and without first having communicated with this General Assembly in regard to such action, and having received the authority of the same so to commit the State.

Resolved, That while we are not prepared to assent to the terms of settlement proposed by the State of Virginia, and are fully satisfied that the Constitution, if fairly interpreted, and obeyed, contains ample provisions within itself for the correction of the evils complained of; still, with a disposition to reciprocate the patriotic desire of the State of Virginia, and to have harmoniously adjusted all differences existing between the States of the Union, this General Assembly is induced to respond to the invitation of Virginia by the appointment of the Commissioners herein provided for, but as the time fixed for the Convention to assemble is so near at hand that the States cannot be represented, it is expected that the Commissioners on behalf of this State will insist that the Convention adjourn until such time as the States shall have an opportunity of being represented.'

February 8. To the Assembly:

Returning for amendment a bill entitled "An act to extend the charter of the New York Mills Fire Company." is

"This bill seeks to extend and continue,' for and during ten years from the expiration thereof, the charter of the said fire company.'

The charter of the New York Mills fire company was granted on April 20, 1830, to remain in force for the period of ten years. On March 21, 1840, it was extended for ten years longer, expiring in 1850. At the extra session of 1851, a bill to further extend the charter of this company was introduced in the Assembly, and was ordered to a third reading; but it does not appear from the Assembly journal that it finally passed, and no reference is made to it in the Senate journal.

The session laws of 1851 contain nothing respecting it. If therefore the bill I return herewith were signed it would

18 The New York Mills Fire Company act was amended and passed, and became chapter 70 on the 26th of March.

be a mere nullity, as the charter of the company expired more than ten years ago."

February 8 and 11. To the Assembly and Senate respectively: Transmitting the following communication from Thurlow Weed, declining the appointment of Commissioner to the Washington Convention, recommended by Virginia. [See note 16.]

ALBANY, February 8, 1861.

To His Excellency Gov. MORGAN:

DEAR SIR.-I have just received the resolutions of the Senate and Assembly appointing me a Commissioner to meet Commissioners from other States now convened in the city of Washington, upon the invitation of the Legislature of the State of Virginia.

Though sympathizing warmly in this beneficent movement, and intensely anxious that it may avert the worst of national calamities, imperative considerations constrain me to decline the appointment.

In communicating this determination to yourself and to the Legislature, I beg to express a deep and grateful sense of the honor and the obligation which so flattering an expression of confidence imposes upon

Yours truly,

THURLOW WEED.

February 11. To the Legislature:

ALBANY, February 11, 1861. "I have received from the President elect, a letter, of which the following is a copy, accepting the hospitalities tendered him by concurrent resolutions of the Legislature, with the request, as will be seen, that the ceremonies if any, shall be only such as will occupy the least time possible.

It is understood that Mr. Lincoln will reach Buffalo on Saturday of the present week, where he will remain until Monday morning.

It is proper to add that I have detailed a portion of my staff to meet him at Buffalo, and to escort him to this city, where, it is expected, he will arrive on the afternoon of Monday, the 18th instant, at about 3 o'clock.

E. D. MORGAN."

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT LINCOLN.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL., February 4, 1861. His Excellency, EDWIN D. MORGAN, Governor of New York: SIR. Your letter of the 30th ult., inviting me, on behalf of the Legislature of New York, to pass through that State on my route to Washington, and tendering me the hospitalities of her authorities and people, has been duly received. With feelings of deep gratitude to you and them, for this testimonial of regard and esteem, I beg you to notify them that I accept the invitation so kindly extended. Your obedient servant,

A. LINCOLN.

P. S. Please let ceremonies be only such as to take the least time possible.

A. L.

The Senate and Assembly met in joint session on the 18th of February for the purpose of receiving the President Elect. He was welcomed to New York by Andrew J. Colvin, the Temporary President of the Senate, and responded as follows:

"MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.-It is with feelings of great diffidence, and I may say, with feelings even of awe, perhaps greater than I have recently experienced, that I meet you here in this place.

The history of this great State, the renown of those great men that have stood here, and spoken here, and been heard here, all crowd around my fancy, and incline me to shrink from any attempt to address you.

Yet, I have some confidence given me by the generous manner in which you have invited me, and by the still more generous manner in which you have received me, to speak further. You have invited and received me without distinction of party. I cannot for a moment suppose that this has been done, in any considerable degree, with reference to my personal services-but that it is done in so far as I am regarded, at this time, as the representative of the majesty of this great nation.

I doubt not this is the truth and the whole truth of the case, and this is as it should be. It is much more gratifying to me that this reception has been given to me as the representative of a free people, than it could possibly be if tendered to me as an evidence of devotion to me, or to any one man personally.

And now, I think it were more fitting that I should close these hasty remarks. It is true, while I hold myself without mock modesty, the humblest of all the individuals that have been elevated to the Presidency, that I have a more difficult task to perform than any of them.

You have generously tendered me the support - the united support of the great Empire State. For this, in behalf of the nation-in behalf of the present and future of the nation-in behalf of civil and religious liberty, for all time to come-most gratefully do I thank you. I do not propose to enter into an explanation of any particular line of policy, as to our present difficulties, to be adopted by the incoming administration. I deem it just to you, to myself, to all, that I should see everything, that I should hear everything—that I should have every light that can be brought within my reach, in order that when I do so speak, I shall have enjoyed every opportunity to take correct and true ground-and for this reason, I do not propose to speak, at this time, of the policy of the government; but when the time comes, I shall speak as well as I am able, for the good of the present and future of this country

for the good both of the North and of the South of this country for the good of the one and the other, and of all sections of the country. In the meantime, if we have patience if we restrain ourselves - if we allow ourselves not to run off in a passion, I still have confidence that the Almighty Maker of the Universe will, through the instrumentality of this great and intelligent people, bring us through this, as He has through all the other difficulties of our country. Relying on this, I again thank you for this generous reception."

February 13. To the Assembly:

Veto of a bill entitled "An act to amend an act in relation to the penitentiary in the County of Onondaga, passed April 10, 1850."

"The bill is intended to accord to the counties of Broome and Cortland, the privileges to which certain other counties are entitled, under section 7 of chapter 338 of the laws of 1850. This section authorizes the board of supervisors of Oswego and six other counties named, to enter into an agreement with the supervisors of Onondaga, to receive and keep in the same penitentiary, any convict sentenced to hard labor in the jail in any of such counties, for any term not less than three months. It also directs the sheriff, on his receiving suitable notice, to convey such persons to said penitentiary; requires the keeper thereof to receive and keep for the term for which they may be respectively sentenced, and employ them according to the discipline and rules of the said penitentiary, and authorizes the board of supervisors to pay such fees to the sheriff for transporting the convict as they shall direct.

By reference to the Laws of 1858, chapter 139, it will be seen that a law containing each and every provision embraced in the section above referred to, and more perfect