Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-09-10
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
EXTRA SESSION.
SENATE.
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9Th, 1868.
Payer by the Rev. DIR. Duncan, Of the N. f. Church

| enclosing one from Lieut. Gen. s. Ewell accompanied
by it OF persons attached TO his corps aud convicted
Of various offences by Court Martial aud sentenced to
| confinement 10 the Virginia pen entiary.
The Governor, 4 Ter reviewing the law governing
sush cases and requiring record Of the trial. etc pro.
seeds TO say: g. not aware OF any law which au-
LhOrzes such c)hvcts to be received and if they
received IL viii be ndspensaby essary TO discharge
| those now under going confinement We may reasOna.
bly conclude that the number convicted before these
military courts will be large.
The application, therefore, presents question for
riOus consideration It will substantially transform the
Vuginia psniLentuy into Confederate pris ~"
Tue papers we're referred 10 the Committee on Courts
| OF Justice.
| RESOLUTION EXCLUDED.
| Mr. ANDERSON submitted resolution of inquiry
relative To cerain judgment against Geo. j. Arnold,
which ruled ont under the rule adopted yesteT
restricting the ali 'cis of legislation.
| Mr.. ALDERsON moved suspension Of the rule
N'gatiVed.
COMMITTEES ANNOUNCED
The President announced the following additional
/ sta ding comhi tees:
| finance and Cldims-Messrs. Brannon, Dickinson
Bruce Lynch, Marshall Frazier, Randolph, Coflman and
| lawson.
Confederate Llaiions Mesrrs Dickinson, Armstrong e,
Neeson, Johnsoa Randolph, Lewis, Seldom.
pEsEAERs AND srRAGGLERs
| Mr.. GUY submitted a resolution ne erring to the
| committee OF MILITARY hHblTS tue VI
the Governors message relative 10 desc tiers and s;rag
qler4 aud ms ucuug sad nmittee TO inquire hos far
the General Assembly deprive Eueh desert ind
raggers of the facilities for crossing the of the
State nov tffJrded them by the fe!res, bridges aud
r;viie boats, etc. Adopted.
PEACE RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. COLLIER, of Petersburg, submitted the follow
| log preamble aud joint resolutions
Whereas, thu Constitution Of the Federal Union OF
the late Unej States established by the sovereign
sep ,rate scto Of the niue States by which it Was first
formed and the number Of the United States after
wards from time TO time, enlarged by the admission of
other States separat ly and whereas that Constitution
| filled to incorporate or indicate any method by
Which any one or of the States might peaceaby
retire from the Obligations o. Federal duty imposed by
| i. on Ich TO every other State in the Uaion and
whereas il is consistent with tue Republican creed
which the whole complex system is founded that 4
oriiy OF tie States might peacefully disannu the coa
pact as any party 20 it; aud whereas conunctuIe in
the Federal relations OF the United States did All in
1851 then eliminating inN erss ia which certain of the
slaveholdDg States, by conventional action OF their
| several sovereign peOpe. in solemn form, de-
Clared and prOmuged their dese and dsterm
nation no longer to yield obedience TO the onstitu
| ton and Laws Of that Federal Union, authoritl
| tive over them, il that specific FORM aud whereas
the Executive branch Of that Government, with the
occasional sanction of the Federal Iegi lLure iu the
progress of begeent eYent' has ,eded by force
Of to attempt TO execute Its Jaws within the dis
affected atcs without apply ng 10 the States remain
ing III the Uuion to cert Tin whether they would agree
that the dsa, cted Safs m GIT depart in peace aud
whereas these disSfsced States not ever we're
Under auy obligation to that general Government
oeyt such as self impOet aud explicitly defined in
concert and comfy With The other States each being
contracting party with every other, in q compact 10
which there aud s no other party aud, whereas
the waF'waged these ates by that General Govern
ment which il the creature Of the Safes who armed It
a1 al Tho
a. then all less in their reserved rights than 10 their
foreign relations into which these States
thus pitaedis yet being prosecuted with aspiring
! pre-eminence cf craft aud crime, although some Of
| them 10y large and earnest expressions of public or
party opinion within their borders, have shown That
they are constrained to coatriSu to its prosecution
very much against their will and TO rheif own great der
ment; and whcSeas any appropriate means, the timely
use OF Which ON tied in the ouset 10 prevent the
war; is not only proper resort in its progress, but is
dictated aud constrained 10 by all the Lancions Of
| Christian civilization:
| l. Resolved, therefore, by The G,erdl assembly of
Virginia. That three Commits siopcr, from this State to
of the States inning in the Union be appoint
ed by ia joint vote Of tue two Houses of the General
Assemby whose dutg il shall be- under instructions to
be epared by the Governor ofths State aud approved
by the concurrent vote of each House OF the General
Assembly, TO repair forthwith TO the capl OF each
the States that remain 10 that Union, aud make known
10 the Governor OF eHc1 that the State OF Virginia ap
| pealng from the u-urpcu power oil Tie men VINO are
charged With administering the Government OF that
UniOD exercise in the conduct OF this war demands Of
those States with whom ste contracted u at they several
ly wi By the ballot box. as the Uhon formed aid
enlarged, decide soemniy aud formally they in
tat action whether they will consent that she be
allowed thenceforth be separated from them in peace
Pro0dei hoiO,Oer, Tha. THIS STATE, having Iiued other
| States in forming ConfederAcy and view to
ard upuously the obligations contracted weh her
Coniedrraies shall not proc to carry dis proceeding
ato full execution ant ty OF them shall agree
co act ia nsutirg like-commissiOn and 10 this etd
.,ss a.. 1rvrup
in this prt pose mission 10 the late co ates, but not 10
the Government of that Unon because it waI and is
the creature Of the Saes and should be their servant
TO DO their W II wLea certainly ascertain.d
Resolred As tie opnien Of this General Assembly
thus undertaking to speak and 10 act for the sovereign
peosle OF Vrguia although We are but the ordinary
| Iegislaturs thereof that ia case the men who are
| charged with administering the Government OF the
u SCaes shall refuse commissioners transit aud 60
urn into and in those Aes for the exclusive purposes
OF this mission which avowed such failure OF cur
effort vii but demonstrate to them The fearful extent Of
| ab. o ute rule them by those men, aud make our
effort a more memorable Instance OF patriotic ex srcn
aud peaceful magnSDimity displayed in Ill peant sl'
tempt TO cultivate peace earth aud good will among
| men.
g. Resolred, That il nitilng iii, ms ion for peace,
this G, neral Assembly DOH unequiyocally disavo~
any desire Or design OF willingness, that the 90,
federte administration shall relax is etertons or the
people theirs TO advance and establish the cluie TO
which We are all pledged in fortunes aud by Gus
virtues 10 the uieoJg cf our talents to use them IA
snpsor Of the separate independence OF these SALTS
|. AFR. COLLIER submitted few remarks IN eKplAna-
ton and support Of The resolutions. report OF which,
together Win Tie remarks 10 opposition 10 them
deferred
I Mr. ARMSTRONG moved II Suspension of the rules
in order that the resolutions might be forthwith
sdersd Agreed to. Mr. COLLIER opposing the potion
Mr. NASH noyeJ that the further consideration OIL
the resolutions be indefinitely postponed After some
debate this motion was agreed tO-yeas SO, nO--Ar