Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-16

action IN regard 10 matters which interest al
alike, without a consultation, without q concerj
Of action-so that | am well disposed 10 leave
the matter Of this resolution entire. there
fore of:r this amendment, NJ an addition Il
tho 14th resolution:
Sand in the event that favorable RESPONSES
on the part Of the non slaveholding Suites, bc
not made to the proposed amendments of the
Constitution by the time appointed for the re
assembling Of this body, it is the opinion ot
this Convention that the said States of Della.
ware, Maryland, North Carolina. Tenncssee,
Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas, ought to
assemble in primary Conventions and in con-
junction with this State, convene at -, on
the - day Of -, 4 Congress Of the said
States, composed Of delegates appointed BY the
respective Conventions thereof, for the purpose
Of recommending an amended Constitution OF
government, upon which the Union Of all
those States and the Confederate States, with
such Of the non-slaveholding States as may
concur therein, can Ue safely effected, to which
Congress, the Confederate States and the con.
curing non.slarehoiding States ought to be III.
vited to send Commissioners"
The Committee will perceive, sir, that the
contingency on which this conference is pro-
posed TO be held, is when our proposition IL
br addressed to the non slayeholdirg States,
shall be rejected by them, | propose, in that
event, to convene a Congress Of the border
slave States, 10 DC composed Of delegates to
be appointed by primary Conventions Of those
States-a Congress which will necessarily be
commissioned TO deal authoritatively with the
Questions that will present themselves; iUr con.
>Ideretipn. ] propose that these border States
shall assemble themselves in Convention, 80
that they will be in a condition of readiness TO
act finally upon the propositions which may
c!na1ate from that Convention. 1t coatem plates
the possibility, that though these propositions,
ar some Of them, may be- rejected by SOME Of
the free States, and possibly by a ms;ority Of
them, Yet there may be u portion Of those
States that will be found willing to concur ia
the movement, and that such States shall De
represented by Commissioners at the Congress.
Il contemplates, too, the like invitation to the
Confederate States; So that it will Ge perceived
HAT if this scheme is carried ont. we will then
be in 4 condition 81 once 10 associate ourselves
@i!h the Confederate States, if forms of wssv.
cintirn can be agreed upon, and at the Same
tinc, with such Of the border States Us may
concur III the movement.
Mr.. WIsF-I would like 10 have the atten-
ton Of the gentleman from FauQuier, CIR.
Ssu1T.l 81 that he may answer mt.
would l'k" to know how mans assenbiages
Of State: we are IL have under this this I.soiu.
ton Us II IS proposed to I've amended? Let Us
count, sir. We are first To call together all
these eight border States to Consult together
ana cOmcer. such mcaSuics for their final acliun
~ The honor, the interests, and tle safety Ct
tho people tlitr:of may demand. and Tor that
PURPOSE the p.npsr authorities Of those States
are requested to appoint Commissioners 10 niec.
Commissioners to be appointed b. lhis Con-
ran'!on on nehali OF the people Of this State,
Il! Frankfort, in the State Of Kentucky, on the
list Monday in May neyt.'
There are two months oil time bciutr the
Commissioners are To mcti. These ConInis-
s:nnerS, | suppose, would be in consultation at
least SOME two OF three months more.
What next: We have, then, to whit until
the faiI to hear from our propositions, here now
separately made, 10 know WHEELER they ac-
cept our ~ultiIuata or rot. That brings lis u
next fall.
Well, What next are wr IL d0I To hold n
C0nvcnl;nn--a primary Convention. ,,on't
understand VIVA. is meant by the words I.ri-
mary Convention? Is this n separate Conytn.
ton proposed IN eaci. State: Is that what is
meant by primary Convention Then,
understand, it is hot l. primary assembly Of
the people; hut they are 10 meet, rs we meet,
i'll convention, regularly organized, | suppose.
Thus we shall have the ordeal Of the people Of
these States mceting in primary convention
calling all The St.ies, Us | understand, to meet in
Conventions; then tue border slave States con-
sulting together, and holding q commission at
Frankfort, The last Monday in May next. and
then, waiting until fall comes, 10 hear from all
the non-siaveholdiDg ~Sta!es-sitting here to
Judge and debate whether their answers are
satisfactory OF Motive are then, after all this
delay, to begin again and call a primary Con-
veution Of the border States, who are to form a
Constitution Of Government TO bc submitted
am | right, sirf
Mr.. ScoTT nodded-whether i'll assent or dis
sent the reporter could not say.
Mr.. WIsE-To be submitted to all the States,
to tho Notwithstanding States rs we'll as the
border States. VIII you tell me if this is not
! going through all the mazes and meanderlng
Of Commissions and Of primary Conventions,
% get st !ast-it might as we'll be avowed at
tirsI-if | understand my friend from Eau
gIier, CIR. ScoTT,)-to get at last at q National
L"nvertion. Sir, it terminates in that and
! nothing short o! il, but not in u short time.
Il is to take 4 very round about way, with
| every sort Of machinery to be employed, al
last to get us into 4 National Conventional
get border States and non-slaveholiing States
| IN 3 grand National Convention to decide our
fare. Now, ask my friend from Fuuqnicr,
(Mr. ScnrT,) in what, if in airy respect, this
Il fTsrs i,oui the suggestion made in the
! celebrated speech of William II. Seward,
Of n delay 'of one. two, or three
| years" and at last n National Convention L:
Why, sir, it is his proposition, not stated as
| clearly, with q great deal more machinery !;
and, in my opinion, it will require a great deal
| more tiur. 1t will at least require eighteen
months lo 90 through all This delay. Why
| employ all this machinery: Why not ask the
! borirr States at once TO come together, and, il
| YOU meal. 20 propose q National Convention,
If YOU mcan to call upon the non-slaveholding
| States, DO il at once, and let them answer US
, face 10 face! Aud then We will know', abou;
the time when this Convention meets again
| eve 10 eye, and toe to toe, in the presence oil
| each other-H hat is their intention. If you
are determined upon calling Il National Con-
, ~yentiur,, TO it Of once. Ii can be done in II
! short li,ur, and without all this machinery
! II t!HS - ~ oS w "'N'' ''NS
il called, not under iijunctions Of secTcsy, Ike
the "peacu Conference when we have had
our own Commissioners on this floor but in
open Convention. Let it be known what the
! Salmon P. Chasc's will say let it be clear
and let it be open. I see no necessity for employ
ing all this machinery TO get up this Commits
! sinll a. Frankfort. / doabt whether We have
60. time before the last Monday in May 10 call
the eight States together. How long are they
10 sit to form 4 Constitution TO submit
to the other States? How long will it
take to assemble the other States IN primary
Conventions: Why, until next fall; and it IL
next fall you Hre to call this Convention to,
gcther 10 receive the answers Of these slave.
holding States.
Will the Clerk read the latter part Of that
amendments
The Clerk read, as follows: