The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-23
r,peyNIA STATE CONVENTION
THIRTY SECOND DAY.
FRtpAY. March ed. is,

FRIDAY, March ED, 1861.
rhe Convention assembled at haifpast 10 !
sn,k PRAYER by the Rev DIR. JErER, OF the
1sntist Church.
CORRECTION or REPORT.
A. c,xt.IE OF Harrison. rose to correct
'"..,,,rt OF his remarks in the official organ
I'm Convention. the Richmond Eaaairer --
cad % he had written out his speech and
hr,uld publish it in the Richmond WAY.
CLAIMS Fog SERVICES.
Mr MAcYaRLASp, OF Richmond. from the
r,sototttee TO audit claims against the Con
anon for services prior TO its organization
n's3e report, which was adopted.
EQUALITY OF TAXATION.
The PKs.InBsT announced that the subeo.
.akinE before the Convention was the con
ls.ratlon of the resolutions offered on Mon
e. last by Mr.. WILEY, of Monongalia.
NJ HtLI.. OF Marion, being entitled 10 the
c,@r supported the resolutions. The mem
s.rs Of the Legislature from the West, he
.id would never have voted for calling this
Cnn,en ton, unless they had supposed that
tp SUBJECT OF taxation would be brought be-
t'rsu Their people demanded action They
nSa submitted TO inequality of taxation be-
use they were compelled 10 and now they
were isposed not to submit any longer. 1t
Vas rmlncniIy proper that IL should be done
now Gentlemen admitted that IL Aas right
md proper, and IL they would cease their op-
nnsition the matter could be disposed OF
xf;hout occupying any time. He hoped there
was 70 man ready 10 enter into any bargain
upon this or any other interest. He scorn "a
I,roposi tion 10 bargain for a concession which
was lgsi and right. He alluded to other por-
t,ons of the organic law which required
smendment-the Judiciary system and the
county Court system were also burdensome
10 tAe people. but upon this question OF taxa
ton he could see no oblec ton TO the appoint
rasnt OF a committee to inyes tgate the IN after.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
The hour OF II having arrived, the Convcn-
iion resolved itself into Committee Of the
Whole, tMr. SorrnALL, Of Aibemarle, in the
ehair) and proceeded 10 consider the reports
from the Committee on Federal Relations,
with the substitute offered by the gentleman
from Harrison.
Mr.. BALDwis, OF Augusta, being entitled to
the floor, resumed his remarks. adverting in
the outset to the tendency to introduce sub
Iects in debate which had no bearing upon the
great question At issue. He erstood gen
tleuen - acquiesce yesterday in his decl,ra-
ton, that the agitation of the slavery Ques
uon at the North WAS the only grievance of
winch Virginia had TO complain.
Sir. MoRros, of Orange, desired TO know if
the gentleman represented this us an adms
sion from the entire body of secessionists i'll
the Convention.
Mr.. BALDWIN said he distinctly underst TODD
the gentleman from Albemarle MIR. Holcombe)
70 oacquiesce IN the proposition as he stated it
Yesterday.
Mr.. HoLcoABE said he signifed his indi-
viaual assent TO the proposition that the ac-
ton Of the General Government on the slave
~ question was not such to Justify Nir-
gInia in taking the issue of Union or dis
union ne uld not admit that he acQ uleSced in
the entire policy of the Government.
Mr. BALDwTS resumed. He did not expect
10 find gentlemen who approved every act of
the General Government, item by item but
he asserted that the general policy of that
Government had been directed by Virginia S
own sons, or those of her choice, up to the
lime Of the inauguration of Abraham Lin
coin. He then reviewed the acts of various
Admins trations, showing that the line of
compromise had been recognized in the settle
ment of all the yexed questions before the ma
,t.7rx - IN
be said it was sanctioned by Nirginias Sena-
tors and by Southern members of the Cabi
net, and received the approving voice of Fir
Suia herself. The next measure of slavery
restriction was under the Administration Of
she distinguished gentleman from Charles
CITY now Il member OF this body.
Mr. TYLER asked TO be allowed TO call the
gentleman s attention to a fact in connec tior
with the Missouri Compromise. He had 5 ted
IL ID the main correctly, but had forgotten a
portion of the history. He (Mr. IT, was a
member of Congress at the time, and, with
eighteen of his colleagues, voted against it
He would have stood there against il until he
had pelished, if he could thereby have de-
faated the measure, for he believed it was un-
constitutional. Mr. Tyler was going on to
ailuue TO lie annexation of Texas, when
Mr. BALDWIN desired to state his point be-
fore the gentleman made his defence.
Mr TYLER merely wished 10 set history
right in regard 10 the annexation of that
State. 1t the result of the acquisition
Of territory, and treaties We're made in accord
snee with the existing law.
Mr. BALDWIN said he had made the allusion
show the recognition of the dividing line
in carrying out what the gentleman and his
friends called the croWnlng act of his Admin
istration. He then proceeded TO speak of it's
recognition in the admission of Oregon, and
It's approval by President Polk. Virginia re-
cognized the right TO apply the Wiimot Pro-
vsO whereit did not in terfere with the Com
promise line. She also approved the Compro-
mise of 1850 as the great meas ure of peace, and
both parties in the State reiterated it in their
s,CT,tt ION nj form IIa nnuht ing
tifed in defying the production OF q single act
Of the General Government. III reference TO
slavery, which did not receive, at some time
other the distinct approval OF Virginia
He hoped if any gentleman shouid do him the
honor 10 notice, in the subsequent discussion
OF this question, any portion of his argument
that he would give particular attention TO the
challenge which he here threw down.
Mr.. WIsR.-I take up the glove.
Mr. BALpwIs-I hope he will take itup; he
will find that the bat tile has but just begun.
Mr.. WIsE.-And ii will be a long time before
1t is ended.
Mr.. BALDWIN went on to disclaim any pur-
pose, If he used harsh language, OF giving Of
fence to any member.
Mr.. WISE hoped the gentleman did not
think he had taken offence at any portion OF
the debate. He had said, with a sweet smile,
81 take up the glove"
Mr.. BALDWIN was not ailuding to that. He
did not, however, regret having made use of
harsh language, since it gave the distm-
gGished gentleman from Albemarle an oppor-
lunit} OF making q SrdceIul disclaimer OF nav
ing imputed 20 Virginia degraded position.
Mr. HoLcoXBR here distinctly defined his
position on this point, quoting from his speec h
that portion as to what might be her deg grada-
tlon In the future.
Mr.. BALDWIN went on TO say that he regard
ed any attempt to dissolve the Union in con-
sequence of the election of an untriendly Pre-
sldent, as direct assault upon the temple OF
American liberty. The Government was
founded in confidence in the virtue and in
teligence OF the people but 1T is built In that
wise distrust which has been well charact ter
lied here the parent OF safe ty-safety
against tyranny abuse. Proper restrain is
and checks had been introduced in order that
every department might be administered
gard to the rights of all the peo-
Pile It's founders had built up five distinct
barriers against encroachment, ,and II one, two
or three failed sufficient still remained to re-
strain the application OF oppressive mea-
sures If all fail, there is still ap-
peal from the faithless servants TO their
real masters. the people. He would
only give up the greet experiment OF CON
federated Republican liberty when the people
said the powers of Government had been
welded TO their oppression. He feared that
We were getting into the habit of exagge-
rating, grossly exaggerating, the Executive Of
Iee of Government. He considered 1t the
weakest of all the departments. lie would
undertake TO say, that when the Republican
party got posses sion of the Presidential Office,
they got hold of the weakest of all, and
which would as circumstan existed pre-
yious 10 the election, have brought them
10 an untimely end beyond all doubt or
controversy. If they have now got pos
session OF the Government in all its
different departments, who is responsible
At the time OF the cleo Iion of Lincoln, all the
other bulwarks OF the Cons titution were un-