Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-13
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LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, is49.
SENATE
Mr. KINNEY !, ,ha .hsanca nj Mr. Mica

Mr.. KINNEY in The absence OF Mr.. MEGA,
ley, rose and remarked as follows:
| Mr.. Speaker: The awful announcement mac
| to US yesterday oil The sudden death OF Our belo'
ell ane respected tellow.laborer, John w. Thoml
| son OF the county Of Botelourt, was so slunnin
so overwhelming, that we were unified, unab
to pass the appropriate resolutions, but immed
ately adjourned.
| In the absence of The Senator from tina, Distri
MIR. McCauley,) who has or is preparing to s
\ out this morning with The mortal remains of b
lamented friend and constituent, 10 their last les
ing place in the county OF Botetour il is thougi
proper that |, as The Senator from the adjaccf
dislrici, should again call the attention oil The 81
male 10 this distressing event, and present fo
| their consideration some resolutions | have ha:
lily prepared.
In doing so, Mr.. Speaker, do not propose
pronounce, if even had the ability, eulog
| upon our deceased friend. No, sir, no, feel TO
! deeply, TOO acutely, on The occasion, 10 attemT
| anything OF The kind-the deep aud suodued 81
lence, the sad countenances around me, besPea
more eloquently Than anything could say, In
| estimate placed upon The loss, thai we, In
! family and Stale have sustained IN The death o
John w. Thompson, whose manly form, who's
kind and benevolent countenance, was seen a
this hour Yesterday in our midst. Tho he lei
| far from family and kindred, il it will be any
alienation to their grief, lei them be assured, HI
fell among friends who will ever cherish hi
memory: he fell too where he was always 10 b,
found, al the post Of duty, prepared. as we hum
bly, trust aud believe, from The purity OF his lite
and his christian virtues, 10 euter upon another
and better world.
Mr. KINNEY offered the following Preamble
and Resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted:
The Senate of Virginia heard announced yes
terday, with deep pain and sincere regret, the
death of John w. Thompson, a highly respect
ed member Of the House OF Delegates, from the
county of Botetourt. In view of that deeply af-
Hic,ing event, they have,
l. Resolved, That the members and officers
of the Senate deeply AMI sincerely symPathiz'ng
with the family, friends and constituents oil the
deceased, will, as an humble expression OF their
respect for him, wear Grape on the left arm for
the remainder of the present session OF the &C.
neral Assembly.
2. Resolved, That a COMMITTEES be appointed
TO act, in conjunction with committee Of the
House of Delegates, TO attend the remains OF
our deceased friend TO his late residence, 10 the
county of Botetourt.
g. Resolved, That the Speaker of tho Senate
transmit a copy of the foregoing Preamble and
Resolutions to the widow of the DECEASED.
MIR. BARBEE rose and said
Mr. SPEAKER | am not alone in my grief
Whilst my own heart is overwhelmed with pro-
found and unutterable sorrow, behold, in
slancing around me, that the counlenance OF
every Senator ndca es the presence of state
of gloom and sadness, which has rarely, il ever,
fallen upon members Of this body before. No
wonder, Mr. Speaker, that every Senator seems
to realize the awful solemnitics OF The moment.
No wonder that this chamber, so often dedica-
ted TO debate, sometimes to angry debate, IS
now so suddenly converted, as il were, into the
temple of the Divinity.
But yesterday voice was heard in this Ca
pitol which is now hushed in the silence OF
death, and will be heard no more forever.
The impressive, the melancholy, the heart.
rendpg story has been told. The Thompson
of yeslerday-the fond father and the affection
ate husband, has been stricken down in the
prime of life and in the midst Of his usefulness.
With the painful story o! his death, so feellnsly
sAi r~rsh py iue ocnatus nora A-s"-'n. III e -
are familiar. May it livet upon our minds
deep and lastin, sense OF the nothingness anu
vanity of all things earthly
MIR. Thompson came into the Hall oil the
House yesterday apparently in the ENJOY
ment OF good health, and, to human aPpearan-.
ces, with bright and Aattering prospects oil
many long and happy Winters before him. But
how delusve are human hopes and expecta-
tons! lie arose from his seat, and was address
sing the Speaker upon question involving tue
interests Of a constituency whom he had long
represented with the most constant and unial'
teriag devotion But his voice failed him.
His tongue was arrested, and 10 ~; minutes
slihened forever in the cold frost OF death. But
few members Of the Senate knew any thing oil
this fearful visitation Till all OF life was over
Hearing lha, he had fallen to The floor, has
tened TO The Hall and found the sufferer in the
last agonies OF death. Another struggle ana lne
unietlered spirit fed away!
Mr.. Thompson was not only an ornament 10
the House OF Delegates, but had been ior num-
Der Of years meek and exemplary member OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Summoned,
then, from earth, as il is hoped, in The enjoyment
OF pure and undef!ed religion, his bereaved iami-
" and friends will not be without hope that his
spirit has been exalted To the uniading goIies oil
the celestial world. But oh, Mr.. Speaker, how
my heart bleeds in contemplation OF the sad hour
when This affective intelligence shall break upon
the household OF The deceased! IL will lndeea DC
an hour replete with wo aid wrelchedness. ne
companion OF his bosom-the sharer win MIN 10
The Joys and ills Of life will presently receive Inc
cold and liteless remains Of The best oil husbands
Children. the fond expeciaEls OF fathers early
return, with blessings upon his lips, receive only
the relics OF departed worth. II will be grel
iuimlabe and uncoped! There will be lamen'
,ation and mourning in that family. Inc deeP
fountains of The soul will be broken up. crushed
hearts aud buried hopes will be there. In ina
dark hour may the troubled spirit seek not IN
vain conference with Heaven! May the melt
ing p,ayer of the bereaved wife ascend The mount
ol God and receive answers OF peace 10 her soul
anu when she enters The sanctuary oil the closet
NAV she not ask in vain that ker children DC cas-
upon the Brotherhood Of God" There's safely
there's peace ard happiness, no where eise'
Mr.. STRlNGER also made few feeling re
marks upon The virtues and private worth OF MT
THOMPSON.
The Speaker announced the committee to al
tend the corpse; Messrs McCauley and Kinney
| On motion OF Mr.. WOODS,
The Senate adjourned.
| HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
| Prayer by the Rev. Almond Gage OF the UGi
| yersallsl Church.
| Mr.. SCOTT, from the cummii,ee for Courts
| presented report against the expediency oil re
porting bill empowering the Judge OF 1he vi
cuit Superior Court OF Law and Chaneery 10
| The county of Ohio TO increase the annual allow
ance 10 the clerk OF said county aud bill chang
ing The time OF holding the spring tern OF the Cif
cult Superior Court Of Law and CbanceTy Tor ~
| county OF Nicholas.
MIR. JONES, from The commiIlee on PROPOSE
| tons reported a bill 10 extend The corporate
| limits OF the town OF Petersburg.
Mr.. DARRACOTT, from The comml,ee OF
Agriculture, reported bill prohibiting the brand
used by one manufacturer oil tobacco from oeini
used by another.
Mr.. DOR MAN, from the committee on I'M
Militia Laws, presented bill for the better
organization of the Militia.
On motion Of Mr.. PRICE-Resolved. Tina
q writ Of election be issued to the sheriff oil IN
county OF Botetourt for the election OF dele
gate TO serve in the present General Assembly
to supply the vacancy occasioned by the deaf
of John w. Thompson.
The committee on Militia Laws was dis
charged from the consideration of the pet
| ,;one ,f The Nansemopd Cavalry, for an ex