Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-12

! grcgatc population Of the Commonwealth oi
! Virginia since 1850.
! As appears from the tables sent by Mr.
! CLEMENS to the Clerks desk, the following
MY be set down rs the population of the
State:
! Whites .............. l,0GI,Gl3
! Free Colorcd ...... 37,579
! Slaves ............ 490,SSI
Total. l,59G,0Ts
SPEECH OF HON. GEO. ". SUMMERS.
Mr. SUMMERS obtained the floor and address
! cd the Convention at some length He had not
concluded his speech when the Convention adj
journed, and its publication is therefore deler-
red
CLAIMS AGAINST TIE CONVENTION.
! Mr. MAcrAKLASD.-I understand that there
! are sumo small claims against the Convention
! for services rendered before it waS organized.
! submit this resolution for the purpose OF dis
posing of them:
! Resolved, That Il COMMITTEE OF Three be ap.
pointed to audit claims against the Convention
for services before the organization, and to IT,
! nort thereon.
Inc resolution was adopted.
! MINORITY REPORT FROM TIE COMMITTEE on FIBER
AL RELATIONS.
MIR. BALDWIN, Of Augusla.--Mr. President
|! desire 10 present minority report IRON The
Cour.ltrc on Federal relations, expressing my
views upou the subjects referred 20 that Con-
lultlce.
ask that the report he laid upon the cable
and printed.
The Convention so ordered.
The following is the report:
The representatives ot the people OIL IT.
ginia. in Convention assembled, are profoundly
sensible Of the difficulty, delicacy aud inpor-
,ancr OF the duty which, in obedience 10 The
popular will, they have assumed 10 perform
They feel that the controversy which, u1l-
fortunately. distracts and divides our country,
has brought about conditioner public Affairs
for which history has no parallel and the es-
perience OF government no precedent.
They recognize the fact that the great
questions which press for consideration are Vi
entire novelty and q: great intrinsic difficulty,
and that their proper solution WILL require, on
the part Of our Government, State aud Fede.
raj, and OF our people, the exercise 81 the ut
musl prudence, discretion, calInness and Tor
brrrance.
They concur, most earnestly, in the opln.
ion declared by the General Assembly Of Fr.
uinia, that permanent dissolution Of the
Onion is inevitable, unless our unhappy CON
,roverscs cai be adjusted in the spirit in which
tic Constitution was originally formed, and
they feel lha, to perfect any such adjustment,
il is of Indispensable Necessity that. during ITS
progress, the peace Of the country shall bc
maintained, aud that all parties shall, IN good
faith, avoid giving just occaslon for irritation,
collision anu bloodshed.
Therefore, he il resolved, 10y the people Of
Virginia, in Convention Assembled:
The conference Of States, which, upoh
the invitation Of Firgina, was recently held IN
the CITY OF Washington, having recommended
certain amendments to the Constitution ol the
United States, rs in the opinion Of the Con-
ference, contain q fair and satisfactory ad.
iustIncnt of existing difficulties, so far as they
can lie reached by changes in the Original
law-this Convention is OF opinion that the
said amendments, if concurred III by The States
hereinafter invited to Conference, and ensrait-
ed upon the Const tuition OF the United States,
will be satisfactory TO the people OF Virginia.
.. The peculiar relations oi The States Of
Delaware. Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas,
10 each other, and 10 the other States, make 1t
proper, in the judgment Of this Convention
that the former States should consult together
for the maintenance OF their rights III the
Union, or, failing in that, to concert such inr'l-
surcs for ther final action rs the horror, the IN
lerests and the safety Of their people may &C.
.la,,d; aud for that purpose, the proper anihori'
ties OF those States are requested 70 appoint
Con- misSionerS, to meet Commissioners ap-
pointed by this Convention, on behali OF the
people of this State, ut Frankfort in the State
OF kentucky, on the last Monday III May next
5. The people of Virginia will not anticipate
any disposition on the part Of the General Gov
ern,nent, to engage in the hopeless effort TO
subject the Government and people OF seven
States, against their will, to federal authority.
ANY such attempt would inevitably result III
civil war-soon 10 become sectional war
agalns. the institutions and people Of fifteen
States of this Union. The people of Virginia
cannot be ina;tcntire or Indifferent 10 any IN
dlcatiuriS Of such policy, but they trust that
the Government will take the wiser COURSE,
anu will, in accordance with the spirit OF our
institutions, withdraw NIL irritating display ol
force, and seek To diSar,u trccnacn by removing
the causes uf their just complaints.
4. The grievances for which several o: the
States have undertaken 10 withdraw from the
Union, as such as have affected Virginia 10 L
Greater extent than any OF Them toT lhtSc
Grievances she requires, and expects to obtain
full redress, and she will be slow TO believe that
those States will find it consis;en; with their
| ;nclinatons or their interests 10 abandon per
manen!ly Union in which they are offered
terms o adjustment, which, in respect 10 tonl-
mon interest and common grievances, satisfy
the Judgment and the honor Of Nirginla. In
any event as Virginia is endeavoring to Scctnc
TO them the opportunity 10 determine their des-
tiny in peace, she Gun look with TO favor or
syinnathv upon any conduct on their part
tending to precipitate upon her people the nor
rors of civil war.
). l. is the belief Of this Convention that
,he sectional controversies which, divide lhe
pcope OF the United States, il not originated,
have been greatly aggravated by The ma''
asememt Of politicians Tor the ADVANCE
mcnt OF personal and party SchetneS -
They feel coniidentssthat if the people
North and South, call come IN Under
stand each either, they will find means to con-
ucl u fair and ainicahle settlement oil all the
matters in dispute. 1t is, therefore. recon-,
lncnded that the Conference at Frankfort 800
take into consideration the proprety 0! >
appeal to the people Of the North in favor q
tice. union and peace. -.
G. the federal authorities under the Consti
tuition rs it is, having disclaIucd the power to
recognise the withdrawal Of any State from the
Union, or 10 deal with tue grave questions
arising upon such withdrawal, the people Of
| Virginia, without expressing any opinion upon
the question Of po:ser, but in difference to the
opinions Of the federal authorities, hereby de-
clare their willingness TO unite i'll comforting
upou the Government Of the United States The
power, if it shall become necessary, to iecog-
Mise the separate independence OF the seeding
States, to make such treaties with them, and to
pass such laws rs the separation MAJ render
proper. -,
In order 10 await the action of the Frankfort
Conference this Convention will adjourn TO
NEE, again Oh the - day Of -, 1851.
FERTILIZATION or DEBATES.