Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-01

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self.
The CuAIRMAH-The Chair understood th'
proposition correctly. 1t will now restate INT
question, to see whether the Chair understand
correctly what the pending question IS.
These words, the Chair understands, are u
he transposed, so as TO cause that portion 0
the resolution to read-"when the Federal Con
slitution WAS formed, were, and still are, soTe
reign and independent s0yere!gnticS.'
Mr.. SCOTT, Of Powhatan.-ls il in order q
offer an amendment to that amendment!
believe that amendment was accepted, and lts
in order to amend it move, therefore, tina
the following amendment be added after th'
word "soycrcigntles."
The CuAlEaAS.-It is in order.
Mr. ScoTr.-I beg leave, then, to offer ii:
Over all powers not granted 10 the United
States by the Constitution of the United
States"
The CnAIgMAS.-Does the gentleman pro
pose to add that amendment to the amendment
already pending?
Mr.. Soorr.-Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. -lfthis amendment is adopt
ed, that portion of the section will read, "wheE
the Federal Constitution was formed, were, ant
still are, sovereign and independent States, ovel
all powers not granted to the United States BY
the Constitution of the United States"
The question will BIZ upon the amendment
to the amendment.
Mr.. FIsugR-Is there any man in the United
States that disputes the truth Of thai PROPOSE
ton
The CuA1RMAs-It is not for the Chair tt
answer.
Mr.. FIsuER-I am merely referring 10 the
fact, that the gentleman may see how unneces'
sary such a proposition is. II there be any
gentleman who disputes the truth Of that pro
position, ! never heard OF him.
There may be some FeIeralists in New
England, who doubt its truth, but none other:
| imagine; and | do not see why we should 1t
called upon to adopt that amendment. | sub
init, sir, that We ought not waste time upoi
this proposition, but proceed to take the ques
ton nuon some amendment that has some tan
gibi!ity III it
Mr.R Y. CoNRAD.-When | rose, yester
dar, to object to the amendment proposed BY
the gentleman from Middlesex, (Mr. MoSTAGrg,
I contented myself with stating merely tina
the word independence" Us inserted there
vas certainly incompatible with the real STATE
Of the relations between the State Of Virgins
and other States, and the Federal Government
I certainly had no expectation that that oljec
ton would lead to the debate which ensuec
upon il; and | did not refer, nor is It my pur
pose now to refer to this term, sovereignty,
which is used in that section. | am no
to be led oil in Q debate upon any such
jack O Lantern word as the word Sovereign
,.u A., r.nt1.,pap Seet1 fn ppDce!B On n
sides, it is Il word which, has no precise or deli
mite Specification, and upon the application o.
which it is almost impossible to dispute.
vas not disposed to question the fact that the
people Of the State Of Virginia were, in some
sense, a sovereign people, although confess
that | had in my mind an inclination that led
me to the conclusion that the word is wholly
inapplicable to any American institution. |
cannot conceive of a sovereign without 4 sub
cct. Now We call ourselves citizens.
The CHAlgMAN.-Will the gentleman al
low the Chair to state 10 him that the question
now il upon the amendment to the amend
mcnt?
Mr.. CoSnAp.-I understand that. Sir, ]
suppose it is my right TO discuss the whole
amendment. | TO not desire 10 trouble the
Convention long; but | nope that III the few
words Which ! wish TO say, We may lie enabled
10 come to y vote and to vote understandInely
upon this proposition.
As | was saying. sir, | mean not to follow in
the Iced of this discussion at all, because il
leads to to no definite or practical conclusion.
desire to call the attention of the Convention
to one single consideration which has been
stated by one or twO gentlemen upon this fioor,
and whicl. ought to be conclusive as TO the
vote upon, this proposed amendment.
If gentlemen will look at that section, they
will see that the amendment proposed is q
mere recital, leading to the conclusion which
j. drawn in the Same section, and which is the
ONLY proposition intended 10 be affirmed, and
that is the equality. the perfect equality OF
the States under our Federal Constitution.
In order to lead to thut conclusion, the resolu.
ton recitcs that when the Federal Constitution
wns formed these States were sovereign andln'
dependent States, and that was all which it was
necessary to recite in order to deduce from it the
conclusion, that having been sovereign and
independent States and having agreed to form
n common government for their mutual and
Joint benefit, they have still a right, under the
operation Of the Federal Constitution to insist
that this perfect equality should be preserved.
Now, sir, how is it proposed to amend that
To amend it By the insertion OF the phrase
that under the operation Of the Federal Con
~stitution the States are still sovereign and in.
dependent; or, as the amendment now makes
it read, that they were independent sovo'
reigntics at the formation of the Federal Con.
s%titution, and that they still are sovereignties.
Now, sir, | would ask this Convention where
is the nccesSity-where is the propriety-
where the relevancy Of inserting this PROPOSE
ton in this section: Admitting that it is per
fectlr true, that it is uuqueStionable, why in
sert it any more than any truism Does it
not lead TO the conclusion of this rcsolutlon! is
it necessary TO demonstrate our right to perfect
equality under the Federal Constitution, that
We should insert here the mooted, or, If you
please, the debated proposition that the States
retain their sovereignties! What has it to do
with the proposition in this section? And j
nothing to DO, if this section is rot intended as
n general declaration Of rights, why, there
would be the same propricty in inserting IN
TITO the whole Bill Of Rights Of Virginia i'll
this section as in inserting this declaration Of
the existing sovereignty Of the State
Ard, if unnecessary | put it to this Con.
vertion-to all those who are voting i'll
good faith, to carry out the views Of The
committee, and to carry out the Vows Of the
Convention and the views Of the people Of Viz
,inia in order to make proper and definite dc
mands upon the North-will they nllow their
proceedings to be embarrassed, their efforts to be
frustrated and defeated by this game ofinscrting
perfectly irrelevant and unnecessary matter BY
way Commandments in these rcsolutions? Now,
sir, if gentlemen can show that there is any
necessity or propriety why this Convention, in
any way, should declare as TO the existing SOW
~ereignty of the States Of THIS Union under the
Federal Constitution, let them offer it as
n dist ct proposition. II will not in
Any conceivable way affect the resolution
which ia Row under tho consideration OF
the Committee. | do not say tha! it was
offered for The purpose merely IF emhar.
RAISING the Convention in proceeding to pass
upon the report Of their Committee, but ! will
say that it can b. no possibility have any effect
than ttst. | trust, therefore, that this Commit
tee, in voting upon this and upon any other
,rpnpdrnpntS thar are DrnDoSed will Look In the