Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-12-20
Legislature Of Virginia.

| 80 Oaei'ns an inquiry as TO the pr0prlety
u making an appropriation for extending the
e and Monterey Turnpike TO the Warm
Springs, in the county of Bath,
MT. Stuart presented the petition of Thos
M Miun, OF Iowa, praying that the punishment Of
Edward Coppoo, Under sentence OF death at
1 Onarlestown, be commuted to confinement in the
Penltentiary. The petition sets forth that Cop.
poe was leu an orphan at six years of age, and
was raised by members of the Society of Friends
I-lhat, until ne left them in August last, his
character had been perfectly good-that he had
Deen leu into the Harpers Ferry affair by Brown,
without being fully appraised Of the design, &C.
MT stuart stated that the petitioner had come
to him at the request of Gov. Wise, who had in
10 fmed him subsequently, that there were miti-
eating circumstances in Coppocs case-that he
was not yet "a years of age had shown a great
desire to protect the citizens imprisoned in the
engine house at Harper's Ferry &c. On motion
OF Mr.. Thomas the petition was referred to the
Committee for Courts of Justice.
i The dueng bill was debated, and then, by q
vote OF 30 to 8, the vote by which it was ordered
TO be engrossed was reconsidered. 1t was then
referred to the Committee on Courts of Justice.
House.-A paper was presented by the Speak
or, read and ordered to be printed, rendering the
approval, sympathy and cooperation of the
State OF North Carolina in all matters of a sec
tional character.
MIR. Barbour presented memorial from cit
izen OF Illinois, invoking the clemency of the
State, IN behalf of Ooppoc, one of the condemned
prisoners at Harper's Ferry.
The Committee on Roads &C., reported bllls,
among Others, for the construction and equip
ment of the Covington and Ohio Railroad and
the completion of the Central Railroad. These
bills were subsequently, read first time.
j TUEsDAY.-Se nate-Mr. Coghill, from the
Committee on Courts of Justice, reported that it
was inexpedient to legslate further in reference
4 to Coppon
Mr.. Riyes offered resolution that, as it had
been alleged that Mr.. Douglas, of King and
Queen county, had been disqualified from taking
his seat by participating in duel, but had not
withstanding been re.elected to the Senate, the
matter be referred to the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections with instructions to ascertain
and report the facts. Laid on the table,
The case OF Qoppoo was taken up. Mr.. Cog
hill spoke against the communication. lie said
| that the Governor stated before the Committee
that if the consent of the Legislature were given
him he would commute the sentence; but the
Committee agreed that no just or proper cause
for communication was shown.
Mr.. johnson advocated the other side. lie
believed it just and merciful and it would be
digni6ed and polite on the part of the State OF
Virginia to accede to the prayer of the memo
rial.
Mr.. Isbell, of jefferson, could see no difference
between the guilt of Ooppoc and the Others
Only two persons (Bal and Kitzmiller,) from
Jefferson county, had made application in his
behalf 1t was Qoppoc, he said, who shot the
Mayor of Harpers Ferry.
Mr.. Thomas said that although he FIRST favored
the Communication, he was now opposed to it,
He read from a newspaper a letter from Coppoc
repented of his crime. s.e
Mr.. johnson said that what he had just heard
had changed his opinion also.
The resolution reported by the Committee
was then unanimously adopted
Hoase.-N othing Of Importance,
WEDNESDAY Stuart reported
a bill to appropriate one hundred thousand dol
lars for the purchase of arms and munitions
! Referred to Military Oummittee, at his request
Mr.. Stuart offered a joint resolution author
izlng the appointment of an additional member
from the Senate on the Harper's Ferry Commit
tee. He wished to have the services of Mr.. Is
bell, of Jefferson. The House agreed with an o.
The Senate concurred, and Mr.. Isbell was ap-
pointed.
The bill to provide for the payment ofinterest
on the guaranteed bonds Of the James River and
Kanawha company, was passed.
i Hoa.se.-Mr. Christian introduced the follow
ing resolutions of inquiry:
OF amending the law against dueling so as to
make any of the parties concerned in duel
competent witnesses, and the mere fact OF test-
flying shall constitute a complete exemption for
1 such witness from prosecution for being engaged
in the duel, etc,
i Of making it more practicable and convent
emit for the county courts to re arrange the mag
isterial districts, etc.
| The Speaker presented Q communication from
the Governor enclosing letter from O. j. Faulk-
ner, recommending an appropriation for the re-
lief of g. W. Richardson, of Martinsburg, aud S,
O. Young, OF Oharlestown, two persons wounded
at Harpers Ferry.
THURSDAY. -Senate.-Sundry bills were re.
ported, and resolutions offered, after which the
bill to compensate Andrew Hunter for legal
services on the trial of John Brown and others,
was taken up. Mr.. 81. W. Thomas moved to
strike out $4,000, which he said was exorbi.
tant. Mr.. Stuart sustained the motion, and
Messrs. August and Isbell opposed it. The vote
stood ayes 80, noes 10. The blank was then
f filed with $1,000.
House-A bill was reported for the relief of
, Simon Coiner, Of Augusta
The Committee on Military Affairs reported a
bill appropriating 100000 to be expended in
the purchase of arms. On motion of Mr.. KEN
per the bill was amended so as to give the Gov
ernor discretionary power in expanding the sum.
, It was then laid on the table,
Mr.. Massie introduced resolution of in
quiry 10 regard to paying the account of G. A.
Armentrout for conveying lunatics to the East.
ern Asylum.
The bill to form the county of--out of parts
of the counties of Nicholas, Braxton and Ran.
dolph, was taken up on its second reading. On
motion of Mr.. Anderson, the blank in the clause
prescribing the name of the county, was filled
with the name of Webster" Mr.. Duckwall
moved to lay the bill on the table. He desired
to confer with members on the propriety OF
another name. Mr.. McOue hoped that it would
not be the pleasure of the House to lay the bill
, upon the table. It was peculiarly appropriate,
at this time, that we should honor the memory
of the great Paci6cator, in she manner proposed.
6 After further discussion between Messrs Duck.
wall, Anderson and McCue, the motion to lay on
the table was rejected almost unanimously, and
the bill was ordered to be engrossed.
FR1pAY.-Senate.- resolution was adopted
instructine the Committee on the Harper's Ferry
affair to report all laws enacted by free States to
obstruct the execution of the fugitive slave law
The bill giving Andrew Hunter 81 800 for
legal services was passed.
House-The Speaker presented communities
ton from the Board of Public Works, urging the
Importance of some temporary provision for the
i, continuation of the work on the Oovington and
: Ohio Railroad
The hin TO form the county of NV ebster" was