Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-07

cast all preudices aside and exhibit that spirit
only which will best promu.e the interests We
a.! have Sc near at heart
SETsE7EE.TU DAT
TIcnxoSp, TrEspAr, MARCH 5, 1861.
The Convention lset at - o'clock, NJ.
PRAYER by Rev. Mr.. READ of the Presbyte.
-!sn Church.
coSvESTloS OF BORDER sTATEs
Mr. j. B. MALLoRY.--I bcg the attention Of
the Convention to make an explanation, not
personal explanation ~ 20 anything have
said. On yesterday offered 4 resolution,
which seems to be misunderstood by number
Of gentlemen here aua elsem here. 1t had
refarence.to Convention Of the Border States,
and placed Virginia in the attitude Of deciding
where she was to 90. In Offering that resolu-
ton, had no ambition to CRAFTY, and expect
10 win no iaureiS. IL is due to my somewhat
peculiar position in this Convention, and
think it is proper to make an explanation OF
my motives al the time offered it yesterday,
in order that the people of my county may
know what intended by it | vas elected
and sent here Union man. am Union
man, and wish to God that the Union could
DC preserved for al time. But was sent here.
sir, somewhat upon probation. I was called
q last.cffort man, and was IN favor OF exhaust
ing all reasonable and honorable means to re-
store peace 20 our common country. was In
hopes that the Peace Conference would submit
some proposition to the people which We ought
10 take That Conference has failed was
under the impression, too, from what was said
ny members Of this Convention, that there was
no probability that this State would Seccde
from the Union, and that Virginia ought to
take some action Hence it was thst sub
,nlscd resolution that the Border States
should 90 into Convention with view TO con-
cert and unity O! action. did not commit
myself to Central Confederacy.
1t has been said that occupied the position
of nv friend from Bedford (Mr. GooGIS.l do
not know exactly what his position Is, but ii
A,S position be Central Contederacy, am
opposed to It, | am Southern man, and II
the question were presented 10 ME to-day, where
| would 20 North or South, my destiny is with
the South. love this Union, and lore the
government under which re live because
believe il TO be the best government that was
ecer conceived by tho Wit OF man. e are
the happeSt people that ever lived, and love
this Un.on because it is a heritage oequeathed
20 MS by the fathers Of the Revolution. No
thing would please my heart SO much as to
see tie broad banner Of liberty and inoepen-
dcnce still spread out to the brecze-to see the
stars and stripes still. floating over the same
Union, under the same Constitution, and IN the
same glorious Union. But, sir, the time has
come when something decisive must be done
This question must be settled, and settled for.
ever. Virgins must take her stand, and my
opinion is, that if Virginia should call a Con.
vention Of The Border States, the other border
States would al 70 with her, in solid phalsnx
did not intend to make aspeech. Like my
friend from Petersburg (Mr. BRAscH,) Intend
to be good listener I am an old man, and
have no aspirations in the world beyond the
good opinion Of my fellow men for good and
uor;sht deeds intend to be listener, and
not speech.naker; ard wonld never have
inflicted what haze Said upon this Convention,
If what said yesterday had not been misun-
ders;ood have been advised BY some OF my
friends, to make this explanation, and thank
the Convention for hearing ME.
Mr.. Cox! offer the following resolution for
;he consideration CT the Contention:
Resolved, That the Committee on Fedora!
Relations be instructed to report without de-
lay, plan for 3 Convention Of all the Border
Slave States at the earliest practicable day;
also, to report On the subject OF coercion by
the Federal Government Of the seeded States.
have only ono word to say upon this SUB
ject Whatever may be the state OF feeling in
other parts Of the Commonwealth, know not;
blu, in the region Of the country from which
come there is AN excited, fe7erish state OF the
public mind. Since the rejection Of these
peace measures BY the Congress Of the United
States since we have read tho Inaugural Of
Abraham Lincoln, no man can censure our
people for having ieversd and excited state Of
mind. With my friend from Brunswick, (Mr.
MALLORY say it is time for Virginia to take;
Ic!ion. The action propose in that resolution:
is 20 call at once Convention OF all the Bor-'
der Slaves States, that We may consult together;
in regard TO what is best to be done. 1t Is due!
10 our sister Border States that we should con-:
suit with them before We take any decided &C
ton. want to consult with them, because /.
want the wisdom Of their counsel in our dello-
era,ions, ard when action becomes necessary.
want their concert and cooperation IN that
action.
will make only one more observation and
That is in regard to the latter part OF the reso-
luton. Ny opinion has been that the first &C.
ton taken by the Convention should have
been action upon the subject Of coercion. We
should have let the powers that have departed
from Washington know what our course would
be upon that subject. Il is our duty at once to
lot this new administration know the position
Of Virginia upon this subject Of COERCION
They must know that the moment an Effort is
made 10 coerce the Southern States Virginia
will back the Southern States. Like my friend
from Brunswick, CIR. MALLoaTO / love tho
Union. tnt ms much as | love the Union aud
veneratc :he memories Of the great men who
gave Us the Union, rather than live IN this
Union disgraced, rather than live upon
terms Of ;ryquality I would tear the Union
into i.as.i:cuts and trampie 1t under foot
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
NJ. WV. L. GoGelS, Of Bedfurd.-Mr. Presi-
dent it is with no little emotion, Sir, that rise
to address this Convention upon the subject OF
certain resolutions whic:: have prepared, and
which I shall present to this body.
The PREs!DEST.-,fhe question IS now upon
the adoption OF the resolution offered by the
gentleman from Chesterfield (Mr. Cox.
Mr.. GucGiS.-l propose then, sir, to speak
upon shat Glest;o:', and by way Of modihca-
ton, shall propose the resolutions which |
have prepared, AS substitute for the resolu-
ton presented by the gentleman from Chester
field. I was about to say, sir, that rose TO ad.
dress the Convention upon the subject, whether
i, be Of the resolutions which intend to pre-
sen, 10 this Convention, tf the resolution pre-.
sente,l by the gentleman from Chesterfield,
(Mr. Cox or the resolutions Of MY friend over
rhe way, from the county Of Brunswick (Mr.
MALLoky)-the subject is one of vast inPor-
lance to Us all.
We cannot to-day, sir, shut our eyes to the
fact that ;h1sc sources to which we looked for
relief in this time Of our trial and OF our ditl.
cul;ies. have entirely failed to furnish those
guarantees al security which we had Alright
to anticipate. Our hopes and expectations
nave beenlisaproiused. Yesterday 1t was an.
nouuced from the Capitol at Washington. by
him who was inaugurated as President Of these
United States-and desire TO quote the Ian
guace exactly as he gave it-that il is his ode
clsred purpose that The Union will Cons:itu-
"tionally defend and maintain ITSELF and that