Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-14
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
MONDAY. December IL, 1850.
sen ATE

The Senate was called 10 order Mt IL o'clock
Lieut.. Governor Jackson at tho chair.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Woodb idgo
BILLS REPORTED.
by Mr.. Coghill: To amend Is, section If nm net
passed April LIST, 1883 entitled m net to amend
the l4th section Of chapter 3S Of the Code Of Vir-
ginia us amended by the 4th section of nh act en-
titled IN nc, amending the Code of Virginia pass
March 81, 1851, 30 as more efcctualy to prevent
dealing with slaves or free negroes and to repeal
the Cd section of said net.
By the same: Amending and reenocing the
9TH section Of chapter $50 af tho Code Of Virginia
so to restrict appeals from the Judgment of JUS
tees of the Peace.
by M. Dickinson: OF completing tho Floyd
Court House and llillsyile Turnpike Road to the
Wilson Creek and South Fork Turnpike
| BY Mr.. Bruce: or authorizing the establish
ment of Bank upon the State Stock principle at
Charlotte Court House
BY Mr. Nelson: OF cqualizing the tax on wri,s
in the Circuit and County Courts.
BY Mr.. G. Y Thomas: OF requiring tho Cir
cult Judges Of this Commonwealth to alternate
within the section in which they are electc,, in
holding the terms of their respective Courts.
PETITIONS.
BY Mr. Stuart OF Thomas v inn, of the State
of Iowa, praying that tho punishment Of Edward
iCoppoc, now under sentence Of death may be
committed to confinement in the Penitentiarv
On motion of Mr.. Thomas, Of Fairfax 1t was
referred to tho Committee for Courts Of Justice,
with power to send for persons aud papers.
The following is the petition referred to:
10 tie Senate and House Of Delegates Of the Com
mo"neaM q Virginia, co"rcnea IN General
assembly:
The memorial of the undersigned, citizen of
the State Of Iowa. respectfully represents that Ed
win Coppoc, citizen Of that State is now in jail
at Charlestown, Jefferson COUNTY, w.. under tho
sentence OF death Tor his participation in the late
deplorable affair ut llarTer's Ferry.
Your mcmorialist would respectfully ask your
honorable body to commute the said sentence to
imprisonment in the Penitcntiary and, in sup-
port OF said request, begs leave to submit tho fol
lowing facts:
Edwin Coppoc was left an orphan at the ago Of
six years. lie ia quite young man, not having
yet attained his Oath year, and has heretofore SUI
tanned an excellent reputation. Your MEMORIALS
has been well acquainted with him during Tho
last nine years, and cnn truly bear testimony that
up to the period OF his most unfortunate acquaiht
Iance with John Brown. he was nm honest, indus
trious. truthful, and iar-abiding person.
| Your memorialist would further represent tina
a the acquaintance of Edwin Coppoc with Johr
Brown is Of very recent date, and that he had ~
. kno'ctedge or acquaintance 10Th him rhateper il
i Kansas
Your memorialist would respectfully refer t.
the evidence adduccd on the trial of other parties
, which goes to show that Edwin Cappoc WAS no
D. fully apprizcd of John Browns design that h.
Il had no intention whatever to commit either trea
10 son murder, aud that in fact no ono fell by hi
~ hand.
T. Your memorialist would also respectfully rete
j. to the evidence, which abundantly proves TINT Ed
@ win Ccppoc's conduct towards the prisoners whom
i Brown held at Harpers Ferry was marked thro
out by kindly feeling and desire, frequentl
k expressed. that they should place themselves il
t. positions where they wauld be shielded from in
r jury, as he did not wish to see any Of them hurt
9 Your memorialist would further urge on behal
j. OF this young man. that. during his Imprisonment
. in the Jail at Charlestown his conduct has bee,
r commendable and his correspondence entire, un
r exceptionable, accompanied by heartfelt rcuent
: ance for the wrong he Laa committed; and tina
f therei is at Harper's Ferry and Charleston whe,
the facts are known, general desire that his sen
0 teuce should be commuted in consideration of hi
, mertorious treatment OF Browns prisoners
a On these considerations, and others which
: might be offered, your memorialist bases his up
, real to your honorable body on behalf Of Edwil
Coppoc and trust that, in the exercise of diSni
, fed moderation, yoa will, in his case, temper jus,
f ice ,cih mercy.
a Very respectfully.
: THOMAS WYNN.
It REDMOND, Va, Dec 10, 1859
THE DuELLINo BILL
Was taken up, and Mr.. Rives made q Ion,
speech against it.
Mr.. August replied to Mr.. Rives in favor Of tn,
passage of the bill.
Mr.. Brannon then rose and replied to question:
: lpropounded to him by Mr.. Rives. He moved tina