lee, Lipps, Lipscomb, Massey, May, McGonigal, Morris, Jno. L. Nash, Nickens, Norton, Pannill, Popham, Powell, Rains, Sellers, Spratt, Stovall, Taylor, Thomas, Turner, Webb, Wharton, Whittaker, Yager, and Young-55.

Mr. Stuart moved to amend the resolution by striking out, "with instructions to prepare and report," and inserting "inquire into the expediency of reporting," which was rejected—yeas 44; nays 57.

On motion of Mr. Lovenstein, the vote was recorded as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Anderson, Bagwell, Banks, Beaton, Bohannon, Brooks, Brown, Campbell, J. A. Carter, A. J. Clark, Coghill, Critz, Dooley, Fitzpatrick, Flood, Franklin, Gardner, Gilman, Graves, Harrison, Henderson, Hudgin, Hunter, Koiner, B. W. Lacy, Lewis, Lovell, Lovenstein, Loving, Lybrook, Magruder, Neeley, Shumate, Strother, Stuart, Swann, Taliaferro, Wallace, Webb, Wharton, Williams, Winn, Withers, and Mr. Speaker-44.

NAYS-Messrs. Armentrout, Armstrong, Brady, Jack Carter, P. J. Carter, Matt Clark, Cox, Crank, Davis, Finney, Foster, Friend, Fulkerson, P. Gibson, T. S. Gibson, Goodwyn, Grayson, Griffith, Haden, Hale, Hamilton, Harris, Hill, Holbrook, Wm. Hoskins, J. T. Hoskins, Howard, James, P. K. Jones, Rufus S. Jones, Jordan, Lamkin, Lee, Lipps, Lucas, Massey, May, McGonigal, Morris, Moss, J. L. Nash, Nickens, Norton, Pannill, Popham, Powell, Rains, Sellers, Spratt, Stovall, Syphax, Taylor, Thomas, Turner, Whittaker, Yager, and Young-57.

The following were presented and referred under rule 37:

By Mr. Strother: A bill to amend the charter of the town of Culpeper. Referred to committee on counties, cities and towns.

By Mr. O'Neal: A bill to incorporate the Virginia turnpike company. Referred to committee on roads and internal navigation.

By Mr. Grayson: A bill to regulate the granting of ordinary and other licenses in the town of Jeffersonville, in the county of Tazewell. Referred to committee on finance.

By Mr. Brooks: Resolution of the Clinton agricultural club of Cumberland county, approving memorials of certain other agricultural clubs in relation to the protection of sheep. Referred to the committee on agriculture and mining.

By Mr. Taliaferro: A bill to release to Theodore Haroth the Commonwealth's rights to certain real estate of which Frederick D. Haroth died seized, upon proof before the circuit court of the city of Richmond that he is the son and heir of the said deceased. Referred to committee for courts of justice.

By Mr. O'Neal: A bill to extend the corporate powers of the German banking company of Alexandria, Virginia. Referred to committee for courts of justice.

By Mr. Ould: A bill to dispense with security in the trial of certain controversies between the State and the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad company relating to the taxation of the property, earnings and indebtedness of said company. Referred to committee on roads and internal navigation.

By Mr. Harrison: Protest of citizens of Loudoun county against a repeal of the fence law. Referred to committee on agriculture and mining.

The morning hour having expired,

On motion of Mr. Popham, the calendar was postponed until 3 o'clock P. M.

The house resumed consideration of the resolution offered by Mr. Griffith.

Mr. Griffith moved to amend the resolution by striking out the words, "as ascertained by the act of March 30, 1871, and commonly known as the funding bill."

Mr. Koiner offered the following as a substitute for the resolution offered by Mr. Griffith:

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the condition of the State debt, and report upon the same as early as practicable, any recommendations which they may find best, by bill or otherwise, to relieve the financial embarrassments of the State. On motion of Mr. Popham, the house adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock A. M.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1874.

Prayer by Rev. J. Z. Tyler, of the Seventh Street Christian church. The journal was read by the clerk.

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

The senate have passed bills entitled

In Senate, March 17, 1874.

An act to amend and re-enact section 61 of chapter 3, acts of 1865–6, in relation to the release of taxes prior to the year 1865; No. 52. And An act authorizing the African Methodist Episcopal church and congregation, at Staunton, to execute deeds of trust; No. 251.

In which bills they respectfully request the concurrence of the house of delegates.

No. 52. Senate bill, was read twice and referred to the committee on finance.

No. 251. Senate bill, was read twice and referred to the committee for courts of justice.

The following senate bills were reported from the committee on propositions and grievances:

No. 20. Senate bill entitled an act to amend an act to incorporate the Potomac land and improvement company, passed February 13, 1873. No. 209. Senate bill entitled an act repealing the charter granted to the Manchester cotton mills by the judge of the Second circuit, and re-incorporating said company.

No. 193. Senate bill entitled an act to incorporate the St. Mary's Catholic benevolent society of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

No. 101. Senate bill entitled an act to amend the charter of the town of Potomac.

The following senate bills were reported from the committee for courts of justice:

No. 226. Senate bill entitled an act authorizing the trustees of the Presbyterian church at Culpeper to borrow money and execute a mortgage therefor.

No. 214. Senate bill entitled an act amending sections 11 and 14 of chapter 155 of Code of 1873, in relation to the terms of the circuit and chancery courts of the city of Richmond.

No. 211. Senate bill entitled an act to amend and re-enact sixty-third section of chapter 57, Code of 1873, with reference to chartered companies.

No. 207. Senate bill entitled an act to amend and re-enact section 15 of chapter 173 of the Code of Virginia (edition of 1873), in relation to new trials.

No. 93. Senate bill entitled an act to amend and re-enact section 26, chapter 52, Code of 1873, in relation to proceedings on report of commissioners of roads, with a recommendation that it do not pass.

No. 107. House bill entitled an act to amend and re-enact section 13 of chapter 123 of the Code of 1873, relative to the power of circuit and corporation courts over guardians and wards, was reported from the committee for courts of justice, with a recommendation that the house agree to the amendment of the senate.

No. 311. House bill for the assessment, levy and collection of taxes on railroad, canal and other companies, reported from the committee on finance, was read a first time.

The following report was presented:

The committee on enrolled bills have the honor to report that the following joint resolutions and bills have been approved by the governor :

Joint resolutions proposing amendments to the State constitution in relation to county organization; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to provide for the registration of the voters of the city of Lynchburg; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to amend section 41 of an act entitled an act providing a charter for the city of Norfolk, in force March 16, 1871; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to incorporate the Piedmont farmers' association; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to appoint a board of trustees for the Virginia female institute at Staunton, and to provide for the future government of said institute; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to amend and re-enact section 39 of chapter 49 of the Code of 1873, in reference to sales under judgments, warrants or decrees for debts contracted prior to April 10, 1865; approved March 14, 1874.

An act for the relief of the sureties of W. R. Millan, late sheriff of Fairfax county; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to amend and re-enact section 19, chapter 192, Code of 1873, in regard to the disturbance of religious worship; approved March 14, 1874.

An act for the relief of George W. Eldridge, R. C. Motley and George W. Johnston, securities of John A. Graves, late collector of Giles township, in the county of Amelia; approved March 16, 1874.

An act to amend and re-enact section 45, chapter 49 of the Code of 1873, in relation to motions against officers and their deputies; approved March 16, 1874.

An act to amend and re-enact sections 6 and 9 and to repeal section 7 of an act entitled an act to incorporate the New York and Norfolk railroad company, approved March 15, 1872, and to make further provisions in regard to the charter of said company; approved March 13, 1874.

An act repealing so much of the act in force December 28, 1871, entitled an act to provide for the protection of fish in the waters of New river and its tributaries, as applies to that portion of New river above the point where the dividing line between the counties of Carroll and Grayson crosses said river; approved March 16, 1874.

An act to amend and re-enact the first section of the act to incorporate the Richmond and Henrico turnpike company, approved March 2, 1873; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to provide an artificial leg for A. J. Nunn; approved March 15, 1874.

An act to amend and re-enact section 19 of chapter 77 of the Code of Virginia (edition of 1873), concerning the board of visitors of the Virginia agricultural and mechanical college, and the board of curators of the Hampton normal and agricultural institute; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to provide for the payment of the indebtedness of Harrisonburg township, in the county of Rockingham; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to authorize the Shenandoah valley agricultural society to borrow money; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to authorize the appointment of trustees for benevolent societies having no lands; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to authorize the trustees of the town of Banister to elect a president, who shall act as mayor, and to elect a sergeant for said town; approved March 14, 1874.

An act to incorporate the Westham granite company of Virginia; approved March 16, 1874.

An act for the relief of the sureties of Charles Short, late sheriff of Culpeper county; approved March 16, 1874.

An act to incorporate the Richmond, Creighton and Hanover turnpike company, in the counties of Henrico and Hanover; approved March 16, 1874.

An act to incorporate the town of Boydton, in the county of Mecklenburg; approved March 16, 1874.

An act to pay Henry A. Wise for his services as commissioner, and