Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-19


md with q view 10 an adjustment Of the pend.
ins difficulties. through the agency OF the
Conference herein provided for, and by re-
turning sense of justice among the people Of
all sections
DO not propose TO occupy the time Of the
Convention, rs said before, with any extended
remarks which it might seem proper to make
upon the proposition which | propose by way
Of amendment to the report OF the committee.
| oulv wish to say that the position which
have here indicated rs the one deem it proper
f;;- the State of Virginia to assume, is no new
one; and therefore, in order that may disa-
buse the minds of those persons upon whom
an erroneous impression may have been made,
beg leave for one moment to refer to the po-
sition which [ assumed when was candidate
before the people Of my county for seat in
this Convention:
ale believed that Virginia should now take
her position she must take ii as sovereign,
indcpendcnt Stu.c-shc should Mt once, how
ever, and without delay, set about the recon-
struction of some national government in
which she can maintain her position Of perfect
equality with her sister States. He was by no
means prepared to 20 the length of some 9th.
crs and to declare that Virginia, under al cir.
cunslanees, should unalterably attach herself
to Union of slayrholding States alone, but
when she has become party TO proposed
Constitution as fully sufficient to protect her
rights in al time, the result Oi earnest efforts
to harmonic with other States III the fornia.
ton Ct such Constitution, then he would say
to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois and Iowa, come and DC with us and OF
us, by endorsing our bond Of Union, and giving
earnest that you intend in oil time to abide by
it, Lie would even 20 farther: lie would exact
nothing for the South but what was strictly
proper; he would then say to nll The States,
North and South, if you will again, with us,
uniurl the flag with the stars and stripes, aud
agree never to war upon Us so long rs there Is
piece Of the bunting left, according to the
bond Us wc have lnqdeit, with the Constitution
Of the present Union AS tie basis, then We bid
you welcome 10 tie protection which it will
once more secure 10 the halI,y lenl'te " TIE
United States 0j 4iD.trica."
believe that the proposition which ! have
here submitted will Tend to bring about re.
construction Of this Union do not desire to
see this Union forever destroyed. do not
agree with gentlemen around HE, who believe
that Virginia should in all time connect hcrscl!
With All exclusive slayeholding couftderacy.
have lived long enough, Mr. President, TO ap'
prcciatc The blessings Of this Union and 10
know something Of The history of ,hOse co'i'
mon struggles snl honuls which have made
our history 20 glorious and which have made
our country so much respected and rrvered
abroad. Sir, can we'll appreciate the patriot.
ism and the sacrifices winch have SD adorned
the history OF the past, although have never
been one of those the Incidents Of whose lives
have formed any portion u that history. de.
sire to sec, sir, this Union, if possible, recon-
structrd, as it WIS designed 10 he ny our fu-
theirs but believe it Is the duty Of Virginia
now TO take her petition outside Of this Union,
in order that she may maintain and preserve the
peace and the unity Of this great Republic OF
ours shall hail il as the happiest day OF my life,
if can once more See this glorious event coll
summated, and stand here to take, as | have
taken, the very position which | intended !
would take at home.
I stand here, sir, ~ g conservative, Union
loving mar; but conservative and Union.lovinI
as ain, believe the time has now arrived,
when Virginia should take her position, when
she should indicate what acton she should
take when she Should so outside Of this
Union, and there assert those rig KITS which she
has been unable to obtain, while she ha5 been
member Of il.
therefore ask, Mr.. President, that this pro-
position which submit by way Of amendment
may be laid upon the table, printed, md refer
red to the Committee Of the Whole.
Mr.. GnGGIS's proposition wax laid OH the Ia
BILE ordered to bc printed, and referred to the
Cotnnattee Of the Whole
E,,,,n,r b,Il ~ hands n r,ffl.
ton, signed by several hundred Of my con-
stituents Of Norfolk. enclosed in tic flag of the
United States Of America AIN instructed
sir, to present the petition in the enclosure to
this Convention.
The language Of the instruction is in these
words:
I'VE, the undersigned citizens Of the county
of Norfolk, do hereby affirm our devotion to
the Constitution and Union of the States and
request our delegates 10 the Convention to
stand By the same under the existing circum
stances"
This memorial is nulnerously signed, bear.
ing, think, upwards OF e0h names, and, II
needful, the number OF signcrs might have
been more than doubled. Ny constituents
have deemed i, necessary TO forward this me-
moraudum 10 their delegates in view OF the at
ton Of the constituencies Of other gentlemen
who occupy seals upon this floor.
Now, sir, desire to say one single word IN
reference 10 the language there used. They
express their devotion to the Constitution rnd
the Union Of these States, and instruct Their
delegates TO stand III the same under existing
circumstances. One word uf explanation in
reference to tho term ''cXiSting circumstances.
I wish that gentlemen should understand tins,
that these questions were too lIi!ly ana elano
ra;ey discussed before my constituents, cr tfc
to misunderstood wl,a; is liable perhaps 10
miaconstructou t,y others.
The phrase .uuer existing circumstances
implies that they are not hopeless OF an nd
iustlnrnt If tie difficulties upon honorable
| terms SIR, nv people have been taught TO
regard the Constitution Of the United States
Us much part nr their Constitution rs they
regard the Constitution Of Virginia I'M their
own Constitution They du not regard
the TWO ~ inimical. the one 10 the other.
They hold that there is no antasoniSn between
them; that the uuc is as lnuch their Govern.
mcnt and part of their Government, as the
other. They hold, sir. that the Constitution
Of the United States is tue great charter OF the
rights and sovereignty ui the States, aid Us II
is the charter Of personal rights and personal
freedom, they are DESTROYS OF preserving that
Constitution intact, of preserving it in the
spirit in which our fathers famed il. They
arc tcsiruus, therefore, Of securing such guar
ar,ees az shall forever dispose Of those ugi!n.
ting questions which disturb the public mind
of The country wish it to be understood
that they are not, in the colnmon and acrI'
monious langnase Of the present day, sub
missionisls. They a'c prepared TO exhaust
and are determined 20 c1iiaus! every nleurs in
their power to obtain those guarantees which
they require, and if defeated in Obtaining
thoss remedies, they are prepared to make
common cause, aud 80 as far az any, in the as
se,ion Of the rights Of Virginia, under TIC
Constitution Us We understand it.
With these remarks, beg leave TO rc!ar The
pe,iIini, 70 the Convention, ard move that il
he laid upon the table.
+ 'rhe petition was laid o., the table
UNION RESOLUTIONS.