Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-15


connected with that government, aud they ART
in its service. We saw many Of them a
Washington Our room was d perfect ante
room fer sailors and soldiers for an entire day
We were called upon by many connected with
the military and naval service We had many
confidential conversations with gentlemen in
both these departments Of the public service
and the impression was that so long as the
State remained in the Union they would re-
main in the United States service but the
moment she went out, their services would be
at her control. understood that somo com
mitted themselves on the other side, and were
now prepared to make war upon the State o'
their birth.
These, sir, were men of rank, and chiefly
connected with the navy. Let this war 90 on
while you arc in the Union, and you will lose
the services of many brave and experienced
officers; you will lose all opportunity Of or
ganizinS and disciplining your own troops
while organization and instruction is going on
on the other side; so that those Is, 900 militia
men will be made efficient soldiers by the time
you have done your counscls, and then you
will have to commence your preparations when,
perhaps it may be too late.
Mr.. President, don't see how it is possible
for us 10 maintain our independence in tic
| face Of that power, unless We at once and with.
out q delay of twenty-four hours, commence
Immediate preparation Shall we do this by
going to Kentucky, which has not appro-
prialed a dollar TO raise an armed soldier? By
! going 70 Tennessee, which docs not consider
the ca.lsc Of sufficient Importance To assemble
a convention in reference to it: BY going 10
Missouri, which is almost on the side of the
enemy? BY going to Maryland, where a
Henry Winter LAWS is eluctca while the South
l., 5.t.iins rnr equality? Snail we best vindi-
cate Cur liberty nnd Independence by counsel.
| ling viii. rresclute, divided and distracted
States? or hy throwing ourselves at once
into The arni:; uf the only organized govern.
ncut wbirh is ready 10 do battle with Us and
rrr Us? ! ,ioi!'t object 10 conference with the
hor,i.r States. inlnk it respectful | think it
proper but | 10 moSt earnestly protcst-and
| | desire ~ put tha. protest OH rCCord, and 10
stand acquitted Of all responsibility in the
ma;tcr-againSt delaying the action cf Tirgiuia
until these States can be brought to concur
with us. believe that you vii get their con-
curr3ncc sooner BY going out. and BY sending
commissioners TO them to explain to them that
the emergency was SD gres: liiat you could met
Iai. TO consnit with them: believe you will
get their cu-apcratiOn aojrcr by that course
| than YOU will by assembling in Convention :s@i'i
discussing Tic question, whether yuu will Ss,;
on on. SIDE or the other. oy Ii gE: ii: all: That
question is settled. You have got 10 iigh;
and the further question is settled as TO whic:i
! side YOU have got 10 ii.!:! OF and thc next
Question is whether you will act promptly arid
ellicien!lyf
There Is another question Willie you aye
restraining. cnnnSelng and admon;,iing your
own people, and distracting them, You ars pc
pairing to pay the costs OF both sides OF tins
war Why, sir, loans will be Immediately en-
v..c,l bv the United States Government and
they will have no difficulty in obtaining what
they need believe they can now coEllnand,
il the lervor Of public feeling at the North,
al the money necessary, and it will require
some forty or fifty millions to maintain that
force for u year in the field; and your share
If that will be over half or perhaps three quar-
!ers Of million year. BY this delay you
arc placing yourselves in position where you
will BIC called upon to pay on both sides. Even
in a pecuniary point Of view, it is the interest
Of the State at once to place herself by the
side OF her Southern sisters, and make cotn-
mon cause with them. AS to the proposed
conference with the border States, | taiec II,
| that VIC do not need advice now. We need
help We need bayonc;s, not counsel, III the cX.
trcmity in which We now find ourselves.
nave great respect iur the opinions OF the
statesmen from Kentucky, Tennessee and Mis-
souri,; but don't want to stop to hear them
talk when campRign is formed and arranged
for the Invasion Of the Commonwealth, on one
side Of our border.
Let us get ready, not as 4 member of the
Northern ConGederacy but let Us r!et;ch our
selves from that Union, and throw the rcspon.
sbility Of the military operations upon the
government of the Northern Coulcdcracy, which
| will also have to bear the expense Of the wdr
Let lis do that speedily and at the same time
counsel with our friends; but do not let us
defer these most indispensable preparations to
hear the opinions Of any man.
Sir, the destiny oil Virginia is committed
now TO our hands. We are sent here to advise
lhe people Don't let US distract the people
by submitting TO them alternate propositions.
We are sent here to tell them what we think
they ought to do; not to throw upon them
the daclsion Of military or other questions
| which oaght to be considered here with closed
doors. Whether the State would be benefited
| by cooperation or separate action, We
are the people to decide Weknow the grounds
upon which to decide We have the inlorma.
ton, and they look to us for advice; and, in
my Judgment, we should be wanting in our
duty to them five failed to Indicate 10 them
the line Of policy which, in our Judgment they
ought to pursue.
Having said this much it only remains for
me TO say, so far as my future action is con-
uerncd, mean to forget, lis fnr as can, al!
| differences upon this tiour. do not mean
! 10 20 back and fix the blame upon any
| body. ! wish to consider that there Is no
! i,ia:ue to aiLaa'. to any one; that VIC will be
rcsrnn;,:b!v oa!y for the future. Let the re.
! sponsinlity Of the pas: go, and let Us take
!air St&rt. Let US have no crlnlnatlons Or rl-
ordinations. | do cnLreat, gentlemen, IN this
mos, perlluus hour, 10 take no step which they
NAV hereafter repent Otto take no step when
! will DISTRACT and divide the people, or Ehich
will weaken lhr moral or material power of
the Commonwealth. Let u.s. if We cap, unite
our COURSES, and without personal asperity,
wltnpu, examination seek u work out the sal
vn;ju.i ui this cJGimnn mother of us ell. Let
us forget all sec;Ull a:.l!noSl!ieS, MI party dill
!rrrnccs, all past ordinations, and come 10 the
consideration Of these questions with un ar
tleci I.sirc TO canciintc to harInonizc, lad TO
acIic;c 10: talS Coliilu'Il"clilh liaL aaetJ
which she leaves to u. 10 secure for her. |
shall, therefore, whilst have most decided
views upon this question OF SECESSION, listen
with respect 70 all opposing counseis and II
my Judgment can BE- brought tu CONCUR i'll srJ
ulisrr Ii,,c OF policy, it will give me the great.
cSt pleasure 10 ackuowiei % that my rclsun
ii;:s nr=n Convinced, aod 70 JOIN my humble
ciIurls 10 thoss Of gentlemen who d.ier i:o;n
Inc.
Mr. i. L. Ii. STrAgr, Of Augusta had
Irol expected to open my lips during the re-
rnainrler of this session; but, in consequence
Of What has been said by the gentlemen who
were associated with HE in my mission to
Washington, and in consequence OF what seems
to mc to bc co understanding that each MEM
Der of that Commission shall give the benefit
IL, ihat i.l Inn. n