The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-02

return answers to certain questions, they were
determined TO resume the powers delegated to
the Federal Government. The Peace Confer.
enee did not secure the objects for which i,
was convened, and that he considered the
fad| effert, The Peace Conference did fail Ia
get amendments to the Constitution, aud the
southern Confederacy did NOT fail TO establish
one of the best Governments on the face OF the
earth That was sufficient for him, and he
warmly urged the necessity of uniting the des-
tiny of Virginia with the South. She had an
nounced the Inauguration of the Con ference as
her final effort, and that having failed, the
iirst determination was to he looked upon as a
joke, and now another final effort was 10 be
made. The effect of such action he believed
was to bring discredit on the Commonwealth
and he felt bound to discount ntenance it,
Mr.. TRRnwas, of Pittssylvana, next ad-
dressed the Committee. He did SO with yrea
reluctance, fer be believed the people were
impatient for action, and he would not unue
cessariiy protract this debate. He agreed with
his friend who had Just taken his seat, who
had reiterated the sentiment of Burke, that
the action Of a statesman should he governed
by surrounding circumstances; but believed
that gentlemen on that side had departed from
thlS rule. II the seeded States had acted on
thlS prlnoipie, We would not now have been
placed in the alarming position III which we
now found ourselves. As State. Rights man,
he held the doctrine of peaceable secession: bu /
II was 10 be exercised only under extraorui-
nary clfcGmS StanEes-and no cirCums Iauces
h ID yet oecurred snong enough to Justify IL
~ =
None OF the evils which now oyershadow the
country existed previous TO the secession
OF the Southern States. That was precipi.
tate action and yet we We're told that
the way TO restore peace and pros perity 10
tue country Is TO secede immeiia te ly -
In the canvass previous TO the assembling of
thls ConNentlon, he disagreed with those who
told him that unless Virginia was out of The
Union before the ith of March, civil war with
all Its horrors, would he desolating the land
lie deplored the election of Lincoln, but still
ne knew that With IN over whelmIng ma aiority
of the people of the country against him. he
was powerless for harm. He thought it a re-
markable fact that every fresh item of news
that flashed over the telegraphc wires, look
ing 10 the preservation of peace, seemed to
diSappoiut the precpitators At that time
the gen tlemen who are now for waiting were
the most urgent for precipitate action. The
gentleman from Bedford, (Mr. GoopB,l who is
now tor waiting, was then among the most
ardent advocates OF haste.
Mr.. GooDg desired to remind the gentleman
that the 4th OF March had come and gone
Mr IREDwAV said he regretted that he had
not also said that it had proved him to be a
very bad prophet. He then went on TO de
monstrate that the moderation of Virginia
thus tar had saved the country from the hor-
rors OF civil war; and though he had been
pointed at as a submissionist, he would ever
be proud that he was one of those who had
stood by this glorious old Commonwealth in
her efforts as Il peace maker. lie ackno w ledged
the fact that the Union was broken up seven
States had gone and es stablished a government
de fdct0, and il ought to be recognized Had
they stood by us, we should have had a ma
Jorlty IN Congress, and though we had a
Black Republican President, the legal method
OF redress was in our hands but they had
lett us, and now we must lock at circum-
stances as they are. He was not ready for
secession. The prophecies of the precipita-
tors IN regard to Virginia had all been falsified
by the results, and he thought it was the part
OF wise statesmen 10 make still farther efforts
for the preservation of peace. 1t had been
demonstrated that the Government was now
powerless to harm us. There WAS no COM
pulslon upon US TO contribute TO its support;
Tor, II we could purchase our supplies cheaper
elsewhere, the Northern revenue need receive
nothing from Virginia consumption
While the speaker was alluding to the po-
sltlon OF Virginia towards the Federal Gov
ernment, Mr.. HALL, of Wetzel asked if he
knew what amount the State annually con-
tributed 10 the support of that Government?
According TO Mr. Halls estimate, Virginia
was paying TO the Northern Confederacy
20, OO0,o00 per annum.
Mr. IREDwAY desired 10 know the source of
his information on this point
Mr.. HALL said it was based upon official
statements concerning import duties and the
pro rata tax upon slaves, and the amount
which Virginia contributed by her consump-
lion.
Mr.. TREDwAY replied that the gentleman
would 90 better to take facts as they We're at
present, instead OF referring TO the cond ton
OF affairs twelve or eighteen months ago
lrglnia was now paying scarcely anything
MI lredWay proceeded until the hour of re-
cess, reviewing and commenting upon the
present condition of affairs, and opposing the
secession OF Virginia until an effort shall have
been made to secure her rights, and the rights
OF the South, within the Union. AS long as
there was hope, while no harm could result
from waiting he preferred to wait.