Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-02-06
Adjourned until Monday next.
SENATE.

SENATE.
MONDAY, January %.
The following bills were Introduced on
leave. and each one read the first time and
ordered to its second reading:
BY Mr.. B~lakcmore,
seuate Bill No. 10, "a bill to amend and
re>enaet section twelve of chapter forty>three
of the Code of West Virginia :" and.
Senate Bill No. ii, "A bill to amend and
re-enact section nineteen OF chapter one'hun>
dred aud four of the Code Of West Virginia"
BY Mr.. Stollings.
Senate Bill No. Is, GA bill to amend and
re- enact the first clause of section five of chap
ter thirty three of the Code of West Vir-
ginia."
On motion Of Mr.. Blakemore.
Resoivcd, That the Committee on Election
inquire into the ex pediency Of abolishinsthe
officers of State and County Superiutendents
OF free schools, devolving the duties Of the
one on the Secretary of the State, and of the
other on the Recorders of the several coun.
ties, in such a manner as will most effectual>
ly reduce the expenses of the Educational
Department.
On mot on of Mr.. Blakemore.
Resolcea, That the Committee on Town
ships and County Organization, &c, inquire
i'to the exrediency of abolishing the cfice of
township clerk.
On motion of Mr.. Kline.
Resoice0, That the Judiciary Committee
inquire into the expediency Of passing a law
requiring railroad companies to build fences
along each side Of the line of railroads, in this
State.
MIR. Wilson offered Senate Joint Resolu.
ton No. +, ''Concerning suspension Of the
writ OF h"be"s Corpus; &c by U. S. Grant
President of the United States"
WEREAs, The great and paramount object
OF our American foim OF government is to pro
m"te the general welfare, and to secure the
blessings. of liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity )" and
= WHEREAS. ssThe Constitution of the
United stutes provides that the privileges of
the writ OF h"6c"s corpus shall not be sus-
pended unless. when III cases of rebellion or
Invasion, the public safety may require it -
aud
That 'tthe United States shall guarantee to
every State in this Union, a Republican form
of government, and shall protect each of them
against invasion and on application Of the
Legislature, or Of the Executive (when the
Legislature cannot be convened) ayainst do
mestic violence and
''Ih"t the right Of the people to be secure
IN thc"r persons, houses, papers and effects
against unreasonable searches and seizures.
shall net be violated, and no warrants shall
issue but upon probable cause. supported by
oath. or affirmation. and particularly describing
the place to. be searched and the persons or
things to be seized )" and
"That no person shall be deprived of life,
Liberty or property without due process Of
law : and
''That in any criminal prosecution the ac.
cused shall enjny the right to a speedy and
public trial by an Impartial jury )" and
THAT the enumeration in the Constitution
ut certain rights shall not be construed To de
ny"r dlsparage others retained by the peoples"
and
"Ihat the powers not delegated to the
United States ny the Constitution. nor pros
hibited by it are reserved to the States re-
spectivefy or to the people y and
WHEREAS, 1t is "a cardinal prlnclple of our
form of government that the military shall be
subordinate to the civil authority )" and
WHEREAS, The President of the United
States, US Grant. assuming authority under
the provisions of what is known as the "Ku-
Klnx Bill" and setting at defiance the fore>
going constitutional principles ordained and
established for the protection and security of
the people, has suspended the urif ofhobeus
corpus in a State of this Union and by the
military force of the United States, (without
iSSa' aptiiCalioh Ny the proper auGnOTltyJ mas
caused to be arrested and imprisoned a con-
siderable number of the citizens thereof;
therefore
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That Such action by the President of the
United States is u fagraut usurpation of power,
inimical to the most cherished rights of the
people a direct and d%espotic attack upon
constitutional liberty a disregard for the
right of local self-government of the States
within Constitutional limits a giant stride to
ward the Capitalization of all power, State
aud Federal in one person /; a just cause for
patriotic alarm a glaring menace to the free
dom of self government by the people, and a
species of tyranny. equalled alone by its au>
dac'ty ;.sthat it is the solemn duty Of the PEG
rle if they would preserve those rights Sc.
cured by the organic law to displace the bayo-
net OF oppression by the ballot of freedom.
MIR. Wilson moved that the rules be sus
pended in order to consider the resolution this
day, but the motion was lost and the resolu>
tion lies over.
The following bills were each read the
second time and referred as follows:
To the Committee on Judiciary.
Senate Bill No. 6, "a bill to amend and
re-enact sections one and two of chapter
twenty-nine of the Code of West Virginia -
Senate Bill No. "A bill to repeal the act
passed February 22d, 1871, entitled an act
to amend the act entitled 'an act establishing
q code OF laws for this State in relation to cor.