Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-25
To the Voters OF Botctourt and Craig.

RICHMOND, JANUARY Il le6].
| Fellow Citizens Having under u sense OF duty as
your representative voted against an amendment TO
the Convention bill, which requires the vote OF the
people 10 De- taken 1t the election, whether, in the
cvcnt OF the Convention adopting an ordinance ofsc
ceSson. or any o.hcr ordinance affecting the present
poNca relations OF this State, j! ska! he required 10
submit II 10 the people Tor their ratification before it
shall be obligatory, feel it due to you that should
give you the reasons Of my vote. That the Conven-
zion ought aah will submit their acts the people for
their ratification ar rejection ii the safety OF the peo
PIE .t the time admit 81 the delay, 40 dou ubtS-
The acts ut the Conventions OF this State of 1880 and
lSJn, III submitting. Ia the people our Two last Con-
,titntions without being instructed 20 DO So il sri
| Icent guarantee for this. But We aro now IN the
midst OF Il revolution, and We do no; know what
day may bvin; forth. Il is the crisis in public at-
fairs, and the cXigenccs OF the times which calls for
Convention. An ordinary Legislature has no, the
power 20 apply the remedy. X becomes. therefore
necessary In call Convention, clothed with eYtraOr-
dinary lmwcr-with the whole sovereign power OF
the people 10 settle these difficulties and secure their
rights; and 1t Is proposed by this aGendnen; to limit
their power 81 ns TO make the Convention merely the
agents Instead Of the representatives OF soverci1ny
i'll c;her words 20 clotc it with but little moro pow
er than ordinary Legislature. This in certain
contingencies will make I powcrcss for good This
General Assembly have made last ctfor. 10 slvc the
mon by an appeal 20 ~! the States 20 appont delegates
to meet at Washington the Ah Of February 10 agree
| upon such amendments TO the Constitution Ms will
secure the Fight, ot the Sou;hcru States in future
| and, II they cali agrce rlon such amendments 10
ask Congress Ia pass It law submitting them to the
States iur their ratification. !rcIurcs a vote of two
thirds of each House 10 pass such law and the rat
i!icati0n Of ihrccoGrh, OF the States 20 make it i
part oi the Constitution, ;hat there scarcely
| hope that such amendments be obtained 10 the
Constitution. When the Biuck Republican party has
the control Of nearly Ill Of the Governments of the
| free States and large aory OF their representa-
| tvcs III both branches Of Congress- and when TOO
they have presented IN undivided ron, both in the
Fedora. and State lioyernmentS against anv couces-
sion compromise, and IN iavor OF administering
| the Government strictly upon thci. own Chicago
platform aud al the principal free States have passed
RESOLUTIONS in favor oi c6crcIns the seeding States
! and have rendered amy anouilt ot men and money
| TO the Federal Government which NAV be required
10 sGhuga,c tic s!yr States, and preparations are
now making, both by tho Federal and Free State
Governments upon large scale to subduc and con-
qncr The lave STATES by military icrce. In favor OF
this a,rocoU. doctrine oi coercion We iud Tho North
crn people OF all parties united. Under such crcum-
st.ncus, VIC have ratiuIul hope that such con-
ccssloL> al compromises will hc made BY the North
ns are absolutely necessary for the safety OF the
Soath Would Virginia ANONYMOUSLY surrender
| her ri gllt 10 slIc! protection
by the time the Virginia Convention assemblies il
will be asccrtancd whether the North will make
! such concessions 10 the Sol!th rs will secure tie
| rights Of tic latter. Cau!or compel, me 10 sGy,
ha: believe all reasonable and just concessions vii!
be rr!Usc'l. The course OF the Black l.cpubca..
and ihc hostile tone O.; their nre, has ,rced ma ~
! This conclusion. 80 that when the Virc;ri. Convcn
tnp meets il VIII have no alternative hut to % M,
~, ,hr uon mr. .Ii,cl, ,l. rst,;cs NJ V;r,ini, ~
| ,L No-,h .rI ,,TrIy ,,iui, ~ "b;r ~ .uJ
nn,,rc,ion NJ rho ryn,ns, c, s,cr;H,r, rber tbroo
h!,ndrc niIIion, ot Sv ,rorcr:v .ni ,h. I;vss snJ
sarr,y of tLr:r pennlr 10 ,;un brirvcs rho I,,tnr
alternative viii be- .iop,ed but lint the honor,
i,ty nul bc,t interest Of Viroini, viii r.ourc our
immediate. secession. In tlat event If =, maori,y If
,h nennlc yutc in luvor Of II rho convcniTnr will
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o,,utrv Jrrnchcd yi,h rho hst bIond nF n ;,;,nns
and onr nno,I wouII hnvo No ,nII .h",, M , r,
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w,bIraw ,rom rho Union # nccrssarv AMI np;,o win
th. S,u.hrrp states in Irn;n,, nrwonfdnr,rv his
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