Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-28

II
t one resort, the las; Of all; al appeal from III
cancelled obligations Of the constitutional cou
: pact to original rights and the law OF sef:pr,
$ servation. This is tie u!:imn ruiio under 4
I governments, whether consolidated, ccnfelels
$ led, or COMPOUND Of bo,h; and it cannot b
= dcubted that sing le riea.bcr OF the Union, i
, the extremity supposed, bu: in that only, woul
. have right, rs an extra and ultra constiiu
tional right, to Eiake tue appeal"
+ Now, sir whose doctrine is tLat' It no is
t;;at appeals to you in suc!, earnest terms t.
remember that the Constitution provides 70
: IL own amendment? It is that distinguished
man whom but to name is 10 call up feelins
Of reverence in the heart Of every man in th
assembly. james Madison himself has hel,
this language, and be has clothed it in charac
. tiers almost Of living light, SC that he WIZ
runs may read.
believe, then, in the doctrine of self.preser
vation, in the right to defend my life, ms lber
ty my honor and my propcrty-in the righ
to defend the life, linerty and property OF my
wife and children. Yes, sir! it is one of those
visbls that lie wlio made and fashioned US a.
we are, has never iakcn from Us; but it is or
cX:r& Gnd ultra constitutions! right which as
citizen remains with yon,i because you have
the power as one Of his creatures to preserve
that which lie gave you. Then, sir, this is my
doctrine. Still, hold in the highest respect
gentlemen around me who hold different
opnion and tell :hcDi sincerely and frankly
rs feel that believe the doctrine which
maintain leads 10 the same results and will &c
complish the same purpose that they DESIRE
Will YOU tell me hold this doctrine, and il
proceed 70 carry il out, that will be hung as
Z rebel TO the government? Will you tell me
that am liable 10 be tried for treason. because
entertain these opinions, which were the doc.
trines Of Washington and Madison9 Ii that
makes uic rebel, Washington. and that illus
tfious usn were rebcs also. But let tpe ask
gentlemen around me, who hold The opposite
opinion, are YOU not liable 20 be arrested as
traitors also, if YOU hold the doctrine OF Sc.
c.s:;on shouiG ike 10 know shat better
security these scces$icn:siS can have than the
doctrine Of the right Of revolution. Il vas tie
very doctrine cf the right of revolution that
brought US through that glorious struggle
wiiich gave US our Independence, and which
iuaie US q gres:, mighty and c free people
that doctrine upon which will stand side BY
side with vor in vindication of The honor, the
integrity, the rights and the privileges Of this
s!cr!ous OLD Commonwealth and Of the Soulh
But, Sir, desire 10 see peace and harmony
established ir lhis Cpniederacy, or this Union
as il was; because, as have said, loved the
Union. loved it as the proudest heritage that
could DO bsoucatl,ed by parents to their chill
drcn loved il for the glcries OF its past his
,rry-ior that name matte illuStriuuS by those
deeds whicii are embiazone1 upon al that is
corn. ctcd with the Revolutionary struggle
thu; OF the Father Of his country; loved it,
too because It's fair daughters, those OF Massa
chusciis and those who lived upon The hanks
Of the Connrclicnt, with their sisters Of Firgi.
nia IS well lis those oil over this broad land
| have bcjcwed with their tears the shrine Of
the Father OF his country St Mount Vernon,
have kuet around that haowed spot and sent
~: their aspirations together to the Home Of
| tie Most High for the wciGarr and protection Of
this great people.
But, Mr. President, II were 10 refer 10 the
causes which have produced the present state
os things. Shculd certainly depart from that
'!nc Hhich have thought proper to pursue IN
the views which shall endeaver to present 10
this Convention. y reference 10 the history
Of The unfortunate difficulties in which We are
now involved might call up "reminiscences in
the minds Of some Of this body that might be
unpleasant 10 remember. Let US then bury
ihs question Us 10 what causes have produced
rnc present difficulties, and let US rather act
| the part Of the wise u,en in tha temple who
t)o!; care vf tine jewels without stopping to in.
quire wEo had appeI the torch that produced
me con8agroton. say, sir, that all such in.
| quircs and all such illusions as these are ire.
lerant upon this occasion. Let US come up 10
The great woik before US and endearor so to
discharge our duty here as that we MAJ have
the CONSCIOUSNESS. that Se have done all that
duty and lo:c q Cur country required Us TO
do.
In referring, az shall not to the causes
which have produced this unhappy state Of af.
| fairs, we cannot but be reminded today as we
Sit in this hall, that Abraham Lincoln IS Presi.
dent Of the United States, or will be in Il few
| days-to fill tho place which the father Of his
country once occupied 1t becomes me here
to say in connection with this painful subject
that [ have anticipated better things Of Mr.
| Lincoln ltan those lorcshadowed in the
speeches which! be has mado in his Journey TO
Washington. 1t becomes me to say, that
knew him we'll some l2 years since. am per-
haps the only member in this hall, or the only
| pe:s3n perhaps within the sound Of my voice
1ho does know him well. It was my privi.
| lesc, as it was my duty to serve with him in
| Cungrcss upon the same committee for two
years. Whatever may have been our associa.
| llonS in some respects, there is not q gentle.
! iIan within the sound OF my voice-a member
Of this or any other delbcrative body, who
! do2S not know that from the kind of inter.
course wEicti exists baween the members Of a
conuI;;:cc Of uny body, one is able to judge
somewhat, not cny of the strength
intellect, but Of the character and quail.
ties ct uiind which those associated
with him possess Well, sir, ! say-und !
thint; it is due to MIN that should say it
tina: regarded AIr. Lincoln as Industrious and
sober-a nan Of fair tuients which | have no
doub. he employed 10 the satisfaction and in.
| te:estS Of his constituents; and will say far.
ther, that there was TO man upon thnt Com
mitlec who worked with more diligence and
more faithfully discharged the duties deyolTed
upon him; and he argued with great ability
many OF the complicated questions which arose
Tor discussion among US. | have said this Of
him Us have said it upon other occasions; and
however much uay have deprecated his elec.
;on Us one Of tie greatest evils which could
bef.i! the country, and however much strove
to aver! mat evil, Jet have spoken Of him
and Of my acquaintance with him, as would
OF any ether Individual with whom my associ-
atoms with him hai made me acquainted
But, Sir must ssy, if the accounts which
read ui his speeches since he set
eat upon his journey from Springfield to
Washington be correct, that was deceived in
the character, the pratensons, the abilities and
the strength Of intellect of Abraham Lincoln.
It is revolving to every set5se Of right, that a
man, elevalcd TO so distinguished station as
this, should have made the exhibition which
lie his of himself at every station and at every
point where lie has been called upon to address
his fellow. citizens. had supposed, from my
estimate OF his character, that lie would at
lees. have had that sort of knowledge Of him
self and OF those around him, as would have
induced bin 10 keep silent, but must confess
now, that have not even the hope Of his 81
lence in The future and am almost ready 70