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

4
nave no Government 1T all When the several
States Of the Union ratified the Constitution
Of the United States, dn not believe it was
the intention that they should nave the ri sht
to secede the next day, if they chose, from lhe
| those ~ord>, IN order that we my draw dis
| right Of peaceful secession. We al! believe in
The Revolutionary right, ard ny object is sim
| ply 10 draw that distinction.
Tho CnAlRaAN-The question will be u;ror
| tie amendment.
Mr.. Blows, tof p:sstou.) u cali !or the aye.
and noes.
Mr.. BALDWIN: OF Augnsta.-I wish to ask d
| question Of the gentleman from Princess Anne
lt was stated by the gen,l.nsl from Princes:
Anne, | believe that it WAS the purpose ui li.s
Committee Of 2 not 10 assert ethe: Il .erriu
tionary right or constitutional right, but te
leave that question open.
The CHAIRMAN discussion is not il
order.
Mr.. WrsE.-l would like, since the question
was allowed to br asked, that should be al
lowed to answer it.
The CuAlKMaS.---I suppose that srce IN:
question has been asked the Committee vii
bear with the answer, though it is not siric,l.
in order.
SIR WisR.-I thought was distinct twice
in Sfstirg What understood to DC the inten
ton Of that Committee. 1t vas to avoid Iii=
Scyila and Chary bdis, rot between Coa,tita
!ionni right ard revolutionary right. but sore
reign right and revolutionary right They
did not intend to rnise that issue by the report;
hut without characier;s;rg the tight its saurce
or its application. they merely meaht 10 assert
tic principle Of the right to BE- governed Only
by chnsrnt, either Oh The part ci mcn Or on the
part Of States.
Tae vote vas then taken on the amendment
offered by Mr. BAYLoK, and the question Was
decided in the negative-gyes 90, hoes lUl, as
f,Iluws:
Yss -H=.rs. Badwla, baylor. Eertn, Drown Euri";t,
sn,G' crnrS.l Gn5i.. . G"I;ST Couch. Den FL
McarsS Ma.-r: Ai9orr, osburu, Patrick porsr, Shsrn
\ H. II STUART C. Susr:, Sem isr., T4rr, Willy -3s
NOE. -Messr. IJhn Jann-y. trr-.sdeni) am:".. Arls
strong. Aston, fred Barbour, aDrs irhour, El1kry
oT, Jr ogs.ss, Roi.,r.u, B,r.t, uldu. Boyd. b!a
Dr-ul, Bsrue, Csprrtor, c.c chs;nois' Chapman ca
CrscNer Cus.I, Dssh s. Drrm,n, Ech.s rishet Fioar:
nov French Fss,t- Garl.n, uiliefpi- .h1m G'svr'y
Gr.y, Gregory. Jr, G"yn, John ootde Hale Adds
hail. C,rn. Hal, :. Hall, Hammonu laryr Hay
Hoe- H,cnube, lIolad.y, iiunfon, lsh-ll ha amadus
Jnhn.vr Peter e. Johnson rn, Kbv Kindred L.tw..n
Leake Nc olnas ,Chss X Mallory las
b. Mallory, Marshall, Mari, Mtryr, Sr, MHsn Miller.
MrG.t, ontague, Morris, Morton, Nrbrlt, Nrs'n Orrrs
PARKS, P.nIieton Preston prIc-. rngh. Randolph Erh
sTd.on Robert &C s.swrls sh.G ,si'trg IL, si7nrh.
ter. Speed spurlocx strplrs Srs Gr su'heI!n Tat 1r
Thornton Rrhcrt H. Turner franklin =. Turner, 7, ,"r
Waller, W:csham, Wiley, Wilson, Whe, Wy:or.-l0-'
Mr. EARLY 81 Franklin-I move TO amend
the 9th resolution Ev striking out all after Il G
word 'Hhe" before the words several Sat,.s"
in the third line, and inserting in lieu thereof
the following: United States 10 resume the
powers granted under the Federal COnstitu.
ton whensoever the same shall be perverted t"
their injnry Or oppression" So that the sec
tion, as amended, will read:
IS The people ofFirginia reoosnizs the nc
rican principle that Government is founded in
the consent Of the governed, and they conccde
the right OF the people Of the United States, /"
resume the pDwers granted under the Federal
Constitution whensoever the same hall be per.
verIed to their injury or oppression"
That portion Of The resolution which was
stricken out hains:
"5eyeral States Of this Union, for just
c,rseI, to Withdraw from their association m
der the Federal Government with the people
Of the other States. and 90 erect new G .vern
J.
meyer consent tha the Federal power which is
in part their power, sl,rll be exer,,d fyr the
purpose Of snhjugaiinS the p"uple Or such
States 10 the Federal authority
hr. EaHLY-The amendment which have
proposed is in the Language Of The form Of rai.
ication adopted by The Virginia Cnnrcn:ioH
which ratified the Constitution Of the Uni,ed
States that was prepared by e cumniitee a
which Governor RandCloh was chairman, and
nf which such men as Jefferson. Madison and
Williamson were members. This is The Ian.
sunge Of the ordinance Of ratification:
We. the delegates Of the people o! Viz ,inia,
duly elected in pursuance OF a Recommendations
from the General Assembly, and how met in
Convention, having fully and freely nvcstiga.
tsd and discussed the proceedings of The Fed.
raj Convention, and being prepared, as well as
the most mature drliberation hath enabled us,
to decide thereon, do. in the ramc and in he
hall Of the people Of Eirginia, declare and make
known, that the powers granted under the
Constitution. being derived from he people u!
the United States, may be resumed by them
whcnsoercr the same shaIl be perverted to their
injury or OPPRESSION &c.
Now, sir, | shall not say ANYTHING in regard
TO the argument upon the subject OF the righ'
Of secession. That, Sir, was fully exhausted
thirty years ago. and the most impressive ar
yulIient | have 10 present in return, is th.
oased upon the form Of ratification adopted by
the Virginia Convention. On day before YES
terday, in the third line Of ,he fourth rrsnln
ton, the word several" vas inserted by vote
Of this body, in place of the word "nnted." +"
upon the express idea that the words "lhe peo
81 ~ r
solidation, and that they established the doc
trine that this WAS Il consolidated government.
Now, sir, here is similar declaration OF the
Convention Of Virginia, in form which was
prepared by the wiSeSt and oeSt statesmen; and
if gentlemen Of the State Rights school OF Lol
tics Gre willing tn risk the doctrine Of secession
upon this form Of ratification, think have
The right to ask then t, Come up fur their own
doctrine for in their opinion these are words Of
consolidation. call for thG yes and noes
upon the question
NJ. JOHNSTON, Of Lee and S$jIt-I desire to
know, sir. whether the motion i TO strike oat
all Of the eighth section from tie words 'sevs-
raj States" down IN tie erG, or whether any
1art of the rcmainl"" ii tc be preserved?
The CHAIRNay-The ,a:uIiom is to strike out
the whole, from the wc Is A., Terai States"
Mr. MoSTAGus-I ASK for division of the
question.
Mr.. EAsLT-Ta reply to the gentleman from
Lee and Scott, iMr. J0nS;!,~,) l would sGy
thas it was r:y purpose to STRIKE ont the whole.
70 pu, it in proper form would require TN Ell
tire change OF phraseology, and tie same doc
trine is contained in t~o nr three other rcEo
Iutions of the maj ,rity report Of ths Commit
tee on Federal Relations.
Mr. HAHriE-I ask for ,;ivision Ct the
question.
The CHA1RMAN--The call las already been
made by the gentleman from. Middeaex. and
the question will first be put upon striking
out
Mr. WIsE-The House expressly refuses to
strike out
The CHalRMas-Thcre ia a rule Of this
House which provides that although 4 motion
10 strike out and insert !. oyc7:uled, it does not
overrule motion to strike out something else
Mr. EAKLY-l submit that is is not c1mpe-
-. a. e.