Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-09
CONVENTION DEBATE.

CONVENTION DEBATE.
We had Originally designed TO publish ne
sketch OF The debate in the Republican Leeisla
tive Convention, which assembled on the 1911
Feb last. At The request Of several members
however, we afterwards promised TO lay the de
bate before our readers-but as we had taken nc
Votes we were compelled TO call upon the diher
en-, speakers for the substance of their remarks
Much time passed away in waiting for them Il
write out their remarks-our columns have beer
for some time crowded with the exciting and slo
rious news from Mexico. and This IS the flrsl op
nortuni;y we have had oil complying with oui
promise. The speeches Of Messrs. FioyG, aic'
Mullen, Wallace, Cox and Ro. q. Scot were pre-
pared for us al our request; The other speakers
having declined TO write out their remarks, We
publish them as they appear reported in The Wing
and Times. 1.-THE first days debate is from the
Wing; The rest from the Times.J Owing 10 The
peculiar exciting events about The Time Of the
Convention, the debate wore The character OF pas
sion and warmth. Much of this feeling has now
worn away, and we are graliGed 10 believe ba
the whole Republican party OF The Stale will &C
together and carry our principles in triumph.
MIR. Wallace OF Fauquier, from The Commit.
tee, having brought forward series OF rcsoiu
,ons, and Mr.. Floyd Of Wy,he having moved a
substitute lboth sells Of resolutions have been al
ready pao,shed),
Senator VOOLFOLK minated lis inlen
ton, at proper time, 10 submit another
resolution, requiring from every Demoela-
tic candidate for Congress, a special pledge
that, in the event OF the next presidential
election tevolviag upon the House OF Repre-
sen;a,ves, they will not cas-; ;ac vote OF Virginia
for anv man VINO shall not obtain the electoral vote
OF more than four States. This resolution, he said
was in,endci 10 guard against repetition in
Washington Of The game which had been so sue
cessfully played in Richmond this winter, BY
which lie Chiva!ry had defeated the iavorile Sc
material candidate vi The party, and, b. comb
nation with the common enemy" The Wings
had elected R. M. L. Hunter, who really seems
to be more dislas,eful 10 The Hunkers than if hc
we're himse,ia ttGeralis,, Mr.. Voolfolk said
that for himself he would greatly prefer The eicc-
lion of Henry Clay by the people, 10 that oi Mr..
Calhoun by such MEANS conieniing that the e.
fec, OF il would be 10 compel Mr.. Calhoun 10
a,,ort Wing policy, or if lie should adhere 10 his
p;incples. that he would bring ,bcu into gen.
c-al disrepure and odium.
Mr. FLOYD, OF Wyihe look the floor and
said: MR. President, The character OF the resolu-
tons proposed By the commee is so contrary 10
wha, had anticipated, | feel bound 10 cffer a
sutsi1;e more in accordance with The spirit
hunby conceive, BY which We should be aetna
led. tear, sif, shall address unwilling ears
anu minds already determined upoc prescribed
coc-ss and the, course u; one calculated 10 pro-
mole unioa ant co.cs!. amongst the friends oil
Democratic principles. have no, come here
il anv !acltcus Spl,i'. 81. ia < Consented 10 be
pfssSc. e. The G:,ies.atorS c::ns scey. earnestly
apaias "a. something Gay os doue . save he
zaav :taA o.s.:t-cT. A.ae2sa lac Spirit o!
;ns ;esoluS,Ncs reported " ne committee iorbids
me 70 hcce Otherwise, nus. Eiccss conhr-
a,z;ica .: ihsm y ths Cc1-sEion. beiu;c i viii
cre.i: .as .ac,, TIA: We have Come here, not 10
neal :;Sseusioa, bu, 10 produce separation. In
s.sat Il PASSION, trust moderation will prevail,
ans: this fatal ..ehraEd be e1tiDguished; for
hope those gentlemen who profess q reverence
fos tue principles OF our parry will not hazard
their ascendancy by pursuing a course as I'M
wise aud impoltic as il is unreasonable and
unjust For myself, cannot consent, and will
not be driven, 10 participate in proceeding So
fatal 10 our party and 81 calamious 10 the coun.
Try. have 100 long and too earnestly supported
the great principle OF Democracy, and il is toe
dear To me now to b. hazarhcd by wransling for
the promotion II oac man over another can
not be made 10 naller .nc Demccsa, Tor the pur-
pose of wouDding another, nor br used as an in
slrr,mcnt 10 p,usliaic one that another may
be elevated. Can II DO believed, That now
when The country Is involved In war, when
such a period has been seihrd upon by III.
n IN ~ Ilfttf. fag
anoiher. ON Il most de,icaie sod dangerous sub
,cct--will the people cfrd, 'he TACT that we have
ae.crnbrd hrrr. not ~ dsys~ mrans 10 steer ID,
sb,p Of stale amidst he prfIs. bat 10 seille tn
miserable sausbbIss ii Presidential aspifan's-
10 array Ourselves NJ padisans oil one and az enc
mIrs III Inc ohef1 Shall we overlook principle
The y.rat principles Of The peoples sovereign
within these pa,i.y considerations Sir, lha
i, not INV Democracy. have always thought
indeed. i has been inslilcd into my mind sine
nv intancy-that the people were the great ruler
-lhal they, and they alone, had The absolute con
troll Of the drslinies Vi the nation. What matter
il. then. who fills Office, il he be true 10 the peo
ple7-not true 10 reta in his place. but true because
he believes the principle Just. uhqueslionabil
The people have nigh; 10 demand concurrence
of opinion between themselves and their servants
on all graf questions Of principles; but where M
principle Whatever is involved, and policy or ex
pediency isto b. considered, every man has th,
undoubled right TO think and act for himself
Upon such questions moderation, tortearance
federation, is true Democracy Where principl,
is involved, stern and unyleldins determination
must tie preserved. To require unlimited con
currence in all things as 10 men and eXrtl:caS
may suit The snbscIvicnl and unworthy; but eve
~ honorable mind reyolls al tho vassaage.--
This is my Democracy; and | had fondly hoped
when was struggling in the great pitched bat
ties of 1910 and 1914, II was for the mainte
nance of these principles. do not believe j
an article of Democratic faith 10 adhere blindll
to ln-n and their recommendations; FOR | verify
believe il any thing is 10 overthrow the Demo
cratic performance Il will be mistakins ques
tons oil expediency for matters Of principle.
for one, cannot consent 10 sink the greater into III,
,cssa. question. I reverence 100 profoundly IN,
principles of our ins;;:n;cns-,he grea, doctrine
of the supremacy of the people, 10 aid in ihei
overthrow, by perlinacious adherence 10 mno
matters of State policy. reverence them, be
cause believe they will preserve my liberty
boon cannot, will not, surrender TO inferio
francis. 1t is not for myself honor hem xiii
me il matters little, for my span OF life, short Z
besl; but il is Tor mankind; it is Tor thcec who ar
to come alter us. For years, Sir, ha.~ sive
my time, my voice, my pen, my suffrage for De
mocralic principles, without once asking wha
will ii prof; myself The satisfaction OF know
ing the principles Of Democracy were triumphant
was al, The reward | desired. II adherence Il
them is to coDsign me 10 obscurity, will al leas
carry conscience with me quiet as an infants
will so with a tranquility sweatcr than h
ieverish dream OF official responsibility can be
Stow; and no pang Of regret-no embiitered re
mcmbrance will disturb the quiet Of my humb
ireside.
But, Sir, these resolutions seem TO me a, wa
with these principles; and believing so it is suf
ficient reason why will not supper, them Tn,
first resolution gave NV assent TO without hest
talion. believe, although very incompetent, /,
luGse, that the true policy of the Government il
10 prosecute The war vigorously; and for that pur
pose would give The Administration all The ne
cessary means 10 do so.
would insist upon its termination in an hon
orable peace as speedily as possible. think III,
country demands it, for The spirit of our govern
ment is PEACE. But il The same end could be OBJ
tained more speedily and as effsclually 10 any
other way than vigorous prosecution OF nosii:.
lies, would prefer il. do not, however, be
lieve il could be done as speedily or effeclually