Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-01-20
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.

THURSDAY. Jan. IL Senate. "A num-
her Of bills were reported, and others pass
| ed-.none Of general interest.
The bill providing means for defraying
expenses incurred by the Executive, for
the defence Of the State, and for the pur-
chase Of arms and munitions. came up for
consideration, having been returned from
the House with its objections to certain Sen
ate amendments.
Mr. Isbell moved that the Senate rocede
from their disagreement to the amendments
of the House.
Mr.. Carter said he had voted with the
majority of the Senate, but he feared delay
would result to the payment if the Senate
did not ecede, and he would therefore sus-
tain Mr.. Isbelrs motion.
Mr.. Beale said he preferred the Senate
bili-=for be thought it as speedy in its &C.
lion as the House bill-but he would vote
for the motion of Mr. Isbell.
Mr.. Thomas, of Fairfax, said he hoped
the Senate would insist on their disagree
ment with the House. He. was opposed to
the House amendment as involving dan
gerous principle It was the first time the
purse strings Of the Treasury were to be
placed In the hands of an irresponsible body,
and he was jealous in his care of those purse
strings.
Mr. August then addressed the Senate in
favor of Mr.. Isbell's notion. He described
the inconvenience TO which very many men,
bers of the military were subjected, and stat
Abot of t1o,, Rod H., 81 "a
their claims at ruinous rates.
Mr.. Neeson opposed Mr.. Isbeli's motion,
and contended that, the Legislature ought
never to abandon its supervisory power, and
disentitle itself to its right of controlling dis
bursements from the Treasury. a..
Mr.. Coghill sustained the motion to re
cede, and spoke at great length
Mr.. Stuart said he was surprised at the
tone Of the discussion. He did not consid-
er there was any quarrel or controversy be-
tween the two Houses. He conceived that
each body was acting conscicntiously. Mr..
Stuart then argued at considerable length,
to show that the spirit Of the Constitution
would be violated by concurrence in the a.
mendments of the House In the course of
his remarks, he said company from his
town, having received telegraphic dispatch
late at night, started in the morning, as on
frolic, to the war, as it was called, and
that none Of them ever thought of pay and
that when a second dispatch was received
for two companies they, too, were off early
in the morning, though one of them was
widely scattered when the message came,
and 5000, were made up for them by vol
untary contributions. He repudiated the
patriotism which would put its hands. ell
bow deep in the Treasury, and he was OPP
posed to paying for constructive" services,
and not ready to hand over to an irrespon-
sible body the disbursement of the public
funds. He was not, at the same time. op-
posed to the payment Of legitimate and le-
gal claims. ...
Mr. August said he had heard, With sur
prise and pain, the remarks Of Mr.. Stuart
He believed that the soldier had as good a
right to his pay as Senator had to 81 a
day and mileage, and that his (the soldier's)
patriotism was no more to be questioned than
that Of Senator.
Mr. Stuart here remarked that he alluded
to extra claims.
Mr.. August then went on to defend Mr.
Isbell's notion and said that he would, even
if the Legislature neglected the claims Of
| the military, persevere unto the end until,
in the Courts, he saw the military justified
The question was then put, aud the mo-
| ton to recede was lost.
House. The House insisted upon its a.
mendments to the Harper's Ferry bill.
The Senate bill providing for the appoint
ment of persons to visit and inspect the Lu-
matte Asy lums of the State having been ia
ken up, Mr.. Christian defended the Western
Asylum against all differences and imputa-
tons. The subject was laid over to take up
the unfinished business Of yesterday.
| The consideration Of the bill for arming
the State was resumed. Mr.. Cowan offered
a substitute, providing that not more than
| 100000 shall be expended in the purchase
of arms &C., to be paid out of money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Mr.. Watson, of Accomac, offered an a
mendment to the substitute, providing for
remodeling &c. the arms now on hand,
which Mr.. Cowan accepted.
Mr.. Bently, of Loudoun, opposed the bill
and especially the expenditure Of over $780,
600 on the armory.
| Mr.. Kemper warmly advocated the pas
sage OF the bill. He saw that gentlemen
Of all shades of opinion agree that it is nee
essary for the State to arm herself in one
way or another
Mr.. Porter, Of Brooke and Hancock said
the people Of the Pan Handle would fight
the South as willingly as the North, if she
trampled on the Constitution. The Brown
raid had been exaggerated. There was no
danger from the slaves, and the cry that the
Union was in danger was wonderfully eff.
cacious, and elevatlng candidates to office
He regarded the bill as principally beneficial
to the city Of Richmond, and also objected
to it because it proposed to borrow the mon
ey. If the Legislature proceeded in this
way another question would arise-that Of
laying an ad ualoruna tax on slaves.
Mr.. Cowan dissented from some of Mr.
P's. views. The people Of the Northwest
would never arm against the South. He
proceeded to vindicate that section of the
State. eliciting applause, and the Speake,
warned the House that if it was repeated
the Legislature would sink to the level Of
the Congress Of the United States.
Mr.. Collier advocated the BILL and the
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