Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-06
Speech of Nfr. T. F. GOOle,. OF
Aiecklenburg.
TnunspAy, MARCH %. 1861.

The Convention having resolved itself into
Committee Of the Whole,
Mr. GocDE, Of Mecklenburg, said Mr.
Chairman, nave listened attentively, patient.
IL, ,sith much pleasure, aod trust with much
croft, TO the many able and distinguished gen.
ileneu, WHO have preceded ME in the discus.
sion OF the various questions now under the
consideration Of this Committee-Questi0ns
deeply Involving the interests and the feelings
OF those represent upon this h"or, aud OF the
whole people Of that great Commonwealth
which we all renerate and love. | am aware,
sir, that in entering myself upon that dis
cussian. that enter field from which no lau.
raj, can be borne BY me. And, sir, did COLI
suit nv own inclination, should conhae the
expression Of any opinion which may enter
tain upon the various questions under the con-
s;dcra,ioa Of the Committee, TO simple re.
spouse, upon the call Of the ayes and noes
Feeling, however, that those whose representa-.
tive am, have right to expect and TO require
OF me the exercise Of all my powers, feeble
though they be, in the vindica!ion OF what |
conceive to be their rights and honor, | shall
cot shrink from the task-nor shall otter any
apology. for trcspassins upon the time oi this
BODY.
Sir, the great question which is now uproot-
ing this Government to its foundatloa-ths
great question which uuderlies all our delbe-
Ta,ions here, is the question Of African slavery.
The distinguished gentleman from the county
of Augusta, (Mr. BALDwIH) who addressed US q
few days since, told US that npon this question OF
slavery, the action Of the Federal Government
hs.i been either sanctioned at the time or subse.
az uily ratified BY the people OF the State
cl Virginia, from the foundation OF the Gov
c. 2ment to the election Of Abraham Lincoln,
and that we, of Virginia, were, therefore estop.
ped to complain Of the action OF the Federal
Government upon that subject.
Sir, my Lard Coke says, that estoppcls are
oGious; and if odious in court OF law, sitting
on judgment upon petty questions OF meum
aud tuum, aad Of dollars and cents, how odious
must they be before the sovereignty OF State,
celebrating upon its great and vital interests!
SIR, the gentleman from Augusta, (Mr. BALD
VIM certainly displayed his skill as lawyer,
10 resting his cause upon the plea OF estoppei;
for all lawyers. Mt least, know that that TX a
pea which de6nes party Of the right to SCI
forth the truth Of his case
Sir, shall demur to the Plea Of that gentle
mau. / shall require him to put in the plea Of
Not Guilty, md upon that, sir, l shall join
issue with him, and upon that issue 80 With
him before the people of the country.
We arc told that Virginia ratified the Missouri
restriction Of 1920; that she ratified the com.
promise OF 1850, the one robbing her of all
right to participate in the Northwestern Ter
ritory, north OF So deg. 30 min. 8; the other
robbing her Of all right to participate in the
great and wealthy domain OF California; do.
:I.in acquired in part, at least, BY her trea-
snre ard the valor Of her sons. But, sir, die
Virginia ratily those compromises as the iull
measure CT her Constitutional rights? DID she
rally them as the full measure Of justice? No
sir! They were concessions extortsd, rather
from her patriotic devotion to the Union. Tel
me then, sir, has she no right to complain o.
that wan. Of regard for Constitutional compact:
No right TO complain of the want Of that sprl
OF Justice and fraternity which made those I'm
holy aGd ubiquitous demands upon her y
when presented TO me, the alternative Of sub
missile. % wrong, or the destruction, per
chance, OF the Government for which her svl''
had poured out their blood like water upon th'
battlcfelds Of The country, and in the turma
ton of which they had contributed so Target,
in council Sir, this argument Of cstoppel, 0
the gentleman from Augusta, is, to my NINA
the strongest argument that have heard npcI
this floor Tor the prompt and decisive action
the people of Virginia If each time we sub
NIT TO violation Of our constitutional right
the duty is imposed upon us Of yet further L
subnit-if each time we submit tn aggression
t,c duty is imposed upon US Of stall iurthe
submission, then, sir, it is high time that ever,
freeman in the Commonweslth-nye that thi
great Commonwealth ITSELF should resolve tha
+ will submit to violations of right and TO az
cressions no longer.
But, sir, would remind the gentleman troH
Augusta that it is not only from the ftuers
Government, as Government, that We aesir
to escape and with which We would d,sSolT
our connexion but that We would dissolve on
connexion with that Government rs the com
mon agent ola people portion OF whom nav
proven faithless to the covenants OF the Const
tuition. Have We no cause to complain OF tn
Northern people2 Their statute books ar
covered over with Personal Liberty bills. Ou
State has been invaded, and the blood Of on
unofFending citizens has been shed by a sec
tional party organization. Northern Cover
nors have refused to surrender to the demand
OF Virginia justice, the perpetrators of that ur
exampled outrage against the sovereignty OF
State.
There is now a widespread conspiracy i
many OF the Northern States, not only agains
the peace and security Of Virginia, but sgains
the whole of the Southern States. Wisl IN
gentleman from Augusta tell us that we a!
estopped to complain Of these things : WI
he tell US thai We have in any way paruclp'
tod 10, sanctioned OF ratified them II thel