The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-16

DeODfe oil
this commonwealth We do tonight and do 1t now
merry ike committee 70 induce this body 70 act think
voved and gentlemen agreed the necessity
this action they will, have no doubt upon brief
Election upon the critical condition Of things a Washing
from Westmoreland (Mr. Beae) misunderstood my re-
marks while ago sad that ought TO act with caution
by no means did look for mbre time In regard the
admission Of Kansas into the Union with the Iecompton
constitution my mind has been made up for several
months. am now prepared to give expression TO my
sentiments in accordance with that conviction, but by
means am willing to indicate any opinion rejecting upon
any gentleman trust the meeting will act in this matter
Mr. PAxToS-I insist upon my motion for the appoint
ment OF committee. am as much in favor OF prompt
action any gentleman in this house not pretend
that qualified to draft resolutions that this meeting
the General Assembly should adopt but l think the
Chair select committee Of thirteen who prepare
resolutions which be reported and adopted here
night and pass the General Assembly OF Virginia when
brought before them l am not prepared TO act upon
resolutions which have not read and do not fully under
stand, and therefore in favor of appointing commit
tee who may report to night to night, il that
time should be deemed better.
Mr.. CoGHI-For the purpose Of producing unanmity I
will accept the amendment of the gentleman from Kama
wha r War to strike out the latter clause Of the first
resolution, which was construed into imputatOn
the Governor.
Mr.. LKE-wl these resolutions be submitted to the
General Assembly for adoptionY
CHAR-They will
Mr., LxF-Then shall vote for them as amended.
Mr.. MAssE, member from Rockbridge. sad-I have
drawn up series OF resolutions which propose to offer
as q substitute for all that pending.
CaAR--H is not in order TO offer them at this time the
full Limitation being arrived At There are three PROPOSE
tons now pending.
Mr.. MAssIE-I will read them by way of argument
Resolved, in the opinion of the democratic members OF
the General Assembly of Virginia. That the conclusion at
which the President of the United States has arrived
expressed in his recent message in favor Of the admission
OF Kansas State Of this Union under the IecomptOn
constitution, is just and right.
Resolved That Congress has right to look further
into the constitution submitted by the State Of Kansas in
its application to be admitted into this Union than to
that said constitution is republican in its form.
Resolved That ii is due to the peace and harmony Of
this Union that Congress should speedily admit Kansas
State CT this Union under the LecomPton constitution
without further Gelay.
Mr. MAssrE-These resolutions directly endorse the con-
illusions Of the President in regard to the admission of
Kansas. When state general proposition, at the
same time applying it to particular case hold that the
effect is cogent, for always better TO put pro
position the than in the abstract hold that
Congress has right TO look farther than that the
constitution IS republican in its form Then after decar
ing what believe to be the power of Congress refe
to this matter. submit what the duty Of
Congress do and that is hat is due to the harmony of
this Union that Kansas should be admitted into the Union
under the Lecomp0n constitution. II there struggle
let il be IN Kansas.
Mr. CAYBRooK-with regard to the appointment of the
committee, concur with my friend from Madison Mr.
Kemper), to the property Of speedy action. II that
committee night and submit its deliberations to
this caucus / willing to stay here until twelve.
two O'Clock until accomplish the object for which
assembled here. The course which is most conoiatory
is the one that most highly commends itself to my mind
So far am Individually concerned, am prepared to
act and to act without the Intervention of commit
My ideas that su tject fixed The conclusions
to which have come satisfactory to my own mind
and announce il in general terms. II is this-An en-
dorsement in the heartes language of the conclusion Of
the President in his message that
the Legislature Of virginia shall by joint resolutions in
struct her Senators and request her representatives
sustain that conclusion will not support any PROPOSE
ton which in my humble opinion, Is dsntegrating
character will go, however, to the extent of endorsing
the President will go to the extent Of sustaining
go the way of prescribing tests which will of necessity
exclude many distinguished gentlemen, perhaps Of the
State or of the United States from the platform which we
choose TO occupy will not sustain any resolution which
will be irtolerant in its character, and while will
my opinion freely and fully without fear
favor from quarter will step out OF the track TO
condemn opinion which might be expressed by others,
at least without elaboration than present. /
think the proposition of irendfrom Wythe Mr Floyd
is that which we should adopt Ny friend from West.
morelaad {Mr Beae) says means nothing humbly
ce!ve expresses all that was designed TO express in
language apty conceived dnied and proper; and what
was designed to express wa. nothing more than this
EIet others think they please; for endorse
the Presdent-thst is our view Aud now ask gentle
to take the resoluit ms, and If they come
to any other conclusion. And when we say that
endorse the President in his conclusions,
and when 20 little farther and instruct Sc
and request Representatives Congress TO do
the same AK gentlemen, do we not go far enough
which are advocated IN ccnfc, with this position are
principles dangerous and alarming their character and
voatve Of the constitution and the Kansas Nebraska act
principle And present issue principle to
the party why, OF necessity, they will disagree with
yield 10 man in this country in my devotion to South
rights and If were TO give erpose Of my views
think there would be no gentleman on this floor who
would say at least that would 60 on that point as far
he who goes arthest With my view OF the important
mission that the democratic party has TO perform, with
conviction that the destiny OF this republic itself is
mued TO its care, will hesitate, and hesitate long
before | will adopt a proposition that will dena-
tional1e that democratic party. will hesitate, and
will hesitate long, before will adopt q proposition
~ ALL
construction Of the Kansas Nebraska acty coaira
construction right. We have adopted the only
possible construction which fairly admit of. There
be doubt about the language employed II must be
and cannot be otherwise, have only 10 say that IL
the democratic party In the South b reluctant TO take that
position they had better make no resolves upon the sub
ect II do make resolves insist that shall stand
up 10 them. will ask question. Suppose assert
the principle OF the construction of the Kansas
act its stringent form II may sustain my view
which is, that the Lecompton constitution ought 10 be
adopted am willing TO stand upon that platform, but
not willing TO resolve 70 stand there. Suppose
resolve that will take that and other alternative
that Congress should refuse accep, the resolutions
soSe and Uoh E'S more viii ask 5 s before
YOU enter into any resolves, Il they be vital resolves
all that ask is that We will deliberate gravely aud when
do resolve that we stand up TO H. When come here
gong to be bound by the decision Of the majority Of
this Caucus but trust the day will when /
will not hold this opinion IN Submission to the will of my
party and when come, come prepared 10 abide its de-
cislon. make these remarks TO gentlemen order that
they deliberate and resolve with caution upon the
have committee, In order that the views Of gentlemen
shall be harmonzed. think have series Of
solutions before the caucus
CHAR-I have only three series. sir.
Mr.. CIAYHRooy-I think while are expressing our
choice between these resolutions, that time will be saved
by the appointment OF a committee ana trust Il will be
the pleasure of the 10 appoint that committee at
once.
Mr.. EDsuSDs-I think II a committee is appointed they
would I've prepared 10 report less than fifteen minutes
Mr.. Barbour, member from Culpepper, went into
analysis OF the merits OF the two sets Of resolutions sub
mitted by Mr. Floyd aud those submitted by Mr.. Massie
ooncedng the latter preference the others mas
much they embodied more fully the views OF the caucus
Indicated the Of the debate He cited the
resolutions sri1ti and commented each separately
giving he proceeded the reasons for his preference
favor OF Mr.. Massics. To give bis remarks without
quoting the resolutions, would render their sense
and application imperfect and having already given the
resolutions In full they we're presented, would be
waste 81 time and space 10 quote them again.
Mr.. FAUsTitRoy, member from Winchester, op
posed 10 the appointment Of committee and In favor Of
the adoption OF the resolutions offered by Mr. Masse
Mr.. CocuI, who offered the first resolutions accepted
Mr.. Massie's A. a substitute for his
E.... o.ss