General Assembly of Virginia.
[extra session.]
Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Minnigerode, of St. Paul's Church.
A communication was received from the House announcing the passage by that body of Senate bills providing for the remuneration of jurors serving on coroners' inquests in certain counties and cities.
Also, announcing the passage by the House of certain joint resolutions, inviting the other States to send Commissioners to meet Commissioners on the part of Virginia, and providing for the appointment of the same, in which they respectfully request the concurrence of the Senate.
Mr. Coghill proposed an amendment to the joint resolutions. The amendment, which was proposed to be inserted between the 4th and 5th resolution, is as follows:
‘ "That in the opinion of the General Assembly of Virginia, the propositions embraced in the resolutions presented to the Senate of the United States by the Hon. John J. Crittenden, so modified as that the first article proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States shall apply to all the territory of the United States, now held or hereafter acquired south of latitude 36 deg. 30 min, and shall provide that slavery of the African race shall be protected, if necessary, as property therein, by all the departments of the Federal and Territorial Governments, during the continuance of the Territorial Government, and the fourth article shall secure to the owner of slaves the right of transit with their slaves between and through the non-slaveholding States and Territories, constitute the basis of such an adjustment of the unhappy controversy which now divides the States of this Confederacy as would be accepted by the people of this Commonwealth."
’ The amendment was advocated by Messrs. Isbell, Coghill, August and others, and opposed by Messrs. Johnson, Thomas of Fairfax, and others, in opposition. The object of the opponents of the amendment being not to clog the question of the appointment of Commissioners, and the invitation to other States, with any instructions, while those who advocated the measure were in favor of instructing their agents in regard to the basis of adjustment.
During the progress of the discussion, Mr. Christian proposed a substitute to the amendment of Mr. Coghill, as follows:
‘ Resolved. That, in the opinion of the General Assembly, the propositions embraced in the resolutions presented in the Senate of the United States by the Hon. Jno. J. Crittenden, so modified that all territory south of the line of 36 30, or hereafter to be acquired, slavery of the African race is hereby recognized as existing, and shall not be interfered with by Congress, but shall be protected as property by all the departments of the Territorial Government, constitute the basis of such an adjustment of the unhappy controversy which now divides the States of this Confederacy as would be acceptable to the people of this Commonwealth.
’ On a motion to adjourn, the ayes and noes were called — ayes 14, noes 30. The Senate having refused to adjourn.
Mr. Coghill then proceeded to deliver his views upon the merits of the various pending propositions.
During the debate a message was received from the House, announcing the passage by that body of an act establishing an Ordnance Bureau. Also, an act appropriating one million dollars for State defence.
On motion of Mr. Paxton, the Senate adjourned.
