Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-01-18
LEOIsLATCKE OF VIRGINIA.
THURSDAY, JAsuAKr 10, 1886.


SENATE.
Prayer by the Rov. Mr. WILSON, of The Methodist
L. Church.
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE.
The President of the Senate laid before that body II
communication lroln the Governor, which was reud,
rs follows;
To the Ssnn.c AID H,nse 6J Deb g0teS Of he G,usra'
Assembly II Tie Commemorate Of Virginia:
G.ntieincm:-l hesitate To- dec!d; upon complying
with tie request Of the Governor and Legislature ot
Vermont, To- lay before you the accompanying rcso-
lutlons Of that State, .'on so much OF tho Governors
mI-ssage us relates 10 KANSAS"
These resolutions are IN every senso offensive 10
u, end unbecoinlng tho intercourse anI correspond
| cucc which should obtain between sovereign States,
in the sam: confedcracy. They ure dc.isned to irri.
tate public feeling upon a topic concerning which il
is naturally and habituuly sensitive aud cxcitud, and
nrc calculated To impair the affection which should
bind the people OF the States together in NATIONAL
union. Extremely erroneous and false. III fact and in
principle, they ue na. worthy Of dIscu sion. The
time for discussing such uHwelruinc mi.sivcs from
State to State IL pissed. We cannot reason with the
htal. Of fanatics, nJr tpuch hearts fatally bent upon
treason.
From time to time, for many years, the authors of
such mischief have been demonstrated with j.. win,
anu have been induced but 10 repeat outra.es, 10 re-
now insults, and ut last to organize opposition I" the
Constitution aud laws aud 70 seize upon State and fe-
deral authority for further aggression.
Iu the present posture Of relations, we can but wait
in culm, dignined aud patient cumposurc, either for
The worst ~ come 10 the worst, or for d returning
sense uf patriotism. q reverence iur the past, Il sacred
regard To law aud order, Il love ut justice and OF
peace, TO be rc-awakened and 10 restore O sis,erhood
Of Sta;cs, its affection, itS harmony, its glory and
strength.
/, therefore, recommend that no action be Ind or
tuk ell upon these resolutions by you. Ii IS proper.
perhups, that they should 10 preserved only as State
archives, III proof of the wrong offered us and Of our
iurbearGnce: an tiIs, and respect fr Stnte sove.
r.ignty alone, determine me to notice them rs ! now
do. They ARE but minor results Of the same cause
of apprehension und danger which has assumed n
u.uch more formidable phase, and HOW arrests The
sravcst attention Uf ou: coaI!r::. The federal gov.
rrnnent is arrested III liz operation, tho Reprcscn.
tative branch Of Congress Is diso:gan,Zcd, aud thu
Representative princ:F.. Itself is brought into
iisrrpu:C by II ut thls very moment; aud, in such u
cri-i. n this, we can hardly descend to look 10 il, re-
suis upon II Vermont Legislature anu Executive
our attention is called 10 Washington c.:y, un. t.
Nu!turiicT. pnrti,s, affiliated w.ih tiiu-r ~ Vernon.
rhu have sent 10 Us these resolutions, have grown ;"
SIR III. as 10 succeed in ,lcc;iEs TO Congress more tia.
ons hundred representatives 10 opp 'se a mere M
uuri,y vii" nc new drieuiirS The C,nstituiloh, and
in withholding from tina: minority tic support o!
thirty representa- yes more, chiefly III the Southern
States: aud the cfcct is that the House Of RcPrsscn-
| tnIivrs cannot be organized, except upon tcrl-s sub
versive Of the Constitution and | :ioni aud the South
is distracted and divided against itself. Is the design
Of the ~rIur1lty d,sun,0rl Is the purpose OF the t0c-
tiJu d,r,sion among ourscircs7 Ii 60, it L. time that
all people and oil interests i'll our country should be
aroused TO Il sense Of the fact, ktat nc easiest step IL
d.Snaa0n IS u r,hdraTCi Of representation, and rat
Tic a.y,t potent cause 10 compel a r,hdrnw0l n r,pre-
~seai1fAoM IS IL i:Sorgaaj=", distract aud degrade re-
presentations. How Ion: Virginia shall &c kept wait
iny for organ:z alton GA constitutional terms ! how
i,ny she shuIl bs kept waiting on Reorganization, 10
acoid 5eiyg put .Pou terms II dtSd0Hor or 1e'ng IT,
pu.rd 10 danger? n-c Questions for hcr people nId her
Legislature 10 determine. For my part, ! repeat the
recommendation OF calm, collected iii. nifty, and Of pa.
tjeut and forbearius patriotism. Want! INT Js not
---y- l., o,.y1.S. un1 D lo.fpp,T enrnp.flk
inplurG you. With the highest respect,
Your vb't ss:v't,
HENRY a. WISE.
R1cvMosp, Va, Jan. 18Th, 1856.
STATE OF VERMONT.
EXECUTIVE UkPARTNETT.
MoSTPELIEK, VT, Dec. 90, 1855.
To tie Honorable, the Governor cf the !Sta'e Of Fr-
Sir: | have the honor to transmit to YOU the nc
compsnyiur Resolutions. on SO much Of the Cover
rcr's Message as relates TO Kansas.
have the horror to be,
With considerations of high respect,
Your obedi-nt servant,
STEPHEN ROYCE.
c. II. HAYDEN, Secretary.
Resolutions on go much NJ tie Go;rrnor's Message a,
relates 10 Kansas.
Whereas, The power aud influence OF the Slave
holding States in this Union has been, from m early
n.r;nd. successfully excr;ci in Intending and siren 1:h-
M the institution u! human slavery, contrary to
! the clear intent uf the founders of the government,
aud in violation q! the spirit of the Constitution; and,
Whereas, In order still further to extend slavery
aud 10 establish it in tho free territories of the United
States, there have been passed the fugitive slave law,
NJ called, aud the code establishing territorial gov
crrrne,it III the free territories OF kHnzns and Neorns.
ka. with prJYi= ions inviting the establishment ui
sluy.ry therein; and in furthcrance vi this purpose,
tine citizens of Missouri have been suffered To invade
the territory of Kauzas, in armed b"ids. and To pre-
Yea, thereby the people oil sn;d kanzas from making
their owu !aws, or cirrtiig their own representatives.
aud by lawlcss fore" TO exclude them from exercising
rpy voice in the government of sn!! territory; hnd
Whereas, The prcsen. administration of the general
government h.S lent itsrl! Ia these Illegal ard UNJUST
schemes; and has either openly aided therein, or Sc
rre;ly ruunived tncrcat; and lhs taken no Steps 20
execute the laws, or IL project the people vi said ter
r;t,ry in the exercise of their constitutional rights thus
nuLIirIy as.a;lcd and ovcrihrown, and has, upon false
nLrt.nscs, removed such Of its own differs rs were
nat entirely suhsrrvicnt 10 thuS" bad designs; and,
Whercss, The right of citizens Of sinvcao!ting
State, To- hold slaves in, aud transport them through,
tine free. Stnic, la. Of late brrn H,sr.'"i, ind The act
attempted, aud in consequence thereof. IL citizen ot q
sister State has been put III prison under lte nstrprt
mr. grossly perverted power ui Il federal judge; there
inr,.. IL il, by tue Senate mud House OF R.prrscDtG-
lives r! tie STATE Of Vermont,
Resolved, That the ;ng;tivc slave act Of 1850 is con
trnry to the spirit OF the constitution Uf the Unite,
Sto;es, in suhvcr,inn of the rights, aud Il fagrant out
| fuTt GDDI lIF tpI'N Va u = RN't' e'A si'N '"
same unsht Ia be immediately repealed.
Resolved, That the enactment ut the provisions OF
,I,. territorial code Of 1851, which n%brugatpd the an'
cirnt prohibition of slavery i'll said territories, ana
on.n.d tlirm 10 the wicked acts aud calnnitous re-
shit. of that institution, wns q gross traui upon the
inst rights Of the proplc,-n ta!thlee. breach of Q
solemn public compact, %: which the s!avehoidins IN
t.rest had already reaped the full 5enrtii--an insar
TO the free States, aud in violation of the natura
ri,hts uf man; and that it merits the condemnation o
| The civil Zed world.
Resolved, That the armed and unlawful invasion
of Kansas, by citizens OF Missouri, and their i!icgn
AMI forci5lu exclusion ui the people %; .iat Territory
from all the political rights 10 Which t!ry Were cntl
tied IN the government thereof, for the sole llrpo.t
of establishing slavery therein, under the .:nlbianc,
Of law, was al net OF atr"city unequGli=G in tir 20
iiiicul history Of thi, nat on, nud directly :uGversiv,
of the fundamental principles "f republican govern
nrut, and that the State Of Missouri will be justl,
charScablr rs a party % that wrong. unle,. she pub
liclv aud distinctly d;savow said acts Of her ciilzeu
aud use every means IN her power 10 prevent a recu.
reGce thereof.
Resolved, Tia: tie Iou-;r.erfereuc OF the fede.s
administration, 20 p-cver, or punish said ou,Iages
lastly makes II, IN the estimation OF mankind, acces
so.y thereto, and unworthy OF ico cvnEdepcs or re
sPrct 81 freenien.
Resolved, That Vermont, while sac wi! in no wa,
assGil the constitutional or domestic rights of III,
s!avehoiding States, will, 20 the utmost Of her power
uphold and sustain tho people OF The territories il
their lawful effort TO exclude -,averv iherefrom,-
tina, she will, al all hazards. and 10 the last extremity
resist al encl oachneu:s upon the constitutional rishi
oi The Siates.-,hat 10 lie extent OF her ability, n,
will oppose the extension uf slavery into. and the tx
isicncc thereof, in The territories Of the United States
and the admission into tie Caiun OF any State who's,
Constitution does MOI teTPetual!y prohibit SLAYER.
therein.
P.s>Iy.S That ia slau. ,yho tr.,s. III. .oI ~