Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-03-20
The Standard.
THE VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.

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THE VIRGINIA. STATE CONVENTION.
~, a TKENTY-FZRST DdY
SATURDAY, March 9th, 1851.
Mr.. Goggin, when the hour Of 10 o'clock arrived,
took the Chair and said Gentlemen Of the Conven-
tion at the request Of the President call the Con-
vention to order. ~ rs
Prayer by the Rev. W. Hoge, of the Presbyterian
church. ,..,..eh s.
THE QUESTION BEFORE THE CONVENTION.
Mr.. Goggin (who occupied the Chair)-Beiore
the Chair recognizes any gentleman he VIII state
the question. The subject under consideration
when the Convention adjourned on yesterday was,
the amendment offered by that gentleman from
Amelia, (Mr. Harvie,) to the amendment offered by
the gentleman from Goochland, (Mr. Leake) to the
original resolution submitted by the gentleman from
Chesterfield (Mr. Cox t
REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL RELATIONS.
Mr.. r. Y. Conrad.-The Committee on Federal
Relations to whom has been referred large number
of resolutions, have had the same under considera-
ton and have directed me to make partial report
will add, sir, that certain proposed amendments
to the Constitution of the United States referred to
in this report are now under consideration before
the committee, and as soon as the same can be
properly considered and decided upon, will be re-
ported to the Convention But the committee has
deemed it proper to submit first this report embody
ing various results, to which they have after
mature consideration, and have instructed me to
move that it be laid upon the table and printed.
The motion was put and agreed to-
MAJORITY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL
RELATIONS.
The following is the report submitted by Mr..
Conrad:
Partial Report from the Committee on Federal
Relations, presented March Q, 1861.
The representatives of the people of Virginia in
Convention assembled, are profoundly sensible of
the difficulty, delicacy and Importance of the duty
which, in obedience to the popular will, they have
assumed to perform.
They feel that the controversy which unfortunately
distracts and divides our country has brought about
condition of public affairs for which history has
no parallel and the experience Of Governments no
precedent
They recognize the fact that the great questions
which press for consideration of entire novelty
and of great intrinsic difficulty, and that their
proper solution will require on the part of our
Governments, State and Federal, and of our people
the exercise of the utmost prudence, discretion,
calmness and forbearance.
Above all other things at this time they esteem it
of indispensable necessity to maintain the peace of
the country, and to avoid everything calculated or
tending to produce collision and blOOdshed.
The grievances for which several of the States
have Withdrawn from the Union and overthrown
the Federal Government within their limits are such
as have effected the people Of Virginia to greater
extent than any of the seeded States and it is their
determined purpose to require such guarantees for
the protection of the rights of the people of the
slaveholding States in the judgment of Virginia
will be sufficient for the accomplishment of that
object.
Virginia having initiated measures to obtain such
guarantees, a proper selfrespect impes her to
demand OF all the parties that they shall refrain,
during the tendency of her efforts for amicable ad
justment, from all action tending to produce a COL
lsion of forces therefore,
l. Be it resolved and declared by the people Of
the State Of Virginia in Convention assembled That
the States which composed the United States of
America, when the Federal Constitution was formed
were independent soveregnties, and in adopting that
instrument the people Of each State agreed to asso-
ciate with the people of the other States, upon
footing of exact equality 1t is the duty therefore,
of the common Government to respect the rights of
the States and the equality of the people thereof,
and within the just limits Of the Constitution, to
protect with equal care, the great interests that
spring from the institutions of EACH
q African slavery is a vital part of the social
system of the States wherein it exists, and as that
form of servitude existed when the Union was
formed and the jurisdiction of the several States
over it within their respective limits was recognized
by the federal authority, or by the authorities of the
other States, or by the people thereof in deroga-
ton from plain right contrary to the Constitution,
offensive and dangerous.
5. The choice of functionarics of a common govern
ment established for the common good for the reason
that they entertain opinions and avow purposes
hostile to the institutions of some Of the States,
necessarily excludes the people of one section from
participation IN the administration of the Govern.
ment subjects the weaker to the domination of the
stronger section, leads to abuse, and is incompat
bic with the safety of those whose interests are i'm.
periled; the formation therefore, of geographical
sectional parties in respect to federal politics. is
contrary to the principles on which our system
rests, and tends to its overthrow.
4 The Territories Of the United States constitute
q trust to be administered by the General Govern
ment, for the common benefit of the people of the
United States, and any policy in respect to such
Territories calculated to confer greater benefits
the people of part of the United States than o.;
the people Of another part is contrary to equality
and prejudicial to the rights of some for whose
equal benefit the trust was created. If the eaua
admission of slave labor and free labor into an,
Territory excites unfriendy conflict between tn,
systems, fair partition of the Territories ought t.
Sbe made between them, and each system ought t,
be protected within the limits assigned to it. BY thu
laws necessary for its proper development
5. The sites of the federal forts, arsenals, &C
within the limits Of the States of this Union, wer
acquired by the Federal Government and jursdlc
ton over them ceded by the States as trusts, fo
the common purposes Of the Union during its con
tinuance; and upon the separation of the State
such jurisdiction reverts Of right to the States re
spectvely, by which the jurisdiction was coded
Whilst State remains in the Union, the legitimat
use of such forts, &C., is to protect the countr,
against foreign force, and to aid in suppressin
domestic insurrection. To use, or prepare them t
be used to intimidate State, or constran It's fire.
action, is perversion Of the purposes for whic
they were obtained; they were not intended to
used against the States in whose limits they ar
found, in the event of civil war. In time of pre-
found peace with foreign nations, such as now exists
and when no symptoms Of domestic insurrectio
appear-but whilst irritating questions of tn
deepest Importance, pending between the States
to accumulate within the limits of State intereste