Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-08

HOUSE Or DELEGATES.
The House was called to order at II o'clock by the
SPEAKER.
Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Duncan, of the Methodist

The House was called 20 order at ii o'clock by the
SPEATFE.
Prayer by the Rev Mr.. Duncan, of the Methodist
Church.
THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE.
communication was received from the Senate trans
hitting tie report from the Joint Committee on the sub
ject OF the Southern Conference, as follows:
Hsgoirsd bg ne GsIcrai dsyeub'y-That We have re-
ceiyed with dep syn-ibihty the communications which
South Carolina aud ssisspp have made the author
tiles o. hi, Commonwealth through their Commissioners,
Hon. Z. 6. Memuiuger aud Hon. T. T. StrEe, and we
hail with lively gaufcauon the renewed manifestations
of that iutcra affection which has hitherto charactCIz-
ed aud trust will always continue TO characterize the
relations Of South Carolina and Mississippi, with Nir-
giuia.
Re,o'rei-Thlt We perform pleasing duty in record
ing and communicating to the authorities OF South Car
Oua and Mississippi our high appreciation OF the ability,
dignity aud courtesy with which their Commissioners
have discharged the important duties OF their mission
Rs,ol,ed-That the General Assembly of Virginia rec
oguizng in present relations with the uon'aycholdng
States an imperative necessity for decisive measures
does vet Gsyust the capacity Of the Southern States
by wise and firm exercise of their reserved powers to
protect the rights and liberties of the people and to pre-
the Federal Union. For this purpose we earnest
ly desire the concurrent action oil the Southern StateS
But Tue General Assembly respectfully submit for the con-
sderatOn oi south Carolina ami Mississippi, and all our
sister States of the SOUTH that efficient corporation will
be more safely had by such direct legislative action Of
the several States may bc necessary and proper than
through the agency OF any assemDige which can eXer-
else 40 legislative power EXCEPT TO debate aud advise.
Rcyoirsd--fheretore-Tha in the opinion of the
General Assembly it Is ineXpedcnt appoint deputies
the Conference proposed by South Carolina aud Mis-
si-sppi.
Rssoleed--That the Governor Of this Commonwealth
be requested to communicate the foregoing resolutions
TO the Governors OF the States of South Carolina and
Mississippi and the Governors of each of the other
sllyc-holGug States.
Eesolrcd--That the President of the Senate and the
Chairman Of the House Of Delegates transmit to Hon
c. g. Memmiuger and Hon. F. b. Stirke copy OF the
foregoing resolutions.
Mr.. seldom moved to Law the report on the table (;
whereupoa Mr. COWAN called for the ayes and noes (;
and the question to lay the table was os-ayes 20,
noes ia.
Mr.. GlLNER, Of PittSylvana, said lie would not at
this late stage Of the session, when many bills were
before the House. have felt it his duty present his
views the subject of Southern Conference had he
not been instructed by a number Of his constituents,
whose opinions entitled high consideration to
favor that measure and he would not now enter into
general discussion OF the subject because he in the
position OF M officer in the French army who had sew
enteen reasons for not firing salute Bonaparte the
first OF which was that he had powder. An equally
s ,ient prevented him from obeying the ustuc
tons be had received and would prevent him even had
they been given by majority of his constituents. 1t
was a conviction that he could not obey without viola
ton OF his oath.
The Sd clause of the 9Th article of the Federal Consti
provides that the members OF the several State
Legislatures shall be bound by oath or affirmation to sup
port this Constitution mot oath to abstain from
violation of it spirit or its letter. but to support that in
srument. That oath had been administered to him. He
had taken it, knowing what he did had aiken it volun
tary and deliberately acting under compulsiOn what
soever; but he would have taken such an OATH
had he believed that it confcted with any paramount
duty he owed TO the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In the 10Th section Of the lSt article OF that Constitu
ton it is provided that no State shall, without the
consent of Congress- enter into aay agreement
pact with another State" No friend OF a Southern Con-
ference he presumed, pretended to deny that its object
vas 10 bring about agreement of between
the Southern States 0ne portion of the friends of the
measure desired such agreement FOR the purpose of dis
solving the other for the purpose of eementng and
strengthening the union of the States. An agreement
between this State and any other State States for
either purpose expressly prohibited by this section of
the Constitution which forbds any agreement He had
searched with some care for authorities bearing the
construction Of this clause but could get very little light
from such souce owing the fact doubtless, that il
Is too plain to admit of msconsruclion There would
probably be the same dfculyin finding authorities con-