Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-01-29

"ouiu Srant tnat, ana 10 a0] uSt slavery now and
forever on basis that could not be altered ex-
cept with the consent of all the States. Mr..
Mlllson, of Virginia, opposed coercion, but dep
recated the action of the seeding States as un-
justifiable.
Virginia Legislature
SATURDAY, JAM 16th-The Senate on Satur-
day, passed bilauthorizng the County Courts,
&c, to arm the Militia and provide means there
for. The report Of he Joint Committee on Fed
eral Relations was amended aud agreed to. Ex-
President Tyler, Hon. VIM. O.. Rives, Judge j.
Brockenbroug6, Hons. Geo. W Summers and J.
A. Seddon, were appointed Commissioners to Wis
it Washington to confer with Others from sister
States Ex President Tyler was appointed a
Commissioner to the President, and Judge John
Robertson Commissioner South Carolina to re-
quest them to abstain, during the pendency of
negotiations, from all acts calculated to produce
collision. Bills were reported authorizing the
Northwestern Bank Of Virginia to establish an
agency in Richmond, and the Norfolk and Peters
burg Railroad Company to construct branch
and increase its capital stock also, bill to pro-
vide for taking the sense of the people of Henri
CO upon giving the County Court authority to
raise money for arlning the county. A resolu-
tion was introduced for amending the laws so as
to regulate the issues of Bank notes by the
amount Of coiE 10 their vaults also one declar-
ing that, in the opinion ofthe General Assembly,
every consideration OF honor and interest demand
that Virginia shall unite her destinies with her
sister slaveholding States of the South. 1t had
previously been adopted in the House, and pass
ed the Senate unanimously.
Mr. Stuart offered the following joint resolu-
tions, the reading of which he prefaced with
few explanatory remarks: For remarks see an
other column.
Resol0ed, That in the opinion of the General
Assembly of Virginia, the following would con-
stitute satisfactory basis of adjustment of the
unhappy controversies which now distract and
threaten to destroy the peace ofthe United States.
The territories, having been acquired by the
common efforts, blood and treasure of all the
States, are the common property ofall the States
and neither the slavehodng nor non-slavehold-
ing States have any just claim to appropriate all
of them to their exclusive use
By existing provisions of the Constitution of
the United States, Congress is the trustee of all
the States in regard to the territories. Experi-
ence, however, has shown that in consequence of
irreconcilable difference of opinion between
members of Congress representing the slavehold-
ing and non slayeholding States, the common
property cannot be SO regulated and administer
ed by that body as to do full justice to all the
benefciaries OF the common property, and it is
therefore necessary to provide new agencies for
its regulation and administration.
To this end, the Constitution of the United
States should be so amended as to withdraw the
trust in regard to the territories entirely from
the hands of Congress, and to provide for an e.
qnitable partition Of the territories between the
slaveholding and uoD->laveholding States by as
signing to the former an outlet for its increas-
ing population, all that portion of the common
territory now held or hereafter to be acquired
situated south of the parallel of Sc deg. 80 min
north latitude, and assigning to the latter, as an
outlet for Its increasing population, all that part
of the common territory now held or hereafter
to pc acquired situated north of said parallel.
1t should further be provided, by similar a..
mendment, that the slaveholding States shall be
constituted trustees in regard to the territory
South of &C. 30, with full power through their
respective Legislatures or delegates in Congress
to determine and regulate the status in regard to
slavery, of such territory, and that the non-slave-
holding States shall be constituted, in like man
ner, trustees OF the territory North of said line
with like power through their respective Legis-
latures or delegates in Congress to determine and
regulate the status of said territory.
States created out of territory North or South
of the parallel of SO. 30. shall be admitted into
the Union with or without slavery as their res
pective Constitutions may ordain.
The resolutions were laid upon the table, and
ordered to be printed
The House passed bill to amend the act con-
cerning trespasses on the Potomac A resolution
was introduced for amending the Code, so as to
allow Volunteer companies in contiguous coun-
ties to form battalions and regiments; also, one
for requiring all property sold uuder execution
to realize two-thirds of its value, and one for ex-
tending the time within which sherffs are allow
ed to pay the taxes in the Treasury. The Ex-
change, Farmers and Virginia Banks, used as
places of deposit for State funds, reported their
condition under resolution heretofore adopted.
Among the petitions, were several in reference
to the present attitude of pnblic affairs and for
authority to buy arms for the people of the coun-
ties.
MONDAY, Jan. 2lst-The Senate, to-day. laid
on the table the House joint resolutions declara.
tory of the position Virginia would occupy in
case of dissolution of the Union. The commu-
nication of the Governor, notifying the Senate of
the secession Of Alabama and Georgia, was laid
on the table and ordered to be printed. A bill
was reported to amend the Code concerning the
voluntary ensavement of free negroes A reso-
luton was introduced to restrain the Banks from
charging more than certain per centnm on ex-
change during the suspension ofspecie payments
also, for refunding money paid by the Virginia
Rifles for sword -bayonats and for authorizing
expenditures to be made to the Governors house.
The Senate adopted resolution to dispose of the
States interest in the Hillsboro' and Cincinnati
Railroad. The bill for creating an Ordnance
Department was referred, and q bill appropria-
ting million of dollars for State defence was
laid on the table. A bill was passed authorizing
the County Court of Henrico to borrow money
to purchase arms.
The House concurred in the Senate resolution.
as to the position to be occupied by Virginia in
the event of dissolution Of the Union. A res
olution to adjourn till February 18th was offer
ed and withdrawn. A resolution was introdu-
ced for the incorporation of Southern Express
Company Bills were reported for making q
Roanoke Valley Railroad, and to raise Pro-
Stoto Guard A natitiop