Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-23
The Virginia State Convention,
~JHIRTEFlRST DAY

THURSDAY, MARCH 81, 1851.
The Convention met pursuant to Adjournment
and was called to order by the PRESIDENT
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Seeley.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
Mr.. Wilson, desire to otter the following
resolution that it may be laid upon the table
and printed. It's object is to direct the Com
mi,tce on Federal Relations to inquire into the
cxped,cncy Of appointing n Commissioner TO
the Confedrated States, and the border State
Convention, If such Convention should be call
ed, and also to appoint a Commissioner to each
non <l.veholding State, and invite their partl.
c~'pation aud concurrence in some adjustment
OF the difficulties now impending over the coon-
try.
The resolution was then read by the Secre'
tarv as follows: -,
R.sulged. That the Committee on Federal
Relations be instructed to inquire into inc exp,
d,,ncy Of providing for a Border State Cotier'
crce AZ recommend, d by the report OF the ma.
i,r,,v Of that Committee, and q Conference win
y. a,,h,r,ics of the ConfedeTated States as
rrc,mnundrd BIZ one of The minority reports,
,,d . commission to each of the non slavehoid.
;,, States. and invite the authorities thereof to
initiate such proceedings as will be acceptable
10 the slavehAding States now in the Union,
and 10 the Conitderated States.
The resolution was laid on the table and or,
dcred to be printed.
sir. Borp-I desire to offer the following
substitute for the first section OF the amend.
nenis to the Constitution reported By the
C,umit,ee on Federal Relations, which l ask
to DO printed and referred 10 the Committee of
the WHO'S.
'ln all the present territory Of the United
States, North OF the parallel of thirty.six de-.
crees and thirty minutes of North latitude, in
voluntary ssryltude, except IN punishment Of
crime, is prohibited. In all the present, terri.
tory Of The United States South Of said line OF
latitude, involuntary serritude, or slavery oil
the African race. is hereby recognized as exist.
iny. any law or usage to the contrary notwith-
standing: and no Law shall be passed by Con.
c7ess or by the Territorial Legislature to hin
der or prevent the taking CT persons held in
slavery or involuntary seryltude from any Of
the S:ates OF this Union 70 said territory, nor
to impair the ii !hts arising from said relation ;
but The same shall be subject TO judicial cogni.
zance in the Federal Courts. according to the
remedies and practice Of the common law, and
said relation shall he protected BY ell the de.
partu,en,s Of the territorial government. When
any territory North or South Of said line, with
in such boundary IS Congress may prescribe,
shall contain y population equal 10 that reqnir.
ed for a mcmber Of Congress. it shall, if its
form Of government DO republican, be admit
ted into the Uuion on an equal footing with the
ORIGINAL States, with or without involuntary
servitude, rs such Constitution OF the Stale may
provide. In all territory which may hereafter
BE- acquired by the United States. involuntary
sersi,ude is prohibited, except for crime, North
of the latitude of thirty six degrees thirty min
utes; but shall not he prohibited by Congress
or any Territorial Legislature South Of SAID
line. /,
The substitute was ordered to be printed
and referred to the Committee Of the Whole.
Mr.. MARys-l desire to offer the following
resolutions which passed at a mev ting of some
rs or 100 ei my constituents, in the county OF
Spo's, wanna, aud wtich have been sent to me
with the request that they shall be read and
referred to the Committee on Federal Relations.
PUBLIC MEETING IN sPoTsTLrAEIA.
At a large and respectable meeting Of the
Sou,h.siic citizens nf Spotsylvania county,
i,clni,ng the Mount Pleasant Riff; Corps, held
n, Parll,M's pursuant TO notice, On Saturday,
March lG. 1861.
On motion Dr.. Nelson S. Waller was call
Cd 10 the Chair, and E. N. CrutchGeld appoint
ed Secretary.
Oh .,.S,, the Chair appointed Col. john N.
Waller. TnuS. D. Smith, E>a DR.. F. j. Hem
cock, VIM P. Richardson. Esq, and Captain
S 3 Gondioe, u committee TO dfaf. resolutions
expressive Of the sense Of the meeting.
o, motion, the Chairman was added to the
Committee, who. after u short absence, report.
ed The following preamble and resolutions.
which were adopted with only one dissenting
voice:
Whereas, Abraham Lincoln. in his Inaugu.
raj Address, has denied that the sleyeholding
States have any national cause of dissstiSfac
ton With the North or Black Republican par.
y; hus announced that a majority, though it
o.,rr,deS the Courts ard Constitution, is entitled
to rule; and has declared his decided purpose
to c.erce the seeding States of the South into
subitction; therefore, be it resolved,
ls.. That We can but consider such q policy
rs cminen.ly endAngering our liberties, and an
open declaration OF war against our sister
St4,.s bordering on the Gull.
2ad. That every tie OF interest and affection
call on US TO unite our destiny With our breth-
ren OF the South, and make common cause
with them in q struggle for the Independence,
equality and liberty oeQueathcd US by our rev
dictionary ancestors. ..-i -a. -+l ~
Cd. That the remedies proposed by the
Peace Conference as an adjustment Of our ma.
tons! difficulties are insufficient and unsstis-
f~actot;; and that Virginia ought not 70 nccede
TO any plan Of settlement that would not be ac-
cep.able TO tie seeding States
4,h. That the cry of wait" with the hope
that something may turn up, so often uttered
BY eonc members Of the Virginia Convention
has been, and still is. detrimental TO VirSinia's
interest, as well as III. seeding States.
5t,. That it is the opinion Of this meeting
that no good can result; from q border State
Convention, and that, instead Of delaying, Viz
ginia ought, by Immediate ordnance OF seces,
SION, sever her connection with the Federal
Union, and fvrm an alliance With he Southern
Confederacy. - 81. %a8
9Th. That our representative in the Conven'
ton he furnished o copy Of these resolutions,
with ,he request to present them before tha'
body.
Resolved, That this meeting approve tbs
carse of their Senators in Congress, State Sc
nilor, and county representatives in the LeSis
lature.
On motion,
Resolved, That a copy of the proceedings Of
this meeting be furnished the Richmond and
Fredericksburg papers, with a request to pub
lish the same. s
After addresses from several gentlemen,
Ga motion, the meeting adjourned.
NELSON S. WALLER Chairman
Z. N. CR~uTcuFlELp, Sec'y. ego r. !.
TAXATION.
The PRE.iDEST-The pending question is
the motion Of The gentleman from Mesk!en'
burg, tMr. GnoDE,) 10 lay upon the table the
~o,nr,,;,,, ,T.rpd nv the gentleman lTOEl Nc
nonga'in; (ir. WILlET,( upon wnich'the yeas
and NAYS have been ordered.
Mr.. SLaueurEk-l hope the gentleman from
Macklerihurg will Withdraw his motion, in order
to enabl"~ me to make an appeal to Western
members to postpone the question until fall.
Mr.. Goops-I will cheerlully yield to the
.an.,a-t &c tho gentleman from -LHnchhlrg