FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1871.

Pursuant to adjournment, the Senate assembled at 12 M., and was called to order by Hon. C. W. MONTGOMERY, President pro tem. The roll was called, and, a quorum answering to their names, the PRESIDENT announced the Senate ready to proceed to business. Prayer by the Chaplain.

The Clerk read the Journal of yesterday.

PAPERS FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House sent to the Senate

Report (favorable) of the Committee on Contingent Accounts of the House of Representatives, on the account of the Columbia Gas Company.

On motion of Mr. WHITTEMORE, the Report was referred to the Committee on Contingent Accounts and Expenses of the Senate. The House also sent to the Senate

Concurrent Resolution authorizing the publication of one thousand extra copies of the Report of the Commissioner of Agricultural Statistics. On motion of Mr. WIMBUSH, that the consideration of the Resolution be postponed and made the Special Order for Monday, January, 23, 1871,

Mr. WHITTEMORE moved that the consideration of the Resolution be postponed to the next regular session.

The motion of the Senator from Darlington was subsequently withdrawn.

The question was taken on agreeing to the motion of the Senator from Darlington, and decided in the affirmative.

Hon. A. J. RANSIER, President, took the chair.

The House returned to the Senate, with concurrence,

Concurrent Resolution to appoint a Special Committee of investigation to investigate as to the amounts drawn from the State Treasury by the Committee appointed at the regular session of 1868-'69 to investigate the electoral affairs of the Third Congressional District of this State.

The PRESIDENT announced Messrs. Nash and Smalls the Committee on the part of the Senate, pursuant to the above Resolution, and a message sent to the House of Representatives accordingly.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

Mr. WHITTEMORE, from the Committee on Engrossed Bills, reported as duly and correctly engrossed, and ready for a third reading: A Bill to regulate the appointment, jurisdiction and duties of Notaries Public;

A Bill to repeal so much of an Act of 1839 as prohibits the Clerks of the Courts of the State from acting as Attorneys and Solicitors in the Courts of the State;

A Bill to authorize Circuit Judges to hold Courts in other Circuits than ther own.

The above Bills received their third reading, passed, and were ordered to be sent to the House of Representatives.

Mr. WHITTEMORE, from the Committee on Engrossed Bills, reported as duly and correctly engrossed, and ready for a third reading, Joint Resolution authorizing the County Commissioners of Spartanburg County to levy a special tax.

The Joint Resolution received its third reading.

On motion of Mr. FOSTER, and by unanimous consent of the Senate, the Joint Resolution was amended by striking out the words "the same to be used exclusively to paying the past indebtedness of the County."

The Resolution, as amended, passed, and was ordered to be sent to the House of Representatives.

Mr. WHITTEMORE, from the Committee on Engrossed Bills, reported as duly and correctly engrossed, and ready for a third reading:

Bill supplementary to an Act entitled "An Act to authorize Administrators, Executors, and other fiduciaries, to sell certain evidences of indebtedness at public sale, and to compromise in certain cases."

The Bill received its third reading, passed:

Ordered, That the title thereof be changed to that of an Act, and that it be enrolled.

Mr. WIMBUSH, from the Committee on Incorporations, to whom was referred the following Bills, reported back the same with a recommendation that the Bills do pass:

Bill to incorporate the Nashville Independent Blues Charitable Association;

Bill to incorporate the Moses Guards, of Ridgeway, Fairfield County, South Carolina.

Mr. GREENE, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred Ordered for consideration to-morrow.

a Bill to supply the deficiency in the appropriation for the Charleston City Schools, for A. D 1870, reported back the same with a recommendation that the Bill do pass.

Ordered for consideration to-morrow.

Mr. OWENS, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred a Bill to increase the salaries of the Justices of the Supreme Court, reported back the same with a recommendation that the Bill do not pass. Mr. SMALLS moved that the Rule be suspended and the Report considered immediately.

Objection being made, the Resolution was ordered for consideration

to-morrow.

Mr. ARNIM, from the Committee on County Offices and Officers, to whom was referred a Bill to amend an Act entitled "An Act to define the jurisdiction and duties of County Commissioners," reported back the same, with the following amendments:

"In Section 1, line 15, between the words "be" and "presented," insert "numbered, and they shall be."

In line 22, between the words "not" and "draw," insert "in anticipation of the tax levied upon the County."

nor," in 26th

Strike out all after the word "the," in 24th line, to line, and insert "whole amount of the said tax in any one year." In Section 2, strike out "also," in 1st line.

In line 5, between the words "Commissioners" and "whose," insert "except in the Counties of Charleston and Edgefield, in which the Board of County Commissioners shall appoint some suitable person as Clerk."

Also, the following additional amendments to the Bill:

SECTION 3. At the end of paragraph 4, Section 10, add "And all work given out by the County Commissioners, when the amount shall exceed the sum of one hundred dollars, shall be done by contract. And the Commissioners are hereby required to advertise the same, in one of the papers of the County, at least, for thirty days, inviting proposals. Said proposals shall in all cases be accompanied by two or more sufficient sureties; and the County Commissioners shall have the right to reject any or all bids, if, in their judgment, the interests of the County so require."

In Section 18, after "Board," paragraph 4, insert "a new division":

"5. To countersign every check drawn on the County Treasurer; and in the County of Charleston, the County Auditor shall counter-sign every check drawn by the County Commissioners of that County on the Treasurer of said County."

BILLS INTRODUCED.

Mr. LESLIE asked and obtained the unanimous consent of the Senate to introduce, without previous notice,

A Bill to renew the charter of the town of Bamberg, in the County of Barnwell.

The Bill received its first reading, was ordered for a second reading and consideration to-morrow, and to be printed.

Mr. WHITTEMORE, pursuant to notice, introduced

A Bill to incorporate the town of Florence, S. C.

The Bill received its first reading, and was ordered for a second reading and consideration to-morrow.

RESOLUTIONS.

Mr. WHITTEMORE introduced the following Resolution :

Resolved, That the Senate Judiciary Committee be requested to report a Bill providing for the working of the roads and highways.

Ordered for consideration to-morrow.

Mr OWENS introduced the following Concurrent Resolution:

Whereas, the Superintendent of the Penitentiary, it is alleged, has abused the office which he holds by speculating in the property and funds of the State appropriated in aid of and for the use of the said Institution, and it is also alleged that certain Directors of the Penitentiary have entered into unlawful combinations for the purpose of speculating with the funds and property of the said Institution, and in the use of the convict labor, to the great detriment and injury of the rights and interests of the people of the State; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That a Special Committe of Three on the part of the Senate, andon the part of the House, be appointed to investigate the affairs and operations of the Superintendent of the said Penitentiary, as well as the Directors of the said Institution, and that said Committee have power to send for persons and papers, and that they do report to the General Assembly as early as practicable.

On motion of Mr. NASH, the Rule was suspended, and the Resolution considered immediately.

Pending debate

The PRESIDENT announced the hour arrived for the consideration of the

SPECIAL ORDER.

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the Special Order for this day, at 1 P. M., to wit:

Bill (from the Committee on the Judiciary) to amend an Act entitled

"An Act providing for the general election, and the manner of conducting the same."

On motion of Mr. HAYNE, further proceedings under the Special Order were postponed until the disposal of the matter previously under consideration.

RESOLUTIONS.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the Resolution introduced by the Senator from Laurens to appoint a Special Committee of Investigation.

After debate, participated in by Messrs. Corbin, Hayne, Nash, Leslie, Mr. HAYNE moved to amend the Resolution by striking out the words "of three," and inserting in lieu thereof the words " on the State Penitentiary.

After further debate, participated in by Messrs. Swails, Hayne, Leslie, Whittemore, Corbin, Nash,

On the question of agreeing to the amendments offered by the Senator from Marion,

Mr. HAYNE called for the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were taken and resulted as follows:

Yeas-Messrs. Arnim, Bieman, Burroughs, Cardozo, Clinton, Corbin, Dickson, Duncan, Duvall, Foster, Hayne, Johnston, Nash, Smalls, Whittemore, Wilson -16.

Nays-Messrs. Barber, Greene, Leslie, Owens, Swails.-5.

So the amendment of the Senator from Marion was agreed to.

The question was taken on agreeing to the Resolution, as amended, and decided in the affirmative.

Mr. CORBIN introduced the following Resolution:

Resolved, That the County Treasurer for Charleston County be instructed to report to the Senate, with the least possible delay:

1st. The amount of money collected and paid out by him and his predecessors in office for County purposes on the checks of the County Commissioners, or their Chairman, during the past fiscal year.

2d. The name of the drawee, and amount thereof, of each check paid, drawn by the County Commissioners, or their Chairman, during the past fiscal year.

3d. The amount of the tax levy during the past fiscal year, the amount of taxes collected, and the amount past due and unpaid taxes, for County purposes.

On motion of Mr. CORBIN the Rule was suspended, and the Resolution considered immediately.