Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-18

illne. desire 10 Counsel with theuI bei,rG
hSnd; to consider with them what have to dc,
aud to act accordingly; and utterly proles
against any Of the discussions of this ConvcA.
ton, Frupvr TO be made known, being locked
up IN the records OF i secret session.
Gentlemen may think they can 70 home al,
ter this session and ulset with the plaudits oi
well done because, under stress Of crcum.
stances, they So returned from the last session
Ct the Convention differ frolu them
believe that nothing jusiiles, nothing sane.
lions, nothing excuses our sitting with closed
doors, unless 1t is Important " conceal from
Tho enemy what We are doing. What is it We
lear now frou the meu whv are in arms and
are bringing all the physical force they have
10 bear against us? Nothing On tho con.
,rury, want to proclaim to them, tru,npet-
toirsueJ, that ii, every particular We are cp
posed 10 them; and want Ia call upon our
;eoplc to co,ne ~ the rescue and tc stand. by
US. do not wish TO put parchment action
ueiorc my constituents desise the living
voice Of public sentiment TO bc uttered freely,
tha. confidence nar be- inspired and strength
impaired 10 cur cause. had nnt prctrd tusay
solitary word, but utterly protest against this
measure Of sccrecy-hrsL, becaus: it i not
the ctj:ct Of the Convention second, because
It IS against the wishes Of my constituents; snd
third, because it is urjnSt to the pcIplu oi Flr-
GINA generally to Withhold iron licln the
questions that may cotuc up here l0r Discus
sion. once rose in this s.at md stated, that
II All attempt was made To gag me, would not
permit any thing Of tho kind 10 be dvue. a
voice caue iroui u seat now vacant, and told
this Convention that it was dangerous to pub
iish certain Information at that particular time,
it being subject that should not be known to
our enemies; but that crlsis has gone by
We ure now united; the voice Of Virginia has
ceen heard, and, by an overwhelming vote, our
action sercIing tho connection Of the State
'rou, the North has been approved. | must,
therefore, confess Can see no present rrasoa
on the face OF the earth why We should not
publish to the would every thing of interest ~
the public Il, pcrchance, ,crrtain Subjects should
come before Us for discussion winch it is bet
ter to consider in secret, then the motion may
be male to z, into secret session; but let this
body d-.er,nnc at the time the cxigency which
rsqnireS it.
Mr.. CurFMAs.-I beg leave to differ from the
gentleman. While do not coaf.ss TO patriot
isn, do confess to little selfshness.
Mr.. uAKvrE.-l do not confess to patriotism.
Mr.. CoFFMAS.-l believe il we throw open
our dpors tu strangers, we shall be crowded
ai.r; oppressed ~ degree that would De ua-
coL.iurtsbie. While | am perfectly willing
that every action of this Convention should be
published to the people vi Virginia, | ain
equally arx!puS 10 consult the convenience Of
the members Of this Convention. Ii is true
that We have lnct here, in midsummer when
the weather is oppressive; and II wc permit the
l0btIcs and galleries. 10 br flied, it vii! be with
great dill ,nl:y that the business can he Con.
Quoted at ali While. therefore, am perfect.
~ wiling that the public shall know all that
we have done, or shall do in tho future, am
opposed to throwing open the doors and letting
in the crowd premiScu1uSly at the present
time. trust i. wlll Lo. hc the pleasure Of the
Convention TO grant any sach permission. |
dcrin IT unDrc" .: aTy IT, say anything more or
this sutecr, further lhan u remark that I
hope the good Srnsc Of the Convention will
induce them TO consult their own comfort,
like myself, ;.rknoxIedge To little scltiShncss,
and sit with closed duGrs
Mr.. HakviE- call for the yeas nrd nays.
The call being sustained, the yeas and nays
were ordered.
Mr.. BLASEY.-Tae object CT the gentleman
from Rockingham can be easily accomplished
by preventing the galleries from being occnsed,
aud ye, Tie proceedings mag be published in
;he newspapers. am not particularly nnx.
ious 10 hare crowd in the gallery, and ain
willing to undergo aty personal! Inconvenience
that may result during the session OF this body,
80 far a, am mys,li concerned. But the
point desire to make is this: The proceedings
Of this Convention, uulpSs there is some special
reason growing out Of the question before it.
should be made public. know there are
gentlemen in luy own county who gre as well,
ii not better, quilted to discharge the duties
Which are my lot here than | a,u ard being
their representative, desire, rs far as possible,
10 learn their will UPON tho subjects upon
/ which am called TO ac;. IF %e sir here with
closed doors IN secret session, arn deprived oi
lhis privilege Gentlemen Of energy, expert.
rncc and extensive knowledge, who know
more about the business Of The C"Grenton
than their constituents, may we'll afford this
exemption. Yet it seems to me important that
rv: these gentlemen should know the will oi
he people On the su' jec!s upon which they are
called tn act What wu d. has t0 be submitted
to the people, and if it does not meet with
their appreciation our action will 20 for naught.
h, therefore we desire to send forth amend
ments 20 the Constitution which will be IN &C.
t,rdancs with the popular will, it seems to
me irpnrtan. tha, We should obtain some idea
Of the character If that will before our action
; has b.cn c,rsuumatcd and the result has been
submitted to the State.
Mr. TKrpwAY.-l have an objection to SO
cret session; u very serious one. II is because
, there is some doubt as to the necessity for it
That necessity, as conceive, only exists when
there is business to be transacted touching
Il, Il ~ nbtCIn
information. The history Of tho secret scS.
sion in this body and the Senate Of the United
States, il MI illustration Of this fact There
was time when, no doubt, had the action Of
this Convention been communicated to the
peoule, it would have been known to the enemy
before it could have been fully circulated III
our cwn State Consequently, secrecy, under
the circumstances of our las, session. was both
imperative and important; and though yielded
to the necessity, yet when went home. vas
embarrassed every moment. have not been
able TO tell my constituents how voted, and
was, therefore placed in an unpleasant posi-.
ton. Nor could tell them anything in regard
10 secession or the discussion Of the question,
exccut that the ordinance had passed this body.
The resolution which have offered, makes y
provision ,iat Il. ut any time, there is any
business which, in the Judgment of the Con-
ven.ion, il is best TO keep secret, we may tEen
resolve ourselves into a secret session.
] think secret sessions in public bodies are
very repugnnnt to public sentiment, nnd 70
that feeling which appropriately pcrSudes the
press Us we'll Us the whole community. say,
again, therefore, that every thing which We DO
here II a period like this, in which the people
take lively interest, should be known
by our CONSTITUENTS ns well Us by ourselves,
unless it be that something occurs which ,Inpc'
ratve public necessity demands should be- kept
secret tor the time.
shall % for ;he amendment offered by the
gen,ie,llaH, (Mr. lIALD-fur am desironS that
the session shall rot only bo public now but
hereafter. and that the newspapers may have
The iul benefit Of our deli iberatiuns.
Mr. M,cpARLAsp.-It seems 10 ne very clear