Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-13
r.,,-,.urn FROM srRs+ n4GR.]

Nv hIAEhl.-l uOfC haoS
80. =; Members to the Southern Congress,
10 U.s., IN reference to the addition to our
Aagisory Council.
49, ;,c,ndinr all tho proceedings Of the secret
session ,..
aant IN do that. Some matters have trans
oiroa her, which ought never to be published.
Sr HAsvIE-I know Of nothing that has
hssn done here for which the obligation OF
se,resy ought not to be removed.
IA far as I know, everything that has trans
r;red here ought to be published. | know oil
~ harm that can result from it think 1t
ro,,Id be an act of injustice to those who left
bsrs with q belief that everything done in this
hodr would be revealed, to withhold anything
fron publication. If any member can point to
ANYTHING that ought not to be published l
viii agree 20 its suppression.
Mr. CArEEroS.-I want to know il there
h,-s no, been one or two reports here IN refer
ence to the consideration of our supplies, arms,
g.. which It would not be proper to puol!sn:
Nr. HARr1s.-I think If these reports shoulo
a,Dear, they would show that our condition IS
better than tina, OF any State in the Union
The Ps~ssiDASr.-I do not understand that
th;sm motion has reference to the debates.
MI. CcsaAp.-I do not mean my motion to
refer to the publication Immediately, but mere
" TO remove the Injunction Of secresy.
Nj. BLaKEY.-I would suggest to the geu-
tleman that he withdraw his proposition, and
allow nv motion to prevail, so that we may
take time TO consider the other question Of re-
moving the secresy generally.
-fD ~onaef rhQf nn09T-
stand to be the purport Of the amendment as
offered By me. 1t is not to require the publica'
ton of ANYTHING. The votes Of the debates
as veil as the journal are still under the direc'
ton of the Convention. My motion simply
proposes to remove the Injunction of secresy,
so far as relates to the members of his Cob
v.n,iou. I desire, when I go home, to have
the privilege of making auy statement IN refer
euce to the proceedings Of the Convention thai
I desire to make.
Mfr. RlA6EY-As soon as the seal OF secresy
is removed, all these questions will become
matters of conversation, and will ultimately
ce. into the newspapers. The objection does
rot exist simply in reference 30 the delegates
STATING whatever they may desire relative tt
,as proceedings Of the Convention, bat to tn;
DANCE Of facts appearing in the newspaper:
in an :noe,secs eod distorted form, as they
prcAat.;: ~0uld.
~. H.gvl&--Wha ; wss the reporter re-
ta;nru .nS, If not 10 publish our debates anc
n.c.sAt:a;s. | Should suppose tina: It would
Sc 6. ::.t.rI II ns-J,i: he publication OF the de
as :hcT ar. accurately taken o ~ An
accomplished reporter, thsa allow what trans
,,;,os Der :, o. distorted by Tom, Dick and
Harry, a1.er ,heJ seal; i:-o received some lit
tic i-::-e... % @ha. hes TRANSFERRED here
T.:-v Tray 90. ..-.I nc coub: are, many things
pr;.a o,:s::. 1ct % rs abolished; but so fal
an ~oe.!erai ec..un c" tie Convention is con,
ts7acG, Gaulaiiu that tae people shall know
Z: hove q right IA representative here, to
..et ,"y ,.arn:s KEW THAT has been done By
"a: oo6:. ! 60 nos consider that1 have given
anv ob:.saiiau 10 ~llhbold from whomever l
p..:aea &c action of this Convention. IL am
u.da7 such a restraint, / trust that l may be
Convinced Of thai 60 tia: | may do nothing
urt~car,inr a gentleman, or in ~derogation OF
-~<i,iv1 here cs a member Of this Conven-
TN. Ii AIN not satisfied upon this point, |
silAi. feel authorized to state what has taken
Place He1a.
liz Barton, OF Augusta-I au entirely op-
Used to the amendment offered by the gentle
MAJ from Frederick, (Mr. CosRAD,) if it be
understood as proposing merely to remove the
;.irnclion ii sccrcsy so far as to allow mem
terS 20 talk 10 .aeir constituents about the
rra1e4di.-s ntre. But if it be understood as
proposing 10 permit the publication ofthe whole
proceedings in an authentic form, and thus
preventing the publication in the newspapers
Of garbled and imperfect accounts, l am will
ling to vote for it. l have no objection to my
votes here being published to the world but
desire to have accompanied with them all the
explanations that have been made in connec-
ton with them. I want all to 60 before the
public, or none at all
Mr.. SHgFfEY.-It does seem to me that in
reference to all matters concerning our haaa-
cial and military condition, it would be unwise
and iniudicious in this Convention to publish
its proceedings. We have been engaged here
for two weeks or more in secret session about
matters OF defence; We have, in fact, been
acting as a council of war, and VT are now
called upon TO show to our enemy our weak
points as well as our strong points. The very
object OF going into. secret session, and the
very OBJECT OF imposing the injunction OF
secresy upon the members Of this body was
that those matters which belong to ourselves,
which are fer eur own guidance and defence,
should be kept 10 ourselves and from our enc
mics; ard it seems to me that it would be the
height of folly, if not of madness, to remove
tha. injunction Of secresy, and to expose ou'
weakness in a financial and military point o.
vie".
Let me cal! attention to the remarks Of the
gentlemen from Franklin, (Mr. EARLY uttered
some days ago. lie told US that we had bu'
a very limited supply Of percussion caps
40, 00O, l believe-and that we were told by
the gentleman from Richmond (Mr. RANDOLPH,
that 240, 900 have been purchased, and all ex-
cept 4O, 600 had been distributed. Are VT
TO disclose such facts as these to the world ?
We arr trying 10 draw to Us the aid of tn
ether border slave States and will we no
defeat that object by exposing our weakness t
them? We are not as weak as gentlemen
suppose mere but if these proceedings g
before the world-:he proceedings, : meal
in reference to our military condition ant
financial opera.ions-it IS but telling to tn
enemy that which, in all councils Of war, Ar
required to be kept secret
do think that it would be improper in u
nos to publish any of these proceedings, ex
cePt those specially required to be published
Il is suggested to me by one who has seen SGT
vice, 81 che who knows the necessity of pru'
dencs md caution. and secrecy in council, ANT
in CT, that s:cc=ss always depends upol
ne sectc3T oi -rnJ SreT3tlooS, anu VIC ar
;.c~ called upon, unwlselJ W | humbly sug
cs.a. 10 ~,,:cri2sa &c CDR adversaries all GU
nG,ats vr science, hn'h weak and strong.
g., XII ~ ;o rencvc the injunction Of scores.
IS to II, ..a::er which ought to be iuade pub
u. - :ha i"isles: ot lie State; but | AT
u;'s'!y opPoced TO publishing that which re
!a;.s . ~ ~2:lGi:;oa Is defence.
fur. 3"..oN.-1 r;=s TO endorse most cor
SI.tF- 49, soror, s,f no pnrff.psao frCr
Smy,n, i,M7. Susrrsr,) | think nothing /
~r.la;;cn !, nar S"o-c:a! Or military operation
c0ih> II IT, Published. Neither do thin
.hst tho vote nrca no ordinance of secession
oueh, 10 Se published; because when that
puoiIshed, I !rus: it will be with an almos
unanimous 7ote in fayor Of it
At p.,-- Ixzor~ - I,- tbo o-aoJp,ao r