The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-01
VOL. XIX. mo. 76.

They might be- separated by some differences
of opinion but If the State were threatened |
they woald all unite for the common defence
-aii, from the Pan Handle to the Dismal
Immediate secession would be voted down
by the people His idea was for Virginia TO |
present a n ultimatum TO the North, through
this Convention Border Conference he OPP |
posed The Old Domiaion had elected large |
majority of conservative men to this body |
she had spoken in favor OF the Crstenden
propositions. II was due TO the Sta tes OF Ken
iucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee, that |
their wishes, TO the extent of making one |
more effort TO reconstruct the Union, should |
be consulted lie urged the convention 70
pursue the course he had recommended; be
would ask nothing more than justice OF the
North. and would surrender no right to OBJ
tain it,
MIR. BAsBorR, of Cuipeper, next addressed
the Committee.
lie proceeded to an examination of the re-
port of the committee, some portions OF which
were acceptable TO him, but which as a Whole
was inefficient He objec ted to the unlimited
time proposed for n settlement, during the
pendency OF which Virginia was to continue
under the rule Of a hostile Government. He
disagreed with others in regard to the present
sentiment OF the people OF Virginia, who, he
believed, were now awake to the necessity OF
adhering TO the stronger Government at the
South, along with those who were identified
with her interests. He regarded the Peace
Conference as n faal effort on the part Of Tir-
ginia to restore the Union as IL once existed,
and argued that majority OF the people OF the
State concurring with him, were now in favor
OF uniting Virginia with the Southern Con-
federacy.
In. argument Of Mr. Barbour was marked
by logical force and ability, taking strong
Sou thern view of the question; but he was
physically unable to bring it to conclusion,
and yielded the floor, saying he would be
pleased 10 have another opportunity of adj
dressing the Committee if the courtesy should
te extended TO him.
nj
tleman from Culpeper, that his remarks
would not prohibit him from resuming the
floor in the afternoon, and proceeded to say
that he was not one OF those who could see
no difficulty attending the proposed plaas of
adjustment; he was not one of those who
could see no objections to the report of
the committee, nor was he one VINO
could no difficulty in carrying out
the doctrine of immediate secession. TTou-
bles surrounded us which should make
every patriot willing 10 sacrifice all his party
p-eludices, and come up as one man, and en-
deayor 10 rescue the country from perpetual
disunion. He alluded to the patriotism of the
party with which he had always acted, but in
the present crisis he knew no party distinc
tions. He agreed with many things in the re-
port of the committee, and agreed with
others in respect to the many and great ad-
vantages of Union. But he thought they had
shut their eyes To the fact that the Union WAS
dissolved, and that Virginia occupied a pecu-
liar position. His feelings were directed to-
wards some plan of restoration of the Union,
of which the seeded States will form part.
While he desired To restore the Union, yet,
when it came to the question whether Vir-
ginia should take the North or the South, he
would say, with all the responsibility attach
ing TO the declaration, that his destiny was
with the South.
MIR GosaIs adyerted to the success of the
sectional party, and quoted the. opinions of
MiilArd Fillmore and John Bell, in ticipa
tion of such an event. He still stood upon
their platform, and if others did not come TO
nothing in the election of Lincoln, nor in any
of his appointments, nor in the later elec tons
at the North, calculated to encourage any
hope of reform in public sentiment in that
| q uarter. He took a position upon the resolu
| tons which he had previously offered, that
Virginia should go neither to the North nor
| to the South, until she knew the terms upon
which she was to go. He would provide for
North Carolina and Tennessee the right of
transit across cur territory, in order that they
| might get to the Goverrment at Washing
| ton but he wished gentlemen to point out
| to him the manner in which Virginia was
to get to her Government, in the event that
| she withdrew from the old Union with
out receiving the necessary assurance from
those States as 10 their future course He
| could not endorse the doctrine of secession as
1 a legal right, and could not see how those who
| adyoca ted il could escape the charge of trea-
| SON Virgins. should place herself upon the
| ground OF revolutionary right-of resistance
| to oppression. He was with the commi ttee
| in the proposition that Virginia would regard
| any attempt upon the part of the General
| Government to coerce Il Southern State as
| lust cause of complaint. They had fairly
| stated the grounds of difficulty. but instead OF
! remaining in the Union To wait for responses
| from the North, he would go out OF the Union,
not with aylew TO make war upon the North,
not with Il view to an Immediate conjunct tion
| with the South, but to go with the border
| States in forming Union with the South. -
Ii the border States refuse to go into the Con-
| ference, then let the Governor make procia-
matiou of the fact: cali the Conyen tiou toge-
ther, and decide with regard to the future.
| MIR. Goggin spoke until O'Clock, when the
Convention took recess until L. NJ.
Evening Session.
The Committee called to order by Mr.
Price, of Greenbrier.
| MIR. GoGuIS resumed his remarks, and pro-
ceeded 10 consider the peculiar position OF
Virginia, a. IL Border Slave State, in connec-
| ton with L Union OF non -slaveho olding States
This fact seems to have been kept in view by
the Committee of Twenty One, in their pre-
ambIe, the sixth paragraph of which sets
forth that the grievances complained of have
| Effected the people of Virginia TO a greater ex-
tent than any of the seeded States. he
wished gentlemen would answer the question
how this border in terest of slavery was to be
better protected iii Southern Confederacy
With Joshua II. Giddings as Consul General
in Canada, would not the operations of the
underground railroad be brought to our very
doors He thought Virginia would find bet
ter protection by taking position outside, sc
far as she could, and acting as mediator be-
| tween the two sections. He was ready to CO.
| operate with the COMMITTEES in bringing about
the results which they proposed, or with any
one else, who could inaugurate a plan by
which Virginia could protect her interests -
| He was opposed to going with the Confederat tt
States, without knowing the terms. He did
not think it could be done without taking a
position on tsiae of the Union, and holding a
4 consu tation with the Border States. In leay-
ing the Union, he wonld feel all the regret OF
one in parting frcm an old and cherished
friend but the old Union was now no more
il has not the power 10 enforce its laws for
the protec ction of the commercial and other
interests of the country. There was Fugi-
| tive Sla-e Law but such was the force ol
public sentiments at the North, it was but a
Z dead letter upon the statute book. Should
! Virginia remain in such Union as this
Mr. UAgLILg said he understood the gentle
man to say that The Fugitive Slave Law was a
dead letter npon the statute book. lie desired
to call his attention TO Mr. Buchanan's last
message, wherein he said shat he had execit-
ted the law in every instance.
KaMr GosaIS said the gentleman evidently
did not understand his position on this floor
He was not defender of Mr. Buchanan. He
once said, he believed, that il he had drop OF
Democratic blood In his veias he would let i!
out but he tMr. CD did not believe him -
Mr.. Buchanan had said many things which
he could not defend. After an allusionsSo the
general courtesy OF the gentleman from Har.
rson, lMr. Cariile,) and 10 the distinguished
ability which had marked the ConYention as
whole, he said IL gave him great pleasure te
listen TO the arguments pf gentlemen here
with whom he had been politically associated
all bis life, but with whom he was now com,
PEELED TO differ. He then went on to consider
the arguments. heretofore advanced by tht
gentleman from Augusta, fMr. Baldwin In
regard 10 the tobacco interest, showing thai
New York, instead Of re shipping tobacco to
Southern ports, shipped il TO foreign ports
| 10 England and her possessions in the East
aud elsewhere. He also demonstrated the i'm
possibility OF any benefit to be derived BY
| Tirginia in going into the Southern Confede
| raey, from the hope that had been held out ol