Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-25

very earnest appeal to this body to induce
them to discuss this question, which regard
as one Of the most important that has over &c
cupied the attention Of Z den.rative assembly.
The PRESIDENT The Chair Will inform the
gentleman that he has exhausted hls privilege,
naving spoken twice upon iae same subject.
Mr.. BALpwiN-Then. if time is denied me
by calling down the parliamentary rule, must
avail myself Of parliamentary rules SO inr as
NAV be necessary 10 anab!a :as to STATE piY
proposition.
will oier the following a!nrHdment 10 the
substitute Of the gen,ic;pau ir'nu KichEoud,
tMr. RANDoIrul:
THAT the Governor be authorized TO c;::l
the General Assembly into extra session, lo
make such appropriations as l.ay be necessary
for the present emergency.
| have twice alrrady jsclarei tbc sincerity
Of my vote upon this question, and would again
renew that drcia-a,I.,I, il 1 thought It wa;
deemed necessary. But do no., TOR an salts.
lied that all appreciate the trulh ard sincerity
IF the declaration.
We are aware that war is upon us, and that
however correct the principles have nnncunced
may be us general rules. they d9 not hold go@
now. N
S?lr, ~ Har - uih'll VI, h+ NNSA u"'ltf
war npar u.s. Whn has declared var; WI"
has anthor;zn;i it! The President OF the United
States, il is true, has threatened a war against
the Confederate States, and a war in which
am perfectly disposed tn make common canse
with tbs Confederate States. But il ia no;
yet our war until we ado2tit 1t is mol a war
threatened or declared against u; but against
those S:a'es which hal secedtd before tile
Presidents proclamation was issued. -
Thea, Sir, | will take the ground tia. the9e
was and is no military necessity i'll the way
of an intended attack upon tho State Of Viz.
gnia unless that miiitary necessity mas neo!
created without authority or law.
| understood from TIE gentleman from
Princess Anne, (Mr. W!sF,) today, that an nn-
authorized expedition had been instru2ted to
seize upon The armory at Hsrper's Ferry. Ii
that be true. and thar sct is ratified ami ado:,;.
Ell by the Governor of tine State, those persons
engaged in it are acting in violation OF Law and
in violation Of the rights of toe people Of rh!s
State; and the Governor, in rat;fy!':y and
adopting this act, is acting in violation cf tie:
Constitution ofthc State, Is trinscend;ns ms
right and power as Governor, and in d.ro:a.
tion of the rights Of the people oI thio Co-a.
monweath. And if this Convention adopts
that unauthorized act Of the people or Go"@r-
nor, it is undertaking, in advance, TO ior"s!al
tie people Of this State in the decision ot a
question which they have reserved ipr their
own decision.
The gentleman csnnot u-oid that conclusion
The gentleman from Princess Anne (Mr. WISE, J
has stated that in all probability there will b.
no election. Sir, what right have we, when
the people have said that our action shall 60
back before them. to bring about state OF
things that would pre-ent them from having
the right to pass upon itS Ii il be true that
there can be no election, what object IA there
in the reservation Of that right 10 the Peo.'le::
Sir, as the representative of Il portion .! the
people Of Virginia, in the name Of consliiu
tional obligation; in the name Of constitutional
liberty; in the tame Of the rights of all The
people OF the Common wealth, protest against
this course OF proceeding as in dcrogation o!
constitutional, representative liberty. This i.
small matter, 50 far as we have gone l;s
particular act is orc CT little or nc cous:! !iar cr;
but l wish TO raise the question. and ene: my
protest against any, even the least, departure:
by this Convention from ANY constitutional
mower or la@fal fln.iinrS We arc yc: bnt ii
the beginning Of rcg"'ul;ot,: hut $50 are !r''.
yet overwhelmed by the din %. arms a3d 'hr
rush of battle. When ;tie time cnurs tia: snr
is raging through this C.Hnt'on~eai!h, ~e may
have most melancholy OCCASION to look hack IL
this time when we could have ac.cd calmly and
wisely, and perfected such plHns as the i'm
portarice Of the occasion dpulnded. We hiv,:
asserted the proposition that we possess il
power, and re are acting upon The dangerous
power suggested by the .a3as p"ruft.
They say revolutions never 60 backwards,
and if We start at the outset without rcgar! IN
the proper limitations Of power, cautious as wc
may hereafter be- tell you We are in danger
of emerging from this revolution anything bnt
free people 1t may be that We will MAKE
this war at disadvantage, as people gov; III
ed by constitutional la~ it may be that Con-
stitutional lew may be untavornble 10 success
in the State; but would rather go into war
with all the disadvantages resulting from con.
stitutional power than 10 ti4ow CT the re-
serves which we ind necessary for the SAFETY
of the people.
For one, l never car consent 20 l"avn Tie
principle Of constitutional law, Of limited grF-
ernment and OF reprss ,nlstire responsibility
and restraint, Il: launch Gu! upon any principle
50 vague, so cmnors Of evil as the priEc'rr
announced in the maxim Of satVs por9tt In
! tho name of my constituency; III the name U!
constitutional la~; in the name Of cnnsiItG
tional liberty; in The name Ut representative
responsibility, protest against this act
Mr.. BaANcH. Of Petersburg.-t trust tie
Convention will vote down the amendment.
The question vas then put on the a'ncrt'
ment offered By Mr.. BALpwlS, authorizing tiir
Governor to call the Legislature into extra
session, and decided in the negative.
Mr.. EARLY was about 10 olfar an aInend;Hr":,
when Mr.. MDSrAGUE made point Of order, ~
the effect that no aInendmens Was N order !
the previous question having been called a'f'
sustained upon the substitute oh-rcd ~ hr
RANDOLPH.
Tho President sustained the puut ui o'd"r.
Tine question then :ecurrcd upau the su;'st''
tute offered BY Mr.. RANDnLrn
Mr.. PETER Z. JOHNSTON, OF Lee and Scott. -
cnll Tor division OF the question.
Tue vote was then taken On ea:h "f' !'':' -"
fest resolutions separately. and they were
adopted.
The question having reerm.'5 dro'' i;s
third rssoiuicp. which proposed e make al
apnreur;s,inn sufficient TO cnablr the GnvcrIior
TO carry Out The objects Of the .:To first rsso.
lutions,
Mr. Gao. v. RASDoiPH said would sus
pest that the blank in that resolution he filled
with 500, 900.
Mr. JAS. 2. DORIAN, OF R2ckbridss.-l
move TO amend by substituting The SUN ol
$500,0n0
Mr.. RANDOLPH My proposition is confined
to the amount of available funds now IN the
treasury. There is another resolution pre-
pared5y the gentleman before me, authorizing
loan Of one million dollars which will ccme IN