Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-05
Tie Virginia State Convention.
Dd J.

EMITTED STATES SENATOR'S.
Mr.. BrowS, Of preston.-Mr. President, will
il be III ordvr before taking up the unfinished
business To offer u resolution
Tie PREsIprxr.-It ear be done by leave o.
the rcntlrmau from Monongalia, (Mr. VII
LEY.)
Mr.. Wu.Er.-I understand it will take but
q short time, aud give way with pleasure.
Mr. RgowS.-l offer the following rcSolu
tInn:
Resolved, That The Hon. ROBERT NJ. l.
HUNTER aud the Hon. JAMES NJ. Mason, iailcc
70 reflect the OPTIONS and wishes of the pco
pie CT Virginia in their recent opposition II
the Senate of the United States to reference
Of the report Of the Peace Conference to tho
consideration Of the States Of this Conieiieracy
with view Of having the amendments pro
posed in the said report adopted as part Of Tx
Constitution OF the United States.
Mr.. RHowS--I intended, sir, 10 press TIT
uassace O! that resolution. desire, sir, thai
The country s!.al know that at least-and
think, this Conven;ion-dltfsr with onr Sen
a,ors in the Congress of tho United States
but see so many empty seats here THIS morn
inc, and principally seats occupied by gentle
men who may differ from me on TINS subject
and is ! do mt desire 10 take advantage OF ar
Opponent, snail move TO isy the resolution or
the table for the present, with 4 view to sabt
it up AT an early day.
The motion vas agreed To.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
NJ. CnANpLlss-Mr. President, hold in ny
hand preamble and resolutions, which pro
posi- offering to the Convention. IL is proper
that should say that the preamble is tile pro
ducti0u of that enlightened and venerable ju
rst J. Alien, approved and adopted hy lh'
people Of Bntetourt, in one Of their primary
meetings. Prcdicated upon that Mr.. Presi
deat, | have added three resolutions.
do mol propose 10 detai1 the Convention with
having the preamble read. because take il
for granted that every gentleman on this 1ool
has read that clear and condensed exposition
Of the part which Virginia took in the forina
ton Of the Federal compact, of the right.
which she claims for herself, and the wrongs
which she has suffered at the hands OF oul
Northern friends. | propose Mr.. President
that the Secretary shall read that portion o
this resolution which is in manuscript; and
desire, with the permission Of my friend !rO'I
Monongalia, 10 offer few remarks
The following are the preamble and rcs"!u
tons:
The people of Botetourt county in genera
meeting assembled. believe it 10 be the duty o
all the citizens Of the Commonwealth, in tn
present alarming condition Of our country, Il
give some expression Of opinion upon tn
threatening aspect G! public affairs. They
deem it unnecessary and out cf place Ii aroV
sentiments Of LOYALTY 10 the Constitution AIT
| dc*otion to the Cninn OF these States. \ 'rie
reference 10 the part the Stale has acted in tn
past will furnish the bc>; evidence d the feel
ingS OF her SONS il regard 10 The nEiun OF tn
States and the Constitution, which is the sol
bond which binds them together.
I'm the controversies with he mother cpun
try, growing out Of the efforts o; tn" lir:c", L
tax the colonies without their consent it va
| Virgins, who b. the resolutions neaiIIst tn
| STAMP Ac', gave the example Of the first au
thorila!ive resistance by II legislative body L
the British Government. and 80 impaired III
frs, impulse TO the Revolution.
Virginia declared her independence bhIor
any OF tic co!anirs, ard gave the first writer
| Constitution 10 mankind.
BY her instructions her Representatives il
the General Congress introduced rcsUllic1
to declare the colonies independent; States, AIT
! the Declaration Itself Was written b7 uEc G
her sons.
SHE furnished &c tie Confederate States III
| Father Of his country, under whose guiCahc
Independence was achieved, and the rights an
liberties OF each State, it "':.S hoped, perpetual
| ly established.
"Shc stood un;iiSnaycl through the Ion
night &c the Resolution, hlcas'ing the slor
of war, anl pouring ont The bloud Of her son
like water on almost every battle field, 'rur
the rampartS ul Qarbec to the San,lS o. Gcnl
| gia
"By her own unaided efforts the Northwest
ern territory was cnn4ucrcd whereby TIE Mis-
SisSppi, Instead Of TIE Ohio river WAS reco2
nizel as the boundary III the United States b.
the treaty I'll peace
10 secure harmony. and as IN rSiGe;;t:e Z
| her estimate vi til. val.;c Of the Union of tn
States she coded TO nii ior their culGm0h benc
fit this magnificent IccioI,---an empire in II
self
W hen lac Articles u Confederation wrr
shown 10 he inadequate IL secure peace nn
tranquility ut home. End respect abroad. Viz
cinia FIRST moved 10 bring ab2;it more pcrfrc
Union.
AT her INSTANCE IT,: Iir>t n>>cnhlasr u
Commissioners took place ct Annapolis, whlc
| ultiDately led IL the meeting Of the L6n"eTl
ton which formed tbs present Constellation.
"rhis instrument itself WIS in great inca
smre the production Of nne Di her SONS, VIII
mas Justly been styled the father NJ the Con
SiitiiriOn.
The Government created H. i; MES put int
opcrat;on with her Washington. tie id'licr G
his country at its head her Jefferson, the #li
thor of thu. Declaration Ut Independence, in hi
cabinct--hcr Madison, the great advocate 0
The Constitution in the Legislative Hall.
Under the lead Of Virginia statesmen tn
Revolution Of l19o was brought about, Lonisl
ana was acquired, and the seconl War 81 In
dependence wa> wagcd.
'.rhrou,hout the whole progress Of thu Re
public she has never inirnged on the rights q
any State or asked, or received an exclusiv
benefit
"On the contrary, she has been the first L
vinIcate the equality Of all the States, tn
smallest as well us the greatest.
"But claiming no exclusive benefit Tor he
cIJrtS and SACRIFICES in the common cause, SIT
had right 10 look for feelings of fraterEit,
and kindness fer her citizens from the Citizen
OF other States, and equality Of rights for he
citizens with all others; that those for whu;!
she had done SO much. would abstain FROM ac
tual aggresSions upon her SOIL or, II ;'lry con;'
not be prevented, would Show themselves rca
dy and prompt in furnishing the aggrcssoIs
that the common government to the promotion
OF which she contributed 50 larg" for th'
purpose nf establishing justice aud cnSurinG
domestic tranquility would not, whist th'
rorips Of The Constitution were observed. be 81
perverted III spirit a. u inf!ct wrong and in
Justice and produce universal insecurity.
These reasonable expectations have beer
srievously disappointed.
Owing 10 spirit Of phSrissic:l lanaticisn
prevailing in the :ior,ir in reference to the in
s,itu,ion Of slavery, melted ty foreign emis'a
ries ami fostc:cd by corrupt political dema
gosucs in search Of power aud place, q fe"iin +:
has brrn aroused bstween the people Of tn'
two sections OF what was once COMMON cOnD
try which of itself would almost preclude lb.
administration .? united government in bar
uiDnv.
For the kindly feelings Of kindred people