The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-11-20
Converting the LEGISLATURE.

tuc
At the present Juncture and in view o.
she converting Of the Legislature by the
Governor, it may be Of interest to refer tc
the Inaugural Message of Governor LETCH.
ER, delivered January 7lh, 1860, After set.
ting forth the unfriendly legislation upon
slavery of various non-slaveholding States,
and the events threatening dissolution of the
Union, he asks, What can be done to avert
the danger !" and says:
= The only moae, therefore, of remedying the
evil, that occurs to me, under the Constitution is
Convention of ali The States. thaI a full and Tree
conference may lie had between the representa- l.
ives OF the people, elected for tins purpose. and
thus ascertain whether the questions in contro-
versy c3nnot be settled upon some basis mutu ally
satisfactory to both sections. II such a Conven-
ton shall assemble, and after tree and full consul
tatlon and comparison OF opinions they sh ali find
that the differences between the sihveholdlng and
non siavenoldIng States are lrTeconcIlable, let
them consider the question of a peaceabe separa-
ton, and the adjustment of all questions relating
TO the disposition of the common property betweeS
The two sections. If they can be recon- led, let
them adjust the terms and give them such sane
tons as WALL render them effective.
" kukgest, therefore, that you adopt resolutions
In favor OF The call OF such Convention. a nd an
peal to the Legislatures of the several States to
unite IN tie application proposed to be made 10
Congress- IN pursuance OF the provisions of the
article aforesaid. If the non slaveholding States
ehal taIl or refuse TO unite in the application
such failure or refusal will furnish conclusive evi-
denee OF determination on their part 10 keep up
upon us. Ii the Convention shall meet, and the
question cannot be satisfactorily adjusted. the
tAe1 are to expect In the future"
The 9Th article to which reference is made
In the above extract, is as follows
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both
Houses shall deem IT necessary, shall propose
pEcati"n OF the Legislature OF. two thirds ' of the
several States 81 all call Convention for propos
ing amendments, which, in either case. shall be
NdIlu 10 al lnt6ltS anu purposes, of the
Consultation, when notified by the Legislature of
three-Iourtks OF the several states. or by coun-
ties IN taree- fourths thereof. as the one or the
other mode OF ratification may be PROS osed by
may be made prior to the year 1875, shall, IN any
manner, auect the hrst AID fourth claims in the
ninth section of the tlIst article and that no
ual suf' age In the South y (The FIRST clause in
the ninth section here referred is that hich,
ut the instance Of Massachusetts, was adopted .
declaring that the slave trade shall not be prohib
Ited by congress PRIOR to 1905 the fourth din ects
unless In proportion to the census or enumeration
hertlnbefore directed to be taken.)
The Governor then proceeds to suggest tina t
two OF the most intelligent, discreet and ex.
perienced statesmen of Virginia shall be ap-
poin ted, whose duty ii shall be to visit the
Legislatures OF those States which have passed
laws to obstruct The execution of the fugitive
slave act, and insist, in the name of virginia,
upon their unconditional repeal. In support
OF the suggestion of the appointment of com.
missioner. Gov. LKTCHKR refers to a precedent
In the history of our own State, In the appoint.
ment OF the distinguished BENJAMIN WATKINs
LEIGH. who was commissioned to visit the
Legislature Of South Carolina at the time M
the controversy between that State and the
Federal Government. The action of Virginia
exerted most happy influence at that period
In preventing the threatened dissolution of the
Union. The Message OF Gov. LEroHER, which
makes these recommendations, was delivered
nearly year ago, but we observe that mucb
attention has been called of late TO II in IN.
Southern Atlantic States, and that its rscou-
mendations seem to be regarded with favor i,
influential quarters in that section.