Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-05

discussion new extending over several days,
when there is no proposition before the Con
vention, and when We cannot have vote. -
Now, really think that we might ms well he
entertained by listening to the honorable gen
tlemen Mr.. Seldom and Hon. Judge Brocken
brouch, rs by pro,racting the present debate
that can lead 10 no determlnate result. from
these gentlemen we may derive information
that will be of material aid as TO the construc
ton that should be given TO these peace pEopo
sitions. No pratical result can he tt,cted from
the debate DOW going on. ilnvlng plenty o'
time, why should we Object 10 bearing theSt
Commissioners DO We not want all the !i2ht h1'u
all the information that we can possibly sci
will not presume that there is member ol thls
Convention who would at this .imr, laHe from
himself or any other member, any :fs". maj
he may have to speak upon the propositions
that will he before us for discussion We
huye abundant time before U.s. THESE Com
misSiontrS have been chosen by the Legislature
of Virginia, and sent to Washington because
of their eminent talent desire TO hear them,
desire 10 be enlightened upon these propose
lions. desire to know the construction inst
Sir. Franklin, the mover of the proposition
adopted by the Peace Congress, aud mat
other gentlemen have placed upon mo,
identical propositions; and Want !" hear rms
construction from the Commas toner's OF var
GINA.
Mr. DoRMAS--I hare simply 10 say, 80 lar
as am concerned, that am rnaleiao'y op'
pose to the resolution Of the gentleman from
Snyth in my present state Of Information. "
are asked 10 pass q resolution l"Sit'nS lne
Commissioners to seats upon the Evcr 81 th'S
Convention, and to appear before Us loT 'l'" nur
pUse of explaining To us what Their acli"h mas
been and what have been the views ~ilich other
gentlemen from other States uf the Lnloh nave
had upon the subjects before The Congress;
want 10 know whether gentlemen aye author'
lzed to speak on behalf vf one or All OF these
Commissioners. ant unwilling Tor one oei"i'g-
ing-l will cot say loa Ialiy, eu' portion,
of this Commonwealth, who entertain Decided
opinions, with regard 10 the Objects o' 'ne
Convention, and wsth regard 10 what >sio"ia oe
our action-lhat We shall have Mr.. Sccdoh, 'of
example, speaking upon one side, anu io seh'
trman speaking upon The DINER.
ueg 10 know from the gentieuIHn VINO
make thus propcSiloM II tiicy are authorized 20
say that ali three Of these gcntemcu are Mil
I'M, to take that position bc!oie This ConFel'-
ton. If they arc not, We nbC may He now
,non this Guor inclined 20 take one side are
n,,t in a uosition Of ste.ing 10 lecture from
those who are opposed 20 Us, willis; "e nave
M corresponding response spni' Tue part u
those who may speak lnr us. hese Co'h!ii;S'
sone,S are required 10 ,ci"ri 10 the Lrs's'a'
ture or 10 this Convention their proceedillss-
to report the result Of their act'chi ana "!Hh
to know whether the obligation u SECRECY '"''
imposed upon the members Of oooy when lias
been in secret session in Washington LOT 'uc
last few weeks has been removed 50 thai in"se
Commissioners can hpnoratlv reply 10 lues
tions upon cross examination. WISH ~ kho"
these things; but ai:sr all, when DO kho" al
these things, | am free 10 suy that All s!!!'
unalterably opposed 10 the course pr"P2seu -
U.s. 1t is true, as the gentleman IRON Prince
Eiward has sad, that we hare ucen mere lIr
Two weeks occupied with discussing prnnoS'-
tons not of u very definite or precise cnarae,
Ter; but l. Tor one, lave not been ulSSa'"uF"
with the position Of things, waiting a. we "a,t
been. the action Of the Commissioners III " ASH
inston. When sec something drhAl'e Drought
before Inc, when know that we shall nave III
Il day OF two officially before lis Tie report u
the Commissioners tur OF" own 'niufiha's"'
and consideration, | will l1lA w!:h I'll VINO ME-
ready, to do all can 10 promote III" speedy at
ton of this Convention, auc L. ori!is ap""'
some speedy result.
| want the propositions Of our co'E'n:ss'"A
ers before Us. want TO 80 into c"hilst1ee u
the whole upon that report. am Wiling ~
rive nav friend iron Amelia 2 full and thorough
investigation Of those propcslll"ns.'or u any
other propositols before TIC body but Which
that opportunity has been utioI Grd | want tha'
we should take .o;nr other action that VIII e"
brfJr. Virginia H. speedily as prS.ih!e'
trust that lhose WHO have beef! Sen. hsre re-
nresrDt,uc the views Vi LIE msju:iiy Ct Tie
Sentiments Yr Virginia, will concur 'siit ms
in seeing the great necessity that we Sho"'"
nov endrav0r, 10y every proper lne:i's IN OH
power and in accOrua'icr With parliamentary
practice to trinS to speedy Conclusion Ill"
Some definite poi!:t our acton We VIII ha'c
a basis Tor this III the report oi these co'llha
sioners. For one, | will not coasen! 10 waste
time in listening to arguments vi cn.hsei, II
YOU choose TO Call them 50, wn!ch VII. 'eao W
no practical result, and which wall ohtE nave
the effect uf delaying ANY practical result |lia'
may arise FROM the deliberations ol TINS oouy'
I ar,ee with my friend from Rlc!imrnt, AID
nv {. lend from Amelia, hut II Is all ulih'c'S'
sury disparaycuIent VI themselves aI!u Ills
friends aud the cause ,hcy represent. whe''
thew undertake to call upun am Cassins 10
hello them les! they siak They have power,
parliamentary elvquencc, and logical i1rce "h
their side, and skill IN parliamentary pracucer
and, for one, say that Il their cause laii' II
will not tait for the want oi cDcic,t advocacy.
trust, therefore, that the C1nrciiion "l!l Sec
the propriety OF adopting the substitute oi Tue
gentleman from Grecubr!cr. and le, Us ut once
settle this matter. .
Mr., EARLY.-l rise 70 suggest 10 my Tread
FROM Gr.cnblier, (Mr. PEich,j the propriety ol
adding the name OF HUI luhn Robertson, WhU
was Commissioner, Oh the part Ul ihs Slate,
10 the State y; South Iar"!ina.
Mr.. Pmce-I accept the suggestion.
Mr.. EARiY-While AN up, snail oiicr an
explanation uf the vote which shall gIye-an
exulanation which deem Ii. crsSary IN conse.
ouence OF the remarks made by ny friend iruu
Amelia (Mr. uAxvIE) These rema' Ks, tGS"h
according to their dlrrc, import, must he meant
to iupv tina, majority Of THIS body are by
some means or other determined 10 chez K II free
expression of opinion by minority. Tue
course oil proceedings SO lar, Is Tar iion favor
inc this conclusion for we tind that live OR SIN
speeches nave DeEH uciifesS0 ob t''N' "''" ="
the one on the majority side.
There is another fact in connection with this
matter which! desire to notice. When gentle
man on the majority undertakes TO express his
views on this hoor, he docs it at risk Of III
curing serious embarrassment and Of subject
ing himself to such disagr eahc consequences
~ nv friend from Rockbrjge Mr. MooRf)
had TO encounter for the frank avowal Of his
sentiments and of those Of his constituents. |
repudiate the idea that majority Of this Con-
ventlon are going TO lake steps here 10 prevent
any gentleman troni being heard. We want
here TO maintain our rights and 10 express our
sentiments at all hazards, AMI we SHALL cheer.
fully accord that privilege 10 those who d'fcr
from us. So lar as am concerned, aud be-
lic7e may say the sau.e Of all here who agree
with me III the policy which advocate. every
gentleman shall have full and TAR "pror'nh''
" Of expressing his views.
The gentleman from priGcesa Anne iSr.