Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-04

presents the whole and not n part, though cho.
| sen by such part) as more plausible than
| sound.
believe, sir, that upon all questions Of ex-
pediency, the feelings, wishes and opinions,
when known to the representative-and I care
not how the information may reach him-il he
honestly believes that no rational doubt exists
rs tc what his constituents desire, it is his duty
to reflect such their will ! am Inclined, Mr..
! President, from all . hear-for have been ub
sent from my county since the Gay before this
| Convention was organized, and therefore Can.
moi speak from personal knowledge rpon the
subject am inclined 10 the belief that since
the election of the delegates to this body, from
all learn, that those with whom differed On
! the day OF the election have Increased in num
ber, to what extent / am unable to say
Where the minority now is, um un
able to decide; though | will say, sir,
from such information as have received, there
! is uncertainty touching it. ] have but to add,
sir, whenever can be satisfied that that ma
Jorlty IS either the one way or the other, will
express and give effect TO it. The question, sir,
with tho people, IS one too transcendent, too
momcntous. involving all tbo; is sacred and
dear to them and poslerity, to have their clear
and manifest will, let it lead tie one Way or The
other-arrest it or defeat it.
But, Mr.. President, SO loag as doubt en-
ists with me, as to the actual majority in INV
county, shal! adhere to the position |
occupied, when the trust hold WAS confded to
me.
The Convention then went into Committee
Of the whole, Mr.. SorTuALI, Of Albemu,le, in
the Chair.
Mr.. BAEBouK, of Cupepcr, oancluled his
remarks. whereupon.
Mr.. TREnwAY, OF Pit,sylranla, obtained the
floor, and addressed TIE Colulittee at some
length
Both speeches will appear hereafter.
Mr.. MoSrAGrE then obtained the Hoor, but
before concluding moved that he Committee
rise
The motion was agreed to.
Mr.. GuupE Of Bedford Mr. President--Iu
obedience to the request Of scme Of my constit.
uents, embrace this opportunity TO present
to :he Convention the proceedings Of two pub.
lie meetings which have been recently held in
the county of Bedford--one of them ut the
! Cross Roads precinct, and the other at the
Court House, on last Court day, after full no.
tice, in the County newspapers. am informed
| that the meeting at the CoIrt House was II
| very large and enthusiastic one, and that the
resolutions were adopted with bu, few disser
| ting voices. II is proper to state also, that tn"
officers and active participants in both Of these
meetings are +. .cogniz:d as among the most
highly respected and influential citizens Of the
county. nave only to add that it will afford nc
; pleasure TO conform my action npOn this floor,
! IN every particular, 10 tie ser'imcnS contained
in these resolutions | move, sir that they b.
now read by the Secretary, laid on tho table
and printed.
The motion was agreed 10.
! The proceedings are as follows:
! At large and enthusiastic meeting Of the
| people Of Bedford county, on court hay on
motion, William G. Cay,or was called to the
| Chair and on motion OF VIA. V Jordan, Esq
John r. Thurman and l.. a. Sale we're appon.
! ted Secretaries of the meeting.
! The following resolutions were then passed
| to the Chair. read and adopted with four dig.
senting votes:
! The people Of Bedford county in General
Meeting assembled, on the 25,h March, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and sixty-oue and of the Commonwealth the
eighty-ffth, to consiler Of their rights and in.
terests involved in the great struggle now
! pending between the people Of the different sec
| tions o. once united but now broken Confede.
racy, after Tree conference rake known and dc.
clare:
!. That they recognize the fact, lha. seven
out Of the fifteen slareholding States Of cur
Confederacy Tor causes by them deemed Just
have resumed to themselves respectively all the
powers previously delegated to the Federal
government, thereby efectually dissoiving their
political association with the other States, and,
as separate, sovereign and independent comnu.
mites. in the exercise of the powers thus re-.
sumed, have adopted and established new
Federal Compact with the title Of Confederate
States OF America, "lsying its foundation on
such principles and organizing its powers in
such form. as to them seemed most likely to
effect their common safety and happiness
2. That there is no power in the Govern
ment Of the United States under the Constitu-
tion and laws made in pursuance thereof to
make war upon the said Confederate States or
upon any Of them by reason Of their separation
from the other States, the establishment OF a
separate government for themselves, or their
refusal 70 render obedience to the Govern
nent Of United States; and any nttempt
on the part 10 the Government Of the
| United States TO make snch war upon them or
70 enforce its lava within the limits and juris.
diction oi the said Confederate States against
their consent, would he fragrant usnrpauon Of
power, direct invasion of the rights Of the
States. and dangerous TO the liberties OF the
American people
s. Tha. the people Of Virginia could never
ncquiesce in the exercise Of such power for such
purposes by the Government Of the United
States bur, irnpelled by jnst and natural
sympathy and by n due regard to their honor,
safety and plghted faith, they would unite
with the Confederate States, and with all the
means in their power" make common resistance
70 g common wrong.
4. That the State Of Virginia, not discialIn.
ing the right which shc expressly reserved to
herself when she "assentsd to and ratified
the Constitution of The United States to re-
sumo the powers granted tbcreundcr wherever
the same should be perverted TO her injury
and oppression, but being willing to postpone
the exercise of the aame until she had exhaust
I'd ali reasonable means to obtain for herself
and her sister slaveholdins States adequate
constitutional guarantees against future IN
jury and oppression" for that purpose invited
Conference Of all the States Of The Union,
expressly declaring TO them and TO the world
that it was "a tinnl effort to restore the Con-
stitution and the Union in the spirit in which
they were established by the Fathers Of the
Republic
g. That this ".fnal egort" having signally
and notoriously failed in accomplishing the o5-
iects for which it was made it becomes the
duty as it is the right Of the people Of this
State in Convention assembled to rcsuiae 10
themselves all the powers at any time hereto.
fore delegated to the Government of the United
States, and to concert proper measures to
obtain from the other States an equitable share
Of the common property.
8. That after such resumption Of powers,
proper efforts should be made to construct
Conrederacy amongst all the slaveholdng States
unnn such terms "as to them shall seem most
likely to effect their common safety and happi-
ness :" and if the said efforts should be sue.
cessfu) after the establishment of the said
Confederacy, the concurrence of the parties to