The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-21
STATE CONVENTION
SEN EN- T II u A y /.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 1851.


~, .,trnExs said he rose tn 4 privileged
nestiou for the purpose OF putting the stamp
- reDrobation and denial upon report wDich
,,.d Gained crelence through the newspapers,
ii'. ,,ould previously offer resolution to
'". .. ,,hether the debates of this body should
- ,,,ade the object OF private enterprise, or
,ot IN the hands of those employed by the
T6nyeution 10 report them with Il view TO
,beir publication hereafter. The resolution
"a as follows;
r,.,,rti That the President Of this Convention
l. -~r authority to employ, at fixed rate of com
"er.x.ieE sufficient number OF reporters 10 take
Ti.h \ view to ;he publication OF the same here
ter IA portable form. II IL shall be deemed, by
~. body exPedient or necessary.
NJ CLEMENS proceeded TO advocate his res
o,ntiou and moved its adoption
Mr. FisHER said he was about TO offer a sim
liar resolution, but had not supposed that any
srr,ugrment would be made, not already in
amgnrated. lie therefore proposed the fol-
1o,y,ng as substitute for the resolu tion offer
81 by The gentleman from Ohio, tMr. Glenn
I5..rr,4. That the Presden; Of this Convention
he authorized to contract with the proprietors OF
THrting and publishing Of the proceedings Of this
Convention.
Mr. ClExExs expressed Willingness to
saern. he substitute, and therefore withdrew
his resolution. MT. flSher Ftso1ut!oh "aS
then adopted.
Personal EXPLANATION.
Mr. CLEMENS then proceeded TO all ude 10
statenrnt published in the Charlottesville
Jsfe-soaidn and copied IN the Richmond fsi-
g,aIner. 10 the effect that ne had used, or SUI
;4red to be used his official frank As member
of Congress for the purpose O! sending doch-
lncuts 10 fee negroes. He Indignantly denied
the charge, and said he had nothing to DO WAth
the circulation of the half sheet OF the Ndtleadt
gsttFiigt acer. containing his own, ana M'll-
sons and Nelson's speeches. He lett none oi
his franks in Washington. He then gave 4
list OF the counties to which he had sent doc
.,I,onnts and excluded MIddlesex and others,
which We're included in the charge against
him. His denial was clothed III most eIh-
phatic language.
Mr.. MosrAerr, of Middlesex, said that as
m. county had been referred 10, he feit II TO
h4 MS duty 10 state that such documents were
raeeIyed there under the frank of Sherrard
CleInrns-two Of them TO free negroes, one OF
aham could read. They had also been sent
10 negroes in Essex and Orange under the
same frank.
He then produced two envelopes which had
he,.n preserved. Mr.. Clemens examined the
franks. and pronounced them both forseries
Mr. MoSrAUrE was glad to hear it. He pro
rppied 10 make point that when corruption
had become great at Washington that Tor
rery was resorted TO for the purpose OF circu
lating documents, il was time for The South
10 cat loose.
Mr.. Branch, of Petersburg, raised a poi int
Of order.
Mr.. MONTAGUE remarked that he had said
all he had TO say.
Mr.. HALL, of WetZeI, said he was familiar
with Mr.. Clemens handwriting, and those
franks were unqucstionabiy foTgerles.
Mr.. HaLcomBE, of Alhemarle, said that as
reference had been made 10 paper published
In his county, he felt 1t incumbent on him tC
say that though the gentleman from Ohio hao
fairly and fully exonerated himself. the sta te
mrnt that such matter under such frank was
received, was true.
Mr. MoKroS said he had letters from two
highly respectable citizens of Orange, men
tlouing the names of negroes who had receiv
ed ncendiary matter under the frank OF tht
gentleman from Ohio. He was gratitied Il
hear his explana tion and since he proposed Il
iuves tigate the matter, he would place the let
ters temporarily i'll his hands.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
Mr. BRENT, Of Alexandria, offered the fol
lowing, which were referred 10 the COMMITTEE
on Federal Relations
Rt'olped. BY the people of virginis: in CqnEeH
the Union oi these States that we do not recog
nize in the diversity Of our institutions, an!
cause II conflict between the different states, but
ou the contrary, we believe the great varieties o
soil, OF prod duction and oI interests in IL Republl
Ike this, grounds for 4 more lasting and periec
Reso'sef. That In times Ike these il becomes til
3utv of every patriot 10 rise above party or sec
Uunal ccnside ratioas, To max an earnest enoft |
save the Union, IN that spirit of generous cVmpro
therefore in the spirit oi compromise we are VII!
lug 10 adopt the amendments to the Constinuo
p!Oposed by senator CTlttenden, er any olnerp pla
of Cancellation eouivalen; thereto which has bee
or may he hereafter offered, by which harmon
may be restored between the people OF the dltiel
ont States and the Union perpetua ed.
ResotpeG, That IN the opinion u thls CONVENTION
the employment of the army and navy of the
States 10 c1erce submission Of the seeding state
will inevitably plunge the country into civil wa
aud entirely eXtiaguish all hope of a settlemel
Of the iosues now pending We therefore earliest |
seceding otates, to withhold and stay the arm
military power, and on no Fr"tezt whsteVer
bring on Tie country the horrors oi clvlA war ur
al the people themselves can take such actlO
Az our troubles demand
Mr TuKsER, of Jackson, offered the follow
ing. which were referred to The Committee o
Federal Relations
Resalre4 by The people Of Virginia, That il a
efforts 10 reconcile tho unhappy differences exis
Tag boyw cen the two sections Of the country sha
prove 10 be aboTtlve, then, IN the opinion OF M
Convention, every con nnsideratiOn of honor and il
teresi dama ads that Virginia shall unite her des
tiny with the slavehoidlna states OF the South.
ieaolted, That when any one or more OF th
States has determined ar shall hereafter deter
mine, uAdar existing circu instances, to wlthdrA
from the Union, are unalterap'y opposed
any attempt or he part OF the Federal Govern
meat 20 cUerce the same iuto re- union or submli
Sion, aud Thai We Will assist the same by all III
means IN our power.
Mr.. MoERIs, Of Caroline, offered the follow
ing
/ Re,o'pea That the Union OF the South is Ii
sa!ety Df the south.
? Resoipsd, That in our opinion each Of the RI
naming siaPeholdIng etatea OF this Union shoul
specially resume tho powera delegated by them
the Federal Government, aud Cooperate aftGl
wards.
Referred TO the Committee on Federal Rela
tions.
Mr. TRRDwAr submitted the following:
Resol,ea That the Committee on Federal Reli
lions be Instructed to Inquire and report as speed
ly a. practicable, whether any novemen at Of arm
or men has been made by the General Govern
ment, 10 any fort or arsenal In, or bordering apo
Virginia, indicating Il preparation !or attack
coercion
Mr.. EARLY arose to a question of order. L
submitted that the resolution was an Instru
tion TO the Committee on Federal Relation
lie thought IL quite unnecessary 10 pass sue
"A resolution, bat in any event he did not col
7der that the Convention could thus dicta
the action OF the committee.
Mr.. TREDwAY called for the reading OF q
resolution under which the committee w:
appointed, and IL was read by the Clerk.
Mr. EARLY continued to press his questit
Of order
Mr. CoSxAp, of Frederick, thought the poi
OF order was not correct, but II any memb
ehose 10 object 10 the II solution he could {
80.
The PggsIDgxr said the resolution would
10 the committee unless objected TO-
dr. EARLY Il object, then
Mr.. ScoTT, OF Fauquier, alluded to the a
duous duties of the committee, aud sad
they were instructed TO make these inquiri
thfy would have TO neglect other matters
Importance. He suggested n modification
tte resolution 80 AS to place the duty upon
select committee
mf. IREDwAY consen ted TO the modfcatio
ahd SO changed his resolution 10 make
read Resolved, That n committee of five
r".sed win instructions to inquire" &c.
WI 'i LAALf could see no necessity for inst
tnting such an inquiry. What difference eou
II make 10 this Convention whether the Pr,
slaent, In the exercise of his undoubted a,
mofity, sent troops 10 Fortress Monroe ar
harpers Ferry, TO protect the public prope
y. or not! His people We're not alarmed, n.
did he believe were the constituents of II
gentleman from Pittsylvania alarmed. II h
guns mounted on .he parapet at Fortress MOI
roe were not Tor the purpose OF coercing II
people OF Virginia, but for the protec ton
tlle pullIe nrdnPrfX lUniii La hu int,