Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-19
Tho Virginia State Convention
RIcnmosp, MONDAY, FrRRrAFr ~ '''''
FIFTH p.4Y.


FIFTH p4f
! The Convention met at - o'clock:
PRAYER By the Rev. Mr. Read OF the rreso!
terian Church. oso
! Mr., R. Y. CONRAD offered the following reso-
luton, which was adopted:
Resolved That the Committee on feuer"l
Relations be authorized to appoint CLERK '''
said committee.
SoS-ArrISDAHcg or TIE GOVERNOR
Mr.. DogMAS stated that the Governor was
uuavoidahly absent from the Convention on as'
count of illness lie deemed this explanation
necessary in order to avoid remarks rs TO the
cause Of his absence.
| THE COMMISSIONER PROM MISSISSIPPI.
The President stated that III pursuance OIL
the resolution Of Friday last, he begged leave to
announce to the Convention, that the Hon.
Fulton ANDERSON, the Commissioner from Mis-
sissppi, would now address them:
Mr.. ANDERSON assembled the platform near
the Presidents Chair and addressed the Con-
vention, rs follows:
Gentlemen Of tie Conrention :-Honored
bv tile Government of Mississippi with her
commission 10 invite your corporation IN the
measures she has been compelled to adopt for
IN. vinlca!ion of her rights and her honor IN
the present perilous crisis Of the country,
desire 10 express TO you, in the name and be-
half of her people, the sentiments OF esteem
and admiration which they in common with
the whole Southern people entertain for the
character and fame Of this ancient and renoWn'
cd Commonwealth.
Born under the SAME confederatca govern
ment with yourselves, and participating in the
common inheritance Of Constitutional liberty
in the achievement Of which your ancestors
playcd so distinguished part, We take rs much
Of pride and pleasure as you, her native sons
in The great achievements and still greater 81.
crificrs which YOU have made in the cause oil
,ba common government, which has in the pas.
united them to you; and nothing, "h>cli
concerns your honor ann dignity IN the
jutnrc can fail 10 enlist their deepest SyInpa-
thics In recurring to our past history, we re.
cornize the State Of Virginia rs the leader IN
the first great struggle for independence; lore
most not only in the vindlcatlon Oh her own
rights but in the assertion and defence Oh the
endangered liberties Of her sister colonies; and
by the rloQuencr OF her orators and statesmen,
as well as by the courage ol her pro9!"
arousng the whale American people IN
resistance to British aggression. And
when the common cause had been crown
ed with victory unler her great warrior
statesman, We recognize her also as the leader
! in that great work By which the cnancIpatcd
colonies were united under written Constltu-
ton, which for the greater part oil century has
been the source of uncXamplcd progress III all
that constitutes the greatness and tile hap
pincss of nations nor do VIZ forget that
| that progrcss has been due Ill pre-
eminent degree 70 the mun!hcent genercs-
ty of Virginia, in donating as Tree gu!
to her country, That vast territory North =" est
Of tie Ohio river, Which her arms alone had
CONQUERED, and which now constitutes the seat
Of empire, and, alas. 100, the seat OF that ire
sistibIe power, which now ercctS It's naughty
crest in defiance and hostility, and threatens
the destruction Of the honor and het prosperity
Of this great State
| desire also 10 say to you, gentlemen, that
in being compelled 10 sever our connexlon with
tine government which has hitherto united us,
the hope which lies nearest to our hearts is
that, ut no distant day, we may be again Joined
with YOU in another Union, which shall spring
into life under more favorable omens and with
happier auspices Than that which has passed
away: and it, in the uncertain ihturc which
lies before us, that hope shall be destined 10
disappointment it will be the source Of enduring
sorrow and regret tn Us that we can no mere
hail the glorious soil of Virginia as Il part Of
our common country. nor her brave and gene
rous people rs our fellow citizens.
Fully participating in these sentiments my
SELF it is with pride and pleasure that ac'
cented the commission OF My State for the p'!r-
pose have indicated. Though, when cHnSl-
der the gravity of the occasion, the high Intc'
rests which ere involved and the enduring III
tucnce which your deliberations are 10 have
upon the destinies Of present and future gene
ratonS. confess ny regret that the cause on
which am come has not been cntruSte" 10
ADLER and wolthier hands.
In setting forth TO you, gentlemen, the ac-
ton of nv State and the CAUSES which lave in
duccd it, shall! be compelled to speak in terms
of condemnation Of :. large portion OF what
has hitherto been Our common country; but, IN
doing So wish TO be understood as excepting
from whatever terms o! censu!e play employ,
that large body Of patriotic and conservative
men Of the Northern section. who have,
in all our struggles, manfully defended
the constitutional rights Of our section.
From them, the people of my State,
have no cause Of complaint, and what
ever the future Lay bring forth, we shall ever
remember their efforts in behalf OF the Consti- |
tuition and Union, as we received them from their
ancestors and ours with admiration and graft.
tude. Our grivances are not from them, but
from the dominant faction at the North, which |
has trnmpled them under foot and now strikes
at US from the elevation it has obtained upon
the PROSTATE bodies Of our friends.
| propose, gentlemen, in discharge OF my
mission to you. briefly 10 invite your attention
to a rcyicw Of the events which have transplr- |
ed in Mississippi since the fatal day when that
sectional Northern party trumrhed over the
Constitution and the Union 1t the recent cleo
lion, and afterwards to the causes which have
induced the action of my State.
On the 2eth of November last. the Leg;sla-
tire of Mississippi by an unanimous vote, call
cd 4 convention Of her people, to take into
consideration the existing relations between
the Federal Government and herself, and TO
take such measures for the vn'caton OF her
sovereignty and the protection Of her lnStitu- |
tionS rs should appear to lie dclnandec At
the same time, preamble, setting forth the
grievances Of the Southern people on the slave
rv question, and 4 resolution, declaring that
the secession of each aggrieved State, was the
proper remedy, was adopted by vote almost
amounting to unanimity The last clause OF
tho preamble and he resolution, are IS FOL
lows:
Whereas, they THE people of the non
sareholding States) have elected majority OF
electors for President and Eice-Prcsldent, On
the ground that there exists an irreconcilab!e
conflict between the two sections OF the Con-
federacy, in reference to their respective sys.
TENS of labor, md in pursuance of their hoStl. |
ity to us and cur institutions have thus declar !
ed to the civilized world that the powers Of
the government are to be used for the dishonor
and overthrow of the Southern section Of this
great Confederacy. Therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature Of the State of
Mississippi Tint in the opinion OF these who
constitute said Legislature, the secession Of
each agcriered State is the proper remedy for
these injuries.
On the day fixed for Inc meeting Of the Con.
-un.inn iL.at knd,. cnnr.url u, LII; GU, mi