Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-12
Sixteenth Uii.
MONDAY, MAgcH 4th, 1861.
(Dettrrel Froree iings.J
FEDERAL RELATIONS.

Mr.. WILEY. of Monongaiia, being entitled to
the floor On the resolutions Of the gentleman
from RnckSridgc. CIR MooKE,D addressed the
| Convention as follows
Mr.. Prcs;dent--I suppose the Convention
has arrived at Ole conclusion which is very
satisfactory, and that is, that AIN not at all
vcrSel in the articles Of parliamentary tactics
[ Lad t,Y !dea sir when yielding to gentlemen
the courtrsirS Of permitting them to offer re.
solutions, Of having the time which proposed
to occupy devoted to tile interesting procedure
Of taking the ayes and Eues. But. sir, il is
| quite likely that that process will bc as inter.
esting to this Convention as listening to any
| remarks which shall be able 10 make. haG
some mi>givingS indeed, this morning, whether
under the existing state Of My health, and
especially Of my voice, should avail myself
| Of the courtesy extended 10 Tic by the Con-
vcnton on Saturday last. Gut, inasmuch AZ
il was not then my purpose, and Is not now
my purpose, to enter into an argument upon
the main points of tile great issues before this
Convention. will ash Your indulgence, sir, inr
| short time while Shall direct your attention,
as best may b" abe, IN some considerations
| upon the cLject'uus ged by gentleman on
this floor against ths policy Of Virginia. accord
ing 10 my apprehension of what is her best
policy
And here, sir, allow lie TO remark, that we
have indeed fallen upon evil TINES. Allow mt
| to say that | have looked with fearful appre
| hcnsiuri, not merely upon the magnitude The
great questions which brought this Convention
| together, but have looked with no less apprr-
| hrnSiOn upon influences which have been
| brought to bear upon the Deliberations Of this
| Convention, as destructive o. the fundamental
principles of 4 free people. And, sir, it ,aay be
in accordance with spirit OF pnsnaci,v more
than with any expectation that shall he able
to cnlightrn this body, that choose as a
neiubrr representing free people, 10 rsc here
Tor the purpose Of expressing freely my "pIr-
ions upon the questions which have III ought
MS together.
And in doing SO, sir, while shall expect 10
observe all the courtescs of gcnticrnanly dc.
bate, and should be very sorry to utter word
which would be out Of order; yet shall, never
thcless, claim the privilege Of expressing my
mind freely and fully, independent OF any infn-
cnc-s here or elsewhere. Sir the right OF free
speech is a fundamental principle OF republican
liberty. Whenever that is destroyed the peo-
pies liberties are destroyed. And it matters
not, sir, whether tina, destruction be the result
fan imperial edict. or whether it he the result
of popular violence and intimidation; III either
case we are equally slaves Is mot so SIR
Does not history attest this great fact in all her
pages, The scholar has read the denonsfra-
ton of this truth in the classic pages OF the bis
,orians of republican Greece. The pages Of
Roman history are no less pregnant with Inen-
orable exempli6catons Of the SAME tundamen-
tai truth. Whilst The Forum was free, whilst
the Senate was FREQ, whilst there was freedom
of speech, Rome was free; and when Cicero,
the last great defender orthe Roman Senate and
freedom Of speech, perished and his head was
gibbeted on the Forum, where bis eloquence
had Numbered agains; his couatry oppressors.
liberty fled frotu Rome, and the palsy Of poliii.
cal dissolution settled forever upon that great
empire.
Model history has also furnished its example
an example abhorrsnt to every principle of
humanity. Need refer you to the reeking
scafold, smoking all day long with the best
blood of Ffauce' Need | refer you TO the deep: