The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-12
RICHMOND, Va. Jan. 0; 1861.

have been eecuay forestaled by the voluntary action
OF he Legislature.
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 0, 1861.
The Blu PTociding for Gel Of State Comcertor-Grea,
Esthusiasm in Virginia Upon ne Prospect Of Speedy
Sesion-7he Wigs in Objectionable Petersburg CO..
lectcr Of Customs has to ReneW His Securities, dc, dc.
Herewith you will find copy Of bill Ito provide for
eecting members of Convention and TO convene the
same reported this morning the House of Delegates
by the Committee of Fifteen, which appointed on
yesterday, conformity with resolution adopted on
Monday last The bill ordered to a second reading
and amended by substituting the 18th of February for the
It'll, the day of election The bill completed
when the House adjourned but IL is almost certain that
l1h win be substituted for the 18th Of February, the
time for the meeting Of the Convention The bill reads
as follows
A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR ELEcTING MEMBERS OF
CONVENTION, AND TO CONVENE THE SAME.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that II shall
be the duty Of the officers who were appointed to
duct elections for county officers May last at the
places established for holding elections for members Of
the General Assembly open polls for electng delegates
as may be expeden for this to adopt in
the present crisis of state and national affairs The said
election shall be held ON the 4th day Of February IN the
year Of our Lord 1861.
3 The Convention shall consist Of one hundred and
ftytwo members 10 be chosen for and by the several
counties and cities Of the Commonwealth prescribed
by the second section OF the fourth article Of the cons
tuition Of this state for the election of members of the
natcy delegates the General Assembly under the
said article Of the constitution and which the next cleo
ton for delegates would be entitled to elect delegate
delegates, shall elect the number Of members
OF the Convention and in the manner that they
would be entitled TO # the election were for members OF
the next session of the General Assembly.
3. ANY person may be elected member Of the Con
veDtion who, at the time OF election, has attained the
age Of twenty five years, and is actually citizen Of this
Commonwealth.
A. The election shall in all respects be conducted
in the mode prescribed and the officers conducting the
shall be vested with the powers, perform the du
ties liable the penalties prescribed by the code
Of Virginia for general elections except as herein pro
5, The polls shall remain open for day only,
ana the Commissioners Experimenting the said cleo
ton shall meet In their respective counties, corpora
lions and election districts on the second day from
the commencement of the election; shall then com
pare the polls and decide who is elected, aud shall
make returns Of the election, one of which they shall
forthwith transmit by mail to the Governors another
with the poll books, shall be delivered to the Clerk Of
the County Corporation Court TO be filed in his Office
and another 10 the member or members elected to the
O. Upon receiving the said returns the Governor shall
issue proclamation eonvenng the members SO chosen
at the Capitol in the city of Richmond, accordingly, and
proceed to adopt such measures they may deem expe
dent for the welfare Of the Commonwealth.
Z In the OF contested election, the shall be
governed in all respects by the existing laws in regard to
contested elections 10 the House Of Delegates
g. In case Of vacancies occurring previous to the meet
ing Of the Convention the Governor shall writs to
supply the same and after the said meeting the writs
lions such wrs shall conducted in all respects
as the elections herein before provided for.
.. The said Convention shall be the judge of it's
privileges and elections, and the members thereof shall
have and enjoy in the most full and ample
ner all the privileges which members elected TO and at
tending the General Assembly entitled to, and
moreover shall be allowed the pay for travelling
attending on and returning from the said Convention ass
now allowed to members OF the General Assembly for like
services.
10. The said Convention hereby empowered to ap
point such officers and 10 make them such reasonable al
owances for their services ms shall deem proper which
several allowances shall be audited by the auditor pub
lie accounts and paid by the treasurer Of the Common
wealth out Of money in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated
H. The expenses incurred in providing poll books and
in procuring writers to keep the same shall be betrayed
heretofore in the elections OF members Of the General
| Assembly.
L. This act shall be in force from its passage.
The enthusiasm with which the speedy action OF the
Legislature is hailed here and elsewhere indicates how
strong the secession sentiment s and how hopeless
EFFORT must be TO avert dsntegratos. The Legisa
turc 10 have here with its mind made up upon
that subject md 1t only remained for that bsdy, in
give the sentiment official force, go through
The necessary FORMS II was with difficulty, aud only az
speaker the applause with which every
secession sentiment hailed in the House OF Delegates
to-day The galleries and Hobbies were literally thronged
during the day, and the interest manifested in the pro
coedngs exceeded OF the kind remembered
IN Virginia Men actually absent themselves from their
business their zeal to watch the progress of events
both houses. The desire 10 have matters speedily and
finally settled almost universal in Virginia Doubt AMI
sooner the pail is removed the better, according
TO the estimates OF our wisest and best men, War
than peace prolonged nnder the existing painful doubts
and uncertainties which enshroud everything. Hence
there is Joy at the prospect that yirgnas deter
TO seccde viii give definite character to the conflict
The wings in the Legislature manifest some show OF
opposition TO the secession movement but they
whelmed in the general secession cry which rings
through the State and is faithfully reflected in the
legislature This opposition however, does not seem to
contemplate defeat OF the secession scheme II consists
merely in efforts to save of immediate and gain
time for elaboration; but inasmuch slow progress
would imply doubt TO the policy of the movement and
Nmdttv. secession members
the moral prestige Of their action by any such poll
cy. The show Of opposition, even in this form is Of
character so insignificant scarcely TO invest il with
claim to the title Of opposition II my recollection OF the
action Of the other Southern Legislatures the of
call for convention be correct II marked by
gentcr degree of unanmity than characterizc
the proceedings Of the Virginia Legislature the same
connection. Judging by the prevailing sentiment the
state the same unanimy and prompness of action will
animate the Convention IN consummatng the final &C. OF
secession
The securities Of Mr. Timothy Rives Collector Of Gus
toms at the port of Petersburg, in this State have ad
dressed letter to the Secretary Of the Treasury inform
ing him that in view Of the fact that the Union
dissolved they would longer continue responsible
this capacity Whether the Secretary viii absolye them
from this responsibility remains TO be Secession
being the order Of the day, however these gentlemen
will probably not hesitate TO secede from this obligation
trusting to the imminent probability that even If suit
should become necessary law Of the United States
will avail IN Virginia after the 4h Of March next
THIS city was considerably excited today by rumor
chanan demanding TO know whether he had sent
tended to send through Virginia territory to Harpers
ioiCt w lntcu StateS Arse
nal ri that place The report had that the Governor
gave two hours for reply and IL rumorcd that
the First regiment Of Virginia volunteers ordered TO
be in readiness TO march upon Harpers Ferry morrow
and squelch the garrison stationed there. ON in
quy however the rumor ascertaned 10 be without
foundation. This Of course, led to considerable dsap
pointment among our chvarous military youths who l
arc now painting for brush with Uncle Sans cohorts.
An effort made in the House Of Delegates To-day 10
have the question, whether convention should be
caedy submitted TO vote Of the people. The effort
failed however and nothing remains now but 70 pass
the BILL which will be done morrow, and hold The
election for which II provides.
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS.