Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-07


We cannot be sure Of tl.c effective CO.
operation Of the border Stales-Dclaware,
Maryland, kentucky, Tcnncssscc and
North Carolina, notwithstanding the nation
! is in the thrors Of revolution, have refused
to call conventions. How far North Caro-
| lima, Tennessee and Kentucky havo been
influenced by the delay Of Virginia in TAX
! ing her position with the Confederate
States, or what other causes have weighed
with them, have no means OF knowing.
! But fear there is too much reason TO de-
| plore the free soil proGlivities Of Delaware
and Maryland; and Missouri on the 2ulh Of
last month, by vote Of ~ to 23. actually
refused to declare her willingness 20 unite
with the South, even though the Northern
/ States refuse to agree Oh just settlement
| Of the slavery question, and the Union Is
dissolved in consequence thereof. Then
We should not await the action Of the bor-
der States. Delay and uncertainty are
runons 10 our interests. The great objec-
! lion To border State conferences, and all
/ other measures for delay, is that business
men are kept i'll Il state Of harrasslng and
| rainoHs uncertainty, as 10 where the State
is TO 70. aud the country Is TO go-undcr
what rcTrnuc system we are 10 llrc--aS to
| what amount OF pTutect!on-Sta stability and
safety is To DO given to that domestic
| institution Of ours, which is the foundation
! on which is reared the whole cdliicc Of
| State prosperity and civilization. Not only
| do commercial and manufacturing men
stand aghast at the doubts and difficulties
oC the States future, but shareholders pre-
| pare 20 weaken our strength by the with
| drawal not only Of their energy, virtue
and ability, but Of millions Of property
| from our soil-thc motives which impel the
latter 10 leave the State are two fold; first
By our unsettled policy they fear the re-
| luction of the value ut their slaves, and
secondly they know that Of nil institutions
! on earth slavery is the most sensitive, and
the most dangerous to be lncddlcG with By
any but its friends and 0wIHrs. They well
know thut the history Of every outside i'll
| reference with the institution is written III
| blood-hence they desire 20 place them
selves and the institution III the keeping OF
its friends. Even though the secession OF
| Virginia should in consequence OF her de-
lay fail to give her the proud leadership,
which all were once willing ~ accord her,
it would al least put her i'll il position where
the slave interest would be free from attack
ny egsation--in an alliance with Com
.nonwealths by whom she will not BIZ
trampled upon, and will be freed from i'll
suit, excessive taxation and ceaslcss agita-
ton.
We might have supposed our enemies TO
have prudence if not rinciple-shrewd-
ncss, if not wisdom and honor: and that
this miserable government ut v aShington,
when Straining every nerve 10 keep the
| 1 H.. 4 r. i
when Virginia was staying the tide which
threatened To sweep them from place and
power, would have had the tact not to say
the common deccncy TO stay the hand Of
oppression and plumber. So far from it, at
that very time they seek to prostratc
Southern prosperity. For, rs the distin-
glishcd gentleman from Halifax, (Mr.
| BaccE,) who first addressed us has shown,
at the very moment this Convention was
discussing the modes ofrcstoring union and
fraternity, Black Republican Congress
passed, and Black Republican President
signed the odiou5 Morrill, Tariff, more un-
equal aal oppressive tn the South than
/ !.la: bill os denominations ol lo3-, WHICH
/ eau. "..n- L;srup;;Es the government and
destroying the conicdcracy. Go with the
Southern Conledrracy, sir, and no such op-
der the wise and statcsInan-likc Constitution
| of the Confederate States, formed by South
| crn slavcholders for the benefit Of Southern
Shareholders. This is the conclusive an
| <wrr to gentlemen who ask what we arc to
get by going to the Southern Confcdcracy,
and express doubts as TO the security Of
our rights md interests in it. Is there I
gentleman on this floor who is not perfectly
satisfied with that Constitution, VINO sees
any thing in it incompatible with the inter-
rsts OF Virginia, Or which does not better
secure them than tho Constitution under
! which We live. Moreover, the construction
Of an instrument is secondary in impor-
tancc only IL the terms uf the instrument
itself. The Constitution Of the Confederate
States will be administered by Southern
Congress, Southern President, with u
southern Cabinet. and construed by South
crn Judges, all looking to the interest of
Southern shareholders; and not bya North
crn free soil executive and abolition Con-
gress, and Supreme Court to he abolition
izcd as rapidly rs death shall remove tho
remainder Of the venerable States rights
Judges who now grace It's bench.
The distinguished gentleman from Fau-
lu:rcr, tMr. Scorr,y argued that in
ranging herself with the Southern
Conlederacy. Virginia would 80 as a
mcndican,, ignorant in the manner in
which she was To be received. y q lncdi-
cant, sir Why, have not the States which
led the secession movement. sent commits
sioncrs to Virginia, both before and since
their withdrawal. not only inviting but
imporng her to join the Southern Con-
tcderacy
Again, sir, hc has argued That the Gov
ernrnent would not brook our withdrawal
and it would be equi"cIant to war, and that
the act w ould forever uiienatc the Northern
States from US, so that there could be no
Reconstruction Of the Union. l do not
Sec that the withdrawal Of Virginia from
the Confcderacy, without aggression upon
tho Federal Government, will produce war
any more than the mere withdrawal Of the
Confederate States has produced war. ap-
prrhcnd that if war springs up between the
rival Contcdcracics, it will not be Ill con-
sequence Of the isolated act of Sc
ceasion, but i'll consequence Of some
controversy with regard to the forts,
and the collection Of the revenue.
And if i: be said that the Government has
up to this time stayed is hostile hand to keep
Virginia with the Northern Confedsracy
| answer that ii sic seccdcs, the same
policy will probably be pursued to keep in
that ConleLrracy the remaining border
slave States. And, with regard to the
alienation Of the Northern Suites from US
! hy our alliance with the Southern Confcdc-
rucy, and the consequent lcssening OF the
chances OF reconstruction, all have 10 say
is, that if, after uil the injuries insults and
iudignitics hcaped upon US by the North
ern people, they arc SO sensitive, SO s4uea-
mish as TO make oar union with the Gulf
States mortal offence, all hope of Tecon-
Struction is gone forever. The distinguish
Cd gentleman, (Mr. ScorT,) touched upon
subject which has already been alluded to
more than once on this floor. 1t was start
i II. IL .:nrinr dcleGa q