Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-21
RESOLUTIONS.

Prayer by the Rev. Tnos.. SEANAI1, of the
Episcopal Church.
RESOLUTIONS.
The following resolutions were presented:
BY MIR. TALnorr; For establishing branch
of the Bank of this State at the town of Philippi
in Barbour county.
BY Mr.. SEGAR That the House will not, pre-
vious to the adjourned session, take I'D any Inter
nal improvement BILL Provided that this resolu-
ton shall not be understood as embracing any bill
which may be before the House providing for an
additional fifth of the States subscription to the
Manassas Gap Railroad Company.
Mr.. TALIFERRo moved to lay this resolution on
the table, which motion was rejected-ayes 50,
noes 63.
MIR. 1ERBY moved to strike out the proviso in
the foregoing resolution and long debate ensued,
after which the question was taken and Mr.. YER
by's motion lost.
Mr.. HARDY moved to amend by adding the
words Except bills to which there is no objec-
ton" after the word ''bill' in the resolution.
Mr.. SEGAR moved to amend the resolution by
adding the following words, Cor the bill providing
for the payment of arrearages of interest due by
the James River and kanawha Company" The
amendment was agreed to, and the resolution, as
amended adopted-ayes 65, noes 43.
Mr.. SEGAR, from the joint committee on the Pub
lie Library, presented joint resolution, author
ElIlS Ifle CoHlIllltCee on tne Library TO make an
appropriation from the Literary fund to procure
from the public archives in England copies of doc
uments relating to the early history of Virginia.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE GOVERNOR.
The Speaker presented the following commu-
nication from the Governor, which was read and
ordered to be printed
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
May 10, 1882
To the General assembly of Virginia:
In the discharge of my constitutional duty,
had the honor to communicate to your body on
the 1th inst the reasons for the Communication of
the sentence of the slave Jordan Hatcher. | learn
| that the terms Ill which those reasons were ex-
| pressed, have been misconstrued, and my views
upon the delicate relations existing between mas
| ter and slave Inexperienced. Upon this grave
| subject Ieannot permit a doubt to be felt of the
views of the Executive.
never Entertained the opinio n, nor did intend
to intimate, that the slave would under any cir
cumstances, he excused or justified in resisting
the legal authority of his master. The right Of
the master or his agent, to punish his slave, when
ever, in his opinion, he deserves it, is legal
right-results from the nature of the property it
SELF and is necessary for wholesome discipline and
\ restraint 1t is founded on the soundest princi
pies of public policy, and our Courts have held
that the owner of slave cannot be indicted for the
cruel progressive whipping of his own slave. If
the master abuses this high power SO tar as to
commit crime, he is responsible to the laws of the
land alone. The slave has no rights adverse to
those of the master agent to whom he has dele
gated his authority.
! With these views, long entertained, tits almost
unneces sary to say that in my late message, did
not intend to convey the idea that the relative po-
sitions OF the white citizens and the save to the
laws OF the country were the same, or that the
ercise by the master his agent of the ample
power of chastisement given by the law, furnishes
an excusable or justfable reason for resistance or
an exhibition of resentment upon the part of the
slave.
| Our laws wisely discriminate between the pun
ces, and in my interposton in behalf of the slave
Jordan Hatcher, did not intend to express the
| conviction ofmy mind that slave should not suf-
fer death for offences below the grade of murder:
in many instances it is proper in the execution OF
the law. Upon an examination of the record of
Jordan Hatcher's trial and conviction, came to
the conclusion that it presented case for the in
reference Of the Executive, and committed the
punishment to the only substitute for the death
penalty provided by law. In stating my reasons
if have failed to do so in cleal and distinct TERMS
it has resulted rather from want of familiarity
with the teclnicahfes of the law than from any
disposition to misinterpret them. l have the
honor to be. very respectfully,
JOSEPH JOHNSON.
On motion of Mr.. BUcKNER, the House then
adjourned