Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-22

Mr. EtELY-l think that tho tiIalG !'a9 LIS
apprchendcd my poin! Of order, because , sla''
! not been ahlc 10 make myself understood
! This is n resolution OF instruction 10 inc
| Committee on Federal Relations rs 10 an M
| oury TO be made By them. Now. the reSo'u-
tons that 20 to the Committee. are rcsol"t'o',a
which ,hcy ara to net aud report upon 10 TINS
! Couycot,on. But this is resolution instruct
ing them to make inquiry rs tn a matter vi 'aIt'
ard nv mint of order is not that the reaolu-
| ton is not in ORDER but that it does not 90 "
! the Committee on Federal Relations 'indcF tue
rule.
Mr.. r. Y. CONRAD. desire only TO say, sir'
! that whilst the object Of the gentlemen VIII
makes the point Of order Is ollie in when en-
rrly concur il seems To me that nc is III error IN
mnl;;pr the question Of order at all. II, for IN
! s,aur,. 4 resolution Of this sort touching coz
raj Relations, is permitted without objection;
10 he referred. it is BECAUSE ii Is the ge'ierai
sense of the Convention that it should DC re-
! (erred: and think that the proper course
would be for the Convention tu pass upon IL
before it is sent 10 the Committee. Inc resp
; lu,ion being ono Of instruction, should, IN my
! opinion. be acted upon before lis reference.
! This action the Convention DUG ut 10 take upon
ar oL;.c,inu IN The reference Of the resolution
/ being made.
! Mr.. EARLY. rs object is TO make that OBJ
lection, bu, how can That be done II II Is deci-
! ded that The resolution goes 10 the Committee
under the rule;
The PnEslpEHr.-It is entirely compcten! TOR
the gentleman to ,nake all objection.
! Mr EARLY.--I ohjsc! then.
! sir. R. Z. ScoTl-lt seems 10 me, sir, that
this resolution proposes to devolve duty upon
| the Committee on Federal Relations wnlcn
would be better discharged by Select Com
mittcc.
Now, sir, the Committee on Federal Rela.
tons have just entered upon the important du-
! ties which have devovcd upon them, and ap.
prc!lend that wc shall need At every stage Of
! our proceedings full meeting Of that Eom-
! miltcc to enable IL; to discharge these duties
within 4 reasonable time Vow, Hii, ~
! what manner OF 81 what time the ih''h-
/ hc:Y Of that committees arc 10 make tH:s
! Investigation confess co not well see, WIN
on, lr,ncing upon that important business,
! in -aspect 10 which ain sure this Convention
feels solicitons would respectfully suggest
to the mover OF tho resolution to modify It so
! as to propose tins inquiry 10 be made 81 /"
select Committee.
: Mr.. TREDwAY.-1 accept the suggestion 81
! the gentleman iro,n Fauquier, tMr. ScorTJ
! and will alter my resolution III conformity
/ Herewith.
! Tie resolution was altered aS suggested,
! with proposition that the committee 10 which
it WAS proposed to ho referred should CONSIST
I Of five.
! Mr.. EARLr-I think understand the pu:-
pose of my friend franz Pit!sylvania lMr. TRED.
! wAY) in offering that resolution; Out would
ask him where is the necessity, where the pro-
prirty Of making this Inquiry: hat differ
ence will it make with regard 10 oIr dehera-
/ tons if the President Of tne United States, In
the exercise Of lis undoubted authority, has
thought prnrer u send guIs % Fort Monroe OF
troops to Harper's Ferry 10 protect the public
! property there? In what good can this in
auiry result? Is it not giving too much i'm.
portancc to this subject: The only effect ii
can have is H. add TO the excitement already
existing iii the country.
Sir, am mol NJ ali alarmed AID have nc
idea that my constituents nor the constituents
Of ruy friend from Pi;tSylrania feel any alarrn
at the idea that gritIs should be placed upon the
pararct4 OF Fort Monroe pointing towards
Hampton. do not think the people Of Eliza
beth City have any apprehension that the
guns are given that direction for any agsreS-
sve purpose, or that they ARE arranged IN the
manner reported, with any other vcw than
that Cf defence. | am satisfied that in this
movement there WAS no intention Of lntmid"-
ting the citizens OF Virginia and may add that
they arc IN no danger from these guns unless
they may fooliShiy run their heads into the
month Of one Of them.
don't see, Mr. President. any good that can
result from this inquiry, and believing that
il can produce nGHe. shall vote against the
resolution. 1t Seems TO lac the gentleman IS
attaching too much Importance 10 this mat
ter by making il Il subject OF inquiry by
this BODY In 1892 The then President Of the
Cni,cd States, whIic Il Convention WAS in SEES.
sion in South Carolina, or about that time,
/ sent troops 10 the ports in Charleston harboT.
4 correspondence took place OH the subject be.
tween the then Governor Of the State and the
President in which the Governor was told that
! the President Of the United States was Com.
mander in-cbief Of the Array aud Navy OF the
country, and that nc WAS not responsible to
. him for any disposition which he thought pro.
pr: TO make Of them. We, in Virginia, did not
rush then 10 oppose this movement, aud II we
make tic inquiry now which the resolution
proposes We MAJ receive q Similar answer 10
! that given to the Governor Of South Carolina
in 1882.
! Mr.. TREDwAy-I offer this resolution simply
Us u matter Of enquiry, in order that some light
, might be obtained upon Il subject wtiicn has
caused SO much anxiety, and led to so much
! comment. know that the gentleman from
! franklin, {Mr. EARLT,) nor his constituents,
have no fear from any such demonstrations as
have been Indicated; but let me say to the
gentleman, that they have given rise 10 great
; deal of interest in the public minds My pur-
! pose is to ascertain and know whether At THIS
time, " hen this Convention is in session, when
! it mas gone forth 10 the world that large ma
| jvrity OF This body We're sent 10 deliberate with
clullon and f5rbearance-nct with prcc'pitatc
I ac:ion-but to endearur by the most Cautious
! and prudent couu>elS il possible, 10 avert The
caiamilies u Il civil war, aud procure M ad.
! juslment "f the impending difficulties between
! the General Government and some Atatcs Of
! this Union, say | AIN ANXIOUS to ascertain
! whether, while occupying this position, the
various rumors in the public prints that the
! General Government was preparing to make
/ war even upon Virginia, coming, ms size is IN
. the capacity Of pcacc-,uakc:, are true or not.
! want 10 know If il is true that under these
circumstances, the General Government IS in
; fact preparing Itself 10 make an attack upon
! Virginia. If she shall think proper, in certain
contingency. TO take the course Of Other States,
which course sill not hesitate 10 take ai the
! proper time not, however IS long as think 1t
practicable 70 procure IN adjustment oil our Gil.
! icuities TheIcarc some gentlemen III tnls Dody
! who say tina; preparations are making through
out the lind; and though my friend from Frank
| lin (Mr EARLY MAJ rot be alarmed. Gun say
TINT many Of my constituents are alarmed,
and man. in Virg!niA are alarmed. watt to
! 70 know if Inc General Government is taking
,l.e course which the resolution has indicated,
aud which understand 10 DC menace. And
i if the Government is taking such course, and
with a view TO menace, / want that we should,
in our deliberations here, prepare TO meet the
worst want TO know these facts, and ii they
shall prove 70 be i1Ge, shall contribute 81! /
have Il, command ~ meet the issue. when it