Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-15
NUMBER 76~
DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE CauCrS

DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS.
J., "A caucus of the Democratic members Of IN" l.-.i-.
azure s was held Monday evening in the Hall -. l.
mouse Oh Delegates, for the purpose OF expressing n
opinion on the all absorbing question of Kansas h.
livelest interest
:, on motion OF General Chapman. Mr.. Amber. OF
'ne SENATE was called To the Chair, and Mr.. Severs
of Rockingham, anpoiaiad Secr-tary
lug Secretary called the roll of the D-mocraS
nIspels o' lne Legislature, and eightyhre- ~ rne%
tionse ana twenty two of the Senate Answered 10
their names.
MIR. Coghill, Senator from Anb.rs, said tbs ,,,...
ing was called with relation 10 the adm: ssiou ~
Kansas into the Union. He desired to say th.,s,..
as he and hs friends were concerned, there Wa un
disposition 10 do anything hastily ar ANYTHING x.
would reflect any individual tn. .Yn,.ss.p, ,t
An opinion on principle WAS the obj-ct in vleY aud
no other. He offered the following resolutions:
whereas, positions have been tsS-u bc;n II. tia
North and the South, calculated to div.d. AM dj.ir
the Southern people aud 10 defeat the sdnlss ,un ut
Kansas INTO the CDion upon equal footing w.,E
other States
Resolved, by the General Assembly Of Virginia mat
the people of Virginia. by an overwhelming N ri.
~, sustain President buchanan in the position tr ~.
cupies in relation TO the admission oi Kansas r., Il
State under the Lecompton Constitution; sud no man
is authorized to speak in tie nan- by H., auh ri.
y OF that people who does not sustain The Preside, "
in his position.
Resolved, in the opinion Of this Legislature. Con
gress has no power to impose any condition upon d
State admitted into the Union other than tho { ,r.
posed by the Constitution Of the United Sinr-.; tat
any such attempt on the part OF Congress a. io.
laon OF the rights of the States s uubversv- oi h.
most sacred principles Of the Constitution. and
lated 10 destroy the boundary line between III = =
OF the States and the power Of the Federal Gov,ru
ment.
Mr.. FLOYD, OF the Senate, said that IN. r.s, Ia
tions were very nearly perfect. but in order ihH s
construction might be avoided he would sub.
stitute tor MIR. CoGHILLs resolutions and pr-aIu'@ *
I,,o fhutt
mocracy Of the State should take no steps .,c.,.c
| such would reconcile dffsrences-no rnnirer wfGt
this man or that man might say, he believed.
resolutions would represent the sentiments % me
people; while al the same time hs admitted that q
| liberal and proper construction might be put cu The
resolutions Of Mr.. Cogil.
Mr.. Edmunds OF Halifax, said that he co.. cur
red with Mr. Buchanan in his conclusions on NJ, 7r
| eas Constitution, aud in the recommendation ru sd.
init Kansas under that Constitution. but he Ir,d
| from the arguments and postlons assumed by Tie
President
Mr. Coghill, in reply TO Mr.. Floyd said he was not
welded t" any particular form ot expression; a' h-
desired WAS a proper expression OF opinion,
cordance with his resolutions
| Mr.. Floyd offered the following resolutions:
Resolved That the further harmony and p-ars of
the Union demand, at the hands OF the Congr-s- ut
| the United States, speedy satisfactory aud hua
| settlement of the affairs OF Kansas.
Resolved That we regard the conclusions of ths
| Presdent of the United States on that subject.
his late annual message N wise, moderate sni su.
fcent, and. if carried out, will speedily Eject that
| desirable object.
Mr.. Coghl said it seemed TO him that Mr.. Pioyd's
resolutions did not sufficiently and emphs Ideally and
clearly express the sentiments which ought 20 be
those Of the meeting. II any would contrn".ns
the sentiments Of the resolutions, then that person
would not be representing the sentiments of thu De
mocratc party He was prepared 10 vote tof any r..
solution acceptable to the majority He did not wish
! to occupy the position of HI extremist.
| Mr.. kemper of Madison, said he concurrei with
| the gentleman from Amherst, in the MAN. WIN
spirit Of Cancellation they could come tn earcrn n:
| on terms. He believed that Kansas ought tn b" Si.
mitted on the Constitution now presented. He knew
| to what Mr. Cughill alud.d-he conceived rns, me
| by play which had been go: mp WIS not worthy ot
| grave assembly. He stoo as wide apart from Mr.
Wise, with regard to hia letter, any oDe-he vss
| willing, nevertheless to allow every man, bis op'n
| ions, and was not willing that this meeting should
| reflect on any one. How did Mr.. Coghi. or bim.
self, learn the sentiments of their constituents ~
soon except by deduction He would prefer 'hs
gentlemsn's resolutions printed. The expression @:
the peoples sentiments wac lett out. L-i the r-trs
sentatives speak for themselves. Such Convention
as this was likely to run OFT the track into basy
cuslOns. ii was too great haste to undertake an
preston of opinion
Mr. Beale, Of the Senate offered the following sub
| sttute
.Reaqlvs '.ti. sans" al the G.nAral Assembly ~
virginia, that her Senators ana Representatives IN he
Congress OF the United States should Use all proper
eXertions to secure the prompt and uucnndn,. ~
(other than under such conditions imposed ~
tn. Constitution oi The United Srar.sl admission ut
Kansas a. State into the Union, under tn. CoGsiu
ton framed by the Lecompton Conv.urion.
Resolved, That any plan for the admission ~ Kan.
into the Union which imposes conditions npnu i.r
people after the acceptance by Congress of her Con
sttutiOn, or which contemplate Il re.-ubmssiou OF
another Constitution in Congress for approval j. DIN
gerous and alarming in continuing thu "gitslinn &c
the slavery question in the country, utterly -ubvr
sive Of the principles of the Kansas N-brn-ka rot,
and comedies TO Congress the right 10 exerc-r po".r
not granted by the Constitution of The Union
He said his object conclliaton, consistently
with principle. How could Mr.. Kemp-r o. -ci ;hn
Mr.. Coghill should speak for the people! WsrD not
they aware OF their constituents scntim-ut- pr
considerable timei While he conceded 10 Gov W 40
the right to express his opinion, hs wllius
that Gov. Wise's opinion should go abro-d "a, 'ht'
opinion Of the people OF the State. Th. ConGr--- ot
the United States divided on the i-sne. VrS' ~.
as ever, eIerted great influence; and II II wsn; out
that Gov. Wisa's sentiments Went out hs the s-itl
ments Of the State, the result would be moe; 'nr-
tunate. He preferred MIR. CoghiIl's resolutions NJ
Floyd resolutions We're in such general terms 20
mean nothing.
Mr.. Lee of Orange, did not approve OF any of he
resolutions. He understood this to be caucus Of f
Democratic members and not adjourned MT ~
of the Legislature he had obj c"u 10 r."
tiona even stronger He thought All effort ongos -
be made 10 concate all tn. m-mbrrs II" uu
willing. by undue implication or o'her~ise. :" "-s
censure Governor Wise z letter he Wa TO VI
ing that this body shouid undertake To express
cislon as if of the Democracy of the ate.
Governor Wise's letter simply
preston of opinion on one abstract quDs'i"rs
and but simply arguing whether the Constitution wa,
fairly pu, 10 the people. There were NOT let a. he
House who would agree that the Constitution ~..
fairly put to the people; but the Democracy "uu.d
sustain Mr.. Buchanan.
Mr.. Gregory, of Amelia said if Mr. C"yhr-
ntons carried, they would be u direct attack
Gov. Wise. He wonld stand by the PresidsD,, ..:a
not disposed to war any
Mr.. - moved that committee Of thir'r.i g
appointed to prepare resolutions, for that mee;,n-
adjourned one.
Mr.. Claybrook suggested that the committee, -.
pointed, should report to an adjourned n-stlnK "
felt anxious about the result OF TIE meaiing nj 0y
anxiety was tor the unity Of the Democratic pnr.
II that party became distracted. sec;ions division.
would follow. and then he should look TO th- Il 49,
ton Of the Union he the only safety for tue r!hI- g.:
the South.
Mr. Johnston of Harrison, agreed with Mr. Gay.
brook. He did not agree with Mr.. BuchanaU
things; il sufficient for him that snrr,!
agree with Mr. Buchanan in the main He w"U,I n0t
have sustained Mr.. Hunter If h. had no; pnrsI-a IN
independent course which he had adopted Va =
not sufficient for Mr.. Wise to do the SAM
Mr.. Barbour said it seemed 10 him that the prr' a.
ing sentiment Of the caucus wGs ~ snsa'n III Al
ministration. lie thought that Mr.. FI"yd's r.-..u
tions wers not sufficiently defined.
Mr.. Massie, Of Rockbridge, then offered tue follow
ing resolutions:
Let. Resolved, That in the opinion Of the Demo
cratic members of the General Assembly OF F''suia
the conclusion to which the President "t ih- En.G
States has arrived, as expressed III bis r-r"ut 10.
sage in favor Of the admission OF Karsis ~ - 7,-
of this Union under the Lscompton Constitution, =
just and right
I'd Resolved, That Congress has no right 10 hook
further into the Constitution submitted By tn >H;e
of Kansas in its application TO be admitted mi" tiS
Union, than 20 ses that the ssd Constitution Is liz.
publican in its form
Sd Resolved, That it s due to the peace and hs''
mony of ths Union that Congress -honih -p-",iiy
admit Kansas a. State under the L-c"rnp'op Con
siuton without further condition.
Mr. Old, OF the Senate, agreed with Mr. hss--'e
resolutions
Mr.. Msssie asked Mr. CoIh' 20 Withdraw hIs rsso
lulions. MIR. Cogh agreed and remarked ths' he
certainly never contemplated any reelection oa at?
man.
Mr.. Floyd said that the principal object Of bis
solutions was 10 have distinct expression Of opinion