General Assembly of Virginia.
[extra session.]
Senate. Saturday, Jan. 12, 1861.
The Senate was called to order at 12 o'clock. Lieut. Gov. Montague in the chair.
Prayer by the Rev. J. L. Burrows.
Mr. Wickham, from a Special Committee, presented a bill amending and re-enacting the 22d section of the charter of the Richmond and Mechanicsville Turnpike Company.
Mr. Carraway presented the proceedings and resolutions of a meeting of the citizens of Princess Anne, in favor of the call of a State Convention.
Also, resolutions passed by a meeting of the citizens of the same county, for the removal or enslavement of free negroes.
Mr. Carson presented the petition of Thos. P. Marshall, for the appointment of trustees for Middletown, in Frederick county.
Resolutions of Inquiry.--The following resolutions of inquiry were reported and appropriately referred: Refunding to Moses G. Booth a certain sum of money; amending the law compensating jurors for services, so as to include coroners' jurors for inquests; amending section 7 of chapter 103 of Code; to report bill No. 403 of last session to pay Messrs. Scott & Adams for work done on the Southwestern Turnpike.
The Crisis.--Mr. Armstrong, from the Select Committee of the Senate, to whom was referred the communication from the House and the amendment proposed thereto by Mr. Claiborne, on Friday, made the following report: ‘
The General Assembly, whilst thoroughly sympathizing and sharing in the grievances of the slaveholding States, and having resolved to make common cause with them unless the present troubles that afflict the country are composed on terms affording an assurance of future security, peace and justice to them in the Union; but at the same time, anxious to avert the horrors of civil war, and thereby leave the way open for a peaceable adjustment of existing difficulties, and the restoration of harmony among the several States, in their relations to each other and the Federal Government, adopt the following: ’
Resolved, That we respectfully request the President of the United States to abstain from the exercise of all powers calculated to jeopard the public tranquility, and render abortive any effort to restore the Union, being satisfied that the slaveholding States will adopt no measures except those of a defensive character, or necessary to secure themselves against attack, and that the recent display of military force against some of the slave States by the Federal Government, has greatly exasperated the public hand of the entire South, has increased the spirit of discontent and of hostility to the Union, and we therefore earnestly represent to the President the policy of countermanding any orders for sending troops or warlike munitions to the South and of abstaining from all acts of hostility or menace to that section of the country.
Resolved, That the foregoing preamble and resolution be communicated by the Governor of this Commonwealth to the President of the United States.
Mr. August moved to lay the report on the table, in order that it might be printed, which gave rise to a short discussion; when Mr. Isbell called for the order of the day — the bill for the call of a State Convention in relation to the alarming condition of the affairs of the country.
Mr. Thomas, of Fairfax, proposed to pass by the order of the day, in order to consider the committee's report.
Upon the proposition to take up the bill to provide for a State Convention, the yeas and nays were demanded, with the following result: ‘
Yeas--Messrs. August, Brannon, Bruce, Carson, Claiborne, Coghill, Day, Dickenson of Grayson, Dickinson of Prince Edward Douglass Early, Finney, Gatewood, Greever, Hubbard, Isbell, Layne, Logan, Lynch, McKenney, Nash, Neeson, Newman, Paxton, Pennybacker, Quesencerry, Richmond, Rives, Taliaferro, and Thompson 30. ’
Nays.--Messrs. Armstrong, Caldwell, Carraway, Jr., Carter, Critcher, French, Johnson, Marshall Massie, Neal Newton, Pate, Stuart Thomas of Fairfax, Townes, Urquhart, and Wickham 17.
Senate bill No. 1, to provide for electing members of a Convention, and to convene the same, was then taken up, when.
Mr. Carter, of Loudon, proposed to amend the first section by inserting a clause submitting the action of the Convention to the people for their adoption or rejection, &c.
Mr. Douglass opposed the amendment, and at the close of his remarks he read a dispatch from Washington, which had been handed him since he arose, stating that the cowardly wavering or non-action of the Legislature of Virginia had made the Black Republicans more jubilant and intolerant.
Mr. Rives favored the amendment in a speech of considerable length., During the progress of his remarks, a
Message from the House was received, announcing that body had passed "a bill providing for the election of members of a Convention and convening the same."
Mr. Douglass stated that as he had been informed the bill had passed the House by almost an unanimous vote, and that it contained a provision similar to that proposed by the gentleman from Loudoun, he would withdraw his opposition to the amendment.
Mr. Rives then resumed the floor and continued his remarks, giving his views generally upon the subject of the proposed Convention.
On motion, the Senate bill and amendments proposed thereto, now pending, were laid on the table.
The Convention bill, reported from the House, was then taken up and read by its title.
On motion of Mr. Douglass, the bill was referred to a select committee.
The President stated that he would refer it to the committee heretofore appointed upon the subject of the Convention, composed of Messrs. Dickinson of Prince Edward, Douglass, Brannan, Armstrong, Coghill, Neeson and French.
On a motion to adjourn, the yeas and nays were called, and the Senate refused to adjourn — yeas 21, nays 24.
On motion of Mr. Dickinson, of Prince Edward, the Senate then took a recess until 7 o'clock P. M. 