The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-01
THE EyCIrEMENrI IN vIRc1N

1HE ACllEMENI L IN NlRGlNlA.
The GUN QUEsTIoN-PROMPT Action OF THE VIR-
GINA SENATE.-The Senate of Virginia, at its ses-
sion OF Friday evening, passed some important re-
solutions in relation to the contemplated removal
of the cannon from Beona Arsenal to Old Point
Comfort.
At seven o'clock the Committee reported a pre-
amble and two resolutions, the first of which au-
thorizes and directs the Governor to seize and de-
tain said guns for the use of the Commonwealth
and to that end to order out the Public Guard and
such portion of the militia force as he may deem
necessary to arrest the contemplated removal of the
guns beyond the reach and control of the Govern
ment of this State.
The second resolution authorizes and reouires
the Governor to pay to DR.. Junius L. Archer the
amount due him, viz seven thousand eight hum
dred and seventy-two dollars on his contract with
the Government at Washington and to the said
Government at Washington, the sum of thirteen
thousand and twenty-four dollars, paid by it to the
said Archer, account of the contract; the Gov
ernor to require the superintendent of the Armory.
at Richmond, to take possession of said guns and
deposit them therein for safe keeping.
The first resolution W as passed by vote of q to
3. The second resolution passed-yeas 80, nays l.
EXCITEMENT IN PETERSBURG, VA.-The Petersburg
InteHigencer of Saturday says:
Owing to the exciting rumor that Lincoln had
ordered the removal of the arms from the Bellona
Arsenal to Fortress Monroe, and that they were
expected to be brought this way via the SouthS Side
Railroad, caused the popular interest to be wrought
up to duty yesterday, and almost Immediately sew
eral petitions were in circulation and in less than
two hours three hundred names were enrolled,
pledging that the arms should never pass through
this city, at the sacrifice of their lives. Some of
the petitions were headed by some of our most
honored, hOary-haired citizens, who have still the
blood of youth and Virginian flowing through
their veins, with motto, resistance to Lincoln
and to his Black Republican Administration"
The same paper has the following:
THE BELoNA ARSENAL GuNs-oRDER CoUNTERMASDED.
We are indebted to friend for the privilege of
publishing the following. private despatch from
Richmond. We may mention in this connection,
that several hundred of the best citizens of our
city had agreed to resist the oroer to remove the
arms to Fortress Monroe, and pledged themselves
to unite in any necessary act for the prevention of
the same:
RICHMOND, March 29.-I learn that the citizens
of Richmond will arrest the guns if sent here
learn, also, that Col. Alfred Barbour has received
a letter from the Ordnance Department at Wash
ington, stating that the order for the delivery of
the guns has been countermanded.
by Telegraph
VIRGINIA OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DEBATE.
richmond, March 3l.-The House of Represent
atives was in session al last night considering the
Joint resolutions relative to the movement of troops
and arms within the Commonwealth BY the Federal
Government, growing out of the proposed transfer
of guns from the Bellona foundry. Various amend
ments were proposed, but rejected after an exciting
debate The Senate amendments were finally
passed. after being modified by authorizing the
Governor to call out the public Guard to arrest the
contemplated removal, and directing him to en-
poy needful force to resist any attempt to remove
the same beyond the reach ofthe General and State
Government.
SAM HOUSTON'S PROTEST.
Gen. Samuel Houston in his address to the people
of Texas, after reviewing the national troubles,
says:
You have Withdrawn Texas from her connection
with the United States. Your act changes the
character of the obligation assumed at the time
of my Inauguration. As your Chief Executive, l
am no longer bound to support the Constitution
of the United States. If your act did not
relieve that obligation, it nothing. If
this is not the result of the action of the peo-
pie, the position of the officers of the State
Government, and especially that portion who are
members of this Convention, has indeed been an
anomalous one Have they still been acting under
their oath to support the Constitution of the Uni
ted States? As your Executive, no matter what
my views may have been, am bound to reflect
your expressed will. l have endeavored to do so.
Were l asked to swear to support your Constitu-
tion | might waive my objections to the source
from which the oath came. | am called upon to
swear to support the Constitution and laws of the
Confederate States, which l have never seen, as
your Chief Executive, to render my allegiance to
that Government when you have never in any
manner or form declared your desire to become
annexed to the same.
Fellow citizens, in the name of your rights and
liberties, which believe have been trampled upon,
refuse to take this oath. In the name of the ma
tonality of Texas which has been betrayed by this
Convention, | refuse to take this oath. In the
name of the Constitution of Texas, which has been
trampled upon, | refuse to take this oath. In the
name of my conscience and my manhood,
which this Convention would degrade by dragging
before it, to pander to the malice of my enemies,
when by the Constitution the privilege is accorded
me, which belongs to the humblesr officer, to take
my oath of office before any competent authority,
| refuse to take this oath.
l ready to be ostracised sooner than submit
to usurpaion. Office has no charms for me, that
it must be purchased at the sacrifice of my con
science and the loss of self-respect.
| love Texas too well to bring civil strife and
bloodshed upon her. To avert this calamity, l shall
make no endeayor to maintain my authority as
Chief Executive of this State, except by the peace
full exercise OF my functions. When can no long
er do this shall calmly withdraw from the scene,
leaving the Government in the hands of those who
have usurped its authority; and still claiming that
am its Chief Executive
| expect the consequences of my refusal to take
this oath. My oihce will be declared vacated. II
those who ostracise me will be but as true to the
interests of Texas as have endeayored to be- nv
prayers will attend them.
Fellow-citizens, think not that complain at the
lot which Providence has now assigned me, 1t is
perhaps but meet that nv career should close thus
have seen the patriots and statesmen of nv vouth
ore by one, gathered to their fathers and the Gov
ernmeDt WDlcn tDey nauTeaTeu, rent In twain. and
none like them are left to unite it once again.
stand the last almost of race, who learned from
their lips the lessons of human freedom. l am
stricken down now because will not yield those
principles, which have fought for and struggled
to maintain. The severest pang is that the blow
comes in the name of the State Of Texas. deny
the power of this Convention to speak for Texas.
have received blows for her sake and am willing
to do so again.
protest in the name of the people of Texas
he act nd IF tinn.
and declare them null and void! l solemnly pro
by no oath themselves, in declaring my office va
cant, because refuse to appear before it and take
the oath prescribed.
1t has accomplished its mission, and its chief OBJ
ject has been fulfilled. If to drive me from office
and defeat the will of the people, is an honor, il
may wear it. To prevent my having an opportu-
nifty to send message to the Legislature which
meets on Monday, March 1stb l am required to
appear at its bar to-day, and take the test oath.
Even Shyl lock granted the full three days ere he
claimed MS pound of fesh The Convention pre-
scribed that time as the limit but its President ha,
been less gracious than Shylock, and clamors fol
the bond ere two days are gone. If am thus de-
prved of the poor privilege of putting upon
nv sentiments, through refusal on the mart oi
the Legislature to receive my message, l will la,
the same before the people, and appeal to them
as declared | would do in my inaugural.
uu SAM HousroN
Among the many rumors afioat in England in re
gard to Major Yelverton, the Cork Herald of th
9th gives currency to the following:
We are informed that NJ sjor Yelverton was trans
acting business yesterday in this city, 1t srumor