Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-03-02
Southern Conference.


southern Conference.
The following is the report Of the Minority OF
the Joint Committee, made by Mr.. August TO
tn, Senate, and b. Mr.. Collier to The House, a
few DAYS since
The niuu,i;y of the joint, Committee Of the Two Houses OF
:he Grnrral Assembly, 10 whom was referred the subject Of
b proper response TO "e given Ey The Coin.nonwen',h o. W.
r,ni. to The state o! South Carolina, differing IRON the
view. and conclusions O.! the majority, respectfully submit
III. follow. ns report:
p.,ra,,,l sy ,le Notwithstanding States upon line South, lie
painfully familiar 10 Us nl, aud has been, during the pres
-: s.s.i"u a: The General Assembly, 50 frequcG;ly and
prominently urvusht TO the public attention, rs to render an
extended AND particular recital at this time unnecessary.
Tie MEASURES which have been already enacted, as well as
hose now in progress, sufficiently attest the opinion OF ilis
GENERA. Assembly, that extraordinary Legislation Is neces.
sary upon the pat .: Virginia to enahle her 10 defend and
protect her constitutional rights. which have hoi Only oerh
thrcai-nrh. hu; actually asshi!eii. .
These measures have been dctnandcd By the people oil
Virginia, with Il uaan:n.iy unprecedented Sine: 'hc event
ia, ,,.,k,,J of The revolution. Their voice has come up to
u. IN tones not To he misunderstood nor disrcgatded. Deep
and iervru; rs has been their devotion 10 the union OF the
S;a;r,-rnlra.rit TO theta ~ II l. by MI she Na''o"co memo
rIes which cluster around it-aupefu! us they are OF THE
-ich and glorious fruits alicil il PROMISES, II preserved aud
n5rini.,vr.i l.. the spirit ia which our fathers formed it
sincerely ANXIOUS H. they are Illus 10 prcSrrvr. u, ana trans.
ro, il urimpairr,i 10 ,hrir posteriiy. as the richest political
heritage youc.,.afri 20 u.an-yet they tell u, that Virginia
will not cG,lsri; Ia I,cTlcIuh:r il nj The pTire ni 4 continued
Sacrifice Of her just aud rqaal rights aud honor.
The fora l'inu. rkr and progress Of the Black Eepui'ican
paftt ThN bcCl no KS ~ oulldE ulo" NV '''
Of the Union. than IL inrhacr' 'hfc"t ana insui! u Ile
Svntlt-itS doctrines are reasonable 10 the Constitution,
aud is aims destructive Q: IN" peace. properly, Prosperity
AID 81 ctr nj The Sou.h. Appealing To Ii higher Law l!iAI
the Constitution, II has Prec!p!;htcd lis disc'l' e ,h'" Tue
arena o: thr 'iTrrprrss:b!e conflict, aud Urged them on
In their c .rucr Uf m,,lErss and folly, until the soil oil tir'
GINA has bees. actually Invaded, and her citizens murder
.d. Aud w!rn mis- most foul aud unnatural foray has been
promn,ly ANA successfully crashed by the strong arm uf the
invaded G-n III wealth, and The rinc.lcidcr taken aud
tfou.hr t., f.iai, ia due course n. law, he Is Mt once exalted
iy ~. n,,,y Of who's rrinriplrs he was The practical expo
,,.Nt 90, IA. h..fr.. lGfpiS a. u iSi q. ~ SIci EG has PAU
tl- just Il, Iriity III hi, Treason and muder, Inv Is 'orthwith
ly hen, cartn zyi - thr frs; sain, in their calendar.
Il j. unnecessary fur Our present purposes 10 review the
history III 'he slavery agitation Ia The lh'ei States. or 10
do N re ,han briefly refer 10 The c"tnpr"mise measures cf
Isl, Viii u we're acc. pied and acpu!rScrd IN hy the South
~ Il hntl settlement OF ihe controversy. me territory
acquired ny the war wi II Mexico gave rise to q fierce and
arsry ,i.;,l;r lr,wsru :hc No III AMI South. which seriously
!rnprclrr ir ~irn!.qui'iy and Der! ri"iii o! the tLion The
Snu,u propose ~ ,ihcIc TO tie rIi"cr!r> OF ti- Missouri
c"ulp,u m st. AMI 3" extend The lite Of 81 deg 81 tnia TO the
Phc,f: maein. This proposition the North rejected. The
s-ri,. 81 measures, 10 wIi b the south CAV is assent for
II l.ur;.r.- al res nrIrg peace and harmony 10 the diifrreut
Sec; nns involved cnuc-.,i"rs upon her part, which nothing
bu. a in..!,na;r attachment Il" the Cnivn could have rN:nr
&c fr"u, her: Li.: ia return for her tna::iaElnious sacrifice
upon The altar OF The Cnion. she received nothing but The
fugitive Il I've law, which, has berl practically and openly
Duli;N-,i Icy the Legislatures OF n large majority OF Tie
Northern states
stat, y. III south. ~ repeated violations "f rhe mos, 90
l.mn cuur;,tc:. T. ;h~ :GihMaet; OF which they were bound
BY every c"r>iI.ra'ion oe honor, justice ani fraternity,
would lon: M" have led to open "ar between nations
bound Nv ,- ordinary terms OF II treaty. such c%onsiiera.
tiDu,, however, ave hot been snn1cirnt 10 Restrain Tile
North IN her ar:rr.'"iS u.on our rights and honor. ETn.
ho!ar'i.i hy our I,.:icu: furl'raT"ncr, AID encouraged br
our repeated c. TIC ,siuns and sacrifices, to preserve that
cr-t; mHn u!l.u; u: ;hr wisdom and patriotism Of our rero'
laiiu:ars 'aihtt T.. the Federal Cuicn, they seem 10 have
persuade! .t,cr, Ives that our love for that Union. aud oir
u,.ir. 10 rrc.,rve IT,, II Ia nam. only. are sufficient 10 Ia.
Gucv u &" submit To auy ~iniigni'y, oppression or injustice
tai; their iu'cnperaie fhnai;cism aud unhoiy prin'
cip,e, may cad them to perI,sir"is. in order to foster
undi..ui>-i hatred OF the institutions Of the south, and
which sees The :uitiiiment Of it, purposes in their dsstruc.
Il - .. -.l- e 3D., .r.uv S lr = hfrh SnGh lpStr IN r,iDn
w,y tie accomplished. Hence the struggle which we have
lt.iy "l;Urs,,d upon the do"r " Congress, In which they
sou.h; L. elevate to :hc iliri post n the Union the endor'
ser OF tra: uros, ,Hn'"!ical and imlanou, publication, coun'
,r!in. ih" slave, Of III" South TO rise IL rebellion against
their ;ias,"rs, aad :Ici;iuS t!1ein 10 rarine, arson aud MUIR
der.
Il, Is 10 wonder that, by such a party having among its
acknowledge l.tl. rs mcn LOST TO every principle OF reli-
cion-.r,. T." every appeal 90 hunani;y-insrnsible to
every claim Of honor. and careless Of every consideration
Of iu-tir--that John lruE:.-;hat mos malicious Of all the
,n.i.c. c,o-s who have di.vraccd the utrnal. Of civilization,
AMI rlrckrrr.I :hr calendar Of ciime-shorld have been
awarded The garland Of a hero While NSinG, and the honors
OF Il sain. when dead.
A sufferer only in common with her sister states of the South.
Blu; when ,tin; ou,rn." uHoH her soil and sovereignty was
p-rpctr.trJ, the whole south bclrll IN IL ha: the necessary
and inevitable results OF the teachings o! the irreprrssihie
conflict school; and i; was hut natural they should have IN.
duired n !rntcrral sympathy tor Virginia. und made her
caus- ,h,ir own.
i, was at sur h Il time that our sister State % South Caro-.
lima, hrAr NJ In grateful remembrance tlr AiniIy and inedi'
storial Office 81 Virgins in the hour Of her peril. sent her
Commissioner to vxrr~ss The sympathy which she felt, and
TO invite Il conference Of the southern States 10 consult up
on measures deemed necessary for their cninincn defence.
The mo,ivr which prompted Tins action upon the part Of
South Carolina. have been suitably acknowledged III The
ass: resolution submitted by the majority in their report;
and a graceful tribute j. paid in the second 10 The ability,
d t:Giy ama courtesy with which her commissioner dis
charged ,h- important duties Of his mission" The report
OF The majority also recognizes. "iu our present re-
la,ion- u.th The non.sla. -holLins States, nn inn
p-'"'ir, "'"t.AtY for decisive measures, anu thEf
o. n. Southern States, by II wise and firm exercise
Of their reserved powers, 10 protect the rights and
And for This purpose. they earnestly desire III. concurrent
uCti"n Of the Southern states, hut they submit, for the
consideration "f South Carolina and the other Southern
States. thu riici nj cooperation will lie nnrr safely ob.
tanned by suclI legislative action Of the several States H.
may ne necessary and proper, than through the agency Of
an asscmblagc which can exercise no Il Ultimate power OK.
clare i: 'inrNp-iitnt 10 app"int deputies to the conference
proposed by S"n'h Carolina We submit: with great de-
ton upon the part OF the southern States be desirable nr
ne rn"p",, n protecting ne r,GI' nna nssrs,ss 81 NE ne
most .G;.iy and certainly obtained through the agency Of
M as,-n,laee which can exercise no legitimate power en-
cc,t :" debate and uGvisr.'"
Ia the opinion %! the minority Of your coinrittee, the
wait o. power in The proposed conference 70 90 more
J-c'!"h 4" Il, iur;''sAr> n strong argument In It's favor. ana
gives as.cr.arc :" -: ,irnid, 'ha, rome Of the evils so haSIi.
~ pr"aic'ci 10y ic "i'i"nr"is al tie measure can possibly
result from ilc ~" i'..'! rottvrt nee al: The Southern States.
We have said :ha: r:ri:a has tong been distinguished
TOT h'r i"''ia ma l"--'"i','e "SH"'i"i, I" 'hr irinn shr l. 5"
no~-and Wei! sh~ may he-ior n" STATE Ia His Union has
sacrificed 50 muc! for is establishments. or contributed
more 10 its growth. prosperity ans power y" State is
NOR anxious fr liz preservation and restoration TO It's
original position as Il Union uf equality. Justice AMI fgatcr-
nifty. hiudinr The states together by 10 DIS 81 sincere and
Ind ssrlu,ir airrt;oa, u rowing '!e broad TgiS Of is pro-
trGInn equally around all the sorerrigniirs that comp"n Il,
aud III. pcnsins to ali equal and impartial justice. For the
Onion "ur fathers framed, We IN common with the people
Of virriuia. aud, We believe. Of the whole S,u:h, continue
TO" c,-ii,h II cordial. h.hi;n Il and inm"rahlc attachment. -
I, 4. b.,nps, IS. u, iirv, tie I'uinn to he in danger ihs, we
desire au rurl,.s: and energetic Effort made 10 save il. II
Is tt Cause We b. licve II j. nov necessary there should be u
union Of tn" south tor The sake Of the tniou, We advise that
In the councils Of the southern Sta'c' the potential voice OF
virginia should he h-Irl-'hat voice which In times gone
by hn. spoSrn 20 the raging tempest AMI sut'tu-d II into
si!in-s>. I: Is mol alone In the South that NE look for the
hApp;,sf results from snch Il cunltrt nee. We believe mat
tn ~ .rrvntivr masses OF the North vii he aroused by
such n c""fc-crc- MS Ne propose; thar concurrent action
atl N irri cp operation may he ANTICIPATED from mem
nnd HAT :trr viii cordially Unite with u 10 save lhai SnIoh
which a.. y. 10 common with IT,. regard as t.e " palladium
OF "ut political sair'y ahnl prosperity
MervIea .ina' !; j. with 10 spin; or desire 10 weaken or
dertrry ;he h"'"ie ila, himL Together the States OF tc
Auriicnn Cnioi, but /" -'rcnc hen them. that we urge upon
the Grhc:ai Assrr"ti, IS W gir!a to respond 10 the inrita-
ton OF s"nt!r cafc;ima. by ,cudiuC delegates 10 The pro-
posed c'hirrricr. Let !irSiuit send such intn a$ she may
safely c"nefe III for p~ruirncr. patriotism and discretion
such men as will counsel wisely and f-n!y-who, whilst
they make known lie policy deemed by Virginia best suited
10 the emergency Tor 'ac c"iInlon defence. will urge anon
our southern siste States the adoption Of ,ha, policy. and
invoke them tn remain a;h ~ Ia the Union, and exhaust
every peaceful! snd Constitutional means for its rrc>erva.
tIon and restoration, before they Withdraw f7nn 1t, and
involve themselves and us in the disaster Of It's over
throw.
We know full well, that the effort has been made. and
will be made again. for purposes hest known 10 t,"se who
engage in il, TO stigmatizc "a diSuniunists all VINO Think
tina, The Southern States may and should meet together, and
counsel tor their common safety, ana Tor IN rerress "t
their common grievances. u any amongst US are weak
enough 10 h- frightened frora their p~ropritty by such false
ciarnor, We have orig 10 say for ourselves, that The al'lllca'
tioy Of such al eIi;iet cu!nnt deter Us from urging u fira.
sure, upon the success OF which We conscieniiousy and
firmly believe the salvation OF this Cnion essentially de-
---aa l. - III nt .-frrF ~ Tram AAEInr ny SIrn