Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-01-25
The True Attitude of Virginia.

On the 10th instant, in the House of Representa-
tives Mr.. Lcake of Virginia, one of the abest and
most experienced OF the delegation from that State,
said:
81 have no design to make speech-none in the
world. My only design in taking the floor is to
correct msapprchenSion INTO which the gentle
man from Tennessee Mr.. Stokes has fallen, in re-
gard to the position of the honored State which
have the honor. in part to represent. That gentle
quoted this morning the language of the late
Governor of Virginia, in the speech which he made
to the students returning from Philadelphia to
Richmond, two or three weeks since. He quoted 1t
with appreciation; and presume his intention was
to attribute to the State of Virginia the sentiments
of Governor WiSeS speech.
Mr. Stokes did allude to the remarks made
by Ex-Governor Wise, in which he said that he
would fight in the Union: He went further, and
stated that if he were President, he would send
commission to the northern States that have pass
ed laws contrary to the rights and interests of the
South, and would demand repeal of those laws; if
they refused, he would send second and third
time, and if they persisted in refusing they would
do at their peril.
Mr. Leake | presume there is no differences be-
tween the gentleman and myself as to the language
of Governor Wise. | am not here to vndicate the
late Governor of Virginia, or to defend him in any
particular. | am here to take care of the honor of
and all outside influences. | admit that, for aught
know, the gentleman has quoted him correctly
But say on behalf of the sixth congressional dis
trict, stretching as it does along the backbone Of
the State one hundred and fifty miles, and compre
hendng within its limits the very heart, geographi
caly and sent:mentally CT the State, that repudi
ate the sentiment which the gentleman aScribcs to
the late Governor of Virginia. | choose rather to
refer to the Representatives, of that State to hear
her sentiments than to any other source. 1t never
entered my head, and undertake to say that it
never entered the brain of any Representative of
Virginia on this floor to fight inside Of this Union
The idea is ridiculous in the extreme. 1t is the re-
ductio dd absuraum. We have remedy which We
have right to apply. Virginia is the Judge of that
remedy Pardon me for saying that Virginia knows
her rights and dare maintain them She is the ex-
elusive Judge of any infringement of those rights,
and Of the remedy which she shall apply. And
never, i'll the history of that Commonwealth, Fever
from 1913 to this day, has Virginia dreamed of
creating an internecine war within the Union.
But she will do another thing. There is peace
full remedy-ay sir, constitutional remedy.
scorn to stand the ground that your Stewards
cupy. scorn to place the rights of Virginia tha:
higher law that has been preached at the other end
of the Capitol and that is also held and practiced at
this end of it. Virginia has the right when she
plea>e>, to withdraw from this Confedcracy. Ap-
plausc from the Democratic benches Whe ever
the heavy hand OF oppression Is laid upon her,
whenever she feels that the burdens of the Union
more than counterbaance the benefits to result from
it. she says to you, with that quiet and dignity
which become her proud and ancient rcnown :"
withdraw myself from your association, and stand
here was originally, on that proud and elevated
ground Of pure, Independent, unicesatel sovereign
tv, which never consented to divide with you -
That is her doctrine. We will not fight in the
Union, but quit it the instant We think proper to do
We make sister States of the
Conft,leracy. We have right to a>Sail the State
of Pennsylvania or the gallant little State of Dela-
ware. which Major Noah once SAID he could put in
his brceches pocket and if he could his pocket
would have contained Il sovereignty.
We hold to the rights of the States as an absolute
in,lyfeaSlbe right; and hold furthermore that
that right is not aggressive in its character 1t is
protective and not aggressive. 1t is defensive and
not offensive. 1t is shield and not a sword or if
sword it is as that flaming sword which guarded
the gates of the garden Of Edca, turning every way
and yet doing harm to except such as attempt
to invade the sacred precincts which it guards Ap-
plause
There is Virginia doctrine for YOU Neither Gov
ernor Wise all the Governors in creation shall
commit me to any other. make no war on the cx-
Governor of Virginia. eloquent and able as he is
chivalrc and brave; but just crratic. do not
choose to bow down to every sentiment he utcrS.
stand here the advocate of State sovereignty pure
and absolute, and never intend to give it up