congressional president's aeeusation appointed government … · 2017. 12. 16. · this protest for...

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FREMDENT'S SPECIAL JIESSAfflSToof IieprcsenjLatrees:After a delay which has afforded ir.c ample

time lor-reflection. and uftcr much and carefuldeliberation, I find myself constrained by animperious sense of duty, as a co-ordinate bituichof the Federal Government, to protest againstthe first two clauses of the first resolutionadopted by the House of Representatives, onthe oth inst., and published in the CongressionalGlobe on the succeeding day. Theseclauses are in the followijjg words: "Resolved,That a coaimitteo of live members be appointedby the Speaker, for the purpose (first) olinvestigating whether the President of theUnited States, or any other officer of the Governmenthas, by money, patronage, or anyother improper means, sought to inlluence theaction of Congress, or any committee thereof,for or against the passage of any law appertainingto the rights of any State or Territory:(and 2d.) "also, to inquire into anil investigatewhether any officer or officers of the Govern-ment have, by combination or otherwise, pre-vented or defeated, or attempted to prevent ordefeat, the execution of any law or laws

now

upon the statute book, and whetherthe Presidenthas failed or refused ^ to compel the executionof any law thereof.''

I confine myself.exclusively to these twobranches of the resolution; because the portionsof it which follow relate to alleged abusesin post offices, navy-yards, public buildings,and other public works ol-thc United States..In such cases inquiries are highly proper inthemselves, and belong equally to the senateanil the House, as incident to their legislativeduties, and being necessary to enable them todiscover and to provide the appropriate legislativeremedies for an.V abuses which may be as-contained. Although ttie terms 01 nw icuitportion of the resolution arc extremely vagueand general, yet my sole purpose in advertingto thein at present is to mark the broad line ofdistinction between the accusatory and the remedialclauses of this resolution The Houseof Representatives possess no power under theConstitution over the first or accusatory portionof the resolution, except as an impeaching body;whilst over the last, in common with the Senate,their authority as a legislative body is fullyand cheerfully admitted ®

It is solely in reference to the. first or impeachingpower that I propose to make a fewobservations. Except in this single case, theConstitutiondias invested the House ol Representativeswith no power, 110 jurisdiction, nosupremacy whatever over the President. Inall other respedts he is quite as independent ofthem as they are of him. As 11 co-ordinatebranch of the Government, he is their equal.Indeed, he is the only direct representative onearth of the people of all and each of the sovereignStales. To them, and to them alone, ishe responsible whilst acting withju the sphereof his constitutional duty; and not in anymanner to the House of Representatives. Thepeople have thought proper to invest him withthe most honorable, responsible and dignifiedoffice in the world; and the individual, howeverunworthy, now holding this exalted position,will take care, so far as in him lies, ihuttheir rights and prerogatives shall never beviolated in his person, but shall pass to hissuccessors unimpaired by the adoption of adangerous precedent. He will defend them tothe last extremity against any unconstitutionalattempt, come from what quarter it may, toabridge the constitutional rights of the Executive,and render him subservient to any humanpower except themselves."" P A il_ T» * 1The people nave no; conuneu me i-resiuuiu

to the exercise of executive duties. They havealso conferred upon hint a large measure oflegislative discretion. " bill can become alaw without his approval as representing thepcopie of the United States, unless it shall passafter his veto by a majority of two-thirds ofboth houses. In Ids legi.-lative capacity, hemight, in common with the Senate and theHouse, institute an inquiry to ascertain anyfacts which ought to influence his judgment inapproving or vetoing any bill.

This participation in the performance oflegislative duties between the co-ordinatebranches of the Government ought to inspirethe conduct of all of them, in their relationstowards each other, witlr» mutual foib'.-araneeand respect. At least each has a right to demandjustice from the other. The cause ofcomplaint is that the constitutional" rights andimmunities of the Executive have been violatedin the person of the President.The. trial of an impeachment of the Presidentbefore the Senate, 011 charges preferred

and prosecuted against him by the House 0!Representatives, would be an imposing spectaclefor the world. In the result, not only hisremoval from the presidential office would heinvolved, but, what is of infinitely greater importanceto himself, his character, both in theeyes of the pr^tmt and of future generations,might possibly be tarnished. The disgracecast upon him would, in some degree, be re~< -1 f .1..' \ .necicu upon me cnaracier u. me amciituupeople who elected him. Iloncc the precautionsadopted by the Constitution to secure afair trial. Or. such a trial it declares that "theChief Justice shall preside." This was doubtlessbecause the fratners of the Constitutionbelieved it to be possible that the Vice Presidentmight be biased by the fict, that "in caseof the removal of the President from cilice,""the same shall devolve on the Vice President."The preliminary proceedings in the House,

in the case of charges which in 114- involve impeachment,Jiave been well and wisely settledby long practice upon principles of equal justiceboth to the accused and to the people..The precedent established in the case «>f JudgePeck, of Missouri, in 1881, after a careful reviewof all former precedents, will. I ventureto predict, stand the test of lime In that caseLuke Edward Lawless, the accuser, presenteda petition to the Ilou.*ib, in which he set forthminutely and specifically his causes of complaint.lie prayed "that the conduct and proceedingsin this behalf of said Judge Peckmay be inquired into by your honorable body,and such decision made thereon as to your wisdomand justice shall scfcin proper." This petitionwas referred to the Judiciary Committee.Such has ever been deemed the appropriatecommittee to make similar investigations.It is a standing committee supposed to be appointedwithout reference to any special case,and at all times is presumed to be composed ofthe most eminent luwycrs in the House fromdifferent portions of the Union, who.-e acquaintancewith judicial proceedings and whose habits)of investigation qualify them peculiarlyfor the ta.sk. No tribunal, from their positionand character, conid. in the nature of things,.be iq^rc impartial, in the cascof Judge Peck,the witnesses were selected by the committeeitself, with a view to ascertain the truth of thecharge. They were cross-examined by him,and everything was conducted in such a manneras to afford him no reasonable cause ofcomplaint.

In view of this precedent, and, what is offar greater importance, in view of the Constitutionand the principles of eternal justice, inwhat manner has the 1'resiUcni ol uio uiiucu

$. States been treated by the Houso of representatives?Mr. John Covodo, a representativefrom Pennsylvania, is the accuser of the President.Instead of following the wise precedentsof former times, and especially that inthe case of Judge Peck, and referring the accusationto the Committee on the "Judiciary,the House have made my accuser one of myjudges.

To make the accuser the judge is a violationof the principles of universal justice, and iscondemned by the practice of all civilized nations..Every freeman must revolt at such aspectacle. 1 am to appear before Mr. Covode,cither personally or by a substitute, to crossexamine the witnesses which he may productbefore himself to sustain his own accusation*against me; and perhaps even this poor boonmay be denied to the PresidentAnd what is the nature of the investigation

which his resolution proposes to institute? 1is as vague and general as the English languagiaffords words in which to make it The com

. mittee is to enquire, not into any specific chargior charges, but whether the President has, b_i"money, patronage, or other improper meanssought to influence," not the action of anyindividual member or members of Congress, bu"the action" of the entire body "of Congress'itself, "or any committee thereof." The President might "have had some glimmering of tinnature of the offence to he investigated had hi:accuser pointed to the act or acts of Congresswhich lie sought to pass or to defeat by the eniploytnent of "inonev, patronage, or other improper means." But the accusation is boundedby no such limits. It extends to the whol<circle of legislation; to interference "for 01against the passage of any law appertaining tcthe rights of any State "or Territory." Andwhat law docs not appertain to the richts olsome State or Territory ? And what law 01laws 1ms the President tailed to execute ? Thesemight easily .have been pointed out had anvsuch existed.Had Mr. Lawless asked an inquiry to be

made by the Hpuse whether Judge Peck, ingeneral terms, had not violated hisjudicial duties, without the specification of any particulaiact, I do not believe there would have been :single vote in that body in favor of the inquiry.

^mi.*.*^7 .

Since the time of tbo Star Chamber and of «

general warrants there has been no such proceedingin England.The House of Representatives, the high im- t

peaching power of the country, without 4:011-'

senting to hear a word of explanation, have |endorsed this accusation against the President, jand made it their own act. They even refused jto permit a member to inquire of the President'saccuser what were the specific charges 1against him. Thus, in tins preliminary aeeusationof "high crime and "misdemeanor*." ;against a co-ordinate brunch of the Govern- 1meat, under the impeaching power, the Houserefused to hear a single suggestion even in re- 1gard to the correct mode of proceeding; but, jwithout a moment's delay, passed the accusa- <ton* resolutions under the pressure of the pre- 1vious question. <

In the institution of a prosecution for any of-1Jfence against the most humble citizen.and 1claim for myself 110 greater right than lie en- ijoys.the Constitution of the United States 1and of the several States require that lie shallbe informed, in the very beginning, ol' the na- |ture and cause of the accusation against hun. <in order to enable bini to prepare for his de- |fence. There are other principles, which I ;might enumerate, not less sacred, presenting Jan impenetrable shield to protect every citizen jfalsely charged with a criminal offence Thesehave been violated in the prosecution institutedby the House of Representatives against the jExecutive branch of the Government. Shall Jthe President alone be deprived of the proteclion of these great principles which prevail inevery land where a ray of liberty penetrates jthe gloom of despotism ? Shall the Executivealone he deprived of rights which all his fellow- Jcitizens enjoy ? The whole proceeding againsthim justifies the fears of those wise and great Jmen who, before the Constitution was adoptedby the States, apprehended that the tendencyof the Government was to the aggrandizementof the Legislative at the expense of the Execu-tive and Judicial Departments.

I again declare, emphatically, that 1 makethis protest for no reason personal to myself;and I do it with perfect respect for the Houseof Representatives, in wluch l hsiti me nonorof serving as a member lor live successiveterms. I have lived long in this goodly land,ami have enjoyed all the otiices and honorswhich my country could bestow. Amid all! the political storms through which I have pass-

I ed, the present is the first attempt which hasI ever been made, to my knowledge, to assailj my personal or official integrity; and this asthe time is approaching when I shall voluntarilyretire from the service of my country..

I feel proudly conscious that there is no publicact of my life which will not bear the strictestscrutiny. I defy all investigation. Nothingbut the basest petjury can sully my goodname. I do not fear even this; because Icherish an humble confidence that the!gracious Being who has hitherto , still morestringent laws were passed, treating the _ companylike a felon, which completely destroyed its credit.Two railroads were chartered ntul built on the smithside nud one on the north side yf tliu canal, whichgreatly reduced its tonnage and income.

In 1:>.U the South Side Railroad w-as completed. from Petersburg to Lynchburg, aud in the five years

after it was put in operation to that place the canal1 doat 145,031 tons of freight (it little more than ifikOOOtons pcr'uttuum) and $414,^72 of tolls.nearly Ss3,000

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uintnn, besides all ths incrcwo of tonnage on theFirginia and Tennessse Railroad during that time,vhicb was very great.Sir, this cotnpiiuv Una been great I v censured for'educing its tolls lrom Lynchburg to Richmond. The

act thul it 1 clt upwards of one hundred uild forty-fivehonsund torm or freight during it" five years contestvith the Sftutli Side "road, shows that it would haveo»t ail Us tonnage ilwt laid not reduced its tolls, ands a triumphant vindication of its course.Tlie com puny has also hecu einhaVrnssed by extendingits income on permanent improvements,liy its charter it was required to form a connectionetween tlie basin utid Kocketts, to accomplish whicht had to buy tlie dock, and deepen und enlarge it,tnd connect it with tlie basin by locks. This it buslone at great expense. It became necessary to enurgethe canal for some miles above Richmond, toiirnisli water power for manufactures, which hasseen done at considerable cost. Jt is required bv itsbarter to form connection* by bridges and otlierivisewith tlie South Side, to ciiublo the farmers tojot to the canal with their produce, which lias beenlone. It has also expended large sums in maltinglie Ilivumiaeonuecti'>u und in constructing the NorthiJivcr canal, and it lias expended about fOOO.wO iniie last seven \ ears ill extending tlie canal west ofJileiuilian. it lias also rebuilt a number of danisuid locks, substituting rock lor wood The wholeiinoiiiit ol appropriations by tlie Legislature to pro

ccutetiiis woik since 1 sje is whilst therompaiiy has expended upon the peruuineiit iniir»veiiientsstated above $£,K'7,42g; nine hundreduid seventy-seven thousand lour hundred and tweii;y-twe swept off by an ordinary rise in the river,which would break up the navigation ot the Canal;and if the Letrislatnre should aojouru without passinga biil for the relief ot the company, having neithermoney ie>r credit, it would not be able to re-buildthese dams, and it an extra session should be callednext winter uml ail appropriation should be madel'»r that purpose, it wotiid lake fully another year tore-build them, so that the navigation i mad competing sueeeasfully withthe Baltimore and Ohio railroad, upon itn connectionwith the canal at Covington, which would greatly reducethe c -at of transportation front thence to" theEastern cities and hack to Covington. The delegatestrout Monroe based their strongest arguments in favorof this niilroud upon its connection with the canal.Tlte Central railroad, with its single track and muchheavier grades, cannot accommodate its large wayfreightanil passengers, and tlit: large ntlliiher ofthrough passengers, (which the Covington and Ohiorailroad will bring to it,) and transport one-tit tit ol'the large tonnage which will be brought on the Covingtonand Ohio railroad'.The Central road would not carry more than

l(Ki.OO0 tons ol through freight each way, and withoutthe canal the Covington and Ohio Railroad wouldbring no more freight to Covington than the Centralroad would carry away. The coat of transportationon the Central road, from Covington to Richmondwould he too great for Western mineral and agriculturalproducts, so that they could not lie developedwithout the canal. Nor can our cities he built tipand direct trude ami commercial independence istahlishedwithout'it. The gentleman Irotn Monroe(Mr. Cti.vrMAN i estimated the freight brought to Covington.on the Covington and Ohio road, at 1,000,'>'t Sew York, s.ieg "t thethroitoli tommim ou tin.- Jb.no canal, in 1* -C «: "l,2I3, average suspension otthe navigation of - New York Erie canal will lieu!>out live month' per annumi.there i* no doiit.tbut timt it will b -de to compete. most successfullywith the New Y : route, lor the Western trade..As the live nice s that the navigation of the ErieCanal i^ sti-pcU : hy ice, the water of the Ohio. lielowthe month : the Kanawha, is in the best staget >r boating, tli. will be every iuduccmcut-elo theWestern nieri -nts to ship their produce utf&iucrchiindisc by t Virginia route..When the liter line sliail be completed to the i

Ohio it will : Capable of traiis|>nrting three and ahalf million m» of freight annually. Three millions.at an .o-ra.'e toll ot -ft aOper ton, WoiiM yieldfour and » an It nillioK dollars,'winch would paythe maxim a dividend of la per cent, on twentyliveininfo of capital, and leave seven hundredand titty aitsand to pay expenses and keep thecanal ill r airThe pa-age of this bill would secure the completionot t canal to Covington, the steamboat nnvigationofI - Kanawha (n Lotlp Creek .Shoals and tincomple:-iiof tltp ('ovingtoii iind Ohio Kailroad to

connee: with steamboat navigation at that point inlive yi rs, when there will be u through transit fromllieht! ml to the Ohio, bv canal t«> Joviijat'in, thence jby ni. mad of easy grade to Loup Creek Shoals, andthen by steinihout to the Ulii", cheaper and siipi.riori very respeet to the Baltimore and Uhio I'.iilroH'.-whieliwould develop the immense mineralami-griculture wealth ot tne country and produce-O.'.rgeft revenue from that source, and the greatan ant oftoiinage it would draw ironi the vallies nitl-t*»ltio and Mississippi, that it would insure thecjipielion ot the water line to the Ohio iy twelve,stars.J'nen will the rich treasures of the mighty Westpoured into our Eastern cities, receiving in returnI ,11 tlieni the niereliiuulize of every clinic, producing

:;,j; amount of tonnage going East and West together,r.f at least three millions aimuallv. TIiih, will the.vilderiicss blossom as the rose. There will l>« a sac-cession f prosperous villages, and thrifty manittac-lories, filled with indiistricuis, ciiterpriziugand happycitizens, tmui one end of the improveuieht to theother. Then will Kiclnnoml. Petersburg, Norfolkand Portsmouth, spring up as if by magic, into largeniaiiulacl urine commercial cities. Norfolk and P-.itsimouth will become the Tyre and Ssidou of the Wes'eruworld, and tinir magnificent and canueionsHarbor will be whitened with the sales o, everyclime. Then shall our commerce rival that ot theEmpire city, and, what is more glorious thantill, the South will be free, and independent of jher Northern oppressors, by the establishmentof commercial mdi pemlciicc upon a basis asjjrm as the rock of tiibraltar, which will perpetuatenitr Union, because we shall he able tbeu to rypelNorthern aggression and sit it at dertance. Is therenot patrioti.-m in this IIoii.-oiitBciciit to pass this bill!Will the appropriation of a halt'million of dollarsdeter gentlemen from voting ibrit, w hen so muchgood and such splendid results must ensile t Noother appropriation bills could have passed this w inter,witlioiit tin* votes ol the friends of this great

j work. Hy their votes they were ail carried: and willtlic friends of those measures now pmveTul»c to us.and vote against this bill ? Sir, I w ould much ratherbo the deceived than the deceiver. I wmiM muchrather lo-c this lull, as del ply anxious as 1 am to secit pass, than to have it passed by the votes of gentle--=- ' ! i-i'-.i

>(.'11 rcpn-MMJUIlS ll'cr IIIIVH.-1-...lli.i nan hill to hnihltheir railroad and

* .MeAJ.ua road. They arc n>interested in the Canal u> my constituents'. a> tliei.ugrieulturtll und mineral WeitUli can never he developedwithout it, as they will ii"t hear the cost of railroadtransportation to tide-water.To the groat Northwest I would appeal. The

friends u! the Central improvement have alwaysstood by yon. and voted tor appropriations to nil theimprovements you have asked tor. When 1 firstcame :< tnis House, thirty-two years ago. your countrywas cuiiiparat.vely a wilderness. We voted largeappropriations to make your roads, to give yt.n out-jets to market, and thereby developed your countryand greatly incr-uscd vonr wealth. We gave the jBaltimore and Ohio Ihu'roud Company the right ofway. free from charge. through your country, when jtiiut company was willing to pay millions for the .privilege ot locating their ro.itl tip the valley todailies Uivtr in my" county, and thence along* tiieJames Kivcr and Kanawha route to the Ohio. This,sir, would have given tuv constituents the choice ofthe Richmond or Baltimore market, una yet I, astheir representative, rejected it proposition >o favorable to them, which would have enhanced the valueof their real estate one hundred percent, and ntademy first speech on this tioor in tutor of giving theBaltimore and Ulii© Railroad Cojtipany a right of jway tor their road through the Northwest. I thusrefused to ray own constituents and the conntry be-tweea tpe aui the mouth of the Kanawha that whiah

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IWUIIIM

enrl" w* stuck.f*1 MX VCIUs, UMkr VHM Vlt v..- -v?but :i]'uii its oM stock. »t three millions, which ispay siiir tiotliinjf now. Tins question then jfiitcSir. I have done. Thirty-two years r.t'0 -1 took rnysunt in tiii- lloU*e a Zealous friend ot tills greatwork. I have ever since defended it, through > viland »«»' d report. Many of tho-e uoble spirits, who,, I31J1).SENATE.

Tite Senate was called to order at 10 o'clock A. >1., byLieut Governor MONTAGUE.A communication was read from tlie House, Informing

the senate of the passage of a number of bills orignalingIn the Senate; also of sundry II'use hills.the latter, whendisposed ol. are noted below. The House agreed to tlieamendments proposed by the Senate to the following bills:"An act to re-enact and amend the Ultli section of chapterID ol the Cod', so as to extend the exemptions from dis.tress or Invyon the property of poor debtors."

llllfsK tit Lt.i Pss.-10.To amend and re enact the charter of the town of point

Pleasant, In .Mason county; to Incorporate the Parker-burgP.ool ami Shoe Manufacturing Company; to eetntili-li abranch Bans at Parkeraburg, In the county of Wood: direelingtlie payment of a judgment in favor of Mary Pecryand other?, of Tax.-w.ll county, against the Hoard of PublicWorks, for repairs to the Staunton and Parkersburgroad; for lite relief of John W. Lnwson; auth wiring theHank of the Valley in Virginia to establish a branch In thecity i f Kiclin ond; to incorporate the Sultville and LaurelTurnpike Company (.with un amendment.)

COVtllXOKS OF low'A ami 011:0.Mr. COC'iiliLl., from tlie joint committee on the General

Assembly, on the special message of the Governor rfa thesubject of tlie demand mads by him on tlie Governors offow.t and Ohio lor the surrender of certain fugitives frontjustice, made a report, concluding with a resolution, whichwas read and ordered to be printed.

.......I.. nrmnTUVST.

The Senate were notified hy a lfou«e m«o;e that thathoily hart agreed to a joint resolution "to authorize theJoint Committee on the Public Library to increase the com-pettsatio'i el tin* .ts-isiuiit Clerk and Copying.Clerk in theExecutive Department."

SLSATK It ILLS Pl83-I>.Releasing IHchard Carr troia the payment of a fine im-

posed hy the Circuit Court of Middlesex county; toextctnlthe time of rebuilding the upper mil! or Clue. Mason, lu thecounty of King Unirge.SCXSTS.'O BretfESs.Senate hill charging the Petersburg and JViyrtton Plank

Road and the Ihiyrtton and l.irksville Plank lloui) into aRailroad, and auihuslztrg an increase ot the capital stockfur that purpose, wtu put on Its passage and rejeeted.

lite hill rearranging and extending the corporate limitsof the town o! Staunton, w.i3 indefinitely postponed.The Seriate rejected House resolution exempting the

Sheriff of llttchle county from certain damages recoveredagainst him fur a failure to pay the public revenue intothe Treasury.

Hou-e.liill exempting the Fair llroundsof agriculturaland mechanical societies from taxation, was rejected on itspassage.Senate bill for the rrlicf of Robert W. lianley, contrac-

tor on a Turnpike, was rejected.ayes 15, roes 14.notreceiving a constitutional majority.The bill Imposing taxes on persons and property came up

as unfinished business The sections relating to taxes onmerchants were disposed of Thursday night. The Senateresolved to let the tax remain as In the present law. To-day, a vote being taken on the yhole bill, it was passed.The bill toincorporatethr Wheeling Kailroad llridge Com-

pany was called up. Mr. NEWL'TS offered an amendment,proposing thai the Company should pay a tax of three centsper |«n and three cents for each passenger fur the privi-leges secured by the hill. The motion was rejected.Mr NEErSON moved to amend the hill by requiring the

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company to accept the proprovisionsof the general railroad laws of Virginia beforethe act should take effect.The last mentioned amendment wag pending when the

hour Of 3 ariiveil, and the Senate adjourned till* o'clock.HOUSE OP DELEGATES.

The House met at taa o'clock, Speaker 03CTCH5IELDla lka chair. i

SSBSS9BE3L Jl.tt -1 "" " ggggPrayer by Bishop Esrly, of ih« Methodist Episcopal

Church.Many bills were received from the Senate, with amendments,which ware generally concurred la.

bills passed.A Mil granting right! of way to mining and manufacturing

companies, in Kanawha county.iir. GILMER, of Pittsylvania,called up anil explained u

bill for the relief of A. J. Whitehead; which was passed.ayes 115. The Chair requested Mr. GILMER to communicatethe passage of the hill by the Oouse to the SenR'e.Mr. McGRL'DER, of Albemarle, called up and explained

an act for the relief of the sureties of Joseph Llgon, latesheriff of Nelson ccuntt; which was passed.ayes SA.Mr. DCCKWALL called up and advocated a bill Incor-

poruting the Sir John's Run Turnpike Company; which waspassed.ayes 75.

t.tTs.vjiu.s or me sorrn sine railroad.Mr. ORGAIN called up a hill "to enable the South Side

Railroad Company to construct a orunch of their road fromI lacks and Whites to the Roanoke river."Messrs ORGAIN. COLLIER, KEMPER, CHAPMAN, j

BASKERVIIX, IIaYMOND and ItlSBIE advocated the jpassage of the bill; and Mr. WILSON, of Isle of Wight,opposed It. The hill was lost. It cot receiving a constltutionalmajorltv. Ayes 05, noes 49.

TtIS OoVEKMlHa OF lowA AX 0 OniO.Mr. DCCKWAI.L, from the special committee on the subIject of the correspondence between the fiovemois of Iowa

ami Ohio, relative to the rendition of certain fugitives fromjustice, with the Governor of Virginia, made a report fromthai committee as follows;The undersigned, joint committee of the General Assem'

My, to whotu wore referred the speclul messages of theGovernor on the subject of the demand made hy him onthe Governors of Iowa anil Ohio fur the surrender of Barclay-Cnppoc, Francis Mlrrlnm and Owen llrown, three ofthe criminals engaged In the late raid at Harper's Ferry,have, accoidlng to order, had the same under considerationan.l make the following report:On the Ititli day of October last these' men (Coppoc, Mir-

riatn and Urown) deliberately conspired together withothers to 1 licit* our slaves to rebel and to overthrowthe institutions and government of our State ; and in theattempt to execute their felonious and treasonable purpose,

i.tlte property of our citizens wax carried away, their per-sons forcibly detained and conllntd, while others wereruthlessly murdered.After having committed the grave offences, they lied he-

yond the juriidieiion of the commonwealth. The plain dutyof the Executive of this Coininnnwealtli, charged as lieis with the execution of the l»ws. was to demand of theGovernor of any State, within the limits of which they mightbe found, their surrender.Your committee do not think It necessary to refer par-

ticularl. to the clause of the Federal L'onstmiiimi anu meact of Congress under which the Governor of Virginia He- Imantled the surrender of these eriinina's, because both arefamiliar to the whole country Under the clause of the FederalConstitution and the act ol Congress' eferred to.t he Governorproceeded todeman of the Governor of Iowa the surrenderof liarclay Coppoc, and of the Governor of Ohio the surreti-derof Francis Mirriani and tiwen Grown In both casesthe surrender was refused. In justification of their conduct,they do not pretend that the utleuco with which the critnl-uats are charged have not been committed, nor that theywere not to be found within the limits of their States;but they put tbelr refusal solely 0:1 the ground of al-1-ged informalities in the papers accompany in* the re-quMition. The-e alb ged informalities, when examined,are not only technical, but utterly and wholly groundless.and, your committee are constrained to say, furnish evi-

j denee satisfactory to our minds that both the Governors otIowa and Ohio have wilfully and deliberately violated theirsworn duty and u plain provision of the Fed raI Constitution,and that the reasons they assign In Justification pftheir conduct are rather of a character to clothe with decencya foregone conclusion, than to satisfy the Governorand people of Virginia.Your committee deem It a useless waste of time to chb».rate this branch of the subject; but in ord.r to demonstrate

very briefly, that the views expressed by your committeeare warranted by the extraordinary conduct of these Kxecutlves,we will for a moment adveit to the reasons assignedby Attorney General Wolcolt, of Ohio, upon whose opinionthe Governor of that State predicates hi? refusal to surren-tier .Mlrtlam and Hruwu. And In order that there may notbe the slightest Injustice dene to the Attorney General, wewill slate the case precisely us he litti done, and in his ownlanguage.

lie says, speaking of Mirriam:(1st), "lie must have been charged in another State, by

indictment or affidavit, with the commi.-slou thereof treason,felony or other crime.(ffd). lie tnust have lied from that Stale to escape its Jus'

lice; andphi) Demand for hi, surrender, accompanied by an au-

tlii-nlic copy of I be Indicttnelit or affidavit, on wiilcb thedemand is predicated, must have he ,i made by the Executiveauthority of the State froui which the (light was made."He t lien say?:When these do concurrently happen, the power to removeexists, and must be executed."

Let us see, now, whether the several mutters of fuel In:voiced In the preceding position of the Attorney General.are shown to have exi led in the case of Mirriam.

In the first place.the fugitive (Mirriam) on the s:h tlayr.f February lust was indicted by a grand Jury of the CircuitCourt of Jefferson county of ibis Plate, with having, or. theItitlt ami tTill days of October, l-iff, "advi-ed slaves torebel and make Insurrection; for conspiring with slaves torebel and make insurrection; ami for compiling with certainpersons to Induce slaves to rebel Mid make insurrection".all off lice made felony bv the law s of Yirclnia.This indictment charges that Mirriam, on the Milh and !7lhdays of Uetoher, ltfilt, committed the aiorrsaM offence inthe C' unty of Jeffer«on, and within the jurisdiction of theCircuit Court of that couuty.

! A copy of this indictment, and so much of the record ofthe proceedings of the Court as showed that it was regular-Jy Tulltlil, was cerilueilio uy in- M-rK mi ill': tuun, nun [ill'seal nf his Mlice annexed. It""; .1 ililce nf the Court nextrerilllcd to the genuineness of the certificate ami seal ofI lie Cleric, ami llie whole was certified to liy 111 Governorof tliis Commonwealth, under the seal of Sm'e. This indictment,thus authenticated, ilmsi, in tin* very language *"fAttorney Oineral IVultott, tliat Mirriam, tin; person ii«.inanili-a, was charged In (Virginia) another Stat"; witliil.ocommission f a crime, ami that crliue felony.

Attorney General Wolcott further "ay, that in nililitionto the forego'in:, it niu-t lie sliuwu that .Virriata "fled (rotaVirgT.la to e.-ca|ic Its justice."'The same evidence Ihnl is deemed sufficient to show that

Mirriam was charged with having couiluittetl the ntfence,will answer to show that heil.il from the Stale after thecniniiiirsioti of the otfetiee. The indictment, when onceadmitted as evidence, flume ti nt on the 10th and 17th nfOctober last Francis Miriiain was ill the county of .lelfcrsotiin llie Commonwealth ' ( \ irginia, and then and therecotntnitteil the felony aforesaid. Now, if he tic found onthe '--d of February, Istlu, In the State of Ohio, are wouldlike to know how lie happened to he In that Stateon thatday, unless he fled there from tile State of Virginia. Canthe Attorney Gentiral of Ohio, alter admitting that In themonth of October last Mirriam was In Virginia. Inform thepeople i f Virginia now he got into Ohio on the Slid nf February following ? Is It necessary, In order to satisfy theterm's of the constitution and the act of Congress, that theGovernor of Vhginia should show, as a condition preceident to hid tight to demand the surrender of .Mirriam, theparticular mode of travel by wldclt the fugitive left theStulc? nr the C|UO animo with which he It ft? or the control!ingsentiment that moved him in his hasty departure fromthe limits of Virginia.whether is was fear nr hatred orremorse? Would he devolve upon the Governor of Vlr-

| gli.iu the onus of slioivingJwh.it could only he known toMirriam himself? Whether Mirrl-im, after commit'lng thefelony, walked or ran out of Virginia on his two legs, orwhether he went on horse hack, or by since coach, or byrailway, is probably better known to Attorney GeneralWolcott, or liii excellency. Gov. DctitiUoti, than to Gov.Letcher. j

In addition to the language of the Indictment, the requisitionof tiov. Letcher avers, that Mirriam was a fugitirefrom justice.thus showing. In the tuost positive auil solemnform, that lie hail not only committed the otrenee, hut thatlie had fled from the State o Virginia "lo escape itsjustice." Vet, in the face of tlris anient i record, thus authenticated,uud in the teeth of the official declaration ofthe Governor of Virginia, showing that Mirriam was afugitive from Justice from Virginia, Attorney General Wol{cut hazards the assertion that no evidence existed to shewthat Mirriatu hail fled front Virginia to elude justice.

It is udiii'ttrd hy Ihe Attorney General of Ohio, that !hcthird requisite eXISteu III tne case; ami we arc cuiiscquuuii,,relieved from (he trouble of noticing Hint. The case ufOwen lirnwn stood upon precisely the same ground, utidwas ill all respects similar to that of Mirriani; and (here- jfore, the name reason lor refusing to surrender the one In-tluenced liov llennison in refusing to surrender the other. !

In striking contrast with the conduct of tne Governors ofIntra and Ohio, was the action of the Governor of l'enn-syiv.mia, and one Kf the Judges of the latter Stale, on theoccasion of the demand made hy the Governor of thisCommonwealth for the surrender of lidward llazlett, oneof the Harper's Kerry conspirators. . (

After the Governor ol Pennsylvania had promptly sur-rendered the accused, he was brought before one of theJudges of that State, under a writ of habeas corpus; andalthough the evidence showed that the accused was namedlidwurd, and not Albert llazlett, and for that reason lie ]could not he surrendered under the requisition of Governor jWise, yet the Judge remanded the prisoner to Jail, to awaitanother requisition In proper form.

I How striking the contrast between the administration ofthe law by a coudcicu ious ami enlightened judge, and theexecution of lite same law hy the unscrupulous ami fatuitiIcat black republican governors of Iowa and Ohio! The ;one intent only on doing his duty, while the others exhaustall their mental resources la seeking for a decent disguiseby which to conceal their predetermined purpose to evadea plain provision of tile federal compact. t ,Your committee have observed in tne public prints of ,

Ohio, that the governor of that r'tato had communicated to (tlie editor of an abolition journal uf that slate his Intentionto refuse to surrender X.irriam anil Crown before he lookthe advice of the attorney general of Ohio, upon whilst;opinion he professes to luveacted. I ,Both the Governor of Iowa and the Governor of Ohio, in-

stead of regarding the demand of the Governor of Virginia jas a matter to be kept as a confidential communication, ,cent to have made haste to give it publicity. Conduct Ilike this Is not only unbecoming the highest functionary ofa sovereign State, hut morally renders these delinquentGovernors accessories to the offence. .

1

Your committee arc not disposed to hold the whole peopleof Iowa and Ohio responsible for the acts of their Gover-nnrs. On the cuntrary, we are gratified In being nble.tostate that a large portion of the people of both Mates con-detnn. as strongly hi do your committee, the conduct of ,their Governors. But while this is true, thlsc Governorsrepresent the majority of the people of their respective ;States. |

In conclusion, your committee, while they refrain frontrecommending any retaliatory measures, for reasons whichat this period of the session will he obvious to thy GeneralAssembly, vet they cannot forbear to express tne opinion ,that acts like those in question. If persisted in hy the people jof our sistet non slaveliolding Stales, will not only justify >retaliation on the part of Virginia, hut will Inevitably lead to ]that estrangement and alienation between the two section-, jwhich will ultimately remit in a dUtuptlou of the federalcompact. tYour committee beg leave to recommend the adoption ,

of the following joint resolution : Iitesolved, l>y the General Assembly of Virginia, Thai the (

Governors of Iowa and Ohio, hy refu-inc to surrender tothe Governor of this Commonwealth, Barclay Coppoc, ,Francis Mirriatnanil nwen nrnw n, cum giro . .

J tu have committed, within this State, crimes of the highest .frail*, nr.it In have !!« ! beyond in limits, wilfully atidde-lihcralely violated the Federal compact, disregarded the (comity which should exist between Sovereign States, and (made themselves morally, if not legally accessories to the joffences committed by these criminals and fugitives fromjustice. ; t

l>u motion of Mr. ISLl'E, the report find resolutions w-ere (laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. p |

Mr. JUNKS of Appomattox proposed to Introduce a rose- jlution requiring every .citizen of the State* of Ohio and tloan, who shall lie found within the limits of Virginia togive bond ur.il security for their good behavior whilst in ,(heCommonirealth. I

Tlf PI KsOS.lL ISO PltorfRTr T.«X BILLS.j ]Mr. IIAYMOND called up. tlie ill imposing taxes on per- ,

sons and property, which was before the House with many jamendments, whelt the Speaker 'vacated the chair until To'clock this evening.

'.

[On the >Ut day of March, when the Joint resolutions in jresponse to the renuest of South Carolina and .Mississippi,for a conference of the Southern Stales, were under con-se.'eratbin, and put upon their passage, Mr. IVA HI), of tFrederick, when the Clerk called his name, stated that hewould not vote, because he had pair-d off with a gentle-man who was suddenly c.illwl home to see a sick family.He said he regretted that he could not therefore cast hisvote for the Conference. ,Mr. tVAItli requested the reporter of the House of He-

legstes to append tills statement to the report of the proceedingsof that day, which has been omitted until now.]Fuipay, M.tki'ti fib, li'». i \

SUNA TIC.EVF.NINU akloslO.V. j jItOC.-'E Il'lLLS IWSsLD. j (

Prescribing the rights »f certain persons In relation toproperty drilled on waters west of the Alleghany Moun-tains, and deposited on the lands of others than the owners; jIncorporating the Central Agricultural S ciety of Virginia;authorizing the justices of the County Courts of Hanover,Culpeperaml Orange to impose a tax upon degs; Incorpo-rating the Wheeling llailroad bridge Company; changingthe time of holding the Circuit Courts for the city of Rich-mond; re-arrangiiig and extending the limits of the townof Staunton, Ac. ;

SfSlTg BILLS PASSr'P. i I

Amending und re-enacting the 1st section of ah act pro-viilin.g adihtionai protection to the slave property of cltl- jtens of this Commonwealth, passed March HMi, lsotf; fortepairs to the Staunton and l'arker.-burg lload; incorpora-ting the Hark ersburg boot antl Shoe Manufacturing Com- ipany; Incorporating the Iiichiui nd and Lynchburg llailroad <Company; ameuding an act to amend the charter of thecity of Richmond. and to re-organize the Court of Hustingsof said city; incorporating the Holllday'. Cove Railroad;establishing a branch bank at Harrisvilie, In Ritchie county ; j Iconsolidating the Hot Springs and Miller Mill TurnpikeCompany, and to place the two roads under the control of tthe Jackson Kiver Turnpike Company ; prohibiting railroadagents from charging more than the regular transportationrates on railroad treigbts t

OrUifcJtaL BCsI.VKSS. (The Senate agreed to the amendment of the Hosse of J

Delegates to the resolution In relation to the use of the Cap- 1

mr.."1.1, -Li. .a:.Pol by the Suproma Court of Appdais. Tbe Bsnata alsoconcurred In House rosoiution authorizing a change of thelocatfoo of the Tasewell C. II. and Kentucky Line Turnpike.The Senate aiso agreed to House amendments to Senatebill Incorporating the Lynchburg Locomotive and MachineCompany. Also, to Houl? amendments to Senate bill entitledan act to umend the 8d uod Sth Sections of un actp:i-ied .May 22.1SJ2, entitled an act concerning the termsof the Circuit Courts.On motion of -Mr. FINNEY, tlie Senate adjourned.

Fatast, March SO, 1500.IIOLSD OK 2KLECATES.

EVENING SESSION.The House mst at 7 o'clock. Speaker CRL'TCHFJKLD In

the Chair.BILLS P.tSSSD.

To amend art act entitled, an act to amend the charterol

the city of Klchuiond, and to organise the Court of Hustingsof said county.An act tn amend ami re-enact the eighth, twenty-first ami

flftv-seventh sections of an act entitled, "an act incorporatingthe town of I'ortsmnuth as a city, passed .March 1st,InH"A bill to restrict the catching cf oy sters In certain months,An act to make the Ohio river a lawful fence.A hill making the Kanawha river a lawful fence.An act providing f..r ttie re-print of the tlftli volume ol

Leigh's Reports, and the 1st, 2nd and Brd volume* of Unittun'jReportsL»r. WUULk'OLK, of Orange and Gilmer, called up and explaineda hill releasing Thomas Sisson from the payment oi

u tine, which was p-s-cd. Jves U-lU^tVUULKUl.K was requested by the Chair to inform theScnSgl of tlie passage of the bill..Mr. THOMAS, of Warren,.called up and advocated a bill

refunding to l-afayette Up-tlke excess of taxi-s paid by him,and authorising the County Court to correct erroneous assessments,which was passed. Ayes 100.okimsukb ei si\k.-s.The tax fill cause up as the unfinished buslntss, and the

House proceeded to consider the different amendments.Several amendments were adopted. Tlie bill was then

passed, and the House adjourned.Ji.irciiP.tr, Mxrcii 31, Is*!".SENATE.

At in A. ."W, Lieut. Governor MONTAGUE called theSenate to order. «A communication was received from the House by their

clerk that they had paced a number of Senate bills istiliiewiili, and other-, without, amendments! and sundry

Semite

bills. The action of the Senate, on said bills and amendments,L noted below.On motion of Mr. BKANNON, the Senate indefinitely

postponed Hou-e bill granting rights of way to milling andmanufacturing companies In Kanawha county.The Senate, on motion of Mr. HltANNoN, concurred in

tlie House amendments to Senate MI! for the assessment oftaxes on persona and property ( One of these amendmentsexempts from taxation the property of the Ladies*

Mount

Vernon Association of tlie Union.)The Senate concurred in the House amendments to the

following Senate bills, viz :To amend and re-enact the Nh, .fat and 27th sections of

an act Incorporating the town of Portsmouth a» a city; toamend the lith sec ion of chapter br of the code, as amendedIn is." I and IsJvAe., so as more effectually to preventdealing with slaves or free negroes, and to repeal the gythretloti or »Hi'i act..Mr. ll.iY.MOM> brought Irnrn the House the ld'1 Imposing

lav.- for the support afctoverttn ent, with an amendmentproviding il>ai We tax on auctioneers of sugar ami molassesshall not exceed JJ'di The Senate concurred In sal.tcuielnliiielil, ami the tax hill Is now a law.

IIOI-.-K KILLS PASsk.ll.Hcieasiug Thoni.t« Siss»n from the payment of a fine.Incorporating the Sir John's I!tin Turnpike Company.Authorizing the County Courts of Augusta ami Albemarle

to purchase the franchises of the Staunton and James filterTurnpike Company. (Explained by Mr. ill Vis.)For the relief of A. J. Whitehead. tExplained hv Mr.

STUART.)Refunding to Lafayette Updike excess of taxes pa'd by

him, ami author.zh g the County Court (of Warren) to correcterroneous assessment. t Explained hy Mr. CaRSUX.)Making Kanawha river a lawful fence.To restrict the catching of oy.-ters in certain months.

fLoCK ISSPILCTIOXEncouraging direct foreign trade. [The hi!! was called

up hy Mr. WIOKIlA.M. Atuoug other features it providestliul inspection shall tint he compulsory on flour shipped toTneigu pons, on vessels four-tilths of which are owned byresident citizens of Virginia.The f|uestiou pending was a substitute offer, d hy Mr.

TIIOMI'SON, providing thut flour shall b« inspected with anaugur not less titan fl ve-eigh hs of an inch In diau-.eler, anJthe ilrnuglit flour to he retained hy the Inspector.Mr. PAXTOX moved an auu-udnieni requiring the draught

flour to be >ohi lofi tlie heiieflt of the Treasury.After an lueflcetunl -tuoti in to lay on the table, Mr.

THOMPSON accepted Mr. I'AXTON'S amendment, whichwas rrJeCted.ayes I'd, noes 23.Mr. 1'aXTOX then uiuved an amendment, abolishing ail

laws for the Inspection of flour.Mr. ISilKLL moved the iudiiiulte postponement of the bill.

Lost, li t'i SO.Mr. I'AXTON'S aiuendmetii was lo«t.aves i", noes 27.The hill was sustained hy Messrs. WJCKIIAM. AUGUST

ami IMVKS, opposed hy Messrs. ISIthl.L, PaXTON andCllirlill.l., and passed hy the following vote, Mr. TJIO.MPMIXhaving asked tlie ayes ami noesAVKs.Messrs. August, liruce, Caldwell, Christian. Cols,

an. liickciisoti, Finney, French, Ijreever, Johnson, Knight,Logan, Lymdi. Marshall. Pale, lllchmo,*!, Itives, Stuart,Thomas of Fairfax, anu Wickliam.k'n.Xom.Messrs. Carson, Carter, Coghill. Douglas, Early,

Oiitewood. lshell, Jones, Xcal, Neesou, Xewlop, Newman,Paxtou, Smith, Tailalerro an Thompson.1 Senate bill.f.irthe relief of the KoanokcValley railroad company, tit muke.i a loan of ft'lMjb'b

for extending the road frotn Clarksville to Keyaville, aboutJ? miles. Tlie bill »"ae advocated by Messrs. HKCCF,l.OUAN and rll'CAKT, oppo-ed by Messrs. DUCULAs midChAinOHNE, and rejected, aye* lit noes 14.)

M. FATE' called up tieuaic bill, Increasing the capitalstock of Wilson's Creek and Kanawha turnpike road, forthe purpose of completing bridue over Coal river. Thevote stood on In passage, ayes l"J noes 5, and was rejectedfor want of a constitutional majority.

SESATK HILL Plssf.il.

Allowing it pension (A.'itP per >car) to Amanda IJIgdoti,widow of John II. Higdoti, wlto died from exposure at Harper'sFerry, during the late troubles.the pension to ceaseon tier mart las*. (.Called up and explained by Mr 'I iluMASof F.J

ProKO-Kli SALE OK AHSlOltY Lois.Mr. STtiAKT olfered tlie following joint resolution :liesolved by the Genet al Assembly, That the Governor

he, und he Is hereby rri|uv»ted 10 ascertain and report 10he General Assembly at Its next session tlie extent of stirface,the water front upon the canal and the water-powerwhich would be available lor use. of tlie present site of theArmory in Kicliiuotid, a id also the sum for which It couldprubabiy be sold in lots, and also whet'ie-, ill Ids opinion.It would be advisable to sell said sltcand to apply a portionof the proceeds of s"!ild sale for the construction of an Armo-yat some other eligible point, and pay the residue Intotiii- treasury.This resolution was advocated by Messrs. ?TlfAIIT and

I.SIShLL, and opposed by Mt«sr-. AL'GI'.d'l', CAlWlN,JuNEii and COG it I I.E.Mr JON Hi moved to lay the resolution on tin- table,.

Fending litis motion, and while Mr. COGIllEE hud the lioor,the hour of 3 F. M. art rived, ami the debate look a rsc"an'.ll F. M.

hoist: i» nin.KGA'rns.A cntiimuuicali !. a received Iroui the Senate, with hills

passed hy them, an.: amendments to House bills, whichwere concurred i.. by the House.

mix P.tssKP.An ac! to extend the time for ro-hnilding Ihe copper mill

>f Charles Mason, in the '"-tty of Uittg George.I. ..... tit LI.

Mr. EVANS advocated a bill for the relief of ItirhardCorr, which was passed.ayes b9.A resolution releasing thesecuiilicsof E. M. (.'underwood,

late sheriu of Cabell county, was adopted.ayes Po, noes 4.Mr. FRIEND called up and earnestly advocated tin act

(Ulhorizlng the payment of the forfeited capitation tax ofItsM apportioned to the county df.t'hesterfleld.

vt-s-rs. CllItlSTlAN and CKANE opposed, and Generallviv.ui-i-:tt advocated Hie act, which was passed.Mr. till UNO, of Chesterfield, raid : *1 lie proposition lit

.his tdll contained, if understood, must meet tlie approvalmil should ie«v'. Hie vote or every member present. It» propose. Ilia" id Auditor shall Issue his warrant upon.he Treasury, In favor of Hie Superintendent of the Hoard.f School Cotnml-sloners of the county of Cheslertlcld, forJot'iOdt!.that heinc the amount of the undrawn capitation..V f.,e ill. ei.tr 1 «..\1 in which tlie cnniitc of Chesterfield ismill~dt and wan act apart by the Auditor for that county.jfur that year, lint which was not drawn by the Supeilntcmi-(lit of the Hoard at that time, and l^s never rince l>e-tiIrnwtt. The bib lias 'or its object an act of simple justice.It proposes to carry out practically that wUe and beiieticencirovi.-lon of the law which. In a measure, provided lor thetduc&tioii of the indigent children of the Commonwealth.It doe9 not seek an appropriation to the poor of the county.liy a general law the Auditor i9 required, alter the expir.vion ol two year*, to carry all undrawn school quotas of tl.eleveral counties to the credit of the Uterary Fund, which |tas hren done, and hence an act of Assembly lit necessaryto rcli-ve from forfeiture tliii amount, and enable the commissioners,through tlieir superintendent, to draw fioin therreus ire what belongs of rigbt to tl.e poor ct.ildreiiif my county. Thin, sir, is a ease coining underhe operation of the taw referred to, and uppeuU directlyto the good feline and justice of the llou-e. The questioniresented i», shall tlie poor children of the county he longerJeprlved of what their necessitous circumstances require, }tod what Is fairly tlieiis, by the Inattention »r negligence ofthe Superintendent of the Hoard of School Coininissioners.And perhaps the inattention of il.ls oilicer (If such It cane cahed) can be excused, lor, l»y an examination of theSecond Auditor's books, it will be ween ttiat trie capitationax for the year l».Vl was about 'ei.nuo, and that hut atactino of it was paid iuto the treasury until Hist March,IViti; and lhu«, -ir, when the Superintendent came l drawhe qiiwla, which was made up of the capitation tax andhe .uterest upon the permanent capital of the 1.1r for the siithcient reason that It hud

'

lot been paid into the treasury. And, Indeed, I aru i'lfm'inrdliy the Auditor, that the payment of tiiis tax has beenrery irregular until within ihe last year or.twu; and theiuperintcndeiil failing to gel it at the proper time, when .!

namled,1 have no doubt concluded (erroneously, it is tru'ihat it was ,o»l to the county, and hence hit apparjin ucgliteuce.Il,.a «b, il'isv !.» Millill' Br ill.ll.C r.fthis claim?

if not, how cun geiulein»n reconcile to their conscienceshis taking the pound »f tle-h from hear the heart of iheloor of tlte county.this lib-hiug framtlieui? Hy the r^ugeof taking shelter behind this two years statute of liinlatinos';Are gentlemen, by so doing, willing to establishliis odious principle of lorleiture, which is abhorrent torquity, ami sn construed by the C urts 1 This House hasquily Jurisdiction, am) I appeal to its sense of equity and'alrness to support this bill. Sir, honest Wen are very re-uctalit to plead the statute nf limitations in their privateiflairs. Why apply it here? Why apply it in your Legitalivecapacity ngaiust my constituents, when you wouldlot at Individuals apply It against a private claim of tnine'rmd especially, too, when the great object of the Literary'uuil.the dissemination of knowledge and the promotion ofearning, are sought to be enhancedThe very purpose f.ir which this tax wa» levied is sought

o he made operative by it.it bill; the very constituencytpon whom this tax was levied, and hy whom it was paid,sre here asking l»y this bill tiiat it shall be appropriated toIhe benefit of those tor whom it was raised and intended..he poor children of the county, but another objection iurged to this hill Is, that it opens the door to endless appli-rations that it will he referred to as a precedent. I mightirvpie from this a concession of the justice of the demand,anil ask gentlemen if they are disposed to do substantial in-usiice from the fear of setting a precedent, which, If had,tan do but little harm, being so limited. These forfeituresare not so likely to occur hereafter, because tlie capitationlax Is now paid in regularly; Indeed the whole undrawncapitation tax up to this time is but f l,TS9 and of thisamount tn.v application ii for fCiCO t'2. I trust, Ms ypealc-cr, that no nteiiilier will, by Ills vote, hold the poor children>i my county responsible, and make lliem suffer for ther iper conduct of this capitation tax fund, iu which they

least of all had control.governors oy iov.a axn nmo.

Mr. DUCKWALL called up the report of Ihe joint committeeon the subject of tie correspondence between theGovernor of Virginia, and the Governor* of Iowa and Ohio,read in the House on the duth of March. relative to the re'osalof the Governors of Iowa and ijl.io to surrender toIhe requisition of the Executive ot Virginia fugitives fiotnustice engaged iu the John Lf.-owu raid, who had escapedinto Iowa ami Ohio.Thi- question wai put on the adoption of the report and

resolution, i»ee the Enquirer of Saturday,) which wan deridedin the affirmative by a unanimous vote.TUETAX KILL.

The tax bill caiae up, as the unfinished order nf the day.Many Sen* orial amendments were discussed, when, onnotion, the amended bill was passed.[Mr. COLLIER made an uosuccess'ul motion Indefinitely

u postpone the bill.]. CSIVER3ITY OK VIRGINIA,

fenatebil! making an appropriation of 2.2,0'X per yearo Hie University of Virginia, was called ajftLy J'r- >,c"JRCDEK, and advocated by Mr. McGRWBR and Mr.EbDO.S and opposed by Messrs. COLLIER and RASHER-riLL. ,

The bill being put upon It* final plitsve, resulte!'

lows : Ayes 4'J, noes 47. So the bill was lo»t..| Oa motion of Mr. BROWN'.lba votebr wh'ch tl.r {/rejected war re-conilderrd, and, on further isoteir., i. e f

was then laid on the table.A bill authorizing the Hoard of Pub!!.: W«r!:>t»

vUe the rates of charges on the Internal improvem-panics in tho Stale, amended or, motion of yp._ j,.Tt AN, so as to uulhorlze the Hoard to preset!!-- »!,on which connecting railroads shall Interchange .]to avoid trans-shipment of freights, was taken upTho bill being put upon Its flnul p tr>age, tiie re-sl* w ;

the affirmative.nyes 77.A motion to adjourn, made by Mr. JONES of Olnueay,.

»'us negatived. and the taction that (hz C.hu:r shoe: ivacated until 7 o'clock P. M., prevailed.

SiTCEDiT, MaKfll 81, 15CG.I SHX.ITH.EVENING SKssION.

I SKNsTk HILLS PlSS. n.To amenJ the llili section of an act, pauel May eta

13V2, entitled an uet concerning the letu.a ' the citescourts, us amended by all act pa«sed , ted

| To authorize the voters of the town of Itcuiury toMayor and Aldermen for raid lo« n. ITo Incorporate the H'cUtcr Woolen Cutupi:..,

county of Taylor.To atuen the art. passed Dec l»ih, J?.",;, c.-.-i:',...;

to Incorporate the Merchants' InsU, ar.Cc cOmpi,.icltv nf Ulcliniond.

j To Incorporate the Harrison mnocfucttiting c ..the county of Harrison.To amend an act e titled an ac'lncorpar r .

! and Williitmspoit turnpike company. andsubscription on the part of the State, and . t.name of said company to the Wil Ian stew n, I.1jKavenswood turnpike company.To Incorporate the Point Pleas ...t Mrt.u.n...

tlott.Amending the charter uf the t..wn of N,.t>

county nf PulaskTo authorize two cH/en* of the ?:-» * rf t, ...

ar director* of the branch of the II ciVvf it.In the State of Virginia.To Incorporate the Palmyra lleot, Si.ce l ;

tory. %Authorizing the .-ale *,-d M ji .To incorporate the li- w.nJ.cil;.- .m.i.-.-j...pauy.Increasing ihy .f led, do he .! hi t.e ;

lhi!.h«i the salary of the Clerk of the ;To incorporate the KslPburg V., P. |

I.either yinimfactiitli tf L'-tnpat,*, in the |WmVA- a-bs

II»»OE r\ ffrTo aui«*»i ,- %

1M , rntiitrd an «c fncnr|.>r.irink' :!.! «>.M t-.,;;. ».Ull'l Hill Hf 111-lHO.e III -.ii ill,March 4th, I* I. nutltlrii ail t am* nd'i . thethe net lncorpor.it hur the IM.I Fe|p>«»' m. h.Institute of I'etcirhur;*. ilirouch' fr. m ii ....Col.lIKK, and called up I t Mr I li"»ll's.,VFor tin- relief of t'ie Coal Hirer mi :n

manufacturing company. tl'rmish! from i!ie '!SMITH i f Kalianha. uml Culled up Siy Mr Vf.M'vJ V\To Increase the N|iltal at ck cf the Xcw .-.

company. (llpuvht from ilir House Mr. L'OIlJ' .,vnad called up l»y Mr. XKU'M \XAmending the charter nf the Farmers' nr. ! v

Javlnes Hank of Vlrr ni.i :it A'i.\ ,n.!t i.i t "the House hjr >lr. MeKKNZlK.)

Ori million of Mr. AL'fiUH' Hie Senile irnh/"iif»'ypoin d Hie hit! to nuihotUe the Kxecut ve to eir.'i.M.ry rnmpntilrs into regiment?, us it nm provide for i-mililin itr.A hill Hu'lioritin; the pnvrner.t cf a re ti!n «:nr. n' n-.rtoJohn A-la me. of Knui|uirr com t.v. tv-« ndvnr.ite.i . \;

MA If? IIAI.I., oppo-ed liv .Mr NKU I.ON. ..ml irJ.-, i.On molionnf Mr. JilIIXSOX".'he Jen ve r.-e m- d. r, .t

vote rejecting the House re* iuHnn «irVn:t I 1- ii .. ,tof I'uhlic Account* to * trie the a 'Count* f J .tin > I' .;rlierltt ! llliclnr county. f..r the year Iri'J.'n if edamages recoeered hv n Jm'gmen. The retvluf itthen advocated hv Mr XFAL. and passed.

Mr. CAliSOX' oiler-d a Joint resolution, rerun;nr.the l*re>|ileitt nriil Srerriarv »f War, for prime 'on'(post of ttrlgadier General, Co! T. T F ni'dlerov. rArmy, on account of liij illslingui-fel mlhr.iry .-..I-,.T e resolution ntslalned hv x'r.sr? C.ilifT"OMAr of K.. and ISIIKI.!,, and adopted

Mr. IJIIt'i.l. tens nqilesicd in infonn the llott'e ofpassage 01 the resolution. Suhser.u |y Mr. I'liLT."';K(KLI)brought u incsiu«e that the ll..u«v h ,.| a .. c j. ]tnl rvolnrhui.Mr. AI-'GCS I" called up a h|!l to trrctpn .' the Hi. h.momi Water power Company. due. r|. tii . n \. ,t j

and awnr'aies to hold find hi lletiihu. i.n I i 11 *' f, i, ,On motion of Mr. JOXKS, the hill was indefinite > ., . jMr. ISRE1X calif I up and advocate I a1-ill Inc. >pra':

the Oharlestown ami Sheplierdstown Turnpike m-al.

Itesoivcil, Tli it a Copy f the foregoing J nt re ohr.'engrossed upon parchment lie iluly dcliicie I o Col i *lerey, of the I'nite.l states army.Speaker Clil.'TCHFItil.H Was reqnes'c.J to f a- "I C

nate of the unanimous ailopflon of the tes u*s> ' yHouse of Delegate*.Mr. C.U'HIlTllN called up a hill to prnvlih fa' fu*o i':. 1

partof the arrears of interest amf capl.r'0'' t 'In Jl.'.terary Fund, ulihli was umler ili».mss o .. w IHouse ailjottriieil. I

I.titer frot*i tiuropc.Xkw Yohk. March mtiinlore Marink

against the capture of the Ml ram on ateatoers I! ,that the Atoeri ail v,-t»ils did not ah,or any colon. ,t,tl ."opposed that the Wave and Indian,,la «v> re do ir. i /. ^towing armed ho rts. lie attempt,.,! to e*,; (ps, t,,jt %/., ti- ,!upon and returned th. hre. As soon as he rccogf.'z theSartitoea he ordered tile litiag to cease; nut, nntw.:' elat.'i* 1iltg tl.ii the attack Continued. I!>* purctlased t!^ .y.tori's Xat llavatiu under the orders of to- supreme gov. ruiuent. u

Another Coit^rcxaiotia] Squafchlo.',Visiiinutox, March 31..A scene- between twoCotigmr

men which occurred this morning, occasions some e,"IinenL Mr. Van Wycktiieeting Mr. Ihudm ino-, tlieuvcviheld out his hand in friendly recogidiioit, when Mr. II t»in in refused to take it. making u«- of'the w-nr,i», a. n Rjed : "Yoii 0w-iFfeoiir.ilrel, you have deliverednot only insulting to every .Southe-n nt in, hut togentleman." At the "anie tlioe Riiking a tU"Ve::- »f the oily.!Among ill* buildings liui lit am tl;. I. I- p '-If 1

two drug store-, leu or twelve business h us"-, -i:* etc.dwellingsAt lea.at twenty'substantial hit'.hiii:>:s here been des'-i '".

by the fire The l"ss is about 417>u,m>".The wind was Mowing a jtalc.tt ih-nine, mdiarve h ' j"

were carried half h tnilc utf, coiniBuuicatin* fire ti. b--us ' j"situated at that distance from !"t «cci;e eonCif aiio!-. P».

The Centra! overland IflajJ. JSr. JortPEi, M«., Mar.-lithi .The tfe'itfal uve-lst i#* I

with L'tali Male- to the IT11> iu-t , airiv.-.l here la- _Thenews is meagre arid uiduiporiaid u,* fb

increase of the juveiiilc^.nlT,on ol ilie ccmniui. ^ , IYoung is starting public schn i, I. and a ade i .... J.. jIan range is mostly covered with show. Tl-.,_- t"hungea'de, with sioiuis of r-.in ati.l snow.

» s-scss-s »

Death ol" .Uajar Pu^t.Ntctviiicr nurtn.St. lulls. March 31.. Maj. f. h'. I -gc, ac.istsm * 0

tant (Jelierai, died a* Kurt Mrlifi, '*rtaus«j, on t r \iu-t. lie was » nailvs of Virginia, j

Cincinnati, March 31..Thebtijamcr K te.vi'l MTUUhales of cotton, was I.U'lit on ib- ".'7th. oppnd'r,r"

melton, It.iliana. The boat and cargo are a total la.?.

Krwm U'asliiactoti City. jIVssHiNOTos, March 3o..Documents sent to the " ,

to-day by the Hre.ident show that Capt Ja.'vU -rss u;ivil to land at Vera Cras, at the request of >litii-i£ [jsuch furccs a- could be sj.arid f .r ilie t. I.

' - l<citizens, where tii'.ij* |.«r-on- 01 ;r pe;', I [ljudgment ol .»ir. McLario, lie in 1|i.pC *. Cs ". a

*Lsis* informed trust ourGovernment ' : traiuon's proposed bloesa-le, *,! vr.,s .1 t e * |jthe naval forcta to afford frtv- ir.gre . ai.-l -i - 1American Vessels at a the .".leiit.iii |> . 'tec', them. These Instruction.-., however, had u tCapt. J arris at the tins oj the capture ot ;liira-c- tsteamers.

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