Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-26
rcosriSuEp FROM TIRsT syAGEl


Am willing to accept that amendment
Mr. usRvls.-I think th;lt is q very, iIopor-
.sr, amendment. suppose tbs object IF the
e,n,)emsn in of. ring it is to sfirm that these
ar. not entitled to their seats, but sc will ad-
.n;t ,hem, notwithstanding. think ia that
v;ss. It is very proper amendment, though
cannot vote fnr it.
want this Convention to tell INC by what
au nor,,y these elections were held. wantto
/ .aw if ihat TT! hurity is derived from tho Con.
s..:v,ian as it ex:StsP This C'nventioD, which
a.,-p c.na suth rize these elections to be held
s., 9 s,suner N Inch lhuv have been held,
d;t ~. rs u:der. tsnd. author - them; and,
TIA: h:,ng The case. want to know whether
:h.> Convention is bnund to admit these gentle
.,,..i - STATS nere upon the mere ipse d.xt OF
:ar Governor Of the State.
say nothing to the prejudice Of these gen
,lcmcn. know many o! them we'll, and nave
70 hesisaiion in saying that they are em'nent,
is tilted to discharge the duties which wou!o
n.rs deyolve upon them. Bu', SIT, nave oecn
denanrcing this Lincoln government ever
sirce lis inauguration and for nothing have
,denounce1 it With more vehemence than lot
tbs practice of admitting bogus representatives
to The Us. Congress.
We are nov, 10 my judgment about to fore
c;as. ourselves !r0m all grounds OF censuTe
AGAINST tk,,; Government for this practice by
1cr;stTsti?g similar practice here. do not
h.i eve. 80. :1at this government is in Stu
a;;1n :, ca;s;dsr the organic Law of the State
Of Ti7sH.s..E believe that By foregoing any
ACTON upon that subject we would remove all
p--;exi 20: tiis efJrt to secure seats here, for
i! seems t,s: Z; Do present and engage in the
discussion Of The proposed amendments to the
Constitution, firms the strongest motive to
geek aj!mi::aacs to seats on the part of these
csa'laa.en Ar oil events, this is not the time
10 consider it. | cannot think, that With one.
'crj OF Inc S.lte in the possession of the enc
Eny. lie Other einsscuated portion of the repre-
scntatior OF the Common wealth should under
take to depr,ve.,he people OF their rights, AID
make 20 organic law for them. There is an
.non .ly in our whole organization: Here we
: ar, now endeavoring to palm otupon the PEG
PIE # Virginia Convention which IN fact does
n,rex,S,, by adopting the act OF sn unauthor-
IL 4! OH :ial II the State Of Yirginia-sn act
w..ica, IN his official capacity, all must admit
lie rad no right to do. And, now you propose
mere 10 take tbs unauthorized and illegal net
j.; lea ot Unpopular vote.
SIR, for one will never give my sanction to
Such = proceeding do not mean to utter
a5.y threat to the Convention. They know
tn! am incapable of dung or utterlng any
t:;rs which would be inconsistent with the
.ppsii'nn here occupy. But will remark
t!.s; when these Gentlemen are admitted here
u;,n heir two or three votes, while it will not
tnys nc {, fleet of exDelling me from this body
=, once, viii be compelled to take advice as to
wi=.&crit is consistent " tn my duty to my con
s.iiuen,s that Shall rrnain here, and permit
l. A. .k.l L. H. &c
eieve;. members chosen by two or three votes
each. and whose election is a. b; st but doubt
fa | regard it. sir, as deliberate violation
ri popular rights to admit these gen,lemcn
under such Circumstances. And so regarding
II. protest against this policy Of admitting
I3em, N mv representative capacity. shall
7o:c against their admission in every form in
Which t shall come up. because regard the
whole proceeding as illegal and unoonstitu
ito 81.
I desire that they shall state how many votes
;hsae gentlemen received, before the question
,.u III ,!:"lr admission is taken. l have been
affirmed. upon authority outside Of tbs Com
n;.::c, tha. cannot question, tha, some gen.
ie:neo h. CHIN ssa,s here hsve received but
-. votes and all the others but three votes
y :i,-c heSs vvtes we're legal or not
y: RAYMOND. Il do not propose TO de,ais:
49, ,'"n:ehi,nn except for q very brief period
a.,Srg IN. report which have sub,nit
I'D p,n inc COMMITTEE or Elections, I have
n c:e..o.Gi, es nearly as could, to ascertain
u. .s..v's which induced the Committee to
con-" = ;.r conLu-ion AZ which they arrived
10 re'@-.;ce "a ;he claims Of these gentlemen;
r~- ~. =: | utder, tand took Of the matter
:aa >a,::: T'e- =alca d.5, viz that the cleo
''r- ,.~ -G4ally valid aS if It had taken place
VI -. resp. cave counties proposed to be re-
r:;se:,;<l should the same number of votes
D. 60, N 5oth instances.
resume that It 10 the highest duty Of this
S;iy, b.: the sovereign representative Of
n: p-upir. TO provide representation for
them II cases where the people themselves
csnDp; DO il.
NuS. with ali due respect to my friend from
:se ca;:nrr VI Amelia. (Mr. HAkvIE. for whom
e;i'-=iaia the highest Friendship, differ from,
On entirely wGen he SAYS that the action Of
Jie i..c,;n G. .rernmeai, ia admitting bogus
representatives TO- the i or Of Congress, has
an similarity TO the cases DOW under consid-
ecr,!an should like to know from my
f,r!d :: ne did not vote in the Convention, in
Ji-e !as., for 81 ordinance authorizing these
sane pic to elsct members OF Congress, in
he Sa.nc n time: as these gentlemen have been
c.:c.ti?
W. nAs7lE.--I think it very likely did
Tee cec ..emaa will see at once that we could
SEC: :ao members of Congress by general
-:cka'; mt vhc ever heard Of electiag mem
~. o. Convention by similar process ?
*. HArx nd am informed that in
1922 50 TIE Convention filled vacancy
;7a... .ns county of Accomac IN its own body,
sni should suppose ii it vas competent for
:',eSe men n camp, whether volunteers or mi
'.:a, II fleet members Of Congress, it is equal
" Competent for them 10 elect members Of this
bniy. should think so; and it seems to me
tina: vita such precedent before this Conver-
tlcs, they should have no hesitation in admit
linz these gentlemen to seats, inasmuch rs
ne: were elected in the same manner.
Toe gentleman appeals TO me to know how
:Eaav votes these gentlemen. received. will
state that they have received the same number
os Yates ,hss we're cast for members of Con-
Eress in tbs various camps. and 10 the counties
where the vacancies occurred. will say, rs
far as resrrTis toy district, that the votes cast
f!- ire Delegates from the counties composing
:ha: dstric: were the same as those cas-. ior
ste member Of Congress from that district
and dcrs The gentleman propose to nullify the
acton Of these people in respect to one election,
while he himself, by hls vote in favor Of the
ordinance authorizing the election Of mem
bcrs .; Congress to be held, in. the mode with
ssi,ica he now finds fault, gave his sanction
and approval to this form OF electiony cannot
asmvc that he would be guilty of this incon.
s;s:ency.
I'll, Convention resolved, at its last session,
70 cn,n;o The question o amending the Con.
s.,!u,ian, ard CT hardly suppose that they
~crld --!uss 10 twenty 1--WE counties in this
S s;r :;leir due representation, when there are
no sr:uods of objection to the members claim.
ing sss:s frora these counties, that do not ap-
ply 10 ID: election of msmbers Of Congress, SO