The Kingwood chronicle. [volume] (Kingwood, Va. [W. Va.]) 1861-1861, 1861-01-26
Remarks Of r. E. Cowan, Esq, in the
House Of Delegates, on the Conven-
ton Bill.

! JANUARY. III. lS6l.-Ihe bill providing
| for the call ofa State Convention being before
the House of Delegates for consideration, Mr.
keene Of Pittsylvania offered an amendment
thereto providing that at the time Of the
election Of Delegates to the Convention. I
poll shall Do opened and the people vote
upon the question. Whether Or not they
desired the action Of said Convention t
DC submitted to them for rejection or rati
| tieation. to which Nlr Ducknall Of Morgan
offered an amendment to the effect that
upon the question OF ratification or rejection
the vote should be by counties. pending
which Mr.. CowAS Of Preston took the floor
and said.
Mr. SPEAKER. Heretofore have been
content to remain silent and listen patiently
To those who have more wisdom and expert
enec than myself iii relation u questions ot
such magnitude But. Sir, feel that the
time has arrived for me to speak and act for
my own section Of the State | know that
there are gentlemen in this House who object
to the word Section, and invcigh most bitter
Il against the use Of it /, too. dislike to
Use the term, III hear it used, and would
much prefer to speak Ut our proud old Com
monNealth as State whore sections arc TIL
known; but, rir, it Is forced upon ne ~ the
remarks Of gentlemen upon this floor.
Sir: The impression is sought to be made
that the Vest is making tactious opposition
to the Bill before the IIo@Sc, in order 70 pre-
Vent prompt and decisive action. Sir, the
charge il unfoundcd There are as many
InSeru gentlemen opposed tn the Bill il lis
present shape, as J,rsnrn; and gentlemen
who arc ~ loud il their call for prompt ac-
tlnn, have consumed more If the time ot this
House than any one else.
Sir: Onyesterday when the distinguished
gentleman from Richmond city offered set
Of resolutions, having IN view the peace Of
the country and the prevention Of civil war,
none We're ~ much opposed ~ precipitancy
and hurried action ~ nly friend from Mal-
son NIr kcmpcrl But now when w are
called upon n discharge the most important
duty that ever devolved upon Virginia lie
9islaturc wc must have no time for consider
alton. no time for reflection Sir, | came
here to vote for a State Convention believing
il to he the only medium through which any
thing could DC done to preserve the honor
and integrity Of Virginia. and the perpetual
tion of the Union of these States. With
this yicW Of the subject am still willing 10
vote for Conventions and lct one more cf
fort be made for our rights ~ til Iuon
when it We fail ! and my people will 90 with
Virginia. be it for Veal. OF for Woe Sir. |
live in county bordering on the State of
Pennsylvania. There my people stand as a
wall of fire between You and your Northern
ageressors, and year after year have rolled
back the tide of Abolitionisln and fanaticism.
Sir, the people Of the West are trncr tn You
and Your Institutions than you are 70 your
selves At the late Presidential election.
when platform was presented containing
all that the East asked, we sent Breckenridge
and Lane across the Alleghanes with 1000
majority Where was this majority lost and
swallowed up? N Eastern Virginia. Sir,
! will not listen quietly to these inuendos.
Ours is q true and gallant people When
your homes and fresidcs were invaded in the
War Of y, they left homes in the fastnesses
Of their native mountains and marched to de-
fend you. They will do it again when their
Eastern brethren are in peril and if needs
be, leave their bones to bleach amid the sands
Of the Chesapeake. But to the question.
Why not refer the action of the Convention
to the people for ratification or rejection
-Arc gentlemen afraid to trust the people :?
Suppose, Sir, that the action Of the Conven-
tion is not approved of ~ the people, what
will it amount to? The 1eople-the soy
ereign people--can call another Convention.
Sir. the action Of Convention is not worth
a loubee until formally ratified by a majority
Of the people, and is binding on no one
Sir, the people i the foundation of all
power, and u them must hc referred any ac-
tion which may BE taken by the Convention
proposed to be called p i right, ~ itself II
Is Constitutional, and Is no usurJati1u oa
Hto purt Of this House
And now, Sir, in reference to the amend
ment proposed by the member from Morgan
It proposes to submit the question Of ratif-
cation o. rejection 70 the people ~ rounsles.
70 this am opposed for the reason that in
that mode minority Of the people might
control the majority Sir, the people Of
State Do not speak by Counties, but il 40
uregofe. | hope. Sir, the House will vote
for and adopt the amendment Of the gentle
man from Pittsylvania, sIr Keene, for /
assure this House. that. no matter what may
be their action, the people will rise in their
majesty. and whether it meets your approba-