Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-12


sapeake stretching forth to grasp the trade of
the North, drawing it towards this great sea
port. Look at the magnificent champaign
country, inviting the energies and wealth Of the
capitalist for the construction of railroads.
Many Of them are already partially built, and
are in Il fair way Of commanding monopoly of
the Southern and South Western trade, and di.
roofing it to its great natural outlet ut Norfolk.
| There arc III my own section Of the State.
North Western Virginia, mineral resources and
recently discovered Fountains OF oil exclusive
enough to furnish the basis of IN empires great.
ness. and theSa. when developed, will necessarily
add to thESl0Yts and wealth Of the whole State.
In that ScStssr, should not he surprised If, in
twenty-five years, tile white population there
will exceed the aggregate white population of
all Virginia besides. Look at our geographical!
position. What relations do we sustain to the
Pacific? If great national line Of railroad is
built to the Pacific, and dirtc; intercourse thus
established between the Atlantic and the Pa
cifc some Virginia city will be the terminus or
depot; perhaps Richmond or Norfolk. Already
the iron horse" the great representative Of
! American energy and enterprise, is pushing lils
way up the Pacific siopr Already he is snui.
! ling the air from the summit of the Rocky
| Mountains eager to rush down ACROSS the val
ley OF thr Mississippi, laden with thu wealth
Of the indies, the long sought desdrratim OF
our statesmen, and deposit his rich freight
| along the shores of eur Chesapeake.
Let Virginia seccde md all these bright
prospects arc forever dashed 10 pieces.
| beg gentlemen 10 look AZ the geography nt
! Virginia, ami say if they would DC willing to
be dragged out Of this Iinon 10 join some mis-.
cradle Southern Curfcderacy a. Il mere outside
"ppendagc.
Mr., President, will bring my remarks to
conclusion by mentioning another evil that
would grn% nut Of The secession o! Virginia
| from the GHiuu and that H. that il would de-
stroy our nationality it would destroy tue
prestige Of the American uaIre and Of Amcri-
car citizenship.
lIow is it now, sir: Wherever Cur cvun.
! try's Gag with It's tlrty.luur stars. floats OF
the breeze. any Eirginian may stand up and
proudly point to that banner rs Il tiag that re-
: presents his country and his country's great.
ness and power. Sir, it is noble tiag. LISA
dag upon which. victory has p.rclled without
! interruption for seventy i've years.. tlag
which Perry carried in his hand through the
! din and smoke Of battle and placed it victoGi.
ously upon the c.c!ny i vcsscl--an enemy who
! cnrc held the empire Of the sea-a flag whlch
waved III triumph ut the head Of our army in
| its victorious march from Vera Cruz to the
capital Of Mexico, and It last tloatcd over the
palaces of the MontcZurnas-a flag which pro.
tects our commerce in every port and on every
! sea-a flag which, in short represents our Nil.
tio,al power. gives full protection 10 every
American citizen, 20 where he wiil-wiIc!!ier
among tlic Sayagcs III the StepptS oil Russia, or
in the ahoi=s Vi k'nss ur Emprrors, Or ISticrev-
er else re n'aY c!!"nse to wander. Secession
will trail that s!n:iuuS banner in TN dGs!--ce-
! s:r0y It's prestige .aI lis power and leave the
+ American citizen - wander abroad ii lie SlIii
dare to 20 abroad, ui.j.'c: vi contempt tur
chuckiing tyraEts {, pDi;.. tho finger of scorn
st, while they say: Behold the last p!.;;tDie
demonstration ri the ialacy Of the !"n:-chrr-
iShed dogma u ui,ua capacity .oT srl!.SoTcrt.
! ment"
But it is sal | oar Unlcr il already dissolved,
and there is 10 Use III talking about these
things. | thu; net, sir. The Union is not
dissolved in the lrlle sense rf the word. 1t
still lives, an | will live while Virginia stands
lirm Let Virginia maintain her position let
her stand fast where she ever stood, and this
Union can never be permanently dissolved
| Sumo nt the States may Scccde, us they have
done. but they will ne like asteroids flung off
llOln tnc sun, hoi. Missing through ills tTiCh
less ether. Bat, s;r, the sun still Shines. The
Union still rcuaiS while Virginia is Steadi;:St.
| And trust in God tlias such will DC the cen.
tripe;al Influence Of lrr moral power in the
Onion, rs TO hrin. lack these wandering stars.
Into their proper orbits i'll the great system Of
American States
Ny voice is failing, sir, and shall be cjm.
! PEELED 10 cOur to :. cIps.. | wish to say before
| i" SO, that will not discuss wha. conceive
70 he the remedy for our ills, simply from the
fact that brlcSc il you'd be improper for tie
10 to so, being mrlntcr OF the Committee Oh
Federal Relations, having that matter in hand
Were to do So it may look like seeking to fore
s,al my own freedom Of decision and Judgment,
which have no desire nor intention of doing
shall therefore, avoid any argument or cX-
preston which might have any such tendency
Allow the, Mr.. President, again TO tender 10
you and this Convention, my most cordial and
| hearty thanks for the attentive inanner in which
my remarks hGvr been listened TO the ntlcn-
ton and courtesy manifested were beyond she'r
merits, far very far. indeed.