Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-11
SUBSTANCE OF Mr.. RoBERrsoNs REMARKS IN
THE HOUSE (AARCH S0TH) IN DEFENCE OF HIS
RESOLUTION RESPECTING THE MOVEMENT OF

THE HOUSE (AARCH 30TH) IN DEFENCE OF HIS
RESOLUTION RESPECTING The MOVEMENT OF
ARMS.
Mr.. Robertson lsmented deeply the consumption CT
the time Of the House. Of which his resolution had been
tho OCCASION but did not, for Moment regret having
brought il forward. Il introduced with view Of
ayerting thrt atened interruption Of the public peace
and was calculated, he thought to effect the object
He regretted the nate had ft to reject propo-
stion that had received the sanction of very large
msiority of the House. Il did not escape bis recollec
ton that the House had been nearly divided in the vote
between his proposition and that offered by the gentle.
man from the city Of Petersburg Mr.. Collar) But be
thought all would admit that while the latter II prefer
red would have passed against heavy minority, his
own had been promptly and cheerfuy supported by all
the friends Of Mr. Golfers and commanded the general
supper. of this House lie had cherished the hope, nor
had vet abandoned IT, that the General Assembly would,
on this as all important measures affecting our ex.
terna relations that had come before IT, exhibit the al
most entire unanmity that had heretofore
its proceedings. He thought it proud and honor
able distraction of this Legsature-he doub ed II any,
from the foundation OF the Government could so justly
claim t-tbat all questions regarding the great and
vital interests OF the State in relation other States
and to the General Government its decisions had been
reached with so near an approach TO unanimity and
wholly without regard to lines Of party. Not only so;
but Lies Of sort party sectional secaran could
could be detected in the disposition Of subjects of gen.
era nature that had come before for decision. He
boDed that unanimity would continue TO the end. IL
would indeed be greatly to be regretted If in the very
closing hours Of existence that harmony and co-ope
ration that had long distinguished course, should
unhappily give place to divisions and discords
What had given rise to the introduction Of bis Resou
tion For long series Of years causes Of complaint
and resentment had existed against the North. Taunts
and insults and an offensive assumption OF superiority
reproaches and denuncations against and social
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of our equal rights men-denias
of rights of property held under the sanction of
own aws-spreadng from individuals TO representative
in the press and the pulpit, taught in the schools
and finally inspiring the legislation Of States themselves
had been long widening and deepening, just spirit OF
indignant resentment throughout the South He would
not recite the familiar story in detail Sensibly
felt them and while paid interference with punish
ment and treated arrogance with scorn yet, so long
the General Government was IN friendly hands, We
could bear them with degree Of patience At length
through purely sectional movement, man, who
almost the embodiment OF this ole sve and hostile sem
timent towards u.s. was elected President IL hoped
that his election would lift him high enough to the
true state of the country, and that be would speak out at
once, and as the eXigencey demanded That he would
recognize fully aud promptly, that absolute equality Of
the Solh and the North both social and political which
many of his supporters denied That he would see
thai the Union coudnot be preserved if the Government
sought TO be administered the principles
nounced at Chicago. That he would see the necessity,
and accept IT, OF dscardDg the Platform, and planting
hu self the Constitution and give the avowa to the
worj. This might have saved the Unisn. He kept
inyncble sence-lnd while he paused, whole fragments
Of the Union fell Off from time to time, wanting that
reassuring word that would alone, if anything could,
keep them in their places. Those who yet wished
the Union preserved, now waited for his inaugu-
ration and thought them at least in the face Of the great
emergency Of this country, he would speak out, and
speak plainly wha, were his principles and what would
he his policy Instead Of il he spoke but ia riddles,
like some Lepho oracle and no. in the frank, open,
manly tones proper to the Representative OF free and
tIat. .,f.lL HI
silence, only deepened by bis speech and the
general excitement of the public mind still in
crossing At such time OF excited and irrtated public
feelng-when our own people were actually assembled
in Convention considering whether they should abide in
the Union not-and when the purposes OF the Admin
stTa;iou the seeding States remained yet undisclo
ed hear of intended movement Of cannon belonging
the United States from the interior Of the State to the
seaboard Can any wonder it should stir still more
strongly the public mind? Was Il ever known that a
Government anywhere that had become unpopular, and
dsrusted could make any movement Of arms troops,
without encountering resistance? Brave aud free
everyw alike and moved by similar impulses
under similar circumstances. The powder at Williams
burg reclaimed by fathers because they dstru.t-
ed the Governmen-aqd numbers of the sons Of those
fathers have alike disrust whether with reason with
out reason of the Government at Washington, and if
without reason the Government has i.s own silence and
doublespeaking to thank for il. Without outside pres
for but single citizen had spoken of the subject
20 mel without any knowledge OF plan, concert to
prevent the transit of the cannon less that
removal of them would be resisted than am now when
might almost say Know IT, IL would be Just easy under
rest present circumstances to move the ground they
on 10 move those One gentleman,
who has spoken, wondered what there tdfear in
few cannon Who does no. know that as they are, they
but mass OF iron as harmless as so much earth p
The people have fear of the cannon. Ny tieLd must
look little deeper if he would read Alright the signs of
he times. IL is not the il not the pow
der the tea, that the people feared but they dstrus.
ted the purpose behind them. But, mainly they, no
doubt thorgh aud felt that at this time such more.
ment should take place. Ii Ellttcred little wha mo-
i've OF il might be harmless off,nsive-be their
"inents wicked or charitable" still would they ques.
ton them.
For u.s. had to consider the public peace and DO our
duty to preserve it. A a Legislature il il one of cur
Legitimate az il is of our highest duties preserve
the public Tranquility. IL matters what endangers it.
IL is enough 10 require interosiion that il is in
danger Whether for good cause iustiflDy
or not is of inferior, account at such time In
governing State it is the public feeling passions pre-
JUDGES il you please, whatever determines human con-
duct that has to be consitcrsdwheh it aimportant
to consider The .G. OF ''grouudcss fears" Of some
gentlemen, Of 'mobs" Of Others is idle and unsiates
manlike. You have to deal with they are and
their passions and impulses must be consdered If you
would deal for them wisely, Een~e nay resolution.
What Is the character of it Ii warns the Government
At Washington that the movement of troops in |
Virginia, under present circumstances would hazard the
public peace What necessity for saying more? That
peace it s highest duty, well right to preserve
To say that the would dislgrb shat peace
which i. is duty to pregesv 10 to say that Il
and must rot be zone. How prevented resisted is not
said need be said but that il would be prevented is
said Enthusiastically in any form OF language that
could be employed Strong forms Of expression not
usual, needed in the intercourse Of governments.
dare say all remember that when few years ago the
course of Austria had provoked the ire Of France
indicated but by few words of discomfort addressed
casually it seem'd az evee, by the French Empe
the Austrian Minister but all felt that they we're
low mu.terings OF that terrible of war which soon
afterwards burst Europe. Nor amongst nations |
any than among individuals the strongest
sures always thought best to be first resoted to- Taus
when some years SINCE vessels under the American
flag were brought to- and boarded in the Gulf of Aexc
by British cruissrs passionate counses recommended
let he instantly despatched With orders to seize the
offending yesqels Thu or course, was mere Wiser
counseis prevailed. Our Government simply asked ex
plantations and demanded the abandonment OF such line
of policy by Great Britain. IL well understood and
so stated by Lord Pamerston, thin in Parliament. that
war would follow refusal The orders to their cruiser
were counter mandei, apd peace preserved.
Now Of course did not fail to consider what Actioa
ud be best to lie pursued part before Offering
my resolution That of Selling the guns was not over.
looked Many dissuadcd me- decisiyely, from
proposing it, 1t will be borne in mind that thirty belong
ed to the United States General Government and the re-
naming twenty still private property The question
here was nc. what Virginia should do 10 her character
as State, bat what the Legislature SHOULD DO. ;n her
character State Gho vas actually in her Convention
at the very moment, her relations and
course towards the Federal Government The SO cure of
Federal property by act Of the Legislature would involve
necessarily and very seriously these relations, aud ceay