Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-12

w SCt ~ Naii hOl.ib
itp Would It be lossibe for You to &C into
the money markets Of tho world md Obtain, o'lt
of your owu limits, one dollar upon loan from,
any bank! think il. would not: your si!ua-
ton would he altogether TOO peri,ous in this
conflict with nineteen States arrayAd against
you, YOU having to ish: alc3e and maintain
your independence alone.
Nor is that ali. Ii was cuough to bring the
mind Of every ,ucrnher OF tho committee
believe, 10 the conclusion, that ,l,cr. was no
alternative left us but to enter :n.o the stipula
ITEMS Of that temporary treaty. speak Of i:as
temporary. It may last for six months, posi-
bly, Tor nine months. 1t caanat go very
well beyond nine months. fon rca in n stale
Of great emergency =, this time; y"il have
large armies assembling. in Washington. old
Point Comfort vas reinforced the rtf'nr day
| by four thousand t,Dops. fou &ru ihreni:l:cG
with these hostile demonstrations ir every ,,i
recti0u. Large armies sire destined to lapve
| IRON the Northwest Your territory is liable
! to invasion in tina! direction. Sir, we ""u.
| aid. Where sie" can yau r!Aa:a Ii from p
What other quarter ga; r"H iuoE IL ii" tiG
except the Confederate :'I..!"s? d'i rot mean
to dwell longer Apnn t;iis slij"ai, kroW' tAAL
have made b::; Il very p'*r cAPoH'nnn ol tho
views intended 10 ;.r"sa:.t, arising probably
| from the difficulty ri writing moro than FROM
| anrti..n: Sc. | arn. nureGTrr, unwilling to
delay r..,." ct0n upon either the treaty, the
| terms III agreement, or the ORDINANCE o. ScceS
sio.4. Nay, sir, would tnosE srdently entrcs
! the Convention % delay rot lnn!neft III the
ratification oi the terms which your COMMITTEES.
| have agreed on w!:h The commissioner from
the Confederate States Ans only does the
commissioner desire Us to act with prclnptltudc,
but it is our interest TO DO SO. yin speaking
exclusively with reference to the interests OF
| Virginia, you should act forthwith, inr YOU
cannot say wha: day vii! bring icTsh. You
want speedy and decisive scion, md trust
the Convention will recognize the necessity OF
such action by 'ra.ifyiag this treaty
With these remarks, Sir, ihs question is be
fore you.
Mc. EARLy-Siac4 the adoption ot the "TGi
nance Of secession, have lelt M perfect iaca-
pacity end inability - deal with the Questions
that have arisen may SAY. without a,eaning
disresuect 10 any olce- gentleman, the. have
very much feared the want Of capacity Z! other
gentlemen to deaf with the quest!Ha:; ihs. press
upon us.
Sir, We have by this ordinance undertaken
to resume for the time being the power that
was delegated 10 the General Government by
| Virginia. As | noS understand IT ii is pro
posed to turn over the Common a'e:tu u: Viz
sinis, bound hand and feet, To liz. >1raiedc"ate
States. Sir, while wa remained & mrrnn"" Of
the old Union, no man doubted O. denied tho
power OF Virginia to defend herself against III
vasiop, or to protect herself wh=. Iser rights
were invaded. But, SIS understand this Con
vention it proposes to give 10 the President OF
the Confederate States the absolute control Of
all our military operations, whether offensive
or defensive. 1t places tie who'll n;litaFy
power of the Commonwealth under lis 2os,rol;
power never possessed Sy the Federal l:1rerT.
nent Sir, under this Convention, the Prcs;-
dent of the Confederate States ,.lay cs.i ic: any
number OF troops for anT puT7ose he may
think proper This is not at all consistent
With ny idea OF the position which Virginia
now occnp;es Until the people pass ui'on :hs
! ordinance Of secession, my OPINION is, .aa! our
po-ition is ons Is defence
Mr. TYLsR--'lhe President II :he old Union
nas just c@llsd for Is, Goo, without any iimi,p-
| t:rn.
Mr.. EAgLY--He has called fc- them iur ="
other purpose Than 60 maintain Ihe t'cnsiitu-
.irn and laws. II ne has done 20 f1c sny Other
purpose he is acting against the Constitution
and laws; and find myself compelled to stand
here in defence of the rights Of Virginia az =
sovereign and Independent State, which she
became the moment that ste resumed To her
self the powers which she delegated 10 the
general government, and which she is nov ex-
| ercising According TO ng understanding Of
I.that Convention, it Invests the President Of
| the Confederate States with power whlcA the
President of the United States nor Congress
never did possess The President, under
law Of Congress, had right TO call out the
military powers for certain purposes. Ee had
no right to control the military powcr Of Ir.
ginis, or OF any other Stale.
Mr.. DoRMAN.--Do=s this C1rVensinn give
the President any other power than that which
he has under the Constitution OF the Crn:edc.
rate States
Mr. EAhLr.--i don't know anything about
tkat | am speaking Of the condition OF 'i:-
ginis. We are now IL . great emergency.
We do not know The moment "c nigh; !:aTc
TO defend SoIne particular pc1n: III i'ia State.
But This proposition t;Ia: ives the President
every power, null;es 81: rf or:! orGlna;clsS m
the subject Of the military 'r-ya.atau# q; !:ic
State. lie may order Iuc forces 10 :na C"pit"
ct Washington, or anywhere sISG UI, our bur-
ders neeang protection. Ny opinion is that
we now stani in position Of defence, and we
have rieh, to d=lend ourselves; but: sir, il
YOU Adopt This ;junge:i:nn, then ths whole
military poTer OF ;iia stale IS turned over 70
another Government ..sr That in adopting
this, vGu nav create u division in the State
that may b. productive OF disastrous cansc-
ouences. We haze already appointed q Com
manitr in Uhcl ui the military and naval
forces OF Virginia This Convention gives til
the President Of the Confederate Suites The
f)ower to order him 10 any place E@ n'ay ihink
proper Sir. would be willing 10 consent I"
any alliance with the Confederate States :stleh,
rccagf.:2ing the sovereign; AID :n'ir9',h srrc
of Virginia, would hind them iG assist az: iut
I never will consent to place Virginia IA The
position in which, II my opinion. lhIs Ccnveu-
tion places heI.
fee! it due 10 ny:cI. and TO lhs' Position
| occupy, to express my opinions Frankly. !
acknowledges rcapacily TO deal With The
questions that arise hera. have tell 81 rarr'-
est and anxious desire 10 defend it:= State
against invasion; but / do not feel aush"r'zcd
to enter into amy alliance which stall place
this State, with its Ehoi4 military ::"a9, ilnder
the contro! OF the President.
Sir, this Convention uiaking tbs %:atc 4
member OF the provisional gjyeinluaiit, .ranS-
cends the poTcr with which We sro 'agestct.
1t is entirely lnHonsi,.,en; viii, the act re:uir
ing that the ordinance OF secession should be
referred to the people Tor .hc;r rction !,aiore it
should be final
Mr. RASpo,pH-AS uniei3taHH th.s Con
vent!on, K eon!ers 10 e!aster l'2ns: ;:pc'i the
| President Of III Gunaaera.: SEa's:: shan are
conferred upon .hs 'r:sideat OF thc United
States he is ibn commander; .;n-cair. Of the
army and rs*y; aud the only difference I'll!
be, that instead cf ia:ir'g Governor La:clirr to
connaad them, we will have P'es!f:"S; Davis
to command theul Our condition Is p mos:
anomalous one. Ii "e remain ii'rrlhs" d the
United States, crarg sct we har. ;''s:: passing
here is tressnnsble; and, therefore, believe
We ought to pot ourselves se!?aat reach o!
| ths RESPONSIBILITIES ATTENDING these act: By