Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-22

er or not should vote for The proposition
which has just been voted down; but, sir, from
the time went before the people, up to the
moment that / heard the enunciullons just
made by the gentleman from Princess Anne, in
regard to what has been done at Norfolk, and
is being done at Harper's Ferry, | believed
that CO operation was most necessary for firgl.
MIA Separate State action III the South has
brought upon us much more calamtie3 than viii
fall upon them. Ito not, however, blame
them. They acted right, as they thought; they
certainly acted courageouSly, and the idea ncv.
er entered my head 70 utter word of candem-
nation upon them. They arc bone OF our bone,
and flesh Of our licSh, and We arc bound 10 de-
fend them at every hazard Had been here
| would not have voted TO send Commission
erS to Washington. WAS prepared, thon, from
what had seen Of the policy Of that mau Sew.
ard, to vote for secession; and now d0 not Ie
quir, the appeal made by the gentleman from
Fauquier (Nlr. SCOTT,) to induce me to vote for
this Ordinance. came chcrrfully tn vote tor
il; and | think that every man who is NT
ginian in heart, is bound 70 give her action aS
much unsnimity as possible This days pro.
ceedings will be read by the world. the eyes
of the world are upon lis; let U.s. therefore, ai
IS one man. Let us ur1rr mp On the altar ct
, our country, our pre- udiccS in thr past. Let
US determine that no man will need any other
appeal than that which comes up from his
own heart, and when wc give our votes, let Us
give them because that course has heen forced
! not by any act Of ours, but by The infamous
policy Of Black Rspu biican President WhoSa
authority VT defy.
Mr.. JouN B. BALDWIN, OF Augusta.
have been appealed to, MIR President, tA,ako
upon ourselves portion ol tie responsibility
of tho passage Of the ordinance OF secession.
Ii an ordinance Of Secession becumeS the act
OF Virginia, we will have lu share in the re-
sponsibihty that is 10 attach 10 lt--that Is, all
Of US that intend to share tho fortunes OF the
State auE one oil those who intend to share
the fortunes Of the State. coma veal, c"ina
woe; and shall take and bcar aiT full share
Of the responsibility Of the aci oi the State.
| Bat, Sir, We are nuw in Cunac as 10 what
should be the act or the State; and cannot
see how any gcnlletnan who does rot think The
act a wise act for the State, can share the
responsibility Of E.aki3g 1t TIC ac! c' the
Stale.
| | ain one Of those, sir, who hcliaTc that this
act is un exceedingly un~iSs one. tu tie dong
| now snd under the circumstances by which
we are surrounded. nave indicated that
| opinion by the vote which gaze for the pre-
position uf the gsentle;n.a FROM Fauquier. l
Shall indicate that opinion again by The vote
shall give against toe ordinance oI secession.
claln tho right as representative upon f"iS
floor; as the representative oi Eee peapie
living under constitutional isrm oi govern.
ment; clsim the right, while matter is ~
| council, to give my vote according TO my opin.
! LAT ne ART nj
the State Is determined, then cjtneS the iIinr
for united action upon tho results ot us
council Of the States, and then snail he lounl
sharing the fortunes OF virginia.
Sir, the gentlelu IN from Princess Anne (Mr.
Wlsg) says that We aru alrcady il the lnd:t
of war The Governor OF this State at his
instance and tho instance otnther$, has already
directed assaults to b. made upon tlirpe:'S
Ferry and Gusport Navy Yard.
Mr.. WlsE-I did not say that.
Mr.. BALDwIN--I understood hlu. to say
that the Governor, at his instance, had direct,
ed steps to be taken with view OF taking
lIacper'S Ferry aud Gpsport Navy lsrd. Il;
that is the case, | feel it 10 bv my dnty TO tell
my people not to marc.l under an ordcr thai
the Governor bad 10 right 20 give.
Mr. Visit will Slate TO tue gen,ienih
to pieces b. the Wide 4 sGieS-hs ,'.op:e
who have marched, to Ha:psrs Ferry, hope,
! in time to preveu; the V ta-ATalieS iro!n
getting the 60, 900 arms at that pia':e-ihs; nc
! has ordered out rsnfvrcrmsnts. This has
been done at the instance Of gentlemen from
! this city It is now too late To recall these
people, il the gentleman could, and hope nc
nerer would recall them, if he could. l!e
Augusta troop are acting nobly in tins mlt
Ter, and only wish my people had the ha;"'
of taking that stronghold.
Mr.. BALDWIN, have no doubt that my
people will be found ready, at all times and
uader all circumstance to uphold the honor
of their country. They have never BEEN
found wanting on that point.
But. sir, am speaking here As the repre-
sentative of the people in constitutional
government, in regard TO an act which the
people themselves, by 8 majority Of Gn.O0V,
directed should no, he consummated without
their voice al the polls; and suy thar 10 Coz
| summate this act in defiance Of the solemn ac
tion Of the sovereign people OF Virginia, care
not how patriotic the impulse which acua'ed
such a course, is in dcrogaton Of the sovereign
rights Of the people of Virginia, who have mp.
pointed to settle il dt the polls. | do not under
take to discuss, because | do EO5 know the
fact that any portion, Of the people q; li''+TlH
have undertaken to assume the responsibility
of making; war, or opening host:ht;eS bat,
sir do undertake L, say that 1t IS Il Ielr-
ful responsibility thai any "ne undertakes " 40
plnnyes this SLats;a,3 c;Tii wdr, unprcpirc'l as
she is.
Sir, the GOverrCi j. said to have sent mci
for the protection o my fellow citizens who
| are gone OH this mission. have no doubt trat
the Governor, li whatever he has done and
| will dc, will he actuatGd 5Y a high rl'riol's a.
have high confluence in his patriotic pun pc es
AMI his pure and sincere devotion TO lilc lrter.
ests Of the STATE, as well as his capacity 10 pre-
side over her deStini.s; hu; | feel 1t 10 he ,;ln
to rDyscf to say, that in TccordlnS my T1to
here cannot record u;T =ote rs one II! the
cou0seiinrs uf the State Of Virginia tn7 I:"a
sure which my Judgment ddes not approve. |
repeat, sir, that when it shall b$cllna 'se aci
| Of the State. whea my opinions stall he "'"r
| ruled 1t is matter to he taken home ~ fhr
hearts of the whole State and III ha s'i::' ::'..d
| by the hands of the whole State. t'"d :u::.:G
that SHOULD oe the orc TO make the slightest
objection TO carrying into action, aye INTO de
ternined action whatever the people OF 'rsi-
| MIA in their sovereign capacity, s0irmniv de-
| tern,1a shall be done.
Sir, regard this a. :hc m5g: solemn hoGT
| Of my lie, and | wu,:!d &c wanting in that
candcr which belongs to the position <
occupy, and to The rleudS T.: ~honi am sur
rounded here. if had withheld tnia fscIara-
ton of my position. wish coul'i look up
On this matter as other gentlemen bcre seem
to look upon it wish cnnd participate in
the feelings which seem to light up the coun-
! ienances Of friends whose opinions and patriot
isn respect. But, sir, ~ me the fntrre looks
dark-dalk and dreary; and wtlic trust
shall have stout heart and strong arm to car
~ me through this as through any other duty
to which rly country may call me. while It IS
yet to be determined upon, my voice is against
it.