House of delegates.
Wednesday, Jan. 30, 1860.
The
House was called to order at 12 o'clock M., by
Speaker Crutchfield.
Prayer by
Rev. Wm. Brown, of the Presbyterian Church.
Resolutions of the Tennessee and Pennsylvania Legislatures.--The Speaker announced a message from the
Governor, which was to the effect that he had received on the evening of Janbary 28th, from his
Excellency Isham G. Harris,
Governor of the
State of Tennessee, a communication enclosing joint resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of that State on the 22d inst., proposing certain amendments to the
Constitution of the United States; also, that he had received by the same mail a communication from
A. G. Curtin,
Esq.,
Governor of the
State of Pennsylvania, enclosing joint resolutions relative to the maintenance of the
Constitution and the
Union, adopted by the Legislature of that State on the 24th inst.
The fifth resolution passed by the
Pennsylvania Legislature says:
‘
"That all plots, conspiracies and warlike demonstrations against the
United States, in any section of the country, are treasonable in their character, and whatever power of the government is necessary to their suppression, should be applied to that purpose without hesitation or delay.
’
Mr. Christian moved the communication of the
Governor, with the accompanying documents, be laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Jones, of
Gloucester, objected to the motion.
He did not see why the
House should print the resolutions adopted by the
Black Republican Legislature of Pennsylvania.
If he understood them aright, they contained a threat of coercion.
Mr. Christian said he had made the motion in the usual form, and as an act of courtesy to the States sending the resolutions.
Mr. Duckwall said the
Pennsylvania resolutions may differ in some points of phraseology from those of New York and
Ohio, but their intent was the same.
He saw no reason why a different course of action should be preserved in regard to them.
He moved to lay all of the documents on the table, and print only
Governor Letcher's letter and the
Tennessee resolutions.
Mr. Collier by way of amendment to the motion of the gentleman from
Augusta, submitted a motion, that the proper action for this
House to take, was to print the communication of
Gov. Letcher and resolutions of the Tennessee Legislature.
When this had been done it would then be proper to lay on the table those of the
Pennsylvania Legislature.
It is eminently proper that a response should be mode to the resolutions of the Tennessee Legislature.
Nothing more is demanded relative to the
Pennsylvania resolutions than lay them on the table.
The suggestions of
Mr. Collier were approved by the gentlemen, (
Messrs. Christian and Duckwall) and accepted in lieu of their motions, and as such were adopted by the
House.
The Tennessee resolutions were referred to the
Committee on State and Federal Relations.
General Business.--An adverse report to amending the charter of the Magnolia Bank, at
Morgantown, was referred to the
Committee on
Banks.
The Committee on Military Affairs, who had under consideration the petition of citizens of the county of
Surry for the formation of a Volunteer Rifle Company, with less than the minimum number now allowed by law, reported a resolution rejecting said petition.
The Committee on Schools and Colleges returned an adverse report on the proposition of paying, for tuition of certain indigent children in
Richmond county, a sum of money exceeding the quota assigned to the School Fund.
The adverse report of the
Committee on Finance to the petition of
W. B. Wooldridge and
T. C. Howard, asking for a re-assessment of certain lands, was, on motion, recommitted to said committee.
Resolutions of Inquiry into Expediency.--By
Mr. McGruder, of constructing a railroad in the county of
Henrico, commencing at the mines of the Richmond and New York Coal Company and intersecting with the Richmond and York River Railroad; by
Mr. Cowan, of amending the charter of the
Preston Bank of Virginia; by
Mr. Christian, of authorizing a connecting railroad from a point on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, near
Cranberry Summit, in Preston county, to some point on the Virginia Central Railroad, in
Augusta county; by
Mr. Magruder, of authorizing the delivery of two field-pieces to the Scottsville Home Guard, upon proper and reasonable condition; by
Mr. McGehee, of authorizing the negroes manumitted by the last will and testament of
Isaac N. Robertson, dec'd, of the county of
Appomattox, to select masters for themselves without compensation.
Bills Reported--To amend the 14th section of an act providing additional protection for the slave property of citizens of this Commonwealth; authorizing the payment of $92.49 to
Thos. L. Jones, of
Caroline co.; to regulate the prayer for and effect of answers in Courts of Equity; refunding to
R. H. Maury and others a sum of money paid on an erroneous assessment of land in the county of
Nicholas; for refunding to
James J. Spaulding a license tax; to repeal an act passed 19th March, 1860, concerning the mode of catching fish in certain waters; exempting certain lands of
Jas. Caldwell, lying in the city of
Wheeling, from city taxes; amending the charter of the town of
Charleston, in the county of
Kanawha.
Petitions--
Mr. Crump presented the petition of
J. M. Hunt and others, members of the "Nottoway Farmers' Club, " asking the General Assembly to amend the several acts by which divers portions of the
State have been released from the heavy and unreasonable burdens of the existing general law of enclosures.
On motion, referred to the Committee on Propositions and Grievances.
Mr. Woolfolk presented the petition of
A. P. Rosett and
R. W. Brooking, for compensation for arresting a lunatic who had escaped from Staunton Asylum.
Referred.
House Bill Passed.--To re-enact the act passed 9th February, 1844, authorizing a loan from the Literary Fund to the Trustees of West Liberty Academy of $5,000.
Called up by
Mr. Edgington, who moved a suspension of the rules and explained the bill.
Bank Relief Bill--The bill for the relief of the Banks of the
State from the penalty of suspending specie payment, having been sent from the Senate at the request of the
House on account of informality, was called up on motion of
Mr. Duckwall who moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the bill had been engrossed, with a view of offering an amendment, which was read, as follows:
Provided,That the Banks shall not have the
benefit of this act unless they and each of them shall agree to contribute such a percentage upon their circulation, on the 30th day of March, 1861, as will secure a sum in specie sufficient to enable the
State to pay its interest on the
State debt, and provide a redemption fund to meet the demands that will fall due on the 1st day of July next, and on the 1st day of January and July, 1862.
Mr. Seddon expressed himself as unalterably opposed to the Banks now and at all times.
He did not believe that a bill could be framed that he would vote for; but as the
House had indicated its intention by passing the relief bill, he thought it was wrong to attach such an amendment to it now. The
Banks heretofore had been required to furnish specie for State use when it was commanded at a premium of 6 per cent.
The
House refused to reconsider the vote engrossing the bill, and being put on its passage, it was carried in the affirmative.
Ayes 80, noes 13.
Delegate from Madison.--
Gen. James L. Kemper, member from
Madison, and
Chairman of the
Committee on Military Affairs, appeared in his seat to-day for the first time for several days, having been called home by business engagements and sickness in his family.
Motion to Adjourn.--
Mr. Freslow moved that when the
House adjourn Friday, it meet again Feb. 11th. He submitted it in consequence of the absence of so many members--(about 140 were present.)
Messrs. Haymond,
Collier and
Yerby objected to the resolutions.
The Governor convened the Assembly for working purposes.
It had done very little as yet. The motion was laid over under the rules.
Stay Law.--The hour of 1 o'clock having arrived, the
Speaker announced that the proposition for a general Stay Law having been made the special order, must now be considered.
Mr. Keen moved that the subject be made the special order for next Wednesday, at the same hour.
Members had expressed a desire to give the subject a more thorough examination.
Mr. Boreman suggested that it be laid on the table, whence it could be called at any time.
Mr. Keen said that the committee who had reported against enacting such a law, had suggested its being made the special order for to-day.
Any motion made by him to postpone temporarily was not to be construed into an admission that he did not regard the law as of vast importance.
Mr. Collier moved an adjournment.
Lost.
Mr. Seddon moved the indefinite postponement of the special order.
The fact that such a proposition was under consideration by the
House would be injurious to the best interests of the
State, and cause creditors to be more importunate in their demands on debtors.
He was for an immediate disposal of the subject.
Mr. Kemper could not concur in the motion for an indefinite postponement.
He was opposed to a stay law, but the
House should not divest itself of the power of availing itself of such a measure.
It depended on future developments as to what view would be taken by members.
He was in favor of laying the bill on the table for a short time.
Mr. Wilson was in favor of staying executions when creditors refused to take notes of solvent banks.
Specie was scarce, and he had carried out the idea of a stay law, as understood by his people, when he voted for the bank relief bill.
Mr. Yerby hoped the proposition for a general stay law would not be summarily disposed of.
Mr. Seddon withdrew his motion, and the special order was laid on the table.
Adjourned.
