The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-02-04
w. VA. LEGISLATURE.
FRIDAY, Feb. 3, 1865

SENAiE--I IdySi W ltON' wa phOih''
Mr. Slack made report from the com
mittee on Enrolled Bills, which was
adopted.
Mr Atkinson, from the committee on
Education, reported favorably upon the
Joint resolution looking to the establish
ment of Normal Institutions and the res
olution was adopted.
Mr. Burley, from the township commit
tee reported adversely upon the resolution
favoring township assessors, which re-
port was adopted
On motion of Mr.. Brown the joint reso
luton offered yesterday by Mr.. Maxwell,
ratifying the constitutional amendment
for the abolishment of slavery i'll the Uni
ted States, was taken up.
Mr. Brown said:
Mr. President, | am most heartily III
favor of the joint resolution now before
the Senate. What the emancipation
proclamation of the President has not
fully accomplished, what the sword and
the cannon have failed as fully to achieve
has been finally and constitutionally eff
fected by the silent and potential voice
of free people, expressed by their rep
resen tatives in Congress; and the act Is
now submitted to the representatives of
the same people in the Legislatures ofthe
several States for their final ratification.
| sincerely trust that the resolution may
he unanimously passed by the Senate,
and the voice of West Virginia be heard
amid the united and concurrent voices Of
her sister states making this act a part
of our glorious constitution, which God
grant, NAV remain the heritage of free
people forever.
Mr.. Raymond said he thought the pro-
posed action was premature, and moved
10 Law the resolution on the table.
Mr.. Burley said he wanted TO be away
tomorrow, end he was anxious to vote
upon this question; he therefore hoped
that the resolution would not be tabled,
as his health was bad and he did not
know when he might have to be absent,
he hoped that he would to-day he allow
ed to discharge duty he believed he
owed to his God and his country by vot-
ing for the resolution.
Mr.. Farnsworth was opposed to tabling
He preferred fixing day next week,
so that the author OF the resolution Mr.
Maxwell, might be present as he was
sure that gentleman desired to record his
vote for the resolution.
Mr.. Haymond remarked that he did not
care especially about tabling the resolu-
tion, he only wanted to get official notice
from the Governor of the action of COu-
gress.
He withdrew the motion to table. and
moved to refer to the Judiciary
Mr.. Brown said that other States wer
acting; that we had the proposed amend
ment in correct form, even to the dotting
of an or the crossing Of t When we
get the official copy it will be precisely
what we now have.
Mr.. Kitchen hoped the vote wonld now
be taken. He would be away in day or
two, and while we might accommodate
some by ypostponing We would dlsappoInt
Others.
Mr.. Peck remarked that absent mem
bcrs could record their votes hereafter
He did not want our State to be the 18th
or Goth to adopt this amendment Three
were ahead of us already
The President said there could be no
objection to members recording their
votes hereafter
Mr.. Farnsworth replied that in that
view of the case, he would favor action
to-day; and he urged the members to give
a unanimous vote in favor of the re5olu-
tion.
Mr. Atkinson-Iw was yesterday in favor
of postponing this resolution until we
receive through the Governor the official
announcement that Congress had passed
the bill, and the President signed it, but
Isee that other States are acting, and am
in favor of a vote now. | don't want
West Virginia to be the last State to act.
am anxious for this resolution to pass
as speedily as possible
Mr. Raymond said that vote now
would be disrepectfulto the Governor
For his part be was for doing right, let
other States do as they pleased.
The motion TO commit was rejected.
Mr.. Brown called for the yeas and nays,
and the call being sustained the resolu-
ton was unanimously adopted
Messrs. Maxwell and Wright were alb.
sent.
MI. Brown was directed to inform the
House of the action of the Senate
The House bill for the abolishmeht OF
slavery In this State was taken up.
Mr.. Raymond moved to amend the bill
90 a. pay the owners for their slaves.