Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-01

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iieaS I'll consistency, at!fIS were tired, 10 en-
:, 4 question until Ih6ate, to prevent the people
iatil some fa'nwcal,h of Virginia from know
c deaYffhnt there is but n single question for Viz
! yinia to determine. and that Is whether she
will remain in the Union or not. After you
nave cauvaSsed the subject in all its various
rela;inns, ), resolves itself into that simple
question. The people realize that this is the
issue. and it may be possible that II Is TO the
interest Of g portion OF this Convention 10 pre-
vent tho people from fully comprehending the
1~prst!o,i. We met here in the morning, AID
we sit here late a, night in the consideration
of the question. | am disposed to undergo all
this labor, and as much more rs may be neces-
Sary, hut | am opposed to cutting OF debate.
The people have Il right to have this subject
fully discussed, as it Is the most important sub
juct IN which they we're ever Interested. The
course attempted to lie pursued makes it appear
III me as if we intended to prevent the people
frum understanding the issues, and trust,
Unless u majority Of the Convention has fore
closed the question, that it shall he the plea.
sure Il tho Convention not TO do so. du not
intcnI to occupy much Of your time, now or
hereafter, hut | desire that every man who
may wiSh to submit his views shall have a rec.
sonahlc opportunity to do it.
Mr.. MALLORY, (of Brunswick Nh. Chair.
mrin, | reckon, sir, ! am the oldest man in the
Convention, except one, and that is my venc-
ral'le friend from Charles City, (Mr. Tyler
DONE know, | may or may not be older, but !
am cid enough to give advice, anyhow. Some
gentlemen here have spoken two or three days,
and | think they might let others have the
poor privilege OF occupying one day. should
tiesnisr myself if | would vote to sustain the
resolution offered 10 cut off debate on Monday
next. | au as anxious 10 20 home as any one,
AND, to tell you the truth, | am sorry | ever
came here ut all. Laughter. But the people
OF Brunswick would send me lierv-it is no
esp,;sm in ice to say SO; yet | AIN sorry | made
the bargain 10 cone here. | wish | could 80
home to morrow. But | cannot consent to cut
oil debate as early as Monday, and | appeal 10
gentlemen Of ali parties 10 vote down the pro-
position.
Mr.. CARLLH-rhis resolution only tertni.
nat-s debate in committee Of the whole. You
can discuss these propositions in Convention IS
iO1s rs yen clC0se.
Mr.. CONRAD, Of Frelerick-Mr. Chairman,
I snail feel constrained myself to vote for The
resolution which is II before the house, and in
dclrlcncc TO the opinion Of the gentleman from
brunswick (Mr. MALLorY) | beg leave 10 state
that it is not with any view whatever Of re.
~,i,eining debate in the Convention. We have,
as | understand, in the Convention, Il rnle
which, in lbe first place hunts each member
to one speech upon the same subject In
Committee of the Whole, there being M such
rrir, it is in the power Of one member, proYi.
ac,! he ias physical strength TO do So, TO engross
the whole debate aad attention ut tic house.
We have also in Convention the power Of limit
iny the length Of the speeches. | understand
| l!.!e IS no such power ia Committee Of the
Whole, and the consequence is that III the
Committee Of the Whole the house possesses
no power to coaisol III any way the debate.
Now, sir, | Alluut"t be very unwilling and |
Will vJIe with that gentleman, with great plea
sure against any resolution, to place any undue
rrstiicl,on upon debate in this house, or against
preventing ANY mcuiber who has not had an
oppmtunity 10 express his opinions and desires
to to 50, from having an opportunity TO express
these opinions. But sir. ii We 20 on without
some such rule as that adopted by the Con.
.~aul:au &c restrain debate in Comulltce Of the
Whole, the debate may he, and to all appear.
anccS will BE-, ,nterminable. 1t is impossible
!or any man to say when we will see the end
a; il. And whilst would be far from under.
r.aiug TO restrict debate upon this subject yet
At The SaIjc time, sir, | nave Il strong se,se OF
Inc Importance Of this Convention acting,
within .one reasonable time, upon the shhjec;
before l.. Fer these reasons | shall be ctsin.
peiied 10 vote Tor the resolution as it is offered.
Mr.. TAyLor. If lsoanuke-l move to adjourn.
Nj. EAmH--C pom that question | call the
ayes and noes.
SEVERAL MEMEERs-O. no Withdraw the
motion.
III" CnalRMAS--Does the Chair understand
that the motion is withdrawn
Mr.. EAKLY-l withdraw it, sir.
NJ. BARBOUR, Of Culpeper-Mr. Chairman,
[ was q little surprised at WHIST Tell from the
lips of the gentleman from Frederick, CIR.
C0NRaD) He advocates a proposition that
debate STALL terminate in this Committee on
Monday, but IS willing that you may have as
much in Convention as you please. Now,
when You terminate the debate here you come
10 a vote in the Convention, and then it is pro-
pcscd TINT there shall he iull l;h:rty to debate
after the question is already Settled ain
very free To say ,int | desire to hive the pri-
si!rSc OF debating this question, and if i. is the
pleasure Of the Convention TO hear inc, | inf
nitcly prefer TO argue the subject before than
after il is decided. | should have availed my
self of the opportunity Of speaking f'efOre this.
but iur the condition Of my health. which in
| Juices ;Ic moss 10 postpone it. know that in
tie scramble that would follow if this resolu.
.ion. should b. adopted, | would have no hope
Of getting the noor. | hope it will not be
adopted
Mr. WisE-Tou will all testify, sir, | sup.
posi-, that have spoken enough. | have had
NY share, sir, but I tell you now, | hav'nt be-
gun. .And, why? Why, sir, the preliminary
questions. alore. required such hard work, and
such hard discussion as you have heard to-day;
and lie it remembered, that You. have just cot
- The iirst two lines Of the first section o!
tIau report; and the Chairman Of the Commit.
tee who reported it now asks that we shall
coln- 10 4 decision without any debate upon all
Of thirteen pages besides.
Now. sir. there is my friend the Lieutenant
Governor, (Mr. MoSTAGuE,) vas on the Gem
miitcc; there is my friend from Culpeper, (Mr.
B,HBnrR) there is the gentleman from Amelia,
Mr.. !~IANvIE,) there is my friend from Sicn-
andoalI. (Mr. WrLLrAMs.) and the gentleman
from Halifax. (Mr. BErcE,) and myself have
been the only members who have been heard.
ar,i | have been heard OIL only a few points. |
hav'ut been heard upon tho thirteen pages for
N: text. tLaushter.]
an honest WHEN | ruean To say tfat ms
subject never shall be let of on no discussion;
Tor really VT have had but little i'll proportion
to the number Of members, Of tho points EN-
h:ared in Tie report. The gentleman makes
o.e objection to remaining in Committee
Of tie Wiloic, AMI that is that gentlemen may
speak twice. Sir, it is a RUE in the Commit
lee, that when a gentleman has spoken once, it
a~a"ticr completes with him for the floor, the
one who hiss not spoken is preferred, in the
Committee rs we'll AZ in the house; and | will
always Yield, as far rs atn concerned, to any
gentleman who has not spoken when I have
spoken upon the subject | say, sir, that ii
viii bc nHjHst 10 tie minority of this Commit.
ts", and when you reflect that Oh that Com
mitlr: Of Twrrtv.one, there ure fifteen or six
te2n 'n the majority to five or six in the mino.
ri:x. ait-r rnu naxs allowed tic strong mud ahle