308 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Aug. 6,

TUESDAY, August 6, 1861.

Mr. Townsend, from the joint committee on adjournment, sub-
mitted the following

REPORT:

The joint committee of the Senate and House of Delegates, to
whom was referred the consideration of the time when the present
session should terminate, and the place at which the adjourned
session should be held, respectfully report:

That in their opinion the extraordinary events which have
transpired since the adjournment of the Legislature clearly indi-
cate that the Federal authorities at Washington have so fully de-
termined to disregard all the rights which the Constitution hns
named and provided as necessary to a free State—rights which
have heretofore been considered as the only safeguards of the
dearest privileges of a free people—as to rentier it in vain for the
General Assembly, at this session, to interpose any measures
looking to the immediate relief of the State.

Your committee deem it, nevertheless, the duty of the Legisla-
ture to meet from time to time, to discharge such duties as may
be practicable, and record its formal protest against the wrongs
to which the people of the State have been, or may be subjected.
The great body of our several constituency demands that the sup-
pression of their civil liberties should not be passed over in
silence.

Moreover, the people of the State and your committee cherish
an abiding confidence, that the time is not far distant when an
enlightened public opinion will be aroused in every part of this
once great and happy republic, which will of itself rebuke the
action and reverse the policy of the Administration at Washing-
ton, and in their judgment, when that time shall have arrived the
Legislature of the State should be ready to make suitable pro -
vision for the restoration of its authority and the enforcement of
its laws.

Your committee are of the opinion that the next General Assem-
bly should be held in the Capital of the State. They therefore
recommend the adoption of the following resolution :

Resolved by the Senate and House of Delegates, That when the
Senate and House adjourn on Wednesday, the 7th of August,