Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-01-30
AFTERNOON SESSION

from the code which provides for the nun
ishment OF those who write or spaak in
opposition TO the Institution Of slavery.
The question OF the cous;itutionali,v of
;h;s law was never questioned. This Law
i analogous 70 the law under considers
ton. The statute here makes writing or
speaking sgainst slavery a peHitentiary Of
fence. We DO not propose to make viola-
lions of the oaths which we prescribe so
high crime. We do not propose 10 nun
lsh men for refusing 10 take these oaths.
Ne propose only 10 punish them for per
JuEy-:or violating Oaths voluntarily as
Sumed.
Mr.. DAVIS said it was due to himself to
reply 10 some remarks made by the friends
OF the bill. Il had been sought to create
4 prejudice against him because he oppssed
the lnIqailous measure Of the gentleman
from Marion, tNr. Smith He repeated
that the bill was little AID petty piece
of legislation. He could forgive the phil
Epic THAI his aged friend from Wefzel
Ar. Vest uttered against MIN this morn
ing He was getting old and was failing.
aad was afraid Of eveFy;H!ag-
Ar. WEsT-N0t OF you, uiu't.
NJ. DAVIS said that Is long as we agree
With certain gentlemen IN this house we
are all right, bet when we see proaer 10
4 l.
ilstratIon of the position OF the gentleman
from Wetzel, he told story about Mrs.
Dunbar aud = Father Jones. who once
upon time were little too intimate
lie said the remarks Of the gentleman from
Alexandria M. Miner, were sounding
brass and linking symbals 10 him. The
gentleman would not dare go 10 his own
county auu make the speech he made here
de said II had been Infatuated 6y members
Of the House, that because he Upp1sei This
measure he was disloyssi and SysntatbFssi
with the rebels. He would say TO all per
sons wEo dared TO cast such an impdtation
upon him, that he was as loyal as any gen
tleman IL this House. In reference TO the
/ statute read by Nr. Smith, proviLIag
Tor the punishment of those wao write or
speak against slavery, he said that freedom
/ OF speech did not exist where private
rights are at stake. how are YOU going 70
guard against the dangers Of maladminis-
traiion II you put tile paddock upon every
mans mouth, 50 that he shall not sneak
/ against any enactment ofIhe government Z?
( The gentleman from We;zeI said il he oc-
cIpicd the position that 10 lie would re-
sign.
Mr.. wEsr-so would.
/ Mr. DAyIs-It l am 10 judge from the
gentleman : opposition 10 motions to ad-
JCuTn, would say as long as there i mon
ey in the Vrsasurr lie would be willing TO
remain. Ar. Davis proceeded To saw that.
Z 50 help him God, he would never put his
hand 10 II piece o: e.islatt9n like this which
lakes away all the constitutional gua-ta-
tees thrown around the citizen. The pco-
] pie will condemn the act and the Eea who
sanction it.
Mr.. MISoE replied 10 the gentleman from
/ Harrison, in reference 20 the charge made.
that he tNr- NiHorl dare not express his
sea imeHts before his constituents. He
sa!d iEGt he WAS elected by = majority lar
ger than the vote against the ordinance of
I secession. lie read a letter from tue Mayor
I OF Alexandria urging the passage o. the
I bill under consideration.
Mr.. ElSS proposed an iumaterial amead-
meat, which was adopted
MI WEST said ne didn't think the gen
/ ileman from Harrison had brought any
I thing 70 the attention OF the House which
was worthy OF our consideration. He had
+ told a very chasie and interesting story
about old Father Jo1es and Mrs. Dunbar
( he M Vest dida't know either Of The
+ parties, but presumed The geutlrnan
! had given a faithful accoaat OF the CIR
cumstances. In reference to his alleged
desire thai the House shOuid remain in
session, be ss-. thRi ..e hAd ALWAYS desir-
I ed TO economist time. Resolutions of adj
JouFnmeni were generally regarded as bun
eouoe- he had been trying 10 expedite
the business 50 THAI it might adjourn.
Mr.. INN moved an amendment that tie
force of the bill should end with the war
Mr. HAwxsHURsr moved to substitute
''oHe year after the war"
MIR. HAwxsEURsT.s amendment was lost.
Nj. INNS amendment was adopted.
Ar. SIXTH moved 10 strike out the
clauses which refer to licenses already OBJ
tanned. Adopted
Mr.. FOREMAN moved to strike out some
words which he regarded as useless to the
force OF the DILL. Adopted
Mr.. LOGAN moved an amendment tina;
every white male citizen Of the Common
wealth, OF the age OF Is years or upwards,
be required 10 take an oath TO support the
restored Government OF Virginia.
Mr.. PoRTER moved 10 pass by the CON
siteraiion Of the bill for the present
Mr.. kRANER said ;he bill had already
cost the State in the ueighborhood of Ss00
about $50 per hour. lie hoped the gen
tieman from Hancock would withdraw his
motion
Mr.. PozTER said he would withdraw his
motion, but gave notice that on Tomorrow
he would insist upon taking up the revenue
bills de said members had been making
long speeches here upon the presumption
that no other member understood The sub-
Ject under discussion. II this thin- con-
unued We should never get through.
Mr.. LOGAN conteuded that it Was unfair
to discriminate in this swearing business.
If little swearing is good, good deal OF
swearing is better. He said the bill would
not reach ive per cent. OF the population.
1t was unfair to take fiSe per cent. oil of a
community aud hold them as hostages, as
II were, for the action OF the other 50 per
cent.
Mr., SNrTH said the opponents of the bill
had by theis nachinations delayed the bin
before the House. and now they throw up
TO US that we are spending the money OF
the State he said the object of Mr.. L.