Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-10

i
mtteo on Clerks Office Mr. Jett, Committee on Second
Auditors Office.
The Convention BM.-The bill Ito provide for elect
ing members of Convention, and to convene the same,
beng on its first reading Mr., KENPER moved that the
bill be read second time in order that t might be open
TO Notwithstanding that he did not himself APP
prove of all its provisions, and desired TO offer some
amendments.
Mr.. COLLIER said he thought the bill should not be
read the second time the same day. but passed over under
| the rules like other bills.
Mr. MYERS said that he had not intended TO partci-
nate in this debate but that he protest against the
objection which had been than interposed by
his esteemed friend from Madison whenever the least de-
| Law was asked for consideration OF the great ques-
tons before this body; namely that the Importance
! of the measures, and the circumstances by which
! we are surrounded would brook delay. Mr..
MYERS said that the strongest argument to his mind IN
favor of delberaon, the very importance OF the
Questions presented TO u.s. He had yet had oppor
unity TO read the bill Ii had been in s printed
form laid upon the desks of members until the Clerk had
nearly finished the first reading Of it. lie did not ask
for useless delay; but acting he under the sane
ton of an oath faithfully to perform his duty, he did ask
for little time to ascertain what that duty lie
would humble he was if other member did it, Of
fer some amendments to the BILL if time given him
10 do So No man entered into transaction for the pur
chase of a horse of foot OF ground, without
sderaon aud yet asked to inaugurate measures
10 change the organic law and TO pass upon the most
momentous questions without chance being afforded
us even to think for day He for one protested against
any such action.
Mr. SEGAR moved to lay the bill on the table until to.
| morrow and urged a for asking the delay
that grave question had arisen in his mind the
constutionalty of the bill, at present framed. His
attention had been called to the point but the night be-
fore and he had considered it with all the allowed
by the precipitation which seemed to have found It's way
into our halls Of legislation and by those causes of
element which had disturbed the operations of his
| le
crate people. He pledged himself to the House that he
designed no factious opposition TO the bll-he would
support it, If he coud-but he had not been able to bring
his mind to conclusion the constitutional question
involved though he strongly inclined to the opinion
| that the ordinary Legislature had no power to
der Internationally Convention OF the people,
The call OF Convention was an act oil sovereign pow
err to be performed by the people, only and the act OF
assembly, prescribing the mere forms OF holding the
Convention should submit TO the direct vote OF the peo-
| pie the question of Convention Convention
In other words the people should themselves decide
preliminary thing whether there shall be Convention
or not They, the Legislature, should decide that
point. At all events, he wished time to examine The
grave question involved and if he could satisfy himself
in regard it, he would cheeriuy support the bill or
if the BILL ITSELF should be amended as TO require the
vote TO be put 10 the people, OF convention, or no
Convention, the amendment would remove his Consu-
tOua objection and allow him TO give his vote for the bill
For Heavens sake said Mr.. S. give Us little time--one
short day time least ponder upon these great qnes
tionsthe most important ever presented to the relec-
ton Of American neutrality-suspicious. that involve the
very life Of glorious Institutions. Give Us, beg, one
brief days pause for thinking on these matters lie la
mented as a man. as a NIrginan an American. that
the policy OF precipitation which had begun elsewhere,
aud which threatened shiycr into fragments go-
IiOus institutions and to spread ruin and desolaion
throughout once happy land, had come within the
limits of this stai and sober Commonwealth, and had
invaded even the halls Of her Legislature. But he trusted
d.. viii and del
that caution aud delbetion give TO the action OF the
Old Dominion All that moral weight which had always
attended her counsel. when calmly and displ ionaey
given. At all events, he hoped for one day delay for
the reason stalled
Mr. RIVES said the only amendment necessary to the
bill in his opinion shorten the time within which
il vas proposed 10 hold the Convention. He said the
country disrupted and that the signs OF the times
impressed on them The necessity OF speedy action. De-
lays dangerous.
Mr. MALLORY, Of Brunswick, said he had been
unanimously instructed by his constituents to vote for
Convention The time fixed in the bill for ia assem-
bling February ,h. ANY shorter time lessened the
period within which the people would have to canvass
the mcri's Of candidates
Mr. DICKINSON was waiting for instructions from his
constituents He wished The action Of the House TO be
deliberate not hasty He wanted time.
Mr. SEGAR withdrew his motion TO lay on the table,
with The leave of tue House.
Mr. ANDERSON debated the motion Of the gentleman
from Marion sustaining his motion for second reading
Of the bill
Mr. RAYNOND-I see 70 objection TO the bill laying
on the table and coming up in the usual order.
Mr. WILSON, Of Isle of Wight said: The this
bill is sought to be deaycda and gravey tod are
not in revolution We are to-day standing the midst
of a Revolution, vet bOOdess but ii is not in the
power wisdom Of determine what the fear
ul issues which to spring out of it. We are stand
ing to-day, amid the filling columns and broken arches
of the mightest aud proudest Temple, ever reared to
I,1t5 cf, ho5
polluted its affairs the spirit of Liberty has taken its
fight and lchabod" is written on its doofposts The
union Of these States i already dissolved and each nte
gra portion each unit is Withdrawing from and renycs
log themselves with the powers which they
have invested this multiple, the Citcd States.
Great events are on the wing and Virginia called upon
to say what part lot she will take in this matter viii
she act will she wait until Others have acted? Is
she resolved upon doing what others have resolved to
do? viii she be longer bound to broken covenants and
violated compacs with those of Punic-worse than
Panc-Puitn faith; or will she, as the Judge of both
the mode and Of her redress, take her cause
in her own hands relying upon God and her arms.
This 10 time for naction. This is time for delay.
Delays are dangerous and it becomes Virginia, with
due regard for her safet- well as hr honor, to
Noi0 IS the acceptable lime; is the day
Of Virgnias salvation!
As Constitutions are above all laws, the people
above all Constitutions, whether State Federal and il
is the right well the duty of every people, to alter,
whenever they become burhensome or oppressive. This
is a principle ancient SelfgOyernment itself.
The of the compact TO which the several States
1ccedd implies the right ecede when the conditions
aud obligations upon which it was made have been viO-
lated by the other parties to it. But have no dispos
ton discuss this question here am for action
acion-immediLte aud decisive.
cannot, Mr.. Speaker sing peans to an Union that IS
dead. While it did indeed exist, il Union of
wrong Of injustice OF insult and oppression 1t born
with the seeds OF disease. II has sustained itself body
of political corruption and purifying Sores having the
form of Union while the dead IL stnks in
the nosr OF men, and it is high time Virginia had freed
herself from the body OF this death.
Mr. VOOLFOLK called the previous question
which being ordered by the House. the Speaker put the
main question: on which the ayes and noes we're called
by Mr.. KEMPER. The voting resgEed for the second
readng--ayes los nays 20.
The hill then read By sections.
Mr. JONES, of Appomattox, submitted a motion to
change the time to Slst January.
Mr.. ROBERTSON, of R., favored the time 9th Feb.
ruary) in the bill AS reported from committee.
Mr. RAYMOND said he lived only ! miles from Penn.
syyania. lie was afraid of the Black Republicans
fIe was opposed shortening the time for holding the
Convention.
Mr. ANDERSON from Webster and Nicholas, said his
people did take the Richmond papers and il the LIST
of January was fixed upon the time for holding the
Covenon he would move that the Governor be request
ed to send special messenger his people to inform
them what they were expected TO do.
Mr. KEMPEh again impressed on the House the ne
cessity Of the Convention being held at early day
as possible.
Mr. A KNOTS advocated February 7th, az the time
of holding the Convention.
Mr. CHAPMAN, of Monroe, thought II we are to have
Convention, We had just as we'll have it speedily.
Mr.. CRANE made strong Union speech--e1 planned
hs own nosiOn and that of hi4 cnnsiuens-they were