Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-01
The Virginia State Convention.
WEDNESDAY,, MARCH 81, 1861.
EVENING SESSION

The Convention resumed its session at J.
o'clock, Mr.. Wise being entitled to the floor.
Mr.. WISE-l really was not aware when I
commenced the few remarks proposed to nv
self TO make, how near it was to 9 o'clock. or
perhaps should not have taken the floor. 1t
is the second time | have been cut off by
Shrewsbury clock but not the first time by
any means.
When the Committee rose, was addressing
myself to my friend from Norfolk, who took,
as said, clear, distinct, sound ground of ohec
ton mean sound for him, sound for his
position, logical for his position. lie oh.
jected TO this amendment, because secession
attaches to the independence and sovereignty
Of the States. called his particular aIten-
toa to the results of the plan of objection he
has taken to this amendment.
Mr.. HoLLADAf-l think the gentleman Ia
borS under Il misapprehension as to what
did say. think declared no opinion upon
the subject 10 which the gentleman refers, at
all. siuply said the amendment meant to
assert power, an ahStrac; power, indirectly,
which did not deem we had been sent here
to settle, and that, therefore, should vote
against the proposition. think the gentle
man misunderstood nc, when he said that |
opposed it because secession attached to the
sovereignty Of the States
Mr.. WISE. The gentleman said great deal
more than what he now says. think ne is
mistaken in saying misunderstood him. He
certainly said that secession attached to these
powers:
Mr. lIoLLADAY. did sir; do not deny it.
Mr.. WISE Then he did Say all that |
claimed he said-that secession attaches to the
Independence and sovereignty Of States. But
it is not upon that doctrine whether j; does or
does not attach that wish to comment or .tu
which my aim is to call tny fric:d's attention.
He is opposed to secession now. | do not un-
derstard him RS opposed to it ever and under
all circumstances. hope am right in un-
derStau3iug hin in that, correctly. There is
time, there may be a time when he too will
be, or may BE- compelled to resort to the rcule-
iy Of secession. Ipresume that is his opinion.
because see him going along with the report
of this committee This Committee says that
gencies, and the gentleman from Harrison,
(Mr. CAELlLr.) was right when he read the
letter from his friend. and lis friend was right
in saying that the report o! this committee it.
SELF advocates secession. Now, mark you,
my friend from Norfolk, means to support this
report-he may be called upon TO support ST.
cGssion. Am wrong in that?
On the sixth page Of the partial report o'
the Committee, they lay down an American
princple-aud have had to deal with Amer.
lean principles before to-day. What is it9
''s. The people of Virginia recognize the
American principle that government Is found
cd in the consent Of the governed. and they
concede the right OF the people of the several
States OF this Union, for just causes, to with
draw from their association under the Federal
Government with the people Of the Other
States, and to erect new governments for their
better security, and they vii! never consent
that the Federal power which is in part their
power, shall be exerted for the purpose of sub
jugating the people Of such States TO The Fed
| era! authority"
Is not that secession, sooner or later
will inform my friend from Norfolk that whet
it originally came before the Committee, 1t nae
before the word right" the word revolution
ary." The Committee WAS not content with
that word, and with the consent Of the mover
himself, it was stricken out; and the resolu
ton now stands as asserting the great Ameri
can principle. ought to have called it th
great Firginian principle. Whyg Because Fir
cinia was the mother of the first bill of rights
OF which there is any record, in the history o
bills OF rights. Old George Mason, Of this State
was the first to assert this great principle, aut
10 write it. AL the United States Of Ameri Z
adopted this principle. and the Committee ha"
truly and correctly laid down this principle
of which Virginia was the founder and finisher
I say FOUNDER" because she first declared
it; "inisher," because in 1901 she sealed it b,
her resolutions, and by ber standing army. Tha
standing army has not yet been dIsbandcd.-
1t now stands, small as it is, in your arsena
on the BANKS Of the James River, within tn
limits of this city, it ROW keeps guard owe
tine capital Of tins State.
! Now, do the Committee mean to assert In
Stste right Of secession here, or do they mca
10 assert the mere revolutionary right OF tn
individual people, which was the only rigti
that George Mason declaredg james Madiso
and Thomas Jefferson declared the right Of
State TO withdraw when the Federal compac
should become intoleratle-n 1T9S and l799-
and the victory OF that principle was consuH
mated in 1901. But the principle declared b
George Mason in l77G, was simply the revolt
tionary principle, the right Of the individr;
peovlc or the people in their individual cap;
city to reroluiionize their Government, to ru
tho risk of the halter, to run the risk of tn
charge of treason, all the risks Of civil war,
the RISKS of criminal prosecution, in order
oyer;urn q Government which should perrer
its end, aim and object, and which should dt
stroy the happiness of the people.
Now, sir, is It not serious inquiry what thi
report means in this paragraph? d? Does it mea
the mere revolutionary right the right to seiz
thot ic ha
friend the Chairman Of the Committee. Ina
is what the COMMITTEES mean-the mere roVe
lutionary right, uncovered by tho sgIs an
panoply Of State sovereignty, OF State inoe
pendence, having the sovereign and lndeper
den. power to command citizens. willing or IN
willing, to take up arms in defence OF the right
and dignity Of the States and their own righ'
OF property. go ~ At,
committee and will not insert the word tina
these States ure now, and ever have been, lnde
pendent and sovereign; and the majority
the Committee Of twenty-one mean to asSer
that although under the old Contednratio
these States were sovereign, they ceased TO b
sovereign and independent when they adopte
the federal constitution Let it be understood
then that the committee mean to imply denla
Of the sovereignty, denial OF The 'nGePe'
dence Of the States Letit be understood the
that the committee, and those who supper
their report, mean TO declare by this eight
clause ouly the reyolu u;onary right oi the pee
ple to withdraw.
NJ. MAcFAnLASD---I will inquire OF tn
gentleman whether no thinks there is no dis
tinction between the position OF State which
is bound Gully by her own consent and on
bound by majority Of associated States?
Mr, N1sE-I am coming to that directly.
will take you on your own report have nc
hnd time 10 write out my objections in full
,h;s report must take it in timine as
coues up. ain now laying the inducln
matter for the consideration Of the very polr
I which the gentleman suggests; and do no
want the point Of my logic turned oy antic
uatipp its conclusions.