Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-03
VIRGINIA sEnss CONVENTION.
-glGS SEiiI0E-SE YETTR DA =.
IarsSHAY, Nov. 81, 1861.
lCGETIGUED,l |

-gISs sl;SiIoE-sE YETTR DAY
IarsSeAY, Nov. 81, 1861.
IccNrlsuTD.
Z: ~cooS---i desire to offer an amend
60, to the iisst section of this Sd article, to
os- il at the conclusion OF that section:
%. who since the 1st day Of August,
80. shall hs=e held or exercised any Office
!: mas. in ibis State under OF by virtue of any
;;.ayr:tv der;Tcd ny any Government other
::,a ,;:@ Sia:s OF Virginia or the Confederate
.:.;s=, o. who have taken up arms against the
:s;& +: Virginia o. the Confederate States"
" 9H;:c! in offering that amendnen; is to
80. s.iue cases Of the character referred to
-: s..ye ARISEN IN the St7ts Of Virgins since
- ,u.e was taksn on the ratification of the
- nance sf secession.
:, IS no= mp.lsr Of public history that
:t!c ga: day revolutionary government
.ss j:ea attempted 10 bs established in :
.:r:ca u :hs territory of Virginia that
ass formal organization of executive, leg
i2i.. md Judicial officers that all of these
:.ri7,,sa,s =re upheld by the strong hand OF u
:.;.i;n inrade. have not been able to learn
ii: .ac; thst has trsDspired during all these
:::.orS which Tor 9 moment induces me 70
:t!ese 'hst any considerable portion Of the
...c Of yrSinis could either inaugurate
-:;;;,sin or uphold any such organization, e1-
s... 3, the point of foreign bsyonets. 1t is a
;Ss:;;. tns; under rule prescribed by body
;:s:entInS 10 be the Legislative body Of the
>se q Virginia an election has been held,
=: p.:r 20 supply Legislative, Executive and
i:5!a! ctSceS IN TIE State Of Virginia, but
M ri, h,- f,,.th =
a5s actually held m election to determine the
sion OF the dismemberment Of the State of
mia. At tue first of these elections, off,
l o.: L! many Of these counties were elected to
:s.I ,ta offices; and that under the election
4: &c d,smemberIntnt of the State, in many
4 & .assa counties polls have been opened, snd
! - *o;eS G! such people as presented them
s:ia5 Ner= scc.picd, and have no doubt that
-'yro :iirte months pass away We will have
4 =::a.ssga The consummstion OF the Infamous
] -: Of i!is Congress- of the United States, re-
! #:F::r.; tins revolutionary government ss
4 * ,:!tjna!o government of Virginia and
i &iIaa.tT asserting 10 the dismenberment Of
-. s.::r.
I l,acusn; st oGs time that would be willing
| . - ;.riacr thai, by disfranchising all who
4 I've voluntarily participated in the election for
:s s!nsn5arEaent OF the State; but when
1 "a 10 and the peculiar circumstances which
T i.;Ilaad the people there, and the number Of
/ :'occat rneI. N5o may have been inveig:ed ipto
:.i ro$asare, havs concluded to restrict this
y ::::cs::c. .isenent Is those who have taken up
I 'ia; .sa!ass the Stnts Of Virginia and to those
j 'ao '1s"e voluntarily accepted and exercised
! AZ c.GG Il Of trust or profit under any govern
4 s:a: except sha government OF Virginia er OF
4 E. lo:.!rdira;5 States. Some measure Of this
t,aa 1.e:a necessary and proper to be adopt
Il Il u th.is Convention, SO that hereafter, when
@ase ;:oabes shall have ended, and the in
y !:srl,y oi the State of Virginia shall have been
& indicated. and her citizens shall be able to
i :i.l ,her rights On every inch Of her terrific
Z, ia: these n:en who have made themselves
( '':5Hpxlors to every good man shall ct least
4 & s::s.h;ed from exercising the right Of suf.
q 5,ye
a .ili;t, sir, that the question involved In
8 Ills amendment ia one e great Importance,
i-t /; i; question tho cxpsdiency Of which,
l;ne Gl!ni;s nf gome, may be doubtful. Ia
II -ynSn Inird. however, there is no doubt that
8 rs 10! oaly sound policy, but that It is aoso-
5:';'y necessary for tia safety Of the people OF
';ya!s :hat those Eep Tho have been fore.
=, IN aiding this revolutionary movement,
n Ea,! not oc permitted hereafter to exercise the
! '::tTe franchise.
u. HALL, of Wetzel.--I desire to offor an
4 ;asadnent to the amendment Of the gentle.
q -.o 'iom Barbour {Hr WoopS). 1t is in these
4 His, and is TO come in a. the end Of the ist
s:';on. Sd article:
4 and the General Assembly may prohibit
q 2ersons from exercising the right of suf
4 II. rho hare taken, OF may hereafter take
Il sy :s1, in All effort to establish separate
:nz:nmeat within this State, or who holds,
Il : aasa since the 1st lay Of August 1851,
!rea:ra any Office Of honor or profit under
81 :: Federal Government of the United States.
u is.!! s:ste toas would prefer reposing this
b fis.: ia the Legislature to exercising l. our.
81 s7=', CT making Is permanent law upon thll
4 :;I::. Moreover, the amendment Of the gsn.
4 :'.1 from Bar bour would not reach persons
q ~ aareht participate in this movement here
T.. We nsf have other revolutions in that
t:~on Of the State, which would need q RENE
a ! As ws!l Is the one now transpiring. am
q :';siCrs in favor Of reposing this power in
= = :Lesis!.ture, who can have it in their power
81 aiply the correction or punishment IRON
Il '-s u ;ine as tbs occasion may demand.
a IT. Wocos-I trust the amendment to the
81 '~:1d:len. will ros prevail, if for no other
a 'asae!a,ior than this: that it looks to the
s. ,;"sni:.cH, in point Of fact that there is a
81 :"'e;ruians in Virgins other than the reSu-
4 =! constituted government suppose that
u .ssFe 10. ready 10 make any such admission,
n Fse,A7 o- Indirectly.
u 81: DO nor deslrs 70 go 90 far az the Cub
"c;s PROPOSES to 60. / a.n looking 70 the
B =: When tnsse troubles shall euo; ~heu sound
arr, when principles OF humanity will indi-
. =: tie prop.iety Of granting genera! am
4 ~ 70 very, large proportion Of persons
q ~ Ley already be invo!Ted, OF may hereafter
:v!iAe Involved in THESE troubles. ALI not
q r-!as u ..svs this matter to the Legislature.
:! ai'saiion ras been called to the fact, by a
EA"e;csn near mo, that SO ordinance YES
q ,'s'lEed :: :or,aeF session Of this BODY, which
i .. ..2Sea perEans 20 acid Office under the Gov.
ttaaei;i d lie United States up to the lst Of
sesS desire TO qualify my amendment,
=, - 70 Irce. that provision.
3 ,,,!!s ,!As zSi OF Aay was the date ir the amend.
& ~il' = i.:st ci:red.l
q 10 'ss ;:aIo: remsrking, that am unwilling
81 's ms matter entirely to the legislative