The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-16
Important Political Movement In
Virginia.

Virginia LegislNtu Efforts In Censure
Governor Wise Tor his Tammany Letter
Endorsement OF ME-. Buehanan's Policy I'm
Regard t0 Kansas, &c.
SPECIAL REPORT FOR THE NEW YORK HERALD
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. IL, 1858.
caucus consisting of tho democratic members of
Houses of the General Assembly Of this State held
tonight in the hall of the House Of Delegates for the pur
pose Of expressing opinion in relation " the OF
the administration with reference TO Kansas. Since the
appearance of Gov. wse's ammany Hall letter the pro
prety Of this course has been generally discussed among
members Of the Legislature, especially those of them Who
opposed 10 the Governors internal impro yement
policy, and his new scheme of oyster fund tax The
friends OF Hunter and the Know No.hngs
active in urging its necessity aud they succeeded but
failed however in their efforts to bring formal censure
upon the Governor
The caucus called 10 order few minutes after
O'Clock, and on motion Of A. A. Cu,PaAs a IN ,mbsr IF
the House of Delegates from Monroe county, sr wm W.
Amber the Senator from Louisa county was appointed
Chairman.
Mr.. Stevens, member Of the House from Rockingham
appointed secretary.
On motion of Senator CArErT call of the House was
made with view ascertain the number present. when
tappeared there were one hundred and two in ALL u
wit: eighty members and twenty-five senators.
Mr. CoGI, Senator from Amherst sad:-I believe il is
generally understood that this meeting has been called
for the purpose Of giving expression OF opinion tho
part of theGeDera Assembly relation the subject of
the admission of Kansas into the Union Different posi-
tons have been taken in respect 10 this subject different
parts of the Union both North South and is emf
henty proper at this time that there should be some ex
pression Of opinion given by the General Assembly Of
Virginia. With that view have after consultation with
friends, prepared resolutions which desire 10 sub
NIT for the action Of this meeting. so far person
ally concerned and so far as those members
of With xho I havn
conferred are concerned, there is disposition
on their part that nothing shall be done in this
matter hastily or indiscreety nothing shall be done
which should, by implication reflect upon any man;
bu. that everything which shall be done must done in
vindication Of principle and expression of
opinion in cont adstncton from anything that may be
supposed to reflect upon any human being II
that the resolutions which offer will this pur
pose better than anything else have seen and l. there
fore, submit them for the consideration Of the meeng
whereas positions have been taken both in the North
and the South, calcu lted To divide and distract
Southern people, and 10 defeat the admission of Kansas
into the Union upon equal footing with the other States
Resolved by the General Assembly OF Virginia. That
the people OF Virginia by overwhelming majority sus
tain President Buchanan in the position he occupies
ation TO the admission OF Kansas as state under the
Lecompon constitution and no is authorized speak
in the name by the authority OF that people who does
not sustain the President upon that position.
Resolved, in the opinion Of this General Assembly, That
Congress has no power TO impose any conditions upon
State admitted into the Union other than imposed by
the constitution Of the United Satss that any such
tempt the part OF Congress violation of the rights OF
the Sies subyesiye Of the sacred principles OF
lines between State rights and the powers Of the federal
government.
Col BENJAMIN Rusu FtoyD, Senator from wytbe said
am very glad, sir to hear the expression OF opinion
which IL contained In these resolutions think they en-
body the proper sentiments. With single exception in
the first resolution, they up some resolutions
which have prepared, and which think will obvaie
any difference ofopnion or msconsructon which might
be put upon some OF the terms contained the ssoutons
just offered. ! will read my resolutions
Resolved, That the harmony and peace Of this Union
demands at the hands Of the Congress OF states
gpecdy. satisfactory and of
Kansas.
dent Of the United Staos in hts late annual message
WISE moderate and sufficient, and r agreed 10 will
speedily effect that desirable object
Mr. EoyD-I think that no possible misconstruction
arise from tho language OF these resolutions trust
,hessfess. that viii be tho pisasuro tho Esaaasaa
for hs PREAMBLE and revolutions y purpos. n dra-"S
these resolutions In this form that We who repre-
sent ths democracy Of the state should take no part 10
culties arising between members Of the Union thnk nr
they embody emphscaly what the people Of the stAe-f
know, my own people-will maintain. trust therefore,
that will speak IN these general proposed In or
der that nobody shall mscoustrue language that
gentleman gentlemsn's friends shall take exception
70 IT, and that nobody will feel that he aggrieved by tho
action OF The democracy OF Virginia ! think, sir, that
upon the preamble and resouons Of the gentleman from
Amherst there Is language in them which might be mis-
construed in reference TO certain distinguished gentleman
whom We desire TO cast no reflection upon. trust tho
gentleman from Amherst will accept these resolutions
lieu Of those which he has offered.
couniy-I would beg the OF tho resolutions
whether hc refers tho conclusions tho Arguments of
the President In reference 10 Kansas do not approve OF
his arguments, while am In favor Of his conclusions
Mr.. FroYD-I refer 10 his conclusions.
Mr. EpmusDs-I would like 70 have that term embodied
In the resolutions.
The word "conclusions {" accordingly substituted
for " suggestions " In the second resolution.
Mr., CAxrrufI Senator from Nottoway-I want 10 know
whether the resolutions offered by gentleman tho
way pNr Floyd were offered A. q substitute mercy
Mr. roYp-r suggested TO the gentleman the propriety
adopting them IA subsuute in order 10 obviste the
possibility of fmisconsructon III he does mol sdop them,
shall offer them a substitute II my Intention
have done In the beginning but would prefer thai
should have no difficulty about the matter, and with
view AVOID that suggested the propre,y Of adopting
these resolutions as a substitute.
Mr. waEr, senator from Kanswha, wanted TO strike out
the portion Of the first resolution offered by Mr. Coeb
whi,h implied upon the Governor That portion
of tho resolution s' Ana authorized 70 speak
10 the by the authority u that people who does
DOT sustain the President upon that positson5
Mr. Co.Hui--I am welded 10 particular form of sx-
preston, nor do ! suppose that many other septeu,en
All that We are asking 70 do rs 10 express veS
aton TO this subject that form of language which shall
vided say or do nothing 10 which exception BE-
taken by any person, The resoletou which expresses
THIS mee,ns Is thai which W. should adopt i.ay shss
20 far a. the form Of expression Concerned am Dot
welded 70 any IsrsS s rer% w and with IN a., due defer
that his resolutions do not express as cmphacaliy, s
clsarly, and unequvocsy s they should the opnisns
question now under consideration ABi d for that
reason that prefer the resolutions which III bad The
honor offer 10 thoee resolutions offered by the gentle
MN from wythe They liable TO no objection, ex-
cept probably tha, made by the gentleman from Kama
vhs, 10 the ht part OF the rst resolution They al
mos identical with the resolutions offered by the GENTLE
himself with this difference, that they express
clearly and strongly the sentiments which announced
In bis resolution The only material difference that exists be-
them thai which the gentleman from Kanavha has
suggested; and when that removed seems 10 that
there be doubt difficulty as 10 the adoption Of
resolutions. that, mind, conGtitutA0
objection. A WAS well remarked by The gentleman, We
not here for The purpose deciding between gentle
but for the purpose OF giving expression 10 The senh
men,s OF what conceive TO be the democratic party Of
Virginia on the subject And any person has mlsrepre
sened these sentimens any exception be taken 70
the language Of these resoluonsS say that any
has represented the sentiments of The democratic
pary of Virginia in light contrary 10 what set forth in
these resolutions be has fully reflected their senti-
ents We 40 NOT 10 an thai be srtd npvooer