The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-18
GENERAL AxAEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
tExTRA SESSION.
SENATE.

THURSDAY. Jan II, 1861.
The Senate was called to order at IL O'CLOCK,
Mr.. IsBxLL in the chair.
Prayer by the Rsy. Mr.. MINNiashops' VI
St. Paui's Church.
communication was received from the
House announcing the passage, by mat BODY,
of the Senate bill entitled an act ui'o Wig per
sons elected Commissioners OF the Revenue al
the last general election, and who Jailed to
qualify within the time prescribed by law, to
duality as such in certain cases.
R,roasiysefion If Militia Brigddts, Se-A
communication was received from The Gov
ernor, in response to resolution of the Sem
ate. passed on the 10th inst, in regard to the
reconstruction of the Militia Brigades and
Division Districts of the State LAID on the
table and ordered to be printed.
Bils Rsported.--The following bills were
reported from various committees: A bill
TO incorporate "St. Paui's Caurch Home - a
bill amending aud re.enacting the act en- titled
IAN act TO incorporate the Jackson Orphan
Asylum OF Norfolk" passed Feb. 26, 1856; a
bill to amend an Pct passed January Sd. 1850,
entitled AN act to incorporate the Virginia
Life Insurance Company !" a bill to incorpo-
rate the Merchants Savings Bank, OF Rich-
mond; bill TO release John w. Murrili from
the payment rendered by the Circuit Court OF
Lyncbburg against him a bill for the relief
OF Robert Y. OVERLY, of the county of Meek
lenburg, on account OF tax improperly paid
a bill for the relief of John w. q. Smith, OF
Rockingham county; bill TO protect the H.
terests of the Commonwealth and other stock
holders of internal improvement companies IN
this State from injurious competition; bril-
for the relief OF Charity Casey.
MIR. ACGUsT, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs reported bill legalizing the pur-
chase OF arms by the counties of the State, and
authorizing levies by the Courts for that pur-
pose.
was passed to its third reading, when
Mr. WICKHAM proposed to a1Iend by insert
serting a clause referring the action OF the
Courts TO the voters OF the counties in which
such action was takel.
The amendment gave rise to considerab bic
discussion, in which Messrs. WICKHAM, AU-
GUST, DICKINSON OF Prince Edward, CoGHILL
TONNES, and various Others, participated,
when
and
Mr THOMAS, of Fairfax, offered an amend
nent as an independent section, providing
that the counties and corporations accepting
the provisions of the bill shall preserve the
arms received, and return them when applied
tor by the proper authority.
Personal explanations were made by Messrs.
TALIAFEgRo and CHRISTIAN, who were con-
fined by indisposilon at the time OF the pas
sage of the Convention bill, but who would
have given il their cordial support had they
been present.
The following is the report made by the
Joint Committee en- Federal Relations on
Wednesday, ard the substitutes proposed
therefor Dy MeSSfS. PAXTON, OF ISOChUi
and AUGUST, of Richmond city:
RESOLUTIONS of Joint Committee on State and
Federal Relatlous,I
Rssolred, That in the opinion OF the General
ssemhly, it would lie rexfed4ent for the Feferal
Government, nnder existing circumstances, to
make any addition to the military forces in any of
the forts. arsenals or naval stations IN Virginia,
inasmuoh as any such increase + force would be
nab Q 10 misconst'uatlon, and tend to create un-
easIDess IN the Tubllo mind.
ReS0tred, ! hat the Governor be requested to
adopt immediate measures lcr obtaining lniorma-
ton as t. the purpose OF the Executive OF the
General government With respect to streng then,
Notifications within the limits OF this Common
ealth.
by the Governor OF this Common
wealth TO the President of the United Sta es.
PREAMBLE and Resolutions Submitted by Mr.
PAxToN as "a Substitute fer the Report q tue
JOINT COMMITTEE on state and Fedefai he4a-
Vasrsas. it is the deliberate opinion ofthe Gen
erai Assembly Of Virginia. that. unless the
happy controversy which has resulted IN the par
tal disruption of the Union. shall be Satisfactorily
adjusted, general dissolution OF the Union Is IN
evliable and the General Assembly. representing
the wishes Of the people OF this Coz monwealth.
is DESTROYS OF employing all reasonable means 10
arrest SO dire calamity. are determined to make
a final effort 10 restore the Constitution and tne
Union in the spirit in which they were established
the hs bshs the
of Virgin invitation 10 hereby extended To
all such States VIII Their slavehoIdlng or nom
willing IL unite with VlreluIt IN an eHhrt to ad-
Just the present unhappy controversy. IN the spIrt
IN which the Constitution was originally formed,
lord to the people OF the slaVehodlug states ade-
quate guarantees Tor the security OF their rights,
10 appoint Comm ssI1ners IL meet-nn the fourth
day OF F. bruary next IN the cIiy OF W 9shIngton-
similar commiSsloneTs appointed by VLrginIa; to
SUI able plan OF adjustment. ,
ResolUed. That tx Presldsnt Tyler. William
G. RIves Judse John W. Broekentrough, James
A. Seldom, aud George ". Summers be appointed
Commissioners whose cuty IL stall be 10 repair
to the city of Washington, on the day designated
in The foregoing resolution. to meet sucn Commls
siouers may be appointed by any OF The said
states, IN accordance with the foregoing invita-
Rssolred. That If said Commissioners, after
CO. shall agree upon ans plan OF adjust
stituhon for the further security Of the rights Of
the people of the slaveholdns States, the, be re
me uts TO Congress log the purpose OF having tne
same submitted by that body, according TO the
ferns OF the Constitution, Withou: delay, 10 the
severa! States for ratification.
Resolved, That the nsSioners herein ap
pointed are requested to make report OF their pro
ceedngs under these resolutions on or before the
18th day OF February next, 70 he Governor, to be
BY him land before the General assembly, If IN
10 10 meet on that day.
RsSoirsd, That cope of the FOREGOING resolu
lions be forthwith telegraphsd TO tie Executives
Of the several States.
proposition submitted by Mr.. Augusta
WAereaS. in consequence Of the unh appy contro-
versy which has exlated tetween the Northern
md Southern States of this ConfedAracy, general
Southern States have secei ed from the Union.
and others are preparing 10 follow aad IN the de-
iioeEate Judgment or THIS General Assembly the
unless lie plan of adjustment shall be adopted
consistent with the hoAor, nights, and eQaailty of
all the States ana whereas, owing to the unfOr
tunate divisions exls ing IN Congress, 1t would
be difficult, If possl bic, for that body to
jorty, to lie either to "dopt suca meas
ures OF Legislation, or to Teco!nmend 10 the states
such amendments to the Federal Const tution as
are deemed necessary ana proper 70 avert such
danger, and to prIng back into the Union The
states that have withdrawn from 1t; and whereas.
IN So great an emer.eacy, the opinion and Judg-
me mt Of the people ought TO be heard, and would
be the best and surest guide to their representa-
tives and whereas. Virginia hiss always cher
ished ''cordIal. h. bitual, and lmmovahe attach
ept' to the Union, as framed by our patriot
fathers, and watched for It's preservation with
Jealous auxlety," and Is now most d9aiFous TO
perpetuate IT, IN order that the blessings 1t was de
sis ned to confer land will confer 1t administered
people of the several States composing 1t, and
their posterIty; and, believing that these OBJ
his country, can only be accom- pits he'd by submit
ting the decision OF the questions IN controversy
to the people OF the several states, IN CoEgsn-
tons assembled, according to the fifth article of
the CONSTITUTION of the United States:
BE IL tieTstors resolved. as the StaSs Of the Gea
srat Assembly Of Vrgtnia, That the present un;
happy Controversy between the slayeholding and
non savsholdiug States of the Coniederacy, may
and should be adjusted upon the following basis,
First-An equitable partition between the two
sections of all the territory now held, hereafter
to be acquired by the United States. on the line of
the soutnern boundary Ell Kansas and the north
ern boundar, of New Mexico pfohibtins slavery
on the one side and protecting 1t on the other b,
C Constitutional provision.
Second That the Constitution be so anne nded as
to provide that Congress snail have no power to
inter fere with slavery IN the states; that Con-
gress shall nave no power to abolish slavery In the
places nnder It's exclusive and STU ate
withn tie limits OF cta'ee that pc riiit The holding
OF slaves; that Congress shal have 70 poWsr TO
that constitutional prov sion be made for securing
{, the o4neTs OF slaves the night OF transit with
THAR slaves through the non siavehoidlng States
and eryitQries; that Congress shall have no power
to abolish IN the district oil COLUMBIA; nor
10 prom pit officers OF tAe FEEDER 6overnment, or