The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-30


MI SPEED, of Campbell, offered the follow
ing rexol ol-sion, which was adopted
Rssairxd, That the Committee on Federal Rela-
tons be requested TO report. as soon As practice
som inst, iastracting an inquiry into the expe-
aieuey Of reporting to the Convention two ordi =
nauees, &c
THE resolution alludes to submitting to the
people the choice be tween an q rdinance OF
Secession and the proposed amendments to the
Federal constitutional
. yotcE oY THE PgorLg.
Mr.. PARKS, of Gray son, presented series
of resol ationS adopted by meeting of citi
zens of that county. iustructing him to vote
for an Ordinance of Secession, and opposing n
Border Conference also, petition signed by
ONE 400 voters of the county of Grayson,
,raying for the passage of an Ordinance OF
secession. MIR Parks endorsed the high char
acter Of those who participated in the meet
ing, and Declared his purpose OF obeying the
Referred TO the Committee on Federal Re-
lStioas.
PROPOSED LIMITATION or pEBArE.
Mr. CoSRap, of Frederick, offered the fol-
lowing resolutions
Re.olre3 ard ordered That on Tuesday, the I'd
day April next, Ct IL o'clock M, al! debate in
Committee of the Whole upon the reports from
fEr Committee on Federal Relations. shall ter
inmate and the Commitiee shall n once proceed
10 vote upou the propositions before II, giving
rye rsfauies 10 the membeT Offering any amend
meni, aud the same time to one member opposing
a. for explanation.
Of the whole shall be allowed TO speak more tn an
oaee nPon the same proposition.
Mr.. CONRAD called the previous question,
which was sustained.
The rule allowing members to speak ten
minutes, Mr.. AAELKR. of Louisa, asked If there
was any mode by which minority might
place on record their protest against the ap-
plic3tiun of the gag
The PRESIDENT knew of none.
Mr.. MORTON, of Orange entered his solemn
protest against the spirit of tyranny endea-
vorea 10 be practiced over the minority, w hich
he compared TO the tyranny exercised by the
North. He condemned ii act which
ought TO be held up 10 the indignant condem-
nation of every freeman of this Common
wealth. There were distinguished men
among the minority, who had not yet been
heard. III the resolution We're adopted, he
should bow to the decision, but would appeal
70 the people.
Mr. STAPLES, of Patrick said he was q
Union man, and expected to act with the
IhIon party: but he regarded this movement
an outrage which no deliberative body
ought 10 tolerate.
Mr.. WISE was about to speak, when
The PRESIDENT said the hour had arrived for
going into Committee of the Whole.
Mr. CONRAD moved TO suspend the order for
going into Committee.
Several members-'Oh, no."
Mr.. WISE said he believed he had the floor
COMMITTEES or THE WHOLE
The Convention went into Committee of
the Whole, (Mr. Pace, of Greenbrier. in the
III Tp nj
the Committee on Federal Relations
The CHAIRMAN said the Committee having
sdopted the two first resolutions of the re-
port, the third was now under considera tion.
II was read by the Secretary, as follows:
s. The choice of fuuctionaries of a common
Government, established for the common good,
tor the reason that they entertain opinions and
ay0w purposes hostile to the institutions of some
of the States, necessarily excludes the people Of
section from participation in tho admins
,ration Of the Government, subjects the weaker
10 the domination of the stronger section leads TO
abuse, and is Incompatible with the safety of
those whose interests are imperilied the forma.
ton therefore, of geographical or sectional par
ties in respect To Federal politics, is contrary to
the principles on which our system rests, and
tends 10 its overthrow
Mr. RGyEs, of Prince George, said it was
rot bis purpose to answer the arguments OF
the various speakers on this floor, ,.but to point
out what he conceived to be the true line of
policy for Virginia to pursue. He took the
position at the outset that the Union ought not
to BE- dissolved. The politicians had for
twenty five or thirty years been endeavoring
10 break up the Union, receiving the almost
universal condemnation OF the American peo-
pie until the recent movement In the Cotton
States He proposed to show that the whole
matter could be settled and the Union pre-
served. He then Went on in his peculiar way
TO discuss the causes which led to the present
state Of affairs, and said il behooved the peo-
pie to keep an eye upon the Catilines and C;e-
ears, North and South. Alluding TO the
tlement of agitating questions III the past, he
sad that the men composing the former coun-
ellis made of very different stuff from
men of these days. Point empty gun at
Sreessionists now, they would dodge They
went down to Fortress Monroe, not to see If
the guns were loaded, but TO see if they
we're pointed towards the land. Passing
rapidly along in his argument, Mr..
Riyes touched upon the tariff of 1928,
and the nulliticatio of South Carolina
The Union men said then they said now
South Carolina, stand back General Jack
soA, stand back! They thus acted as media
tors, and saved the country. The point he
made, as the reporter understood ii, was that
If wise counsels could prevail, a similar re-
suit would follow the present efforts. The
argument that the best way TO reconstruct the
Union was for Virginia To go out of it, was
answered by supposjng the case of a little girl,
hye years old going into an "apothecary''
store and buying "A doll her sister Mary, two
years older, takes il and breaks off an arm
the frstruns to her ia Their, and says .'see here,
papa, sister Mary has broken my doll ~ The
fAther replies, ego away, child: break it all
10 pieces, and then bring it TO me and / will
mend it, daughter His (Mr. R's.) idea
was 10 mend the Union before any more OF the
limbs were broken off.
The course of William L. TanceY was COM
inented on by the speaker with considerable
severity and an extract from his Slaughter
letter produced 10 show that in 1858 his pur-
pose WAS 10 dissolve the Union; while Andrew
johnson, OF Tennessee was quite as unequiy-
ocdlly complimented. Caleb Gushing came
IN Tor share of denunciation, Mr.. RIrEs ey-
pressing a doubt whether he would have sup
ported Douglas for the Presidency if he had
been nominated by Conven ton over which
Gushing presided. He preserved the line of
argument and illustration with which all are
familiar who have listened TO his campaign
Speeches.
reference, he said, had been made TO his
gestures. The main n-spring of his action was
Union, and ii was the glory of the Union that
gave force TO his action here. When he SAW
man stand of and carefully arrange a mass
OF papers before him, and proceed to bring
iorth string of distractions that would
craze philosopher 10 investigate, he thought
that sucn man was not the statesman nor
the lawyer for him He proceeded then to
argue the question of secession reading evil
denee from speeches of Mr.. Rhett and others
ln The Southern Convention, to show that
Southern men had been endeavoring for years
10 bring about "A dissolution of the Union
He would not say that they were pulling with
the abol,ionists, in couples, but that they
were striving for the same object. He then
read from the Congressional reports of 1912,
showing that a petition taen came from Mas
sachusetls, praying for separation. reso-
luton 10 eensure Mr.. Adams for Offering the
petition WAS introduced, and large majority
ot the members from the now seeded States
Noied against laying 1t on the table. He al
iuded also 10 the conrse of Mr.. Wise in
battling Tor the L tnion on that occasion and he
thought ii would be well for the people of
Virginia, with this record before them, TO fol-
low such suggestions and advice now. He
would take up the weapons with which the
nember from Accomac fought dsunion in
4e's, aud hight ii 10 the very death. He pre-
ueted that the ballot-bo would send forth a
'ouhd That would strike unmtigated sorrow
y tne hearts OF secessionists in Virginia, If 1t
aia not cover them with shame Mr. Rives
Iauuiged In some sharp thrusts at the seees-
'11hists ln tho Convention, which extorted a
rail of order" from the Chair; but the gentle
man man deafness prevented his hearing or heed
.nsit. lie went from this branch OF his subject
~ Nhe consideration of the grandeur of the
tnsaeflcan Republic, and its position before
ase world, and, among other striking figures
" y, speech asked il they wanted the icy arms
y" uedth TO eacircle the fair form of the Goddess