Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-01-13
LEGISLATURES OF VIRGINIA.


munication was received from the House of
Delegates, announcing the passage of the
House bill "appropriating sum Of money
to the civil contingent fund.-" (This bill
proposes to set apart $25, 900 as a civil con-
thgent fund, independent of the ordinary
appropriations for the fiscal year, After
some debate the bill was laid on the table.
The Joint Committee on the outrage at
Harper's Ferry were instructed to inquire
into the expediency of more eAectually pre-
venting the entrance into our ports of ships
or other vessels manned BY negro crews.
House.-A large number of resolutions
Of inquiry were adopted.
The bill providing for the payment Of
debts incurred by the Executive in defence
Of the State and in the execution of the laws
was taken up. 1t constitutes the Secreta-
ry of the Commonwealth, the Auditor of
Accounts and the Attorney General, Board
to examine and audit the claims. After
some discussion tie bill was passed unani-
mously, ayes III. noes O..
THURsDAY.-Senate The House bill ap-
propriating $25, 200 to the civil contingent
was passed unanimously. hsaaa
The Senate bill requiring insane persons
confined in the Penftentiary, to be removed
to the Lunatic Asylum, was, on motion Of
Mr.. Stuart, laid on the table.
The Senate bill making an appropriation
of $500, 900 for the purchase and manufac-
ture of arms and munitions of war, was
read a second time and laid on the table.
The Senate bill making a special appro-
priation to the Western Lunatic Asylum,
was advocated by Mr.. Stuart, and laid on
the table. ~ Isl ae III
House.-Among the resolutions of inqui-
ry adopted. was one offered by Mr. McCue,
in reference, to The expediency of amending
the charter of the Central Bank of Virginia
so as to place it upon the basis of the old
Banks.
Enthusiastically. Newton laid be-
fore the Senate the proceedings of meeting
of citizens of King William, asking the re-
moval Of the disabilities attaching to b. B.
Douglas, as Senator elect from that district.
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Claiborne introduced resolution for
the appointment Of joint committee to visit
the Eastern and Western Lunatic Asylums.
Referred to Committee on Lunatic Asylums.
House.-The proceedings of the meeting
in King William, relative to Mr. Douglas,
were referred to the Committee on Courts
of Justice.
Mr.. Christian introduced resolution of
inquiry as to the expediency of changing
the mode Of taxing distilleries
The appropriating 100000 to the Luz
matte Asylum west of the Allegheny noun
tains, was passed unanimously.
SATURDAY Senate The House bill
forming a new county to be called Web
ster'' came up. Mr.. Thompson suggested
the name of ''Bland" Mr.. Paxton advo-
Gated the former, and the bill was passed
without change.
A report from COL F. H. Smith and 9th
ers, making an estimate of the cost of arm
ing the State, was presented The estimate
is $l4o,3 42, for every five thousand men,
A communication was received from the
Executive as follows: It was read to the
Senate by the Clerk on call from Mr.. H.
w. Thomas; and on motion of Mr.. Thomp-
son, 1000 extra copies were ordered to be
printed.
Gentlemen of the Senate
and House Of Delegates !:
Icommence my term as Chef Magistrate
Of the Commonwealth of Virginia at an i'm
portant an eventful period in the history of
the State and Of the Union No one of my
predecessors has taken upon himself tue
duties and responsibilities of the office under
the same circumstances. The Legislature
and the people expect from me, therefore,
an expression Of my views upon the absorb
ing question Of the day, and some sugges-
tons looking to the future.
The Constitution of the United States rs
ordained and established by our fathers, was
designed Ito form more perfect union ,es-
tablish justice, insure domestic tranquility
promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings Of liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity." They construed it with reverence
to these desirable objects, and. as might
have been expected, union, harmony and
brotherhood existed between the different
sections-law and order prevailed Justice
and right were respected-the rights of per-
sons and property were fully recognized
and each State was permitted to regulate its
domestic institutions without interference
from citizens of the other States. Confidence
aud fraternal affection existed between the
people of all the States in those earlier and
better days of the Republic.
This happy condition Of things continued
for many years, aud was interrupted. only
by the interference of citizens of the North
States. with the rights and Institutions OF
the Southern. But for the war which has
been so perseveringly waged against the in
stltutlon OF domestic slavery, as it exists a.
mongss us, an institution with which they
have no right to intermeddie, we would have
continued to live tremendously together,
and the ties Of fraternal feeling aud affection
would be as strong now as ever before in
the history of the Confederacy. This wan.
ton interference thus commenced, and SO
Extensively persisted in, has produced the
present alarming crisis, and has brought the
Union Of the States to the verge of destruc.
ton.
The Northern people now insist that there
must be no more slave territory, no more
slave States, and that the Fugitive Slave
Law must be repealed, or so essentially mod.
fled, as to render it valueless for the recov.
cry of slave property. In Massachusetts
Wisconsin, Vermont, and perhaps other
non-slaveholding States, the Fugitive Slave
A. hoe hooo