The Clerk read, as follows: Ricmioxo, Viaoixu. Jam", 24.1866. By a statute grassedat the present session of the Legislature of iiginia entitled “A bill providing for the punishmentotvugrants, " it is enucted mmong other tings. that any justice of the peace.upon the coinpliiint of any outofccrtnin Officers therein named, may issue his warrant for the apprehensionof any person alleged to he a vagrant, and cause such person to be apprehended and brought before him; and that if upon due examination said justice of the peace shall find that such person is avagrnnt, within the definition of vagrancy contained in said statute, he shall issuehis warrant directing such personto be employed fora term not exceeding 3 months and by any constableof the county w crein the proceedings are had be hired out for the best wares which can be procured, his wagesto be applied to the upport of iniself and his family. Thesuid statute further provides, that in case any vagrant so hired shall, during his term of service, run away from his employer Without sufficient cause, he shall be apprehended on the warrant of n nslice of the peace and returned to the custody of is employer, who shall then have, free of any further hire, the services of such vagrant for one month in addition to the original terms of hiring and that the employer shall then have power. if authorized by a JUSileg of the peace to work such vagrant with ball and chain. The sai statutespecifics the persons who shall be considered vagrants, and be liable to the penaltiesimposedbyit. In many counties of this State meetinirsof employ ershave beenheld and iininst und wrongfnl comiinntionshave been ciitered intofor the pnrpose of depressing the wagesof the freedmenbelow the real value of their labor. for below the prices formerly paid to mastersfor labor performedhytbeir slaves. y reason of these combinations wages utterly innde note to thesupport of themselvesand their inmilics ave. in many plnce s, hccoinc the usual and commonwavesof the freedmen. The effect of the statute in question will he, therefore.to compel the freedmen, under the penalty of punishment as criminals, to accept and nbor for the wages established by these combinations of enployers. It places them whollyin the power of their employers and it is easily to iorcsce t int evon where no sneh combination now exists. the temptation to form them adoredby the statutewill be to be resisted, and that such inadequate woogsets Will become the common and usual wagesthroughout the State. The ultimate effect of the statute will be to reduce the freedmento a condition of servitude worso than that from which they have been emancipated, a condition which will he slavery in all but its name is therefore ordered that no magistrate, ciVil odi oer, or other person shall. in an way or manner apply, or attempt to apply, the provisionsof said statute to any colored personin this Dept. By commandof Major General A. ll. Terry: EDWARD W. SMITH. Asst Atbulunt General.