The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-01-30

resolutions NlEui w itpcitta securing
unanimity aud harmony. II the proposition
Of the gentleman from Stafford had been
adopted by The House, he should not have
| pressed his. II any good was to result from
/ the deliberations %! this committee. it could
only be the fruit Of harmony; and not willing
| 10 create dlscoyd. he would retire from it,
Mr. DICKINSON thought that the gen ;iemau
| from Washington represented him or his
| friend from Stafford a. desiring a special rep
! rescn tasion in the eommitiee from the East
| he wan ted no such thing, but merely wished
| The Easl to be equal with the West.
Mr. HOPKINS did not design to be so under
| stood What he did understand was that the
| siayeholding districts should be represented.
| and lie was desirous that they should be
| Mr. SEppoN said that in his remarks of yes
| -ry,,ay he had not dreamed of North. South,
| East or West. The negro question. the dis
union question. nor any other, had enie red his
m md. Those remarks were submitted from
| personal standpoint alone, and the Speaker
! q nd himself only were interested IN them
! lie could no. be drawn into this question OF
| representation. Every remark he made yes
| tertiay was made because he felt IL due TO him.
| self lie was happy the gentleman from wash
| ington. by his molten, had given him an op-
+. uorfunity 10 make so mach palmer his posi-
| lion He would make no remarks relative 10
! the resi- CnatiOn of The gentleman from w, but
as il was known that upon that resignation the
position OF chairman would fall to him. as
second III position on the committee. he would
saw thai The charmanship was never 4 point
| with him, aud nc action OF his had had any
| reference 10 il. If the House consent 10 dis
| charge The geutlem&aafr-sn' Warrington from
| It's dates. he Mr.. s. would transfer ii to the
| NOM her from Petersburg. Mr.. Collier where
| /. belong grd AS that gentleman mao inauguTa'ed
| this subject in the House. He deemed it just
:, him, self to saw that IN the deba te Yesterday
! ha had not been reported correctly, and rs he
| intended to-day TO write What ne did say, he
| asked "A suspension of the opinion Of the House
| until his remarks were properly placed before
| MIR. barbour, Of CulpeHer. thought the
| chairman OF the committee had Il right 10 be
| DISCHARGED from that position Il he asked it,
| on personal considerations, and he would ac-
cord il chsertuliy on that ground Bat he
would respec eully submit 70 gentlemen
that side of the mountains whether they would
do Justice 10 themselves If they abandoned an
important public interest merely because OF
| the imputatioas OF enc or TWO gentlemen on
this floor.
Mr SapDoS asked if the gentleman from
Cuipeper meant that he had lmpugned them.
Nr BARBoUR said certainly not. lie did
mean 10 apply MS remarks particularly to any
gentleman. He would again ask il Western
msmb bers were TO resign simply in submission
10 opinioDs of one or TWO gentlemen here.
Mr. UoPEINS said he had 10 thought of the
slavery question when he offered his resolu-
non. They OF the West would not take the
lead Of the East ia this matter. His resolution
was solely Intended TO secure a response TO the
South Carolina mission from the State at
large.
Mr. BARBOUR desired all to understand
ititt ne uiu not mean 10 one ltlt On
The ground OF personal i,nputation III this dis
cusSion. He addressed the members from the
West on puolic ground. Would they present
the sight 70 the country of one-halt of the
Legislature OF Virginia Withdr win z from tle
consideration Of an important question:
majority of the State retiring from The Gelb-
Grafton OF q matter affecting the whole of -
[ Was not matter affecting the Shareholder
only, but one in which the whole voice Of The
State should be heard. In order to place him
self right, he would not withhold his views
lie would offer, to be read by the Clerk. by
way of argument, n series of resolutions
which he had interded to submit TO the ioint
committee. The Clerk here read the follow
ing resolutions:
Rsso'rsd, By ths Geasyo2 4 <sem5lv, That We have
received with deep scnsIbility the communication
which South Carolina has made to the authorities
Of this Commonwealth, through her Commissioner.
Hon. C. u. Merlminger. and we hail with iivel,
ratification this renewed manifestation of that
traternai reSard and affection which has hereto
fore characterized. and We trust VIII always
tnue To characterize, the relations OF South Caro-
Ina with Virginia
ReSolrsd, That we perform pleasing duty in
recording and communicative to the authorities of
South Carolina our hieh appreciation Of the ability,
4 -nity and courtesy with which Mr.. Aleminmeer
has dscha reed the important duties OF his mission.
hsSotrtd That the General Assembly Of VIZ
snia. recognizins in the pre- sent condition of our
relations with the Northern States, imperative
necessity for decisive measures does not yet mis-
trust the capacity Of the Southern States. b,
and firm exercise OF their reserved powers,
to protect the rights and heriie Of the people and
To -estore and preserve the Federal Union. In
such measures we earnestly desire the cordial
operation of all the Southern States but believing
that prompt and efficient co operation viii he
more safel, ohtained b. the direct and auhgritive
action of the constituted authorities of the States.
than through the asency OF an assemhlage which
have no ie Sltlnate power except to debate and
advise, the Oenerht Assembly VIII not IT present
undertake to invite any conference of Commission
ers appointed by the authorizes of the Southern
Sta'es.
The reading of the resolutions was followed
by applause, which was prompt suppressed
Mr.. HOPKINS regretted that any member of
the House had inferred from any thing he had
said that that portion of the West which he
represent ted looked Tor Il single moment to
secession from the Commonwealth. Ii war
should come, the people Of the West would be
found fighting with the people of the East
and the same field on which should fall the
constituents OF the gentlemen from CGipeper
and Stafford would be in TERED the bodies o!
those he represented here.
Mr. BARBOUR did not doubt the patrio tisn
Of the gentleman 5 constituents and believed
the cons nstituents of every member on this floor
would follow their example He did not
doubt for an instant the patriotism OF the
Western people; If he did, he would be in favor
of breaking up the government and not
naming in the bond of union with them. He
wished them TO stand here and fight with him,
for he did not wish to stand on the field with
the great body of the army in fall retreat
Would gentlemen OF the West refuse To con-
tribute their aid to the deliberations Of this
body T! Would they say that marked are the
divisions Of our State that one-half of it cannot
consider a question affecting the interest Of
the whole
Mr. CHRISTIAN, of Augusta, thought the APP
plication of the chairman TO I've excused from
serving oil the committee, was something far
higher than Il personal test. The ground of
that application implied an imputation on the
constitution of the committee. As he repre-
sentative OF Western constituency, he pro-
ties ted against his discharge, ana he also pro-
ties ted on The ground of The pers onai fitness of
the gentleman to preside over il. Connected
with the appointment OF this committee, the
discussion might seem 10 reflect on The char
acter OF the presiding officer, On his honesty,
fairness and lmpartiaiity. Mr. 9. offered
resolution setting forth that The Speaker. In
appointin the committee for conference with
the Commissioner from South Carolina, was
actuated by no motive save an liones desire to
do his duty, and further that the House is op-
posed TO the resignation Of the chairman of
that committee.
Mr.. YERBY, Of Northampton said he felt
cheered by the respect to-day that union
and harmony would be restored, not only
between individuals, but between sections
that on this subject we would present
an undivided front, and shat within the
boundaries Of Virginia there would be
no North nor South, nor East nor West
He believed from the tenor OF the debate that
our brethren of the West have assurance that
nothing said on this floor yes tecday was in
tended rs a reflection on them. Hehoped that
after the appeals Of the gentlemen from Au-
gusta and Culpeper, they would not. With
draw from this committee, but give the aid OF
their experience and their wisdom to its delib-
erations. He endorsed the resolution OF Mr..
Christian, that the Speaker did not In tend to
commit wrong or perpetrate an inlus:ice on
any district i'll the Staie III his appointments.
He appealed earnestly 10 the gentleman from
Washington Mr.. Hopkins) not 10 retire from
the committee. We all knew the record OF
that gen ntleman on the slavery question. The
East and West should stand together AS Il band
of brothers, and whatever might be the action
OF the Legislature on the South Carolina COM
all