Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-02

On Saturday last, Mr.. Conrad, Chairman Of
tue Committee on Federal Relations, made .
report to the Suite Convention, winch ind-
Gates that the Convention will probably adopt
q plan for submission to The people, similar 10
that proposed b. Mr.. Speed! Of LyEclburg.-
Mr.. Speed's>propositiGn cnn:empla,rs the sub
mission Of the minority report and tnele or
d!nance Of secession, as alternate propositions,
obliging each vote: To accept cne or The oll-r
We are well satisfied tia: anything in lie
form Of Mr.. Speeds resolutions, would have an
effect altogether different; from what Mr. Speed
desires or intends. II would give E.u:t un-
due advantage 10 the submission side Ct the
question, by obligng large number Of true
Southern men, whO are not prepared for
immediate srcesSinr, 20 vote for the major
ity report. That report, if placed BY itself
before tie people, would undoubtedly be re-
jected II placed alternately villa AL ordi-
nance for immediate secession, it may lie adop-
ted and adopted in :. ina;.Ilvr 10 indicate an
apparent majority of antSoGihcrH r,,en in the
State.
Let US haze 4 fair iest. Let it DC tried
openly and fairly, as to whether majority Of
the people prefer Sorthern Or Southern
Coulvdcracy. We have already sufficient evil
dcnce that NJ such fair test will he a!f;rdrd by
The Convention.
1t is to the Legislature, then, that We must
look 10 place the issue fairly before the people,
and to ALLOW them To vote upon it, /; is not
only entirely within the Constitutional power
ol the Legislature 10 do this, but We ure placed
in Hi exigcncy y hich renders such action IN
imperative duty OH thei: part.
-. Tic following resolution, offered in the
House Of Delegates, on Tuesday last, by Mr.
ToNLS, Of King William, Seems "a lis 10 meet
the issue fairly. Let this, or something like
it, he promptly adopted by the General ASSEM-
bly,, and all will yet be well.
Resolved, That it shall be the duty Of the
commissioners and officers who shall be ap
pointed, according TO law, to supcrintcnd and
conduct elections for the General Assembly, 4.
the next election in the month Of MAY, to open
separate poll to take the sense Of the qualified
voters upon the question Of remaining in the
Union with the Northern States, or OF uniting
Virginia with the Southern Contedcracy. In
order to ascertain the sense Of said voters
thereupon, the said officers shall cause to be
kept separate poll, with two colntn"s the
one 10 be headed For the Northern Union"
and the other For the Southern Union :"
and the names of those who vote for the
former shall be written under the for.
mcr heading, and those WHO vote for the
Inter, under the latter heading. When the
said officers meet, as provided 10y law in the
elections for Legislature, held at the same time,
tn " shall ascertain and make return Of the
number Of persons voting for each proposition;
they shall deliver the said pollbooks to the
Clerk Of their respective counties or corpora
lions, to be preserved in his Office, and shall
forthwith trarsmI. certificate, containing the
aggregate vote for each proposition, 10 the Go
vernon Upon the receipt thereof. the ito.
vernon shIl ascertain the result and make pro-
camation thereof. and shall also transmit 4
copy Of his proclamation, continuing Tie said
aggregate vote, to the Contention lJr their in.
formation.