Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-22


Own.
lir. MoHrAGrE-Srce my name has been
referred 10 in this matter, is proper that
should make statement OF course, l know
nothing about this matter Of ranking. | am
no member Of Congress know nothing oil
the benefits or the abuses Of the ranking
privilege. But | do know thiS: that there came
10 my post Office at homc-nnd it is now In
my room at the hotcl-undcr tho frank OF
Shcrrard Clemcns-whether genuine or not |
do not know, for am not acquainted with the
genllemans handwriting speech, Dir.
Wilson's speech, Mr.. Nelson's speech and an
address Of Mr. Stuart 10 his constituents
And there came 10 post office IN my county,
which have been sent to me IN Richmond
copies of documents under the gentlcman's
frank whether genuine or not 40 not know
addressed to two men whom | know 10 be
free negroes, one whom | know can read
(Applause.)
The PRrsIDEST-Cpon the first repetition Of
the disorder in the galleries, the Chair vii!
order the Sergeant alarms TO clear thcm.-
(Cries Of good goodD
Mr. MoHTAGrE-I know further, from con-
sulation with worthy ard respectable friend
delegate upon this floor, from the counties OF
King and Queen and ESSEX, that Similar dccu-
meGts, under the same fra;k, nave gone TO Tree
nesr0eS in Those two counties. Similar docG-
Incnts under the slnr frank nave been Sent 10
free negroes, as | understand II, in the county
of Orange Whether this be correct or not, !
do not know make 10 charge upon that
ground. This is al! have 10 say in regard 10
the matter
Mr. CLEMENS The franks being shown to
Mr. g. pronounce both Of these signatures
to lac iu'grries.
Mr. MvxrAGcE-I an glad to hear it. II
your Govcrnincnt at Washington, which some
Of US are disposed 10 worship, has become 50
corrupt and rotten, that il has resorted to for.
gerics for the purpose OF disseminating inccn-
diary doctrines among the free negrncs in Viz
ginia, is il not time
\ MEMBER brg to inquire what the sub,
Ijcct bc!olc the House IS?
81: MoH.AGur--l have said Iii Geshe 10
say.
The PREsEDLST-Nr. MoSTAGrE having hecn
appealed 10 b.; the gentleman from Ohio, (Mr.
CLEMENS the CHAIR considered his response
III order. ]; was I'M possible to tell tho extent
tn which he would 60 The Chair is OF the
opinion that no farther debate is in order upon
The subject.
Mr.. HALL have been acquainted with Mr.
CLEMENS handwriting for at least II years.
and uuheaitatinely think, from the best "i
my Judgment, that these endorsements are Tor.
gerieS.
Nv H0LcuIur-Rr Reference has been made
b. '..e gentleman from Wheeling (Nr. CLE-
NESsJ 10 4 statement in the Charlottesville JET.
ttrsonian"-a piper published in my county by
Of nor w,.r1.
sent to Tree negroes in that county purporing
10 be under the iras.k Of Mr. CLrMeSs. Now,
sir, heard Postmaster in that county say.
that alch documents, under such frank, had
cone to men in tina. county whom he knew o
be free negroes. Thai, believe, was tine en-
tire statement made in the "Jctfcrsonian Re.
publican" do not remember the article, but
! do ;iot believe that there was any statement
in IL which necessarily implicated Mr. CLENESs
in manner inconsistent with the explanation
he has given to the Convention. The state.
,ncnt OF the paper that documents came 10
these persons. WIS lr;ic.
Mr. MoKroH. In connec;uu with the expia-
nation which the gentleman from Wheeling has
made, Is my constituents are interested In this
matter. and as their representative, they placed
in my hands the papers which have been sub
mitted to the consideration If this House
think it proper 10 State tina. have letter
from five or six gentlemen, Of high respecta-
bilsy, in that county, (Orange,) who mentioned
lhc ra!n.s o! free negroes who have received
incrndiarv documents un6rr the frank Of the
gentleman from Ohio, (Air CicmsnS.) state
:i!vt!ier, tiiat nuncrouS documents of the same
character had been sent to the county OF Har-
risnr, and such Was tic public Indignation
upon their reception tl;at they we're collected
and publicly burned. am gralititd with the
explanation made by the gentleman, and hand
over ihcse papers to him wilh Il great deal Q!
pleasure, with the simple request that after he
makes the Investigation. which he may deem il
due 70 himself 20 make. lie shall return tnc!r
tu me.
Mr.. Brent offered the following resolutions
when were referred to the Committee on Fed
eral Relations
RespI~ed by the people of Virginia, in Con-
! vcntion assembled, That are warmly At
tached 10 the Union of these States. That we
10 OF recognize in The diversity Of our nsti-
,uii0ns any cause Ct conflict hc.ween the DIFF
!.rcu; States, but, III the contrary. NO believe
The great varieties Of soil. OF production and Of
Interests in Republic Ike lhis, grounds for II
! more lasting aud perfect Unon.
Resolved That III times like these it becomes
the duty Of every patriot, TO rise above party
or sectional Considerations, to make an earnest
effort 10 save tie Union, in that spirit OF gen.
arous compromise in which the Constitution
was framed and therefore, in the spirit Of
Compromise we are willing to adopt the amend
incnt 70 tho Constitution proposed 10y Senator
Crittcndcn. or any other plan Of Cancellation
equivacu, thereto. which has been, or may he
hereafter offered, by which harmony may DC
restored between the people Of the different
States, and the Union perpctuated.
Resolved, That in the opinion OF this Con-
vention. lie employment Of the army and navy
Of The United States 70 coerco submission of
the secctiius States will inevitably plunge the
country into civil var, and entirely cxtinguish
all hopo O. S:!ticinen, Of the issues now PEN
ding. We, therefore, earnestly invoke the
Federal GOVERNMENT as well as the seeding
States 10 withhold and stay the arm q! military
power, anti in no pretexl whatever to bring on
the country the horrors OF civil var, until the
people themselves can take sIch action Us our
troubles demand.
Mr.. TrKSER offered the following resolutions,
which " Gre referred to tie committee Oh fedc-
raj Relations:
Resolved, by the people o; Virginia in Con-
venlion assembled, That if ali efforts TO re.
concilc the unhappy differences existing be.
tween the two sections Of the country shall
pro@c TO DC uboriivc, then, in the opinion Ct
this Convention, every consideration Of honor
and interest demands t:!at Virginia shall unite
her destiny with nc siaveholing States OF the
South.
Resolved. That when any one or more Of the
States has determined or shall hereafter deter
mine, ii,der existing circumstances, to with.
traw from the Union, NC are unaltcrabiy OPP.
posed TO any attempt O: ;he part Of toe Frde-
raj Government To cOcrce the same into re-.
union or submission and that we will resist
the san. by all the means in our power.
Mr.. MuSrAGrE-Mr. President, rise 10 j.
personal explanation. Ii has been suggested
to mo BY members Of this Convention, that per
haps the last remarks made might admit oE
Tn Improper construction. understand |
stated ,hat the government at Washington had