Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-03-27
RICHMOND WHIG.
SPEECH OF HON. q. w. SUMMERS,
IN THE CONVENTION, MARCH IL.

1
Mr. President, if there is nothing before the Cor
yenton claiming precedence in the order of business,
will that The Message Of the Governor OF the Com
monwealth, communicating the report oi the Commis
scners to the late Peace Conference at Washington
which was laid on the table few days since, be taken
up If that motion shall be successful propose 10 fol
low with motion to refer the message aud report tc
the Committee on Federal Relations and, with the con
sent of the Convention to submit remarks in sup
port Of that motion. move in the first place, that the
message and report be taken up.
The motion agreed to-
Mr.. SUMMERS continued Mr.. President it was my
purpose some days since, TO have submitted motion
Tor the reference of this report but have had op
por;urity of doing So learned that could not affect
NV purpose unless by previous motion to lay on the
table the resolution offered by the gentleman from Ches
teifeld (Mr Cox and the pending amendments to his
proposition cOurs, which did not feel at liberty to
adout ! think it is due to the Convention and to the
Committed that the earliest possible opportunity for the
consideration of this report shall be had and that the
views OF the Committee upon it shall be presented to the
Couventoa. Having been one OF the Commissioners
sent by Virginia the Peace Conference, which seems
10 have become the applied to the convocaion oil
States lately held in Washington and having had the
misfortune TO differ on some points with my most re-
spec:ed aud esteemed colleagues portion OF them,
hope it will not be CONSIDERED out OF place II a'al
myself of this occasion to present. briefly as may, the
considerations and views which Undue d me to sustain
the measure adopted by that Conference.
remark however in the first place, that there we're
but very few taken upon any OF the propositions
offered in the Conference upon which there was any u
yersy of opinion entertained between the ConmisSion-
| e.s from Virginia. According to my recollection the
first section of the adjustment agreed on in regard 10 the
Territorial question presented the only occasion when
there was any dissenting opinion entered on the journal
by portion of the Commissioners from this State
Ex.PresIicut TYLER-Excep. in regard to the second
section upon which raised my own dissenting voice
Mr. SUMMERS resumed. beg pardon had forgot
ten that the distinguished gentleman from Charles City,
Ex-Pgcsdent TYLEE) my respected and venerable col
league in this commission had Indicated his dissent upon
the second section which second section however, re-
ceyed the votes OF the other four Commissioners from
Virginia.
This adjustment Mr. President is the resul; Of pro-
cedure Instituted by the General Assembly OF this Com
monwealth desiring with The most patriotic motives, 10
make an earnes, eEort for settlement oil the dihcult
aud threatening questions now dividing the country
do not propose 10 20 into details in regrd TO the voungs
in the Conference But propose to address myself Tor
short time to the adjustment itself, remArkng however
iu advance that met in the Conference,
from twenty-oae S:aes Of this Unon-seven oi theui
aveholdng States and fourteen ron-sGveholdug States
and that while there was, 20 some extent an exhol'
ton Of spr aud purpose adverse TO the views o. the
Southern States and the Commissioners from Virginia,
vet as q general proposition, was grained 10 nhI
marked indications OF spirit OF fraternity-a general
desire or harmony and tranquility, and an anxious de-
sire for the restoration and pcpetuity OF our Union
This speci.ly manifested ITSELF will take occasion to
say on the part Of the Commissioners representing me
horder non-sayeholdDg States Gong beyond that hne,
cannot permit myself 10 omit menuoning that the STATE
of Rhode Island WAS found, throughout all the proceed.
mos in entire harmony with the wishes and purposes oi
! ,ho-e of the Southern States, and active II making
efors for settlement and aclus'meht ei 'neee
questions that the State Of Ne" Jersey oy her 'hte
deeqatiop wac with Throughout upon every PROPOSE
ton. that the Commonwealth OF Pennsylvania, by a
large msiori,y Of her delegation, ana the SEe OF Ono
bv Ike miority OF her Commissioners, eGhoited 'ne
same purpose and spirit; and Il vas Eia'tr Vi we
dssua. gatifcaJn and he most hoptlu. interest," lDat
throughout those labo'a and To ter close tnt'e vas
manifested gIOSlg spirit 0i brotherhood tsA'sh'ig
of aha bopds 50 i were between the border States Oh
each side of the line Including Illinois aud indiana in-
diana il is true did vote upon the h2al adoption o.
the measures promulgated by the OoaieieHIe 4ue
Commissioners from Indiana were lusructedby the Teso
utions of the Legislature OF that state, 10 peS'o"
final vote upon any proposition, without hisl reporting
II ~ the Legislature then in session, io9 IFS concurrence
roIoW;pp out the direction OF her Legislature in accor
dance with those restrictive resolutions, indiana dd no.
cast her vote upon tie final action CT the body But IL
nos did and aided materially III ihelr support Oh tu'
floor IL their advocacy.
Gaming then Mr. President the result OF these la
bors will FIRST make a single remark rs to general oo
lection 10 the whole, far, at least, as the lefrtora
question ia couceraod; an objection 10 which | have
heard repeaed and which made in the Senate o h'
Vuad States aud that E that under the decision OF h'
Srnrsme Court of tho United States in the Dred scot
case the South is entitled 70 participation in all the Ter
r;tores belonging the pecpie % the Ohlteo otAes
that we have equal right, from the South a. !iom th'
North 90 migrate any Of the Territories belonging
The limited Staes carrying with Us any species O pro
party known TO the laws OF the State IRON winch IL may
be carried; aud that this right beng now secured an'
recognized by the decision referred TO- TINS adjustment
il an abandonment the part OF the South OF the tgh
to that portion OF the territory on 'ne No''u s'e Vi "
line of 50 deg 80 min.
Mr. President have not been accustomed 10 regar1
the South as being entirely satisfied to saud upon h'
Dred Scott decision ia this particular were mat th'
fac could We ia our Judgment with safety now anC
hereafter stand upon the bred Scott decision awarding
equal right TO the people OF every portion oil the tnoi
in those Territories there would be no occasion 10 seeh
An adjustment at all far as the Territorial questions are
concerned We all know, however Ihst III CERTAIN quar-
ters that decision beyond given point has not been
regered a. OF binding authority We have been Gccustom
ed in the South to apprehend that by mutations III t'
composition of the Court, that opinion may be changed
and think cannot err in expressing 1t as the genera
conclusion of thu Southern mind, that iar and equa
bic partition of the Territories would be the most udi
cious mode OF settling the question.
We went to Washington, Nr. President under reso-
ations Of the General Assembly OF Virginia, which d.
cared that the plan Of adjustment proposed by the as
tngushed Senator frou Kentucky ar Ots'enueu G.'S.
would be satisfactory 10 the people OF this Common
u,.lth did not regard that declaration as intended
90 present the scheme of adjustment referred to IN the
light of au ultimatum. / do not know that any OF us
regarded ourselves as restricted 10 te SteuuV VP"
sitiops but that these indicated by the General
Assembly as presenting of the modes OF adjustment
which would be satisfactory to the people oil Virginia
aud that they were suggested the basis OF negota
tien at Washington. The adjustment arrived at by
the Peace Conference divides all the Territory belong
Ing to the United States by the line OF SO deg and 80
min of North latitude. If it be o. lection TO this
adjustment that it is surrender Of all upon the Norn
side of that line il is equally en- objection to the Oriteh
dea proposition which divides 1t by the same hhe.
o. serve that one Of the distinguished Senators from
Virginia in the Senate Of the Uni ed States made this
objection that it was surrender OF the rights OF the
South on the North side OF the line OF &c. 30 and yet
that same distinguished Senator hmTef offered the hrst
article of the Crtenden proposition as substitute Tor
the first article of the adjustment at Washington and so
far as the partition OF the Territory by fixed line Is
concerned both are Preciesly alike.
Passing from tha. objection, and insisting that we
might well have thought ourselves justified in approving
fair partition of the Territories by the plain directions
of the resolutions of the General Assembly under which
We were commissioned, beg leave TO submit some re-
marks upon the section ITSELF
have before me the propositions submitted III the
Senate of the United States by Mr. Crtenden, to whose
patriotism have just paid the tribute OF our homage
aud respect also the report OF the adjustment maue
in the Peace Conference at Washington propose TO
call the attention of the Convention, with its permission
70 the provisions contained in these two modes of ad
iustmont. | think Mr. President, that 1t can be made
quite manifest that VIII le the adjustment made III the
Peace Conference is whole the full equivalent oil the
Cruenden proposition that it is in mauy respects, IN
advance Of and Of more real value. Tue first section
of the report is in these words
"In all the present Territory OF the United states
north of the parallel of tAry.sx degrees and thirty in
u,es of north latitude involuntary sctvude, except II
pun,Ament of crime is prohibited In gil tho present
oC that line OF held