Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-11
EEESISG SESSION

The CEAIkAiI stated The question 10 be
upon the adoption q The Sin resolution OF the
report ni the Committee or Federal Relations.
Sir. JAcKs0H'-As that is very important
resolution. End ono exceedingly tii>taSte!u|
to u.e, I hope NE Shall have flii,r House
than now see present "a, / perceive aln in
IL very small minority i'll this Committee,
should like to have rs much company as pos.
sole propose to amend ,he resolution in
tn. third lire after the word The" by insrrt-
ing the word Revolutionary" 40 that the
ciau-e would read,
They conccde the revolutionary right Of
the people Of the several States vf this Crion,
, for just canss To withdraw" &c.
Sir. MONTAGUE -lias tot that proposition
been airus,,f substantially ;Jtel on IN this
CnuYrEtioIy The revolutionary character oi
. the right aas iuvclsed ia tue amendment 0!
.he gentleman from linrr,soa, (Mr CARLilr.)
The snIendrlsnt OF the gentleman from Au.
.u>ta, (AIr. BAYLnR TO involved the same
idea. | subniL fur that rGzson, that the
. amendment ot the gentleman lic!n Wood is
nut III order.
Tho CuaIaMAN-It II will be for The Committee
TO soy wkr;hcr ;i!-y will alppt the amendment
cr En!. Tie Chair decides i:iat il is III order.
Mr.. JACEsoS-l Go nos desire 10 d=tain the
oSIbl3E W tlc SlShl NViIIH
ton Ct this ty.i, aid ;t would have Hern much
more Agreeable ~ rrc il some other sentlemin
had proposed the amendment, and could have
siuplv gwen my vote upon it. Bat, Sir, Gun
n0t vote .ur lhi- resolution as IL nov stands
not even with the amendment have proposed.
II i. should he adopted should liz compelled
to o!lcr Other amendments. cti this Tor the
puTi iuse OF re.erninS the resolution from The
objection which many gentlemen hslieTe it 10
have, in respect 10 the character o; The right
which is asserted. propose TO make it sv
clear that tEc;e shall be 10 doubt about it.
II is due, however, 10 csndoT I" SAY that
hive not the slightest hope Of my amendment
beng sd"pcd-none whateYer-and shall
not, therefore, undertake 10 debate it rs
might ui.dcr other circumstances. | simply
propose &c make my oTn record in rc:eTproe TO
It shall 10; s"en call the eas and nays upon
il; Ior know ths. ~ Spend any time in refer.
eng 10 il wouli be work Uf sUpererosation.
| content myself With tf:ring the proposition
aud asking Tor vote upon it
sir. SnIrF,Y--I cell for the yeas and rsys
upon the adoption Of the amendment.
Tie yeas and NAYS were not ordered. The
cmvnduel! wps dissSreed to-sye> 90, noes %.
The qu stion then recurred upon the adop
ton Of the resolution
Mr. CAHPBELL-l hu7e an amendment to
propose to a;resolution. propose to strike
out ail after the word 'tiry," in the lhild line,
down to lhc word "and," il the seventh linr,
Us follows:
"Cuncede the right Of The people OF the
several States Of this Union, for just caii>.s To
withdraw Tr'in their association under the
Federal GUrernucnt with the people Of the
other S'atcs and u erect new governments Cjl
their better security,
And 10 insert this in tine place Of it:
assert that the people Of the several States,
whersoe-tr the powers granted by tllem under
;hc Federal Constitution shall be perverted to
their injury and oppression, have the extra ana
ul.-a constitutional right 10 resume the same,
.aEd that every power not granted by them re-
mains with them and 1t their will.
Sn that the clause will read: "Thc peOI!e
nf Virginia recognize the American principle.
tnal gofcrnE,ent is founded in the conset Di
tl:e governed, and they assert that the people
OF the sevcra! eS," &c.
NJ. Chair;Esr, there nave been four amend.
ncGiis proposed /, his resolution two Of which
nave been propositions ~ strike cut end insert.
Upon hese arncniu.uuts division Of the ques
l;un wns called and | voted in each case. to
strike out, not because WIS il favor Of insert.
ing ii:e propositions presented, but because
G!n opposed 70 The resolution az it new stands.
No@, slT, propose TO strike out v hnt | have
indicated, ahL 10 insert y hat | have presented,
upon This ground. agree that government is
founded Gil Tie consent of the governed. !
agTec that ti:is is rot consolidated govern
lncH!, but, on The contrary, that it is a govern.
ment founded by the people Of the several
States, acting in their individual sovereign ca.
pacity, ard that they are the parties 10 thu
compact; that they being the parties to the
compact they alone njndse rf The grievances
which my b. sustained by them under that
c"mpac'; tn2s i'll the exercise Of that right, il
ihey determine that the government has been
perverted to their injury and oppression. they
;IaHo the right 10 aanend, alter OF abolish
i! and that they are &c roESible l..
ihcir co,S:a;cs for any Injury which
they iul.ct upon those States by such
amendment, alteration or ub0lishmenL-
Va: mean to say is this: that while Louisi.
IN. mad the right. il in her opinion, the gov
ernmelt had perverted its powers for her IT.
jIry and oppression, TO 20 out Of the Union,
and HhIo the Federal Government has / U TigLt
to collect dur,s upon her imports, ye. she has
no right 10 control the mouth Of the alississiI'-
pi river; and the flct that shp has so gone OUT
.iT.s h,r no right o. Sr.'h control aud if BY
her going out she has lIi ctsd rjlry upon the
States bordering upon that river she is respon.
,l5le lu iiie;n for tnat injury.
Nuw. si., this resolution is obviously uncer
ta!n. 1t has been aYowed upon this q %: that
it is Intentionally uncertain; lhs; il wss pur.
pose!y 20 lrurned, that this word fright" might
he made 10 accord 10 The peculiar views Of the
individual VINO uScs it, Whether sovereign
| right, a constitutional right, or revolutionary
right. prefer that il shall be construed BY
liz. believe it 10 bc an extra constitutional
right; aid when this Convention is declaring
greu, principle, want the declaration made
in such ;erlus that tic who reads II may under.
stand il. am, therefore, opposed to the reso.
liton Us it stands, and il is for the puri o'e oi
rendering it more certain in its construction
that have proposed this amendment.
n. IuANsLiss called for the yeas and nays
upon lhe adoption Of the arrnrmtnt.
Tie yeas and nays were not ordered.
The auiendment vas disagreed to.
Mr. SuyMEns.-I propos. to add nothing to
this section, but do propose what would rem
der it more appropriate IN language and more
acceptable to scmc. ! propose 10 strike oat
IN ,;le Sd line, the words they conccde."
Oae word only as 10 The o. jet OF the amend
men: IL will be perceived by the gentlemen
| of the Committee, thnt if these two words be
stricken ont, it will leave Us the word ''recng
nised" as tic governing word Of the sentence.
Now this affirmation Of right must apply to
the rights Of oar own people, who are making
This concession, as well as to the rights of TIE
5eorIs Of the several States 1t now reads.
:'uhe people OF Virginia recognize the American
principe that government is founded in the
:onsen: Of tie governed, and they concede the
rign. Of the people" &c. Now We are employ.
ing t.rnl here " hich, it strikes me, is not ap-
proprlatt; when ws say we .'c,ncede' the right
or the pro; lie Of the Several States, we are then
speaking d our own rights ss we'll US the rights
Of the peupa OF the several States NV
think il is sufficient to say that we recognize