The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-09

which the wheie Convention could unite
lie thought the ae ton of the Conve tion thus |
speaking now under Instructions but upon his |
own groundl and personally he agreed with |
the course of proceedings. Recent events, |
however, called for some decisive and united |
action, and he hoped the Convention would |
vote down the call for the previous question, |
and let the whole matter 20 TO a committee.
Mr.. HARvrE, of Amelia, would not have said |
a word upon this question but for the remarks |
of the gentleman from Prince George Mr. |
Rivesl 1t was a matter of indifference to him
whether the Commissioners Were sent to
Washington or not; he believed that sooner
or later Virginia would find her true position
He had risen to disabuse the minds OF the
members OF the impression sought to be crea-
ted, that he and his friends had anything 10 20
with inaugurating the movement In Offer
ing An ordinance of secession. he had thrown
the responsibility upon the majority who voted
IL down and he was now prepared for any pro-
position that met his individual sanction. lie
would vote for the resolutions, put opposed
auy thing that con templated humlli3tlng or
crouching attitude. He was satisfied that
Virginia would, sooner or later, so with the
Southern States.
Mr HoLLtpAY, of Portsmouth, explained
his position. He had originally favored the
proposition, but the course OF argument here
to-day had led him to doubt the proprlety OF
making any such movement as the resolu-
.ioas contemplated. He was opposed to any
thing that looked to more than respectful
request to the President to indicate his policy.
be obtained, but entirely repudiated any such
course as had been suggested by gentlemen
this morning. The plan presented by the gem
tleman from Augusta Mr.. STUART met his
views as calculated 10 attain the object in
view II was 10 authorize the President OF
the Con veution to communicate TO the Presi-
dent of the United States the wishes of this
body.
the opposi ton which the resolu tions of the
gentleman from Montgomery had encoun-
tered Virginia, by an overwhelming vote
against an Ordinance of Secession, ON Thurs
day last fully indicated TO the President the
policy which she intended to pursue, and why
should she not respect tfuliy ask OF the Presi
dent informs ton concerning his policy? He
could not account for the change that had
come over the minds of members since Sat
urday evening, and thought ii exhibited some,
thing like the story of the cat in the meal
tub. The purpose OF the resolutions was not
to bring about an Ordinance OF Secession. lie
was ready TO vote for anything that the honor
of Virginia demanded, at the proper time, rs
much as he should deprecate the necessity.
MIR. BALDWIN, of Augusta, said that in Of
| fering the amendment which was accepted by
! the gentleman from Mon tgomery, he did not
| regard himself rs committed to any partcu-
| lar plan. He was struck with the course of
| argument pursued this morning. If it was in
| the mind of any member that the object of the
mission went further than to make a respect
| full req nest of the President. and indicate that
| the desire OF Virginia was that peaceful pol
1
be tiisabused. He was opposed to the fore
| gone conclusion that, if the President We're to
| decline to disclose the secrets of State, it
should be regarded as sufficient reason for
| Virginia to assume 4 hostile attitude towards
| the General Government.
| Mr.. ScoTT, of Powhatan said if the vote
| had been taken on Saturday evening, he would
have unhesitatingiy voted for the proposition :;
but upon further reflection and information
| since received he doubted its proprety. AL
| luding to the late news from Washing ton, he
asked what could be gained by seeking nfor-
| nation when there was every probability that
| it would be refused. He intended. nevertheless
| to vote for the proposition, for he desired that
| the President should be informed of the tone
| and temper of this Convention.
| Mr.. CARLILE, of Harrison, said that he opposed
| the measure on Saturday evening, and was
| streng thened in his opposition this morning.
| He WAS satisfied with the disclosures of the
| esidents policy already made. He claimed
| that the pdralyzation OF commerce and in
| dustry was the result of the act ton of the Sc
ceded States and those who sympathiZed with
them, and went on to comment upon Il "sen-
sation dispatch' in ''.he leading disunion and
sensation journal of the country, The New
York HerGid," as showing the efforts making
to fire the Southern heart, after the failure OF
the Ordinance of Secession. He declared his
oyalty to the Union, and his affection for all
| the States, and would consent 10 no abandon
ment of ::.e posts intended for the protection
OF the commerce of the country.
| Mr.. MACFARLASD of Richmond, argued thai
if the policy of the Administratio were
known to be peaceful, in less than thirty days
trade and commerce would be revived, and
harmony prevail in the country. He there
fore thought it important that the policy
should be known with certainty. He was il
favor of trying the experiment, for if no spe
cfc information could be obtained, we shoul Id
stand precisely where we stood now. He die
not agree with the gentleman who preceded
him (Mr. Carlile) that the course sugges ted
would farther paralyze the interests of com
| merce, but would, Oh the contrary, tend to
| IL st,n,,-
MIR. SHEFFBr of Smythe, alluded to the i'm
| portance of the subject under discussion apC
| to the preparations for war, in which Virginia
was interes ted rs q member of the Union. Ii
| it was foreign war, we had a right to know
it. There was an ominous silence at the
North, and nothing had come from that quar-
ter TO show that our action thus far had me
with a response. If all the warlike prepara
tions to which he had referred were intended
10 reinforce the forts to subjugate the Sc
ceded States, or TO enforce a collection OF til,
revenue, it was of the highest Importance Il
| Virginia that she should know it, aud why
! should she not make the respectful req ues
| conveyed in the resolutions?
| Mr.. SPEED, of Campbell, viewed the pas
| sage of the measure as of the highest mpor
tance, claiming, he did, to be conserva
tive. Gentlemen had said they had no fear O
| any warlike movement on the part Of the
thorities at Washington, and yet they had
| given no reason for their confidence excep
that no force had yet been exercised. He con
tended that the course of the Admins ira tiol
was equiyocal, and 1t was important that th
people should have an Interpretation of it,
| He hoped no one would vote against the mea
sure on the supposition that anything unfai
| was intended.
MIR. Preston desired to bring the question
back from the discussive debate, to the rea
object of the resolutions. The gentleman from
Harrison had read dispatch from newspa
per with regard to some movement at Wash
ington, and he (Mr. p desired to know if b.
insinuated, directly or indirectly, that tha
| movement had any connection with the meas
ure now before the Convention.
Mr.. CARLILg had alluded to the dispatcl
| merely TO show the means used by sensation
| paper, to keep up an excitement after the con
| ella tory action of thisConyention on Thursda
last and his purpose WAS also to show, tina
if no contradictor action was had here, afte
the vote of Thursday, harmony would hay
been res tored.
Mr. PREsroS.--Then l understand the gen
tleman 10 disclaim any purpose TO connect tn
! present meas ure with the movement allude
to at Washington.
Mr.. CAgLILE.-Certainly, sir.
Mr.. PRESTON then went on speak of tn
responsibility that rested upon himself an,
those who thought with him, after the yot
OF the 4th OF April. He was willing to d
every thing that honor required for the ad
justment of difficulties, and he thanked Go
that he was one OF those upon whom the re
sponsibility rested. They had taken the groun
that the interests of Virginia Were safe withii
the Union; they had a sci OF propositions whicl
they hoped would be accepted by the North
and the silence of the President he consideret
unaccountable. The language of the ori
ginal resolutions was that of cou rag
| and respect: for he could use no othe
language. What hspe there. h
asked, of favorable response to the pro
positions for adjus tInent, If the Northern min
was Ia such a state that they would not per
NIT their President to speak the word of peace
IT, as claimed by gentlemen here, the Presi
| dent would thus refuse TO dedicate himself 4
] q N mos A 0f ~