RESOLUTION OF MR. PLATT.

Resolved, That a committee, to consist of five members, be appointed by the Chair, to inquire into the expediency of authorizing and requiring the General Assembly to impose upon all holders, owners, or claimants of judgments, choses in action, bonds, notes, accounts, or other evidences of indebtedness contracted before the 9th of April, 1865, or founded upon a consideration arising before that day, an annual tax of not less than ten nor more than twenty per cent. of the whole amount of money claimed to be due and payable; the amount so collected to be reserved as an addition to the school fund.

ARTICLE PROPOSED BY MR. SCOTT, TO BE INSERTED BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS.

That Virginia is, and of right ought to be, a co-equal member, and integral part and parcel of the Government of the United States, and as such is entitled to all the benefits enjoyed by, and subject to all the burdens imposed upon, the several States composing said Government by the Constitution thereof and the laws passed pursuant thereto.

REPORT

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON INTERNAL IMPROVMENTS

IN RELATION TO THE

SALE OF THE DISMAL SWAMP CANAL.

The Committee on Internal Improvements having maturely considered the resolution offered by L. Lee, Jr., as to the circumstances attending the sale of the "Dismal Swamp Canal," whether the terms imposed by the Legislature were complied with, and by what authority, &c., beg leave to report that the resolution is answered in the following communication from the Governor, and ask that it be read as part of their report :

"F. A. WINSTON, ESQ.: "DEAR SIR:

"EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 8th, 1868.

"In reply to your favor of to-day's date, asking me for information in regard to the following resolution, adopted by the Constitutional Convention now in session, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Internal Improvements be instructed to inquire into and report to this Convention the circumstances attending the sale of the State's interest in the Dismal Swamp Canal, whether the terms imposed by the Legislature were complied with, and if so, by what authority and under what circumstances were the purchasing parties relieved from said conditions,' I have to reply, that the Board of Public Works, in making the sale of the Dismal Swamp Canal, acted under an act of the General Assembly of Virginia, passed on the 2d day of March, 1867, which is in the following words, viz :

"Whereas, the canal of the Dismal Swamp Canal Company, in consequence of the late war, and from other causes, has been much injured; and whereas there is no prospect of the said canal being put in navigable condition within any reasonable time, and no prospect of the State receiving any revenue from the said canal; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That the Board of Public Works be, and they are hereby, authorized, in their discretion, to sell, either publicly or privately, and upon such terms as shall to them seem best, the interest of the State of Virginia in the Dismal Swamp Canal Company: provided, that the proceeds of any such sale be applied in liquidation of the public debt.

2. This act shall be in force from its passage.