Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-28
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENT
SESSION,
SATURDAY, ApMl 90, 1851.
FIFTH
TcoSTINuED

MIR. ScUrf, Of Fauqu!er.--tbe icadiis III Tile
ordinance disrlosss 70 too Cpn7en'ioh that It's
operation is confined exclusively 10 IN" relief
Of the people OF rhis cath from any
supposed obligation that they ':tay be under
10 obey ttc military orders OF lilo Fedtral
' Executive. suppose that 4. may he p"sSlbi'
that whilst wc a:o IL tbs state {. i'ansitur-
whlle ws sill remain ore 81 'ho STATES OF the
United States. nader Tao obligations az the
Constitution &c the United States, military gen.
tiemen noW ia tnc service OF inn UHiiad Ststc6
might possibly hare soma sctupies IN taking
Service W ith Us; ana therefore, it is. that pro.
pose 10 coiiine this ordinance TO this Single ques.
ton Of :nilitary po"c:. dld no. suppose taatlt
would be proper betnro we Knt" the sense OF
tho pcople in respect 10 the ratification Of the
} ordinance winch has been sGopted, TO take
any steps which will sever our connection
altogether from tho ttdeIal Union. 1t
is the duty If the FEDERAL authoritieg
to transport tho m"ii amongst III, and
I did no. desire IN give an excuse TO those
authorities to withdraw these mali facilities or
TO give TO them any excuse during this period
which is to elapse between now and the election
in May, to treat lis as having withdrawn from
tho Cuiun.
1t has seemed 10 be tho opinion Of the Con.
~vention that tho ratification or REJECTION Of The
ordinance separating tho St'te from It's ttde'
raj cnnnscCion, WAS a question to be passed on
finally hy the people al the polls, ard accntd
,nsly tho ordinance itself ordaius that
it is not 10 haro effect until it re-
ccives that ratification; aud l could hot
therefore, gee the proprIetyuf adopting another
ordnance to 90 into etf:c: in advance Of that
ratification, whereby this State would be sew
o..J .l.-,tL,n F-,r, ~ fr.cfpf psrnrHt,n0
But regarding. ms | most unqlestionaoly do,
the noTer claimed BY tho President to levy
10, 600 militia for the purpose indicated in his
response to this Convention, Of waging war
against the Confederate States, as plainly q
usurped power, | have no difficulty at all in
providing, rs that ordinance proposes TO pro-
vide, relief to The people Of this Common
wealth from any supposed obligation 10 obey
rhc military orders Of the Federal authorities.
I don't think that It would be proper, at this
time, Ia "a further than That ordinance pro-
poses To &. There are a great many reasons
why il gems Ia Inc We should cuutine our action
within the limits TO which that ordinance con-
lines It. There arc n great many reasons that
would not undertake now to explain to the
Convention, why, it seems to me, We should
ioIbesr until the ratification or rejection OF the
ordinance By the people shall be known, to
adopt any measure which is 10 withdraw the
rs :ate from her present connection and, IN
reply 10 the gentleman from Amelia, have,
therefore, to say that the operation OF the
ordinance IN conancd strictly to the military
orders. Of the Federal Executive.
Mr.. HiEvis II shat! move to amend that
ordnance By adding tho word 'civil" SO rs 10
make it include civil ~ well as military mat
ters. Before, however, nff.ring that amend.
| ment, ! will! make 8 few remarks.
Mr.. President, | snow that in making tiia
motion to amend. | make it under considerable
disadvantages. because Of tao Impression TIM!
my tcmparan.nsis impe;uous. lean only say
10 the !ne!uoara Of this body, that It is u~aterl?
imp ,ssib!e Tor me 20 speak upon ang question,
especially vi the character nrw before the
Horse, without displaying y vinlcnt manner,
perhaps not generally cur;,l+:sAs With the sue.
cess Of my eIfJr.4. | hnpo that, while my
manner is excited, / will lntelligi6iy convey,
add d: plsslonat"ly Eta,c NY opinions and sen.
timents upon tho Subject now under considsra-
tion.
| feel, Mr. President, TINT | labu? under DIS.
advantage in beng opposed TO n gentleman Of
uiyh intellect and superior capacity, having the
confidence Of the community. | know, cir,
the serious disadvantages under which ! labor,
DIT in the face Of all, | consider it An impcra.
i've duty upon me to stand by the Interests Of
tho State, and to protect it 10 timo Of need, so
ar as | AN able to do so.
1t is idle 10 suppose tina. there Is nov, Or
that there ever can he again any connection
between The 5;ato OF Virginia ind the Federal
Government 1t is preppstcrou7 and Idle to
suppose, that we w,l' ever again form 2 connec
iicn with a people VINO have nnnccassa.ilv i'm
urued their hands in cur blood. Irepeat, that
It IL innas.ible that We Ehonld unite again with
such a people; and, that being 80, where, | ask,
IS tho necessity OF keeping up m apparent con
nection with those people between this time
and tho period when The people arc to decide
upon the ordinance Of secession appeal 10
the Convention to give me their attention for
moment.
1t is as easy 20 dissolve our connection Sith
the Federal Government in ono particular az in
| all, or to bind all together or not at all. Wa
are bound TO submit to military if sc are
bound To submit to the civil authority. If we
are bound to the civil authority up to The day
Of election, ! should like to know why we
| Shou!a not be bound to the military authority?
{ see nothing That can result from our remain
ln1 subject to Eny obligation to ths General
Government except embarrassment and |
therefore think that Se ought to free ourselves
| from it as soon as possible. Why can wo not
| pass an ordinance 10 relieve the State up 10 the
time Of the election from ryeTJ obi gatiun to
that Government? Ii it is legitimate to grant
this relief in one particular it Is in all. Why
cannot thi. bring in an ordinance TO
postpone, ii you choose, any obligation until
the people decide whether there shall DO any
obligation resting upon Us or notY l see no
difficulty 10 the way Of such a course. Arc
We to 90 on and cause the people to stultify
themselves by maintaining civil relations with
q people with whom we are at WARP It would
DO folly, criminal folly, to permit it.
The people Of Virginia never can be carried
back into connection with that Government
except by revolution; ard how far that can be
successful remains to be seen. [ have no mis-
gi7ings upon the subject; my confidence in the
| power and ability OF Virginia In union with
ttc South to maintain herself is unboundcd.
This spirit Of opposition to a re union with
the North I know pervaGes my section intense
ly. I hato to speak Of any particular section
Of the State, because God knows | love every
portion Of II; and | pledge myself here now
and ali that | have, WHETHER it is property Or
life, 10 60 to the rescue Of any portion Of tbis
| State. | would readily sacrifice all that |
have for any portion Of the Safe. Why not
| place us in Il situation where there can be no
doubt in tho mind of any individual az to
where hia allegiance is duef l ap.
peal to The gentleman 10 come to the rescue
with all tho elements Of power and veal. Ii that
arc available. am not speaking now impetu-
S@%SSaat; winch have long felt, and which are
we'll matured in my mind. am giving ut
tcrsnce now 10 these sentiments to iuducs you
to announce the fact thst no man in Virginia
owes allegiance u Guy othur power tnsn his
own Stale Government. These are my opin
ions nov. and I consider that this Convention
would lie acting in conformity with the sent:-
msn. vi tho people OF the State il it would