Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-05-22
Virginia. Legislature
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
'i.lsa SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1862.

r O. =
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Os'i.as9 SATURDAY, May 8, 1862. .
% Immeliately after the House was
called to order, Mr.. Lewis ofHarrison
offered the following resolution: M7
= Resolved, That a Joint committee
Of nine on the part Of the House, and
six on the part Of the Senate, 10 ap-
/ pointed to enquire into the expedien-
cy Of moving the capitol Of the Com.
monwealth from the city Of Richmond.
+, Resolved, That said committee fur
ther enquire into and report to the
General Assembly more central and
/. convenient location for the same, where
the executive Of the commonwealth
can cal discharge his constitutional fi,nc
tions without subjeciing tho dignity Of
the office ID insult, and his mansion to
threatened and overt acts ofyiolence.
Mr.. MCDONALD said rhe would vote
fol. the resolution Of tue member from
Harrison. Twas time to act prompt:
", when the Executive could not cx-
ecute the law and perform the trust
confded to him, unless menaced by
threats by an infariated mob. ltis in
vain to disguise the fact, and gentle.
men will'in vain palliate the. circum.
stances. This city can, Of all others
inthe Union, only claim the distinction
Of surrounding the mansion of the
Executive and threatening him with
violence, for performing trust they
themselves have confded to- him
When l first heard ofthe sentence Of
the slave, I formed my opinion Of the
case from the reports of the city press
and from street rumor, and ! believed
that he deserved the sentence. l was
also urged BY a distinguished gentle
man Of tho city, as friend Of the Gov
ernor, to call on him and express tho
views and feelings ofthe community.
[refused to do it, as ! felt that it was
none eof my business, and L knew the
Governor well enough to knowihat
he would be alone guided by what
his head and heart told him was right.
Since the communication Of punishment
/ have examined the official record
and evidence, and I boldly saw that u
clearer. case for executive clemency
could not be presented; and | am sus.
taiped in this ol1iI opinion iaani by I believe
large majority Of this House, as we'll.
as iby most distinguished citizens Of
Richmond. The petitioniwas signed
by all !, or nearly all, of the Clergy Of
your city-by a majority Of the Bar
who heard the. trial-by the ex-At,or-
ney General Of the State, and many
Of your best citizens, and why do you
mob the Governor! Why not mob
those also who were particeps criimiiais
in this supposed outrage ?fr:sl,. i
Sir Ibold this citv responsiblc for
,1;s.lo,v miserable, misc rreasy. fl,by mob.
Won W., I have tho authority to nut Il down,
anJ ,he ne,;t;onera 'are narticulnrly
cmin.hle c M Tbey should have attended
tha noo,;ra ot,tbe C;tv Hall and s,ls.
.aH .a;nsJ the Governor IN doing what
tbev had osked ofhim. but, instead Of
that thew were sitting o,ietlyathome,
Have YOU no policel Why did not
the city fathers do their duty? Sir, |
have heard that after tho mob had for
more than an hour, proanel, Kissed,
and invited the Governor to come out
and be hung. and rode on a rail, a dis.
officer calmly remarked,
/" gentlemen, l think it is timc to re.
tire" = M ts:
Is the epithct of aJolitionist to be
necessarily applied to the Governor,
and the Whole West? | tell you it
comes with a bad grace from this hy.
brid city. oyerrun with yankees and
German socialists! This city is not
and no portion of the State is more