Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-14
virginia Legislature.

-
In the Senate, on Tuesday, bill was re-
ported accepting the grant Of the sites Of
the birth place of Washington, and VI the
; graves of his prOgenitors in America and
, providing for the enclosure thereof
For the relief Of John G. G4rnett Of Orange
: county.
, Mr. CoghiII submitted the following rcso,
lutIOus:
lst. Resoiccd, That, in the opinion Of the
General Assembly Of Virginia, the c1ncIl.
sion to which the President Of tue Uuitsd
States has arrived, as expressed in his re
cent message, in favor of the admission Of
Kansas % n State Of this III MON IN der tie lie.
compton Constitution, is just and right.
ID. Resoired, That Congress has no right
to look further into the Constitution submitted
by the State Of Kansas in its application to
be admitted into this CJi9n than to see that
the sail Constitution is Republican in its
form.
Sd. Resolrs,i, That it is doe to the peace
and harmony Of this Union that Congress
should speedily admit Kansas as a State
unier the LecOmptJu Constitution, without
farther conditions.
Mr.. Weleh moved the suspension of the
rules in order that action might be taken on
the resolutions.
! Pending this, a message was received from
the House Of Delegates, by Mr.. Ma-Sie, that
they mad adopted resolutions in relation to
/ the admission Of Kansas into the Union
! These resolutions are the same as Mr.. Cog
/ hilPs.l
! Mr.. Denealc moved that the resolutions DO
| laid on the table, until tomorrow. lie
! thought them remarkable ones. lie did no,
/ fancy their style They were q delicate and
doubtful support of the Administrator
| They prvle.sed On endorsement, but they
| failed, however 10 endorse the reasons and
arguments Of the President.
There was one sentiment contained ia the
, Presidents argument which met his approval,
and that was q denial to the convention
creating the Constitution for Kansas to abrc-
gate the right OF property 10 slaves now IN
Kansas sentiment SO bold, manly, con
seryatige and Southern, as that uttered by
| the President deserved az unqualified sp-
prevail by the Legislature of Va. lie desired
| TO have the resolutions modified so as to
endorse the sentiment contained 10 the PresI-
| dents message-The ID resolution was vague
! result 10 serious emba rrassment to the action
of subsequent Legislatures as that would
/ limit the power of Congress to look no further
into the cons titution Of State applying for
admission than simply to see that i was repuL-
lican in form. Under this limitation Con
eress would be compelled 10 admit [ tah, with
its institutions, or any other territory, even
though they might declare people OF color
entitled to official position IN tho federal
| Union.
Mr.. CoghilI was willing to accord any
delay, if be saw that any useful purpose
could be gained by it. lie understood that
Mr. Deneale concurred in the principle Of the
resolutions, and il was important that speedy
action should be had. The subject was long
before the people, and was thoroughly under
stood. lie was prepared, however, to sus-
tain any course which would lead to unan..
nifty.
Mr.. Thomas could see no reason for
pressing the resolution today. The sui
ject was now before Congress. We had
enough to DO to mind our own concerns, and
it would be better for US to attend to them.
lie and his party desired to have an oTpo-
tunity of expressing their opinlonS-possItIy
he might endorse the sentiments of the rcsO-
lutious, but be wanted time Tor consideration,
as the other party had already sent forth an
expression of their opinions.
Mr.. Old said be was aStonshed when Mr..
Thomas assorted that they had better attend
10 their own business The subject was a
deeply important one, aud ought surely %
engage the attention Of every Inlor-IOYlug
man. With regard to it's belonging exciu-
svely 10 another quarter, he maintained the;
il belonged to him and every man. We are
not here to take our views on Federal affairs
either on the dictate Of Federal or State off,
GERS lie could see no reason why they
should be trammcled By the rules Of the
Senate; they were very frequently suspended,
and why not in this case.
Mr.. Stuart said that, speaking for himself
alone, he was not prepared to vote on the re
soIutiOns-he could not say whether he
could support them or nOt--they came TO the
Senate from a meeting Of one portion of tho
General Assembly, to which he had not been
invited-he had never read the LccomIt)n
Constitution, and, therefore. did not stand
ready to endorse il, as he did not know what
its provisions were In Washington, q few
days ago, he met n gentleman, Offering from
him in politics, and by bin he was Informed
that the Constitution was a profound swlndIe,
not in political, but pecuniary sense; BE-
understood that it was spoliaton OF the
Treasury--tbat the slavery feature was
sham; the object of the quarrel being to Sc
cure extravaganza grant, Ufpublic lands from
Congress. This was TO be accomplished by
introducing the slavery feature into the Con
stitusioD, to secure Southern votes, and after
it was passed q new Convention was 70 DO
called to strike out the slavery clause: aud
thus the spollation would be accomplished
without any equivalent benefit 20 the South.
In this policy he understood the free STATE
party concurred. If the Objectionable tea
lures did not exist, and the resolutions were
merely intended ta affirm the right Of tho
territory to frame its Constitution in i!s own
way, he would have no objection to them.
Mr.. Armstrong was in favor of laying the
resolutions on the table The SHORTY II
the Senate met last night ard agr' Il on tho
resolutions; he would vote for then >, he want
ed some time for consideration, as difference
Of opinion might exist.
Mr.. White moved that the resolutions tha:
had been reported from the House be taken
up. That could be done without suspenaIng
any rule. lie was unable to attend the eau
Gus, but would vote for the resolutions with
great deal Of pleasure. lie regretted 10