Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-14

L that common courtesy and common respet
: that the relation Of the States and their d
pcndencY upon each other would seem to j
, mand! Do gentlemen fear discordant counsc
, upon the consultation: Do they fear tn
. these States advised with in advance, vi
refuse to secede? Is that their apprehension
That wonld he inconsistent, Mr.. Chairman
with tho declaration that if Virginia goes ou
they will 20 also. think. if they will folio
the action Of Virginia, if they arc SO connec.e
with Virginia, if they will be so Influenced b
her movement as to require them to follow til
direction in which she leads, ,his influence wi
control their counsel and lead them 70 agre
to her proposition in advance.
But 1t is possible at last that they may n
iuSe to seccde. Thrr, if a course of action
adopted by this State which may offend thei
dignity, which may justly wound their pride
tbat course Of action may engender spirit c
antagonism, spirit Of hostility towards OH
people, that w0uld be mast likely to defeat tn
very ond and purpose which gentlemen desir
10 accomplish Is i: not better, then. to confe
beforehand? Is 1t not nctter TO take counsc
IN ADVANCE hriHre q measure so important !
adopted? ir concert Of action, if harmony q
purpose, If Union is desirable, will not lhes
tie best obtained By respectful courtesy?
Since tnen, at last. ali agree that to make
union OF Virginia with the Confederate States
practicable, We must have concert of actio,
with cur neighboring States, why may we moi
ali agree in that line cf policy which leads tc
friendly consultationI Is anything TO be los,
by ii! apprehend not. i there not some.
thing to be gained by it, 1t seems to me
there is. In what condition would the instant
and separate secession Of Virginia place her
We may adopt an ordinance OF secession, and
put the State out of the Uniun We. then,
would tear her from her present associations.
Maryland would be in the Union, North Ouro-
lina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri would all
he in the Un!on; Virginia would he out And
what would be her relations 10 the General
Government! That Government could not
torsake Maryland. Ii could rot iorsske North
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, OF Missouri. So
long rs they remain parties to the contract,
protection is due 10 them. The Federal Gov.
sTnment, while remaining at Washington,
would, of necessity, preserve It's armed posi-
tion, because the secession OF Tirginia would
imperi! It's safely TO greater extent. The
divided state Of opinion in Maryland would be
at onco source Of danger. Of imminent dan.
ger Stimulated by The secession Of Virginia,
the people of Maryland would be driven 10 ac.
ton Discordant c5ul.s-is would prevail! there.
Division now ularks the sentiurn, Of their
people, leaving it doubtful on which side the
majority renains ont the stimuIant given By
the secession of Virginia, would quickly excite
to action, and preciptate conflict that would
end speedily in hostile collision with the
Federal power
Separate secession on the part ci Virginia
has been commended n y measure Of peace. I
look upon it, Mr. Chairman, As 4. u,easnrc OF
war. | 20 not helie'e tia, the people Of this
country would remei:i at peace f,r sixty days
] believe ii would bring on collision with The
Federal forces The puin, Of collision would
be the seat Of the Federal Government That
Government could not remain in Washington
With safety under lhc coHdtion OF things that
the separate secession Of Virginia would bring
abou. Instead, therefore, of its commencing
iise!t to me as measure Of peace, reject it rs
4 measure o! Wur-of unnecessary war. be.
cause il we take counsel with the other States
on the border and concert action with them
p0ace will be preserved. We should reach a
peaceable solLt on of the difficulties which
now surround US and press OF our attention
With the withdrawal or Marvlni Virginia,
North Carolina. Tennessee, Kentucky and
Missouri. The Federal authorities would evacu.
they would. An absolute urCr.si', -
to remnve elsewhere would arise, 5nd theJ
would obey the law Of that necessity.
The District OF Columbia would be re-
troccdcd to Maryland, reincorporated with
her own territory. and restored 10 It's orr.
ginal Jurisdiction. The government would
be removed TO another State, and that
point Of collision would be avoided
Therefore, with concert Of action between
tho border States there will be peace; with
the separate secession Of Virginia, there
will he war-and the most horrible war,
civil war.
If, then the one policy looks 10 the pre-
serya,ion of peace, and the other to the
Inauguration of war, which ought 10 be
pursued Do gentlemen desire war, or do
they prefer peace: On that dctermlna-
ton ought to dcpcnd-it seems to me-thc
selection Of the one or the other inc OF
nolicv. Gentlemen all agree that these
border States stand on the same ioo''he'
and are surrounded by circumstances ;
which affect all alike. They agree mat II
one 90, all must 80; none can remain
They agree that their interests are the
same, their destiny the same.
If, therefore, a prudent disposition Is TO
prevail, we will adopt measures Tor con-
sultation. l scarcely know how TO argue
the proposition. It's statement IS lis arSn-
ment. Why then does this diversity Of
views prevail? Why is it that the one
side insists SO pertnaciously on instant Sc
cession. and the oiltcr on the policy oil pre-
yious consultations There must be some
mo,ivc that has not been disclosed. There
must be some hidden reason yet unueVei-
oncd. If concert Of action be necessary,
| that is best attained by previous consuita-
ton. Why then this diversity oi sentl,
rent7 There must bc . reason ior IL, ahu
vet | have heard no reason assigned
| What has been given to US as reasons, are
too inconscauential 10 account tor the a.
versty. Therefore, conclude, there i
some motive which yet lies hid. There /:
some reason which yet remains TO DC eA
nlained. What is it do not know ina
shall be successful in discovering it, bu
I shall make the attempt. Gentlemen OF
the one side tell US that the proposltlon:
for Constitutional amendments are 'di
forms and ceremonies; that the people
the North will never assent 10 thenA' ah'
vet think they are actuaLcd by iear' les
perchance by this negotiation, some al
iustment might be made which would d
Satisfactory TO the border States.
Mr.. W1se-I wish to understand wheth
or the gentleman III his imputation Of tn
motives Of those who want to go out Of tn
Union, means to apply tito me
Mr.. Scorr, Of Fauquier--l had not ID
gentleman in my mind at all.
Mr., WIsE-It is strange the genticma
had not me in his mind when he classed m
with the gentleman from Bedford, Cl'
GoeGls,) as ono who wanted to go out
the Union immediately.
Mr.. Scorr, OF Fauquicr.-l was speakin
Of another class.
Mr.. WIsE-I have only 20 say, for my
self, that have no Tear ABOUT an aaJus
ment being made with the North, for III
Ja.;ra ia to form new and better Unlo
Of the North aud South; but do fear I'll
na;,stuont which some gentlemen a.