Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-09
EVENING SESSION.


The Speaker called the House to order at 8 o'clock.
| Mr.. CHRISTIAN moved to reconsider the resolution
appointing committee Nth instructions to bring in
bill for State Convention. He said that the resolution
as passed appeared to commit this House unanimously
and without any discussion to the proposition for Con-
| yention a proposition the most important, perhaps
which possible for this House to adopt under
isiing circumstances, involving reconstruction Of the
very fundamental organic law OF the State and deter.
mining the question: perhaps OF the very existence Of
| the National Gov rnment Many wise men even deny
the pOwer of the Legislature TO call Convention with
out first submitting the question to the people; many
others among them the Governor Of the Commonwealth
in his Message Just read doubt the expedency of Con-
venon now aud believe the ends proposed be bet
ter attained otherwise; certainly is question which
ought to be considered deliberately and in full House
representing all of Virginia The resolution passed this
morning in face of the fact that many members had not
yet arrived that the roll had not been called
certain if there quorum present, the Constitu
ton requires to transact any business. IL offered
amidst the confusion incident to the exciting question
concerning the duty of the State resist coercion and
as the large committee appointed 10 consider il
firing. The attention OF the House not called to it,
the general supposition that it was mere resolution
Of inquiry to the expedieRcy of Convention, alb
olutely determining the question in this summary
|
Mr.. KEMPER detailed the circums'a nces connected
with the passage of the observation-disclosures that all
members had been sufficiently warned of its introduction
IL,
distinct reading Of the Clerk He moved the ayes and
noes on Mr.. CHRISTIANS motion, which resulted as
| follows Ayes 81, noes II.
Mr.. ROBERTSON Chairman of the Committee OF Fiji
teen reported the following resolutions:
l. Resolved by the General AsSembiy That the Union
being formed by the assent OF the States respectively
and being consistent only with freedom and the repub
institutions guaranteed to each cannot and ought
not, TO be maintained by force
3D. That the Government of the Union has no power
to declare make against any of the States which
have been its constituent members.
Sd That when any Of the States have de-
termned, or shall determine under existing crcum-
stances withdraw from the Union, are unalteraby
opposed TO any attempt the part of the Federal Gov
ernment to coerce the same into reunion submission
and that will resist the by all the means in our
power
| Mr. KEMPER sustained the resolutions
Mr.. WATTS moved to lay OIL the table aud print.
| Mr.. FOREMAN opposed the adoption of the reaou-
lions in an earnest, and impressive manner.
Mr.. CHRISTIAN called for the reading of the resou-
| tons for purposes Of information.
II said in times like these words were deeds, and
peace hang on the right meaning of words Ii
is important to know what the words OF these resolu
tons before the is taken; especially he would
ike know and from the chairman of the committee
whether the resolutions intended TO the right
Of absolutely, whether pretermitting thst
point, declare only the impocy OF the General Gov
eminent attempting coercion under existing crcumsan
ces? On this difference many depended and una
nimity being important he hoped and believed it might
be attained, if the latter only the purport Of the
resolutions
Mr.. Seldom demanded the previous question: The
House refused TO order the question.
Mr. Robertson said as chairman of the committee he
could give only his individual opinion which was clear
IT, that the resolutions only TO assert the impolcy
of the National Government under the circumstances
now impending over the country attempting the coe'-
into submission, union, any seeding State by
force Of srms
The resolutions being put on their passage, the roll
called and they passed-ayes ll2, 81 Messrs
Boreman, Morris, Porter Richardson and Watts
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY INTO ExPEDIENcY.
The following resolutions adopted:
By Mr.. KEEN: That the Committee on Military AT.
fairs inquire into the expectancy Of providing by law for
the availability of the appropriation made last session
for the armng of the Safe, and of appropriation
thereto not exceeding ten millions Of dollars by Mr..
GIBBS IN referring that part of the Governors Message
recommending amendment to section 18th of chap
ter 2l2 of the Code of Virginia to the Committee Of
Courts Of Justice.
Adjourned