The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-08
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

/ HOUSE OF
RICHMOND Jan. 7ih, 1861.
| Twslve O'Clock The hour named in the pro-
| clamation of the Governor, having arrived,
| Speaker CGUTCHFIELD called the House W
order
PRAYER by Rev. J. a. DUNCAN, OF the Broad
street NJ. Z. Church, as follows:
Almighty and everlasting God. our Heavenly
Father. we would acknowledge nee IN an ne as as.
semblies of our people; ana especially when we
meet IN the responslbie and important capacity OF
esty invoke IN, presence and bIessin>. We in
woke Thy mercy upon US as sinful beings; unwor-
thy of the least of ell Thy blessings May the
spirit OF truth counsel and snde US IN the mpor-
tant delibs rations for viii We meet this day 1t
IS meet that we give thanks unit, thee AImlght,
Father, for all Thy bic sings. We thank Thee for
the measure of health and strength Inch thi Tough
Thy mercy, permits the officers and members Of
our time Of great trouble, we look to Thee. I hou
hast Taught us 10 regard hee as the Father OF
Lights, rom whom cometh every good and perfect
gift thou hast oeo!ared. If any man lack Wis
dom, let him ask Of God, who glveth to all noer-
that it is better to put trust IN the Lord than
To put confidence IL man IL Is better to trust IN
the Lord than 10 put confidence in princes We
Us not to ourselves. Be Thou our c"unse or-
our friend our God. We presume l o. TO decide
what is wise, but Teverently and numbly place all
ur interests IN Thy hands, and cohmit all our
al IRIS 10 nv mercItd! protection and guidance
D Lord, We hope IN ihee through our Lord ana
Sa y,our, Jesus Christ Amen
The SPEAKER delivered Il brief address TO
the House. lie sdiu INA III tue
station which the Partially of his colleagues
had assigned him, he iabored under feeling
of depression and gloom when ne contempia-
ted the state of public affairs, and that he had
met them at more suspicious moments. He
alluded to the death OF certain members Of the
House the appearance OF new faces III the
Hall and paid a feeling tribute, not only To
the memories of the deceased members OF ms
own House but 10 those of Senators Alex.
Innes of Ches terrified, aud +. w. Coleman, Of
Caroline aud SpoLtsy lvah1a. he said tue Lee
,isIature had met under cIrenmst noes the
like of which bad never been Seen before. No
T. gisIaturp since the foundation OF the Gov
r, msnt had met under such peculiar CIR
Gums ances. He would do no more now than
4, SAL tnat the eyes OF the Uuiun are fiX-d
on Virginia. He hoped she would aiway S
maiu taiu her c, mmai ding position, whether
IN or out of the Union To do this ste
must act calmly, wisely and we'll. He had
been asked how long the Legislature would
be in session. He could not say; bot
thought that it should Continue so tiii alter
he 4th of March. He would have the
Legislature ready, SO that should Necessity
arise il would DO in place TO apply the first
march. He alluded to the Governors procia-
mation-the contract for the sale of the James
River and kanaWha Canal Company, and
spoke favorabiy of The sale. In aliuding to
the Banks, he said they would occupy much
time There was not a citizen In the Common
wealth that objecte to the course they had
pursued, taliudiBg TO their suspending) We
must relieve them and put them on firm
basis. He trusted that ordinary and uDim-
portant legislation would be let alone, and
especially that no money would be voted
away, unless tor objects OF absoiu to necessity.
The proclamation of the Governor, calling
the Legisldt together, was then read by the
Clerk, WIN. +. GORDON. Esq.
MIR. HAYMCND, OF Marion, moved that a
com mittee OF three be appointed 10 await on
the Governor and inform him that the House
was in session and ready to receive any Mes
sage or other communication from him. The
motion prevailing. Messrs. RAYMOND Of Ma
rion. r ga of Roekbridge, and ToMLIN OF KING
William. were appointed said committee
Shortly afterwards, Mr. RAYMOND reported
the message which the Clerk commenced read
lug from his desk. All of the same having re-
fereuce TO State and Federal affairs having
been read, motion prevailed that its further
reading be dispensed win.
Ga motion of Mr.. HOPKINS, of Washington,
1t was laid on the table. He moved that the
usual number of copies be printed.
Mr.. BoRhMAN moved, rs an amendment,
that 1,5QO copies OF the Message be printed
MIR. DUCKwALL hoped that only the usual
L um Der l3IO) would be printed. He did not
endorse some of the Governors recummenda-
tiOnS.
Mr. FOREMAN thought the document con.
tanned suggestions OF SD much import that an
extra number should be printed.
Mr.. JONES, OF Appomattox, did not coin.
eide with the recommendations OF the Gov
ernor, and was not favoraOly disposed to
spreading the Message before tue people. He
believed the times aud people rife for seces-
sion.
Mr.. ANDERSON, of Botetourt, said he was
opposed TO printing an extra number of copies
OF this Message, as he was unwilling, by his
vote, to give al implied sanction to a part of
il. He regretted that the Governor, at such a
| time as this, should feel it his duty to throw
into this House such a frebraId as that Tart
OF his Message which tends to foment disseu-
sions in the South. AT a time when the safety
II the South depends on the union CT the
South, he is peculiarly unfortunate in his eff
for N pradupa M nd ,;tv
between different sections of the South Sir
nothing but the most united and decided
course of the whole South, now, can save the
country from the horrors and calamity of
civil war: He could not, therefore, but deeply
deplore this unfortunate course Of the Gov.
ernor.
The vote being taken, 1900 copies of the
Message were ordered to be printed
The following resolutions were offered by
mr., BAsskLL, OF Upshur:
=, hesolrsd. BY the GeseraI Assembly Of Virginia,
Iaat the Union being formed by the assent OF the
ctatesi RESPECTIVELY. ana being consis ent only
vita freedom and ths Republican lnslitutinns
saaranteed 10 each. cannot, and ought NOT, to be
That the Government of the Union has no power
whlch have bss a its constituent msmbsrs.
hat any etort by that GoytTnfneat to coerce
der the claim Of enf ,rcing tue laws against ciii
gems or otherwise should and viii he cateemed by
tons as war hs1 o. bs resisted 70 The
utmost Of her means and po1er.
Offered by Mr. RonERrsoN of Richmond
city, rs an amenament 10 the above:
Rssoicsd. That much of the Governors Mes
sage r~lers the -ungect OF .-coercir n Dy the
os.sfsi eovsIane at Of r. es OF the Uni ON. 10
70 {, ss % n 81 with nsfuo
ghc amendment WAS adopted, and then At
tsrwards the RESOLUTION as amended The
ioiiowisE cemmltlss sss appoi..sd I, and went
OF Richmond; HasSeu Of unshur Ysrhv ~