Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-19

tons Of the State, to be termed the "Comnt-
tee of Federal Relations" be appointed By the
PRESIDENT; to said committee all resolutions
on Federal relations shall be at once referred,
without debate, and it shall be their duty from
time to time, to report the same to the Con-
yention for its action.
Mr.. CoSRAp-This seems to me the best
mode Of proceeding that the Convention could
adopt. Until some objection is made to the
resolution, I am not disposed to trouble the
Convention with any remarks on the subject.
Mr.. WIsE-At the first step, sir, Oppose,
this resolution. From long experience, anu
some sad experience. know lis import ana
know its power the power of standing cohi'
mittee that shall be monoposts OF all deter
inmate consideration, in every preliminary
stage of deliberations rs the omnipotcnt aro'ter;
the power-thc absolute power-oi majority.
will not consent that every man IN the No'',
ven,ion shall bind inc to yield my powers OF
debate and objection ut the first stage Of any
question that may come before this BODY. AP-
point your twenty-one; let proposition come
in from the majority side, or the minority si'c''
give it, then, to the committee, and 1t Is tsh'a-
mount to . denia! of debate. Weld your
power, take your policy, determine upon your
course, but at every inch Of ground IN TINS
Convention, I shall demand the right, shall
demand the power, of objectionable right OF
giving the reasons for my objection. Ii can
kill 4 measure before it can come here win the
sanction Of a committee Of 81, II hel'eFe
that it is wrong, and can convince men with me
that it is wrong, claim the privilege, the
right, the justice to be allowed all opportunity.
But give it the prestige of that committee,
when it comes up for debate, ard the debate
itself is conquered, is crushed.
This is not the hour 10 submit 10 one inch OF
arbitrary power, Cloud applause on the gal
leries and tioor.) to one jot or little o. un)uSe
restraint will not be compressed into such
Chinese shoe of dclberation as THIS; and IN
v.dicating this poor privilege don't know
whether stand in minority here, or IN ma
iority hope we came here tn utter opinions
and to yield opinions to reason, to debate und
to deliberation. Above any moment IN the
world this is the time to hear each other and
to hear each other in time; and the business OF
all of us is to consider questions Mt their hrSt
blush, and decide upon them before they shall
have come up clothed with the sanction OF a
committee Tell me that the question Of all
questions should be received. that the question
of all questions should be introduced and should
be referred without question and without de-
bate! tell gentlemen that there are PROPOSE.
tons that will come before this bcGy that |
will vote not TO entertain and not to dignity
with reference.
Mr.. r. Y. CoSRAD.-Will the gentleman al
low me to correct n mistake into which nc has
falleng That proposition does not require that
resolutions offered should be referred without
question 10 the Convention. 1t is merely pro-
per that they should he referred without de-
bate.
Mr.. WIsg-Wi tho Clerk rsRd the resolu-
ton?
The resolution was read.
Mr.. WISE. My friend will allow me to ask
him what "at once acith0Ht ae6ate' means =
[Laughter.] Now, is there any definition, any
photography on earth that will not sustain me
in the objection make to that resolution
Adopt this resolution, and what will then be the
rule of the Convention 1may object. indeed,
to any resolution which may be offered on
Federal Affairs. But there ! must stop. |
am deprived even of the power Of assigning a
reason for such objection.
/ know the gentleman from Frederick
we'll. have known him long and |
know that there is not Il man in this
Commonwealth Of more sage and astute re-
Election and dclbcraiion than he is. lie has
won nv respect from my boyliood, and I'm.
p!ore him not to cut me of from the privilege
of reasoning with him, at every stage, upon
the serious matters which we have met here
to consider. Loud applause in the galleries,
and clappins OF hands, which was kept up for
considerable time)
Mr.. CagLILE-I merely wish 10 say, sir, that
If this applause in the gallery is to he Con-
tinued, shall have to follow tue illustrious
example set INC by one Of the Senators lrGln
Virginia, in the United States Senate. Q-augli-
ter
Mr.. Wlss-God save me from applause !!
Like the Greek philosophers, do not kEo"
that have not done something wrong when
am applauded But hope the gentleman MIR.
CARLlLE,) will follow the example OF the Sena-
tor from Virginia to whom he referred, and try,
with him, to save his country. cloud laugh
ter and shouts Of applause in the galleries,
which were repeated twice or three tilnes.)
Mr.. CARLuE.-l now submit 4 motion to
clear the galleries. 1t is impossible TO conduct
the proceedings cf the Convention so long as
such confusion Is tolerated.
Mr.. WlsE-I do not yield the floor.
Mr.. CAnLrLr-This is 4 question Of order,
sir, and claim that it is competent for me to
make the motion which have submitted.
Mr. CLEMpNs.-I move to except the ladies.
Mr. CAHLIrE.-I had no reference to them.
Mr.. MoSrAGuE.-I call for the ayes and noes
upon the motion to clegr the galleries.
Mr. MAcFAgLAND-l au satisfied here, sir,
that the public who are now attending upon
our deliberations is one that has high sense
of order, and will respect III. privileges and
the decoru,n Of this body. am sure they
need but to be told once that all such lndlca-
tons of applause or Of admiration offend against
tha inst PRINCIPLES Of order. We are here en-
vaped in solemn deliDevaton, and 1t Is to be
hoped that the public that we admit with 50
much pleasure will show their appreciation OF
the privilege by restraining their emotlons.-
In making these remarks, hope that the gen.
tle,nan who made the motion, will be satisfied
with an admoniton from the Chair and | will
answer for my fellow citizens, that under such
an admonltion order will reign.
Mr.. CARllLE-I 10 not desire that this rule
should be enforced, if we can have silence; |
will now withdraw my motion, but shall renew
it again if order is not preserved.
Mr. WIsE-I believe, sir, that it mas become
the fashion in Washington, in the Senate III
the United States; it used not to be the case
in old times, but you and know that the old
times are past; but new tunes must he better
sir. They don't suit Inc so well, and | would
impiore tho people to stand quietly by, and to
be rather Solemn on the occasion, than TO cheer
in times IKE these
But to tho question: Suppose you adopt
the proposition now under conslderation.-
Here comes another, that the Convention
must, under certain contingencies, be willing
to adopt, by II bare majority. at once,
and to consider at once, and it would re-
euirc suspension Of that rule to let it be act
ed upon by IL majority. Let it be referred to
committee of 81, and then there may be ma
iori.y on that committee who would be in
favor Of delay--delay, which is death by
doing nothing Save me from that policy
Wait, wait for that committee OF twenty
one; and 1Sl will have TO wait upon tins
81 and order, flccorunl, and this rule, If
adon,ed will keen the 13l waiting for the =