Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-15
.};fI!I:'c1'o Enquirer,
ri-,ip:a state Convention
SPEECH OF
r, n:.,i.DN \; ESQ.
y. .'' .,,y. N,scu 81, 1861.

80 80 :,.c>t ESAIIh, i'' '.As .. u'p"1ul
go. i,,.. cxvrcSscd by the gentleman
w., ,,-.s d, ,llr. M,RroS,> for the scnti-
.: 49, je..., devotion to the Common
:yy-'.;; ', :. Virginia. ana to everything that
a.a.,.' :, ,',..,e her best interests, which
:..aa@' y ~, :, c.,aacnIlv expressed by the
80, Sss.: 49,, Gentleman from Albemarle,
W. .,-,,c;ra:c, as | an sure this Com
i:s.. nest deeply ana earnestly, IN
. - - -s Q: responsibility which have
u: . .'o,.3i.eJ by tha, gentleman as grow
';,' -. the Importance. the dlificnlt!v
- -. -, };s;,.:r Il the high dHties which
So -, ,,-r :, discharge. Si:, this IS en-
v: T,:,'.',;1r -, Virginia assembly. Il Is not
2-..'.'..,.,a., q. Virgiuians il the orclra-
:.>;.f-.,icn Of our State government,
-, atr.g.".ioi called together to con-
y =, ..t!.:nental rights o: THIS Com
>.-,,...,.r:,, -. - make one Of those recur-
.... :, ,.rs. principles which We nave
."..:,t ara Of so much Importance TO the
:s- .<,:,g O: civil liberty. l regard II,
,.o m.:: august aSsembiage, ana as
80 . >. ~ =. members, / join most earnestly
-: = .'-.,.Ir :,- light" which was offered
-, ~, .;,.t;p.u:<hyl gentleman "ho has
:, ' Grs:,le! lie, NJ. llotcoMSz9 Sir,
=, have sad, an assemoiase Pecu-
&c.. -. T,r,;aIs.. Az! Calm for the county
;..:, .,: .hs honor 10 represent upon this loor,
- hg heard = any representative
=, :. :: y;yc.n:ans. pat forward no claim
-, O; me hi>;or;c associations TO
-. ..nn.iq,nao has referred, but
49,, j., H.. county oi Augusta position
.. >. Ii:.u-. acting communlty-l
c,.;., +, A:., me proud position Of being
-, ;y.,.ea .9a2iy OF this great common
v.,l,a. u po:at G; population anu OF
-sz,:::; IN pent Of 7aried production and
.-:,:,. IN e7erv particular that goes to
,,n..i,r;. /. great people. She is repre-
s,r..t IN he Great popular branch Of the
,;.,o,sI Assembly, ky three delegates, and
g, csl.. number on this looT speaking
-. ;s,cs d: the largest constituent ooaT
). In S:$;e. In the Senate OF Virginia she
s,.,;; ~ hcr orn Senator. representing
,.r4 c..u:v which stands first, aye, SIT,
rs. gaog H.: list in point OF wealth aud
r,5...:;a % tac common government
S.r...i .: the centre Of the State, con-
-,.yl wL:a Ioth Fest and West by the
,.2; ,,.as- q! travel and improvement, and
w:n Il: ..ea: Valley, midway OF which
i. :;s.,ts, she IS connected with each and
H. trerr lie, social and industrial: that
y 5:.,i csnm2nitiss together. Size occu-
ga position IN the grea: heart OF the
J.. bon. MON, aad claim that he who
,.5-.:,..: her people is entitled 10 speaH
tx. representative county OF this Com
-.:.T:a,ia.
-. ~ ,snsi: Of snch county as this,
4! .:.::c - De heard: not merely for the
::a.0us ina: have stated, but because she
/: Identified with every interest and eve-%
.:...:..:!9n tina. is recognized as Of value in
ys-cc::.5;a.: and in regard 70 them all occu-
:: eL.t might call o srea: central, con-
!::T2::.e position.
:: ..-wa27e in Virginia there are e1-
,aMs: .: opinion Oil Tie one hand or or
e o:..Cr, !! :here are extremes Of preju-
= ii orc quarter - another. Augusta
:.a:r aat her r3nr!e know nothing OF
t...> ....T ,,,.=. sS,n,ral in point OF geo.
E~sp2:a. 5c:::ica: central IN point Of sym
tI:ar, ;.:e:es: a3;: association ready to
Ea:a:c II Conservative yet earnest con-
..:a,.9l. a51u. whatever concerns the
I .I;s, 80 Interests, or tie honor OF the
,o-l.:2 rs2ltt.
g: IL, whst: IS the great cause that
=: a:...2:eG this august body here to-
/ -: W.a:i is j; iAat has already divided
! -: i::':2::ea our paople and that threat
e.: :? a:.:.irow completely the great Ia
J. =: :: ..s -orcrnmeat of ours " hat Is
/ :. -.?r::.: cause so far as Virginia is con-
::...: Understand me, I wish TO consi-
I :: :.::e questions from Virginia stand
:..-:. "%::.;l 70 couI1e myselfin their
/ :..:.-c.. 10. % their ruect upon Virginia s
.::aa:::: v.y::..aias in:eres.s and Virginia 5
/ :-:,.
z -. Ken, tina, viewed from that stand
] ::::., :.g:e IS but one single subject of
,,::aa:: PIN: which Virginia has to make
J :".--.: tae government under which we
! - :o- ?!aint made by the whole South,
I =: IA: :: % the subject of African slave
/ :, Way, SIR, wha.i is the position of Fir-
] "a III other subjects? What is the po-
! .:.?z .: t...is Commonwealth in regard to
( l.. :ls great principles Of govern
{ -..as;, in regard 10 all the great
8 -:aslres 0! administration which have
E :ea u progress since our gov
Z ::--.::: ": arsi inauguratcd? It is the
z -: aaa 5o.-: Q: Our people that on all
d :: zen: Questions Of administrative poll
L, :',o4 .:e great doctrines Of constitution
e Obstruction, Virginia has from the be-
i I'm: slTen tone and direction to the
Z :;?-oa aud the policy Of this nation; that
j. "!a .,s earliest foundation, with very rare
& - e:.:. exceptions, the administration OF
/ Is :r:.: government Of ours has been, if
L :: IN ::.:e hands 81 Virginia's own sons, in
4 :: a'2!' Of !aen Of Virginia. own selcc-
& .'l T:9je principles. whose opinions. and
q '-:ss ?'Hcy haze been time and again ap-
& :'''s a"1 ratified by the people OF Flrgi-
|E - .'o only in the Executive depart
3 -'s: mas lis bscn true, but over and over
g. .:i.:' gcar si;cr year, we have been in
|k ;~~:- Ia: ;ae legislative policy has been
|H4 :-.?s' 3y he principles which have been
q va: y. ~ tie >ages Of Virginia, and that
4 '*:a. department. Of The Government has
b - = principles Impressed upon it by Eir-
e :,..a' "al thus. Is 70 sll the departments
b :. rs IoTe.a1ellt, n all its administra-
b - a.! is dealings witt the great af-
& - q Safe: we have Virgiria standing
|s :, q: e3:9?Psi from denying that the
IS ~ ,.':'@-?,I,, .!@s bcsa administered TO hcI
|S 1":S.:: =: gree; cause oc complaint
|SI -, !: ~ sIavery agitation, and the ques'
|E] 49, 49,: 9'9Eia5 Oh: oil il. II there Is any
|W - .s:' case Of complaint which has beei
III an. :;1. u any quarter, to bring aoon'
|ME-: :i!s,' waich IS now upon MS if any
|E - {" an people have made the troubles
|@ @.a: ~: o: ;..,s question, a preteHt to-
|k5 :..-.'22 &-',esd oi cause Of honest com
|Ej....' '.rZ:n.a can have no sympathy
|A 49,: T.::. a.? such feeling, in any sucE
"::' . ~ =uch attempt. 1t 18th!
|& :.,E*:. .:scI..on. .s it no, so !? We have
HI ..-','. II a':Es past, the great issues betor'
|M ;.,::. ;:.-@.s:: discussed by able and eloQuen
|k5 ,-..;-:a argc this iloor-and I ask thl:
|E4 rI:-''ss .I-,'ss. ii ln.:' .nan has yet been heard
"a ~: fs:oioted injuries that we are al
|@ 49, > aa'e suffered from tie admin!stra
|Ea 'Aa :9rernmcnt-if he has heard
|E i. .f: .;;. .o"s Is: Of op2rehcnied wrongs il
nj: 80 slightest reference to an;
|H ~. :t's' - sn;: other ground Q: com
|E - .': p: tals subject Of slavery? Thu