Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-15
master or a free negro becoming equal to The

equality Of the races. Sir, / do not believe it.
l nave no idea that there is al! such party,
except, perhaps, some poor, miserable, cruzy
fanatics, Il handful here and there. That there
IS any large party OF white people in the
Oniteo States, or in any part Of il, who be
lieve IN, who assert, or recognize the equality
OF tile races, | do no, believe. Why, sir, it IS
kno%n TO us all, that if you go North, among
the Tree States, you find the distinction drawn
with 4 stcrncr hand than it is here. Here
there Is generally a mutual sympathy, a mu-
tual respect and affection between the master
ana the Slave; ind even the poor free negro,
VINO, LOT want of n master, is treated by a
great many people as il he had no friends, who
bangs, In hrs defenc=less and frierhless candi-
ton, around our kitchens, tn gather the crumbs
that tall from the table Of the siare-eren the
Tree negro III This colIr!try has the sympathy
oil somebody. But IN the North he has the
sympathy Of no one. He is IN oppressed,
do IN tEodden, over ridden creature. With
these iacss staring us in the face, when gentle
men come here ard tell US that the great ma.
jo'Iiy OF LIE people Of the North intend to as
ssrt the doctrine Of the equality Of the races,
II atnusss me. We know il cannot be SO.
Mr Chairman, these are the main provisions
about winch | shall! crnlme:t, in his plan Of
amendment. X vii: BIZ seen, as said IN re-
spect to tue Peace Conference proposition, that
this plan Of the COMMITTED covers tho entire
scope CT the subjects about which it il sup
posed that amendments 10 the Constitution are
necessary. II embraces every feature Of the
Cri,tendah amendment, and substantially ev.
cry feature Of the propositions Of the Peace
Conference. We had, from the distinguished
gentleman from Charles CITY, (lir. TvLEg,)
criticisms upor the Peace Conference PROPOSE
tons, upo, their uncertainty and their vague
ness CT meaning. and We have had since,
city Of Richmond, M. RANvoLPu,) L most
ellbpratc criticism IN regard 10 their conS!ruc-
tor.
Now, tile COMMITTEE On Federal Relations,
without admitting the correctness of the criti-
clsrns upon the Peace Conference propositions,
urged mainly on he ground Of doubt as TO its
true construction, YET, in difference TO the crit.
lciStEs 0! enlightened gentlemen, such as have
examined it upon this floor, hsye undertaken
to correct the ph~rase,logJ in the points to
which objections havo been made. | have
no hope Of securing the support Of u,y
friend from the city vi Richmond, (Ir. RAN
noLPn) to this proposition, because he dis
tluctly informed US that he thought it ohjec.
tionAblc for want Of Constitutional guarantees
OF power. |, therefore. give up the hope Of
his support But may | not, with confidence,
call upon the distinguished gentleman from
Charles City, CIR. TYLEn) who made no oljso.
tioa TO it upon that ground, but who. if un-
dersscod hun, voted against the propositions Of
the Peace Conference because of the vagieness
Of expression in cer tain particulars, which have
now been corrected. May | not ask him, now
that every exception taken by him has boon
removed. now that every doubtful point has
been made plain, 10 come and give us the ben
cit Of his approval Of amendments which are
due in.no small degree to his enlightened crit.
!cism upon the plan Of the Peace Conference I
ii seems ~ Tie Te are entitled TO it. lie makes
his objections and we remove them VIC re-
move them in a spirit Of difference, in 4 spirit Of
harluuny, in n spirit Of Cancellation, for the
purpose Of uniting all who ~crilicise for the
purpose Of improving; and | think we have the
right now to claim the support of that d;stin.
guI,hcd gentleman.
| will not drtain the committee longer upon
this subject. That Is the plan which We pro-
pose Of Amendments 10 the Constitution. We
propose to refer that plan TO L conference Of the
border States, to 5s held az the city Of Frank.
fort. We do not propose to declare an ulti.
mItum bill, because we do not conceive that it
would be respectful to our sister States whom
We invite into the conference, to declare hera in
advance what is orr ul;itnaium. II would be
| going, as | remarked the other day, into u COIL
s~ulta!i0n with our written opinion III our pocket.
And. therefore, | believe there is no plan for
prornnrGlng these matters as Nil ult:matum.
But We are told that We ere to 90 into this
proposed cunleretce and give up our opinion
10 the will Of the uis j,rity. No body has pro-
posed that For one | say, that while VTgi.
MIA ought not to act finally in this matter with.
out regarding the wishes, the feelings and in.
terests VI hcr si-l.r States, yet | will never
c,cuont TO commit her honor to any conference
whatever. would retain it in tho hands Of
this constituent ussemolagc Of sovereigns, in
the hands Of uur constituents themselves Mt
the polls. | vii! Eevcr consent that a1y body
else shalI determine FOR Virginia what is 10
make for her best interests, her highest honor
| and her creates. safety. would retain for
ourselves the decision nf that question. But
# Hs get this plan, il it ens~:rs the purpose
| have suggested. If it secures u against what
We have aPpTehenGcd ia the past, against what
We apprehend in the future, Il it covers up
completely the whole subject Of this ~un!ortu.
nate controversy 10 the satisfaction Of the
Stare Sta!es now remaining in the Union, will
T. not give satisfaction to those which have
gone out? Viii Ii not bring them back Sir.
| do not know the condition OF affairs, or Of
public sentiment in those States, but / do
know that up 10 the lme of their secession
there Was in all Of them, except South Caro-
lima, a Union party so strong that it was
doubtful down TO The last moment what course
would be taken; and | think ! have Il hint, at
least, from the careful manner in which the
Conventions Of these States refrain from the
submission Of their action to the popular 3D..
prevail, that there is m apprehension that
their action may not meet the sanction Of the
constituent body ut their bones end at tEeir
| iresidcs. But however mat ,naJ be | shall
b. exceedingly slow 10 believe that when we
have settled to our own satisfaction and to the
satisfaction of the border States, when We have
declared that our honor is satisfied, that our
rights are safe that our interests are protected,
when the seeded States come to look the fu.
ture sternly in the face, when they come to
! consider their relative positions toward us and
toward the outer world, when they think Of
the glorions past in connection with this
mighty Union, when they think Of the fng. in
which the gentleman who last preceded me, (Mr.
HoLcoNng) can see nothing but stripes, when
they think Of the Stars and Stripes, when
they think Of lbe old associations Of interest
and affection connected with this Union, l will
not believe tina; they wiIl consent to remain
outside Of it
But suppose theJ will not return. What
then? Are we 10 submit our judgment to their
passion-our interests 10 their caprice-our
conduct to their direction-our honor to their
keeping? | think not think the duty de-
wolves upon US 10 take care Of our own rights,
oar own interests and orr own honor. It seems
to be thought here, that it is n clear PROPOSE
ton TINT our interests are ali with the Cotton
Statea-lhat Gir interests, commercial, manu-.
featuring, nduStriat-cf all sorts carry lis
South. Sir, I do no! know what are the int
rests Of tire manufacturing portion Of the com
muElty; | know very little about the peculiar
| i:dua,rial n,1-srits thyt nre followed in the eli.