Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-09
VIRG MA LEGISLATURE,
SENATE.

| Senate would proceed to business
The proclamation of the Governor, converting the
| General Assembly, was then read by the Clerk.
| GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
| On motion of Mr.. DOUGLAS, committee was ap
nointed 10 wait upon the Governor and inform him thai
the Senate was in session. and ready to receive any com
municatiou that he might have TO submit Committee
| Nessrs Douglas Thompson and Rives. The committee
the duty assigned them, and reported that
the Governor would send in communication, in shor
| time The Message soon after communicated and
read whereupon on notion the same was laid upon the
| table and ordered to be printed.
COERCION DENOUNCED.
After the Message was disposed OF, Mr.. DOUGLAS
arose and offered the following joint resolutions, which
under the rules, were laid over
Pe,oIpsd by the General assembly Of Virginid That
in the Judgment of this General Assembly, the use OF
force NV the Federal Government by land or sea- direct
" or indirectly for the purpose of maintaining Union
the States of COniederacy, would of itself he
destructive of the true spirit of the federat system,
subversiye of the ends for which it cons ID and
revolutionary in all its natural and inevitable Is.
Resolved That when any of these Statesi Of lerly
exercise of its sovereign WILL shall separat' 1t Z from
the rest and resumng the powers heretofoI le gaed
10 the Federal Government at the tin sI ounces
the benefits and obligations of the same, Gins will
not consent that the State so separating lSe shall be
coareed into reunion either by the exercise of the
mower directly against such State, by the use OF mill
tary force against the individual citizens thereof.
Rssolged That Virginia ought to, and will, resist all
aempts by the Federal Government thus TO overthrow
and DESTROY the Union aud will regard any forcibe meas
ures taken against any of the constituent members who
shall have dissolved their connection with it, danger
Gus to her freedom and security and demanding the
most active preparations for defence
DAILY PRAYER.
On motion of Mr.. NEWMAN the President re-
auested to make arrangements with the clergy of this
city, for opening the sessions with prayer
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
IN rnotiOD Of Mr.. THOMPSON the Committee OF
Military Affairs was instructed report plan for put;
ting the State in the best possible condition OF defence
On motion of Mr.. WICKHAM, the same committee
was instructed to inquire into the eXpediency of making
additional appropriations for the military detences OF the
State.
FEDERAL RELATIONS
Mr.. THOMAS offered the following, which, on motion
of Mr. DOUGLAS, was laid upon the table
Resolysd That so much of the Governors message as
relates TO our Federal Relations be referred TO Select
Committee of fifteen, TO be chosen from the fifteen Eec
toral districts of the State by the Senate.
TRIBUTES DEPARTED SENATORS.
Mr. NASH offered the following resolutions:
Whereas since the adjournment Of the Senate of Vr
ena has pleased an Awise Providence in its nscruta
Die dispensations to from among the late Col
Alex Jones member of the Senate Of Virginia. and
We ha associates, approaching his worth in life and
wishing express melancholy regret for this sad be-
reavemen in the death of so amiable gentleman and so
distinguished a member OF society,
hesolUsd Tnat in the death OF Col. Alex. Jones' the
Senate Of Virginia has sustained loss OF one ofits bright
est ornaments the legal profession OF its most useful
members and mankind a friend.
Resolved Tina the Senate hereby testify their apprecia
ton of the distinguished worth, aud OF the high personal
character ofthe deceased and that evidence of
their respect for deceased the members of the Senate
will wear the usual badge OF mourning for thirty days
and that these resolutions be spread upon the journal Of
the Senate and that copy hereof be sent to the family
of the deceased
n, WASH followed tho NJ tho ,bovn vii
glowing tribute to the qualities Of the deceased Sena-
tor
Mr. DOUGLAS seconded the resolutions, and deliver
ed an euogy OF the dee ased, and another Of the late
Senator from the Caroline district who died few weeks
ago-closng bis remarks by Offering the following;
Whereas il has pleased Divine Providence in his all
wise but mysterious dspensation to remove from our
midst late colleague, Fredk w. Coleman, Senator
from the Caroline District, whose now vacant seat
mournuy tells US OF the loss the public service well
as the social circle has sustained in the departure of
whose various and genial virtues endeared him to the
hearts of his companions whilst his talents aud patriot
ism excited their respect and admirationa man. indeed
who was empatcally
In the battle of life, hero;
In the press OF life, a friend"
And whereas this body desires to testify their appre
citation of the public and private virtues OF the deceased
and to express the with which his death has in
spired us; therefore
Resolved That the members of this Senate do the
Resolved That these resolutions with the preamble, he
spread upon the Journal aud copy of the be sent
10 the family of the deceased evidence of our
sympathy and coincidence in this their and our, bereave
ment.
Mr.. CLAIBORNE followed in brief eulogy of the
late Senator Col. Jones' and Mr. THOMAS, in a similar
tribute to the memory Of the late Senator Frederick
Coleman.
Both series of resolutions with their preambes were
then adopted whereupon, the Senate adjourned until
u o'clock, tomorrow.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Twelve o'clock the hour named in the proclamation of
the Governor having arrived Speaker Cuchfeld called
the House to order.
Prayer by Rev. j. A. Duncan, OF the Broad street NJ
Z. Church. as follows:
Almighty and everlasting God, our Heavenly Father
We would acknowledge Thee in all the assemblies of our
people, and especially when meet in the responsible
and important capacity of Legislature do this
day. would earnestly invoke Thy presence and bless
ing. We invoke Thy mercy upon sinful beings,
worthy of the least of all Thy blessings May the spirit
of truth COUNSEL and guide in the important delbera
tons for which meet this day IL is meet that give
thanks unto Thee Almighty Father for all Thy blessings
We thank Thee for the of health and strength
which through Thy mercy permits the officers and men,
bers of this body to assemble. Aud now, Lord, in
this, our time of great trouble we look TO Thee Thou
hast taught regard Thee the Father Of Lights
from whom cometh every good and perfect gift Thou
hast declared, 1t any lack wisdom let him ask Of
God who gveth to all literally, and upbraideth not
Thou hast taught that 1t is better put in
the Lord than to put confidence in man; il is better
trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes We
p Fad these promises U, Lord at this hour Leave
not ourselves. Be Thou couns -llor-our friend
God. We presume not TO decide what is wse but
reverenty and humbly place all interests in Thy
hand and commit all affairs to Thy mercul protec
ton and guidance o. Lord, We hope in Thee, through
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen"
The SPEAKER delivered brief address to the House.
He said that in esumng the station which the Partially
OF his colleagues had assigned him. he labored under
feeling OF depression and gloom when he contemplated
the OF public affairs and that he had met them at
more suspicious moments. He alluded to the death of
certain members of the House. the appearance of new
faces in the Hall, and paid feeling tribute not only to
the memories of the deceased members of his House.
but to those of Senators Alex Jones' Of Chesterfield
and F. W. Coleman, of Caroline and Spotsylvania He
said the Legislature had met under circumstances the
like of which had never been seen before No Legisla
ture since the foundation of the Government had met
under such peculiar circumstances. lie would do no
than to say that the eyes of the Union are fix
ed on Virginia. He hoped she would always maintain
her commanding position, whether in out of the
Union. To do this she must act calmly wisely and well
He mad been asked how long the Legislature would he in
session. He could not ssy but thought that it should
continue till after the 4th OF March, lie would have
the Legislature ready, that should necessity arise it
would be in place to apply the first match He alluded
TO the Governors procamation-the contract for the
sale of the James River and KanaTha Canal Company,
aud spoke avoraby of the SALE In abiding to the hanks
he said they would occupy much time. There not
citizen in the Commonwealth that objected TO the
they had pursued, (aluding to their suspendlng) We
trusted that ordinary aud unimportant legislation would
be let alone and especially that money would be voted
away unless for objects of absolute necessity
The proclamation OF the Governor, calling the Legis
-