Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-11
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.

| VIRGINIA LEOESLA u HE.
SENATE.
RICHMOND, Jan. 10, 1861.
The Senate met at - o'clock.
Prayer by Rev. J. L. Burrows, D. D., of the Baptist
Church.
| COMMITTEE FHDERAL RELATIONS.
The President announced the following committee on
the part of the Senate under Mr. THOMAS resolution,
| viz Messrs. Johnson, Thomas, Of Fairfax, Newman,
| Early, Christian, Stuart and Greever.
| THE SECESSION OF MISSISSIPPI.
The President laid before the Senate the following
communication from the Executive:
| Gentlemen of the Senate ard House of Delegates
At late hour. last night, received dispatch from
the Hon. VIM. S. Barry, President of the Mississippi
State Convention
As it is of an official character communicate it here
WITH for your consideration.
Very respectfully, JeHS LErcHkR'
| JAcKaoS Jan. ., 1861
oonven on 30 afo- you IA the state Mississippi by vote
Oonyenoa approaching unaamy has seeded ane'nd
WV. 5. BAaRr, President Convention.
| STATE CONVENTION
| Mr.. DICKINSON OF Prince Edward from special COM
mittee reported bill providing for the election OF mem
bers OF Convention and TO convene the same Read the
first time, and ordered to be printed.
| Skw KENT MEETING.
Mr. HUBBARD presented the proceedings OF meet
| ing in New Kent country, urging the call OF State
Convention. Mr. H. defined his position az some length
He said that he had been opposed to the call oil a
State Convention, but was now in favor oil the meas
| ure.
On motion of Mr.. JOHNSON all proceedings of pub
lie meetings relating the national crisis are to be re-
| fsrred to the Committee Federal Relations
| NATIONAL CRISIS.
The joint resolution offered yeste day, by Mr.. CRIT
CHER. deprecang military display on the part oil the
| Federal Government, in ths South was taken up,
| vha Mr. n Ia follow
| ng substitute.
Whereas IA the presen. relations Federal Government to
States that ordinance Withdrawn their con
ton from the Ured etates Il Will he inptccabe 70 execute
IN eonhc With the positions these States
assumed without doing violence the genns OF our nsu
lions greatly endangerng the public tranquility therefore,
Rolre ve General Aasr,J Tha. we respectfully
TO Congress Of the United States repeal suspend all
continuing port, Of entry, collection districts 10 said
states President be respectfully requested 10 abstain
from powers vested In him calculated leopard
pese and quiet Of the country, in It's present excited eond
The amendment was adopted-ayes 30, noes II. The
question recurring upon the adoption Of Mr.. THOMAS
proposition.
| Mr.. AUGUST moved that the same be laid upon the
| table, aud printed.
Mr. COGHILL concurred in the motion, the resolu-
ton seemed, upon crrsory reading, TO abandon the
doctrine OF secession which maintained by some OF
the Senator'S He was unwilling that such an abandon
ment of principle, even by implication should 60 forth
aud therefore desired time to examine the resolution.
| Mr. CRlTCHER conrased his resolution with that
now pend ng and argued show that its adoption would
have operateda once upon the President remons-
trance against further military display while the resou'
lion OF the Senator from Fairfax involved delay, which
| would defeat the object aimed at.
Mr. THOMAS advocated his proposition He said that
its adoption contemplated the removal OF the necessity
which the President suppos d TO exist requiring him TO
enforce the laws of the Federal Government II the rev.
enue laws we're suspended the President would be re-
eved of the discharge OF duty which he now conscier-
| 1usly believes to be incumbent upon him.
The debate continued by Messrs. lsDELL, CARTER,
DOUGLAS and others of whom suggested difficulties
| and amendments.
Mr. BRANNON proposed to amend the pending pre-
| amble by pre6xing to it the following
herea The general Assembly apprehensve Of collision
authorities In the States which have
Withdrawn growing Of the opinions Of the Presidento OF the
United the extent Of his duty in resPec to the enoce
The Law Congress In the States having Withdrawn
| from the Federal government and
| Mr. AUGUST offered tho following a substitute for
the pending resolution aud proposed amendment:
Whereas the present relations Of TIE Federal 70
that ordinances Withdrawn their
such laws as NAV in the opinion Of present Admins
eonne, with the positions assume by such states
| y endsrgering the public tranquility; therefore, belt
commend to the Gong es o,h United States suspend
all laws for The collection OF the revenue BY the Federal
| au horities in the collection districts Of said States
ResOeed That 10 the judgment OF this General Assembly any
additional display Of military power In the south by he Federal
the evacuation Of Port Sumter is the step
the Union and harmony and we earnestly urge upon the
and quiet Of the country In It's present excited oond
The several propositions were then laid upon the table
and ordered to be printed
Mr. STUART offered the following, which was ordered
| to be printed II lies under the rules.
D" IL dsrs parts Of the Union that Tan rash aud ad
Used citizens OF Virginia mediate they have not already set
OF the United within of Virginia. ard to invade
nv Of
bulldogs and other public property OF the United states within
said District the purpose obstrucng the operaoos Of the
Federal whereas 'ueh seizure or Invasion
would teud destroy the peace OF the country AID TO produce
the dignity AID sovereign pOwe virginia who alone has the
decide through he- regularly constituted what
be the mode Of obtaining redress for any injuries she
Be t.r fore Resolesd by De General assembly st That
such aess and unauthorized conduct on the part Of any cit
Of yrgoa would merit and receive The unqualified dsp
Thst Governor be- he hereby requested 10 case
he should be satisfied the purpose OF any Of the citizens
all the with which he invested to prevent their being car
red into effect
CONDEMNED SLAVES.
| On motion of Mr.. NELSON,
Resolved, That much of the message of the Gov
relates to compensation for condemned slaves,
be referred 10 the Committee on General Laws
| TUE MILITIA.
| On motion Of Mr.. DOUGLAS,
Resolved That the Governor be requested to furnish
this body with plan for the reconstruction OF the mill
tia brigade and division Districts in accordance with the
suggestion in his message to the General Assem-
| bly,.
| PENSION TO A JOHN BROWN VICTIM.
On motion OF Mr.. CARSON, it was
Resolved That the Committee on Finance enquire into
the e1pediency of granting pension to Sarah Shepherd
widow Of Haywood Shepherd, the colored porter who
killed at Harpers Ferry in the faithful discharge oil
his duty the night Of October l7th 1882 by the Alb
olitioniss, then invading Virginia
| COMMITTEE ENLARGED.
IN ,otiOD ofM hal mil taa fnr
of Justice enlarged by the addition Of one Senator
The President appointed Mr.. TONNES.
| RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY.
Various resolutions Of inquiry were adopted, viz:
By Mr.. EARLY-of creating military bureau OF the
| State
By Mr., MISUNDERSTANDING the claim of J. R. Hath
away Co., of Norfolk, for advertising militia orders.
By Mr.. AUGU5T-of incorporating the Merchants Sa-
wings Bank, of the city of Richmond.
By Mr. NEEsON-of reporting bills No. loS and 294
| of last session.
ByMr. DoeGLAs-Of reducing the rank and als Of