Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-09

|
| RAYMOND reported the Message which the Clerk CON-
menced reading from the desk All Of the same having
reference Federal affairs having been read motion
prevailed that its further reading be dispensed with.
On motion of Mr.. HOPKINS, Of Washington, il was
laid on the table. He moved that the usual number OF
copies be printed.
Mr.. FOREMAN moved, as an amendment that 800
copies of the Message be printed
| Mr.. DUCKWALL hoped that only the usual number
(S00 would be printed He did not endorse of the
Governors recommendations.
Mr.. FOREMAN thought the document contained sug-
gestons of so much Importance that extra number
should be printed.
Mr.. JONES of Appomattox did not coincide with the
recommendations of the Governor and not favora-
bly, disposed to spreading the Message before the people
He believed the times aud people ripe for secession.
Mr. ANDERSON, Of Botetoutt said he was opposed
to printing extra number of copies Of this Message
| as he was unwilling, by his vote TO give implied
sanction part OF it. He regretted that the Governor
at such time this should feel it his duty to throw
into this House such rebrand that part of his Mes
sage which tends to foment dssensions in the South
At time when the safety of the South depends on the
union of the South he Is peculiarly unfortunate in his ef
fort to produce sectional jealousy and enmity between
dferen. sections of the South Sir nothing but the
most united and decided Of the whole South now
can save the country from the horrors and caamtes oil
civil He could not, therefore, but deeply deplore
this unfortunate course of the Governor
The vote being taken, 1900 copies of the Message
| were ordered TO be printed.
The following resolutions were offered by Mr. BIAS
SELL, of Upshur:
Resotved, BIZ the General assembly of Virginia,
That the Union being formed by the assent OF the States
respectively and being consist mt only with freedom and
the Republican institutions guaranteed TO each, cannot
and ought not, TO be maintained by force.
That the Government Of the Union has no power to
declare or make against any OF the States which
| have been its constituent members.
That any effort by that Government to coerce any
| State to reunion or submission, whether under the
claim of enforcing the laws against citizens or otherwise
should and will be esteemed by Virginia, from communi
ty of interests and relations on her kewise-to
be resisted to the utmost of her means and power.
Offered by Mr.. ROBERTSON, of Richmond city as an
amendment TO the above:
| Resolved That much of the Governors Message as
refers to the subject of coercion by the General Gov
eminent of a State of the Union be referred to COM
mittee Of fifteen with instruction to report thereon inn
mediately.
The amendment adopted and afterwards the reso-
| luton amended
The following resolutions we're also submitted by Mr..
ROBERTSON and referred to the committee appointed
| under the foregoing resolution
l. Resolved bv the General assembly of Virginia,
That the basis OF all Just is the consent OF
the governed" and that such consent is the sanction
of Free Force is the sanction of Despotic, Govern
ments.
9 That where this consent exists there whatever the
form of the Government, is Liberty and where it is
wanting there, whatever the form OF the government Is
Tyranny.
g. That this fundamental principle Sc; forth, and
stands forever consecraed in the Declaration Of In
dependence made by the Congress OF 70 speaking the
almost unanimous voice of the United Colonies that
t. and for done by the British Government in dero
cation OF it, they then the acknowledged subjects of
Great Britain threw off that Government, and that
the truth of it, they rested their appeal ITO the opinions
of mankind for the justification of what they did; and
that the recognition of that TRUTH that justification
rests now, and must rest forever.
f. That this principle is embodied, or necessarily i'm
pied in all the State Constitutions as well as in
thgt of the Federal Government and to the former
is habtualy acted in making such changes in
them as the people think proper, and was never
more st1ikngly asserted nor the recognition of it
more conspcuousy exhibited than in the case Of that
part of the Sae of New York. now known as Vermont,
declaring and establishing, with the consent Of the
former, a separate and independent Government
D. Resolved That the encouragement and sympathy
heretofore extended by the Government and people OF
the United States Greece aud 10 the South American
Sates-and by the people of the United States, to Ire
land TO Hungary and this moment to Italy, and always
to every nation engaged in struggle for the right
Of selfgovernment the ayowed sympathy Of the
British Government and people with the people Of Italy
in their late successful efforts TO assert for themselves
that right; and the Of France, if not &C
tualy aiding, yet refusing TO intervene against the
popular then, aud STILL in progress there to
the same end all but tributes TO the truth of the
legitimate government is 'the consent of the govern
ell"
D. That this principle gives countenance to insur-
rQctiou or rebellion but only recognizes the important
truth that it ia less bunder, than crime, TO con
found the rising of whole people, with the outbreaks of
mob.
T. That conceding the general right Of the Federal
Government as of all governments, to iniorce its laws
vet NAV well be questioned whether the exercise Of
that rgh. was contemplated in case where the resist
tbn laritv nf Sfata tba
tempt 10 forciby execute the laws would nothing
short OF war and supposng the strict right TO possess
cd we vet repobae aud denOunCe the exercise OF IT, as
not called for by any necessity and opposed to the
spirit alike Of liberal principles and oil an enlightened hu-
nantY, in the actual circumstances that exist
That in like manner concedng all parties TO a
pact the coequa right judge OF its infraction and
coerce the performance of IT, aud that in the judgement
of other parties the compact South Carolina has had
no lust cause TO withdraw herself from the obg atoms Of
IT, vet resort TO such coercion Is always matter OF
sound discretion, and should not be had except for
causes that would justify or an independent power
aud this Assembly declares il its opinion that such
causes exist in the present case, demand or would
JUS ify, resort to arms
That this Assembly declares it to be its opinion that
the general authority to execute the laws of the United
States ought not be attempted by force in the case
that has arisen and that Government is party
to the compact of which sprung, and has not in
that character the right TO coerce performance by
exerted with the and acquescence OF the
parties forming the compact, this Assembly feels called
on aud justified by the exgency OF the case to declare
the total denial and dissent of the State of Virginia.
one of the parties to any resort TO force In the existing
state of things by tue said Government of the United
States against the State of South Carolina for either of
these objects and that of such conflict the most vital
interests of this State forbid that she should be
concerned or inactive spectator.
TO- That we deprecate and condemn the referring any
questions Of conflicting rights between the Federal Gov
and any seeding State arising out oil the acts OF the
authorities Of either the arbitramen of force being
not only uncaed for by any necessty-but as being cal
cuated from causes extraneous such supposed
fcts of rights, and which OF paramount consdera
ton to them TO involve the whole country in the caam
ties Of
IL. That these causes are TO be mainly found in the
denied equality Of the rights Of Shareholder and the
nonslavehoder involved in the proposed partial exclu
sion of the former from the common territoes-in the
breach of the pghted faith of some Of the nonsavehod
ing States and people, by acts and laws designed to OBJ
the recovery OF escaped savesby avowed designs
TO shape the policy, and the machinery OF the Gen
eral Government effect, by ndlrection, the
tncton of slavery which it is conceded that Government
cannot righuly directly interfere withand by other
acts importing denial OF rights of property in our
slaves and OF exclusive control over slavery do
nestle nsitution-and these are causes of complaint
common to all the saveholdng people and States, and
in plain violation of the spirit and terms of our
compact OF Union.
u. That while counselling Peace and desiring Union
and willing to make all honorable efforts to preserve
both yet declare that the former must be hazlrded
and the latter made impossible be preserved except by
the removal of these Just causes of complaint.
Is. That think it the duty therefore, of the default
ing States and people of the North if they would pre-
Peace and Unon-fCst TO repair their part the
wrongs they have done u.s. and fulfil their disegarded
ohi &c Ill.