Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-07

prevailed, aud tina. 10 would haze pursued a
different course to that Whicl. he has indicated
by his inaugural address, il that address Which
we received here last evening indicates the pur.
poses and views Of the present adminlstra-
ton Of the Government Of the United States.
I repeat, sir. that had hoped that tho indi.
cations would have been d,iIcrciit from those
which are HOW presented TO u.s. But the fact
is now plain to us all that Mr. Lincoln has shut
his ewes to the condition Ct the country us II
is. 1t Seems to me that TIC has atogcthcr-or
ut least to some eXtcnt-ta failed to remember
that there are several of the States OF tins
Union as it was, which now no longer consti-
tutc part of this American Union. lie has
failed to remember-at least in tho light in
which it is presented to my ninl-that here
are a people at the South, some seven or eight
States, who are struggling for their indepen.
dence and their liberty, who, trust, have the
will and the power to maintain them, and who,
hope, will calamity maintain them. say,
sir, he seems TO have shut his eyes to the fact
that this state Of things exists; and yet, in
some portions Of that inaugural address which
he has delivered to the public, ne does appear
to have some reference 10 the position occupied
by those Southern States; for in another part
Of his address he says tina. for bcarance OH MS
part to enforce the Constitution will be practced
only "where hostility to the United States in any
interior locality shall be SO great and so uni
versal as to prevent competent resident citl'
zens FROM holding the Federal oiliccS"
Then, sir, it seems, by the expressions oi
Mr.. Lincoln, that bis purpose Isl not TO carry
out the operations Of that GoTern'ueht OF
which he is the head, where there's S@csi 'ii
organized power or party 10 rrSiS; It's oP "a
t;cns in the interior, as, BY the force OF public
opinion, has rendered it Improper for any resi-
dent citizen to take Office under HIM; 50 as To
execute the laws. Thus We uI the interior
may be said to have pledge given Ia us ny
him OF some security; but hc has distinctly
agowed in his address, that that protection IS
placed solely on the ground that the Govern
ment shall not have power 10 execute LIS laws.
Now, sir, US citizen Of Virginia, look not
only to tho interests OF particular localities III
the State, but think it is my duty, and the duty
of all the members Of this Convention, 70 look
abroad into every part OF her-to the exterior,
as we'll as to the interior localities TO whc'' he
has had reference Upon that gucStion-lt the
combined opposition of .Ae people OF The lnte-
rior is to defeat the operation Of the law, the
operation of the Constitution when brought TO
bear in spirit, US We think, Of injustice, OF
injury, Of oppression, and Of utter disregard OF
our r,ehts-l want this Convention to declare
that Virginia will extend her protecting care
equally to all parts Of the Commonwealth, as
we'll as to the interior; wan! it TO declare here
to duy that, in this perilons condition oil the
country, it is the duty Of Virginia TO stand
united, as one man, TO defend her interests and
honor You, gentlemen. Oh this to"r, who
hear me to-day, You who have known me all my
life, and YOU, sir, who occupy the Chair. and
| have known me also. you all we'll know what
INV devotion 10 this Union has been. have
declared what my devotion "a this Union VIII
be. if it is regarded in the light in which! our
fathers constructed it believe, then, with
! the gentleman from Chesterfield, CIR. Cox
and the gentleman from Brunswick, (Mr. NAL
! LoRy), if understand the pufport 81 his reso-
| lutions, in order that We MAJ present IN Until
| r;ded front. and ,h;;k might appeal 10
! one who occupies higher position perhaps
han eny other gentleman on tnls honT--~e
are not to endorse the propositions which nave
been made, bat 70 consider them as Ha";iiS inr-
| nished to the comntry SoiEc indications ,hat
| that might DC the u!.i!nate course 10 which NJ
! would resort in u particular given state N!
affairs in the country ;siluCe, sir, to the
| venerable gentleman who is ncw before me.
lex President Tyler whose days have bee"
made useful To his country, Who has just re-
turned from mission Of i'esce 10 make re-
port, in connection with his colleagues. Of the
operations OF that Peace Conference ut WASH
ington 1t is not my purpose to speak OF that
| question. But do intend 10 say--and that Is
all that did intend to say, after have already
stated my views before the Convention that
| am with nv friend from the county OF Ches-
tcrtield and my friend lroa the county Of
| Brunswick, in any attempt to inauGnratc 4
platform upon which there should be-, before
| Virginia takes her position anywhere outside
Of this Union, col dial. sincere s!:i earnest Co
operation ofthe border slave States ofths Union.
That is the position, sir, OH which have planted
| myself and from which | do rot mean to be
driven, when look TO re construction OF this
| Union. And say that when would ndl-
| cate-as shall by the resolutions which will
presently oifrr-that it is the duly oil Virginia
| in confcderacy to which the resolutions refer,
to take her position outside Of this Union,
with the confederate States Of the South; YET
sir, mean that she should take her position
there with the hope-so far as | can speak her
voice-of being Instrumental, as trust she
may be, in endea:oring TO bring ABOUT re.
construction OF the United States Of America.
This, sir, would he my course, and this ~
what understand the gentleman from the
county Of Chesterfield Or. Coz ui,o t'es!gI'cd
20 accomplish.
But, sir, While this is ICY poSiiioI--sp bile
ardenty and mos. earnestly desire re.construc-
ton Of this Jaion-l 60 not intend 20 stand
by it, whatever may have been my love and
devotion to 1t as il was, and sec given to the
world declaration which must place the new
Administration at Washington Ut war with all
the best interests Of the people OF The South.
with all the best interests of Virginia, with all
the best interests Of the people with whom
she is identified, as being sla7ehoidng States
Of this Union as it was. Tell me, sir, that to
collect the revenue by force under the preteXt
that the Government Of the United States has
the right to exercise such power, Is not at var
with the Constitution or, il not with the Con.
stitution, at var with facts, when ne LOOK aI
the position nov occupied by the people oi the
the South as an independent Republic, aud a.
having been the operation Of the United States
Of American And, cir, say that when a Presi-
dent Of the United States, who virtually aban.
dons this position, as he does, By telling you
that he will execute the lax only where he has
the power to do il, | then say that it is an
abandonment Vi the power, TO all in'en,s and
purposes; and if the want of men to execute
the laws is the reason why these laws are not
to be executed in the interior of the country
I want all ny friends to stand with my friend
there from the sea-board, (Ex- President TYLER
and my friend from Princess Anne, (Ex- Gov
WIsE) and with you, sir, in defending the in
terests of the aboard, and in letting Mr.
Lincoln and his Administration at Washington
know that there ere Those, even in these exte
rior localities who will not execute the Oehests
Of party, merely for tie reTquiSiicS held out
By that party.
say, then, desire 10 have The opinion OF oil
the border slave States. desire that we should
present an undivided front Oh this question:
You may talk about the doctrine Of secession