Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-03-16

LEWIS Il. HARVIE,
RoBT. L. MONTAGUE,
SAM'L c. WILLIAMS
MINORITY REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE
ON FEDERAL RELATIONS.
Mr.. BALDWIN, of Augusta.-Mr President: de-
sire to present minority report from the commit
tee on federal relations, expressing my views upon
the subjects referred to that committee
ask that the report be laid upon the table and
printed.
The Convention ordered
The following is the report
1.-The representatives of the people of Virginia in
Convention assembled, are profoundly sensible of the
difficulty, decacy and Importance ofthe duty which,
in obedience to the popular WILL they have assumed
to perform:
"They feel that the controversy which, unfortun-
ately abstracts and divides country, has brought
about condition of public affairs for which history
has no parallel and the experience Of government no
precedent
"They recognize the fact that the great questions
which press for consideration OF entire novelty
and Of great intrinsic difficulty, and that their pro-
per solution will require, the part of our Govern
ment State and Federal, and of our people, the ex-
ercSe of the utmost prudence, discretion, camness
and forbearance.
"They concur most earnestly, in the opinion de-
clared by the General Assembly of Virginia. that
permanent dissolution of the Union is inevitable
unless our unhappy controversies can be adjusted in
the spirit in which the Constitution was originally
formed and they feel that to perfect any such adj
iusment it is of indispensable necessity that dur
ing its progress, the peace of the country shall be
maintained, and that all parties shall, in good faith,
avoid giving just occasion for irritation collision and
bloodShed
Therefore, he it resolved, by the people of Virgil
MIA, in Convention assembled:
l. The conference Of States, which, upon the in.
vtation of Virginia. was recently held in the city of
hovir lol
ments to the Constitution Of the United States as in
the opinion Of the conference contain fair and sat
isacory adjustment of existing difficulties so far as
they can be reached by changes in the original law
this Convention is Of opinion that the said amend
mentS if concurred in by the States hereinafter in
vted to conference, and engrafed upon the Consti-
tuition of the United States, will be satisfactory to
the people of Virginia.
2. The peculiar relations of the States of Delaware
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee Ken
lucky, Missouri and Arkansas to each other and to
the other States, make it proper in the judgment of
this Convention, that the former States should con-
suit together for the maintenance of their rights in
the Union or, failing in that to concert such mea-
for their final action the honor the interests
and the safety of their peo2 may demand and for
that purpose, the proper authorities of those States
are requested to appoint Commissioners, to meet
Commissioners appointed by this Convention, on be-
half of the people of this State at Frankfort in the
State of Kentucky, on the last Monday in May next
3. The people of Virginia will not anticipate any
disposition on the part Of the General Government
to engage in the hopeless effort to subject the Gov
eminent and people of seven States, against their
will, to federal authority Any such attempt would
inevitably result in civil war-soon to become Sec
tional against the institutions and people of ff-
teen States of this Union The people of Virginia
cannot be nattentive Indifferent any indications
of such policy, but they trust that the Govern
ment will take the wiser course, and WILL in accord
r.
irritating display of force. and seek to disarm free
by removing the causes of their Just complaints
4. The grievances for which several of the States
have undertaken to withdraw from the Union as
such as have affected Virginia to greater extent
than any of them. For these grievances she re-
qureS, and expects to obtain full redress and she
will be slow to believe that those States will find it
consistent with their inclnations their interests
to abandon permanently Union in which they are
offered terms of adjustment, which, in respect to
common interest and common grievances, satisfy the
judgment and the honor of Virginia In any event.
as Virginia is endeavorng to to them the OPP
portunity to determine their destiny in peace, she
can look with no favor or sympathy upon any con-
duct on their part tending to preciptate upon her
people the horrors of civil
g. 1t is the belief of this Convention that the Sec
tional controversies which divide the people of the
United States if not originated have been greatly
aggravated by the management of politicians for the
advancement of personal and party schemes. They
feel confident that if the people, North and South
can come to understand each other, they will find
means to compel a fair and amcable settlement of
all the matters in dispute 1t is, therefore, recon-
mended that the conference at Frankfort shall take
into consideration the proprety of direct appeal to
the people of the North in favor of Justice union
and peace
6. The federal authorities under the Constitution
as it is having dscaimed the power to recognize
the withdrawal of any State from the Union, or to
lypith tho prav
withdrawal the people of Virginia. without express
ing any opinion upon the question of power, but in
Difference to the opinion of the federal authorities
hereby declare their willingness to unite IN confer
ring upon the Government of the United States the
power if shall become necessary to recognize the
separate independence Of the seeding States, to
make such treaties with them, and to pass such laws
as the separation may render proper.
In order to await the action of the Frankfort
ference, this Convention will adjourn to meet again
on the - day of -, 1861.
ANOTHER MTNoPJTy PEpOpT FpOM THE