Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-02

know, Mr.. President, II nuS pcEh o"'o ''it's IL
won't DO to give Mr.. Lincoln the power OF the
government at the first, because he would
at once make war upon the seeded states, and
attempt TO c0ercc them. to force Them back
INTO the Union. And, Mr.. President, IN the
first place, don't believe any sucn thlng.
have no idea that the President elect will at
tcmpt any such ,hing. But if he had such IN
object in view. ask you, sir, and ask the
gentlemen who have such fears, would the fact
OF the State Of Virginia seeding before the
4th of March, prevent lritn from being inaugu
rated, or making such war upon the seeded
States? You Tray take the old Commonwealth
Of Virginia out Of the Union if you please
but that will not prevent Mr. Lincoln's in
ausuraton rs President of tho United States
Ii thought, Mr. President, that he had any
such intention, why Sir, that might afford one
of the very best reasons why would be I'M
willing 10 20 out, because then he would have
no EXCISE to 60 after lie.
But, sir, what has occurred within the las,
two or three monthsf What has occurred,
ask YOU, sir, since the election OF Abraham
Lincoln to the Presidency Of the United States!
You know. sir and knoT-or at least know
if you dcu'.-Q dent know how it was in
Your cuunty)-but know how it WAS in my
county, urd every where else that was during
the Prcsdentia! campaign All parties de
decIarcd-,tle Breckenridge party, the Bel
party, and the Douglas parLy-all declared
that the election of Lincoln. in itself. WAS no
cause fu- the dissolution Of l!le Union. And
si7, il it was roi regarded as tbs csnae then,
.;iiy il j; regarded ~ the CAUSE nov! What
."va The Northern people done since that ti,ne
against the rights o! the South? Sir, i your
rights have become more insecure since that
election Than they were before. how has that
fact been brought about: Not by anything
thsl the people Of tho Notwithstanding States
have Gor.r, but, en sorry 10 say. on account
nf the acIa Of the representatives OF the cotton
States Why, sir, twas admitted on a.! hands
That, IS Congress stood when Mr. Lincoln was
elected, he would haze had 10 power that
if hu was the worst nau in the wnrd--he
could have no power - touch hair OF our
head The power Was against him-CongTess
was against him, the Supreme Court ol the
United States was against MIN; and, ask YOU,
SiT-placed aS ho WAS III that positlou-f he
would TO. have been mole an object of pity
than Of dread?
But it is said that Se are how in danger; that
the Republican party has the Sscehdancy in
Congress. ! ain sorry 10 say that that il true.
But is that The fault Of Virginia. Is Virginia
to bc blamed FOR that unhappy condition o
affairs? And must she, therefore. 70 out oil
the Union :: No air. Tho fault is not with
her? The fault is with the grcadrd States
When they had the poGer in their own hands
they surrendered it, and placed 1t in the hands
OF their enenie.; and now, sir, because Lhey
did wrong. they a.k us to do wrong also.
lr. President, can SO. no reason, us re-
marked before, why Virginia should be in q
hurrT to 70 out Of tho Union, ii it il a conatl
trtlonsl measure. Ii it is L constitutional mea
sure fer any State to srccde at pleasure, let the
Old Commonwealth delay little ut any rate,
and when she is ready TO 20 out, then she will
have nothing 10 do but 10 just slide gu. quiet
~ Bui am opposed 10 her going out Of tile
Union at all, Mr.. President want Virginia
10 stand where she lass always stood; lwan
her to stand where she mas stood for more than
three quarters OF century. want her 10 con
tend for her rights in ihc Union. ard not out .
it. Did you ever know, SIR. President did you
ever hear of IL man getting his rights by run
Ming away FROM them ! had thought ,.lst Tho
5es! way. when you soug ut to secure your
rights, was 10 look your adversary in the FACE
and tel! him what you waited; to de!uand yutl!
rights and not run away from them.
Mr. President, now want 10 say few
words on the question Of secession. do nu
believe, cir, in The doctrine OF secession; | dt
net balicyc that i. is constitutional ncasure.
know, sir tia. much has been said upon
that s.JecI, for ntt against kno% that the
opinions Of chr great statesmen, who have
h.F, l,,.a iarD mi, lad r,nn thai
subject, for and against; but never have
been able TO satisfy myself lhrt the doctrine Of
SECESSION Was l constitutional uicasurc.
locked for it in vain in the Constitution Of the
Uiied States itself. thisk that the trainers
Of that Constitution, it they hs'l intended the
doctrine to be there, would have put It in that
Instrument. repeat, Mr.. President, that DC
no. believe in the doctrine Ct Secession. Why,
sir, it is sad that this Government Is Govern-
meat Of consent that the States gave Their
consent 70 the G,'icral compact, and that, there
FORE thcy haYe a right IL withdraw Al
their OWN will and pleasure. think ro', sir,
!hi!;k tie reason Is III. other way. think II
i!.cv i,nd been forced into the federal compact
they might !avp so;uc reason OF SOME excuse
for secession. hey then might say: I'VE
wcr; forged into IL compact 10 which! We never
consented and therefore We ought 10 have the
right 10 60 cut Of it," But that compact
has been deliberately and uadelstsndingly en-
tered into is no ground that the aggrievr par
" should hl"e right TO seccdc lIoru 1t ut tbeI!
own will and pleasure.
l have said Mr.. President, this: did nos be.
lievc in the right uf secession. But whist l
nuke tiIa. ASSET ton, | also cay that am op'
posed 10 coercion on ;ha part OF the federal
go7crClIlcnI n iii HE view 81 bringing The Sc
ceied SlalcS back Into The Union. say. Mi.
President, TINT am opposcd to II upon prln
ciple and upon pulicy. ain opposed To
il, t;rst because Gun ind no authority
in the Constitution Of the United States, dele
gatr2 that power 10 the federal government
and second, because, if the federal government
had the uower, II would b. wrong 20 Use It.
This Government can never De Kept together
by force. Suppose, Sir, ii had the power. Sup
pusc that South Carolina alone Was out aud Ihe
balance of the States bad the power 10 coerce
her back What good would it do? You may
20 TO war with her. if sou please you may
continue tina! war one, five, or ten years it you
choose; until bulf parties become tlred-and
what then, sir? iod could not make her per.
fortn her ttu.y as member Of the Federal TO-
verrment. You could not make her send her
REPRESENTATIVES to the Congress of the United
States. Therefore am opposed to coercion.
Then, sir. there arises the question whether
there il not an inconsistency in that view
OF the case | think not | will say, Mr..
President, that secession IS nothing less than
revolution. And when it arrives nj revolu'
lon the oontendlng parties may 60 to war, or
they can settle their difficulties without war
in peaceful manner |, sir, am in favor Of set
ting them ali wthourwa-. That is the best way
do il; and while there is peace it is the best
time 10 do it. Suppose the opposing parties
wont into war with each other after strife
of years would lhey be in my better condition
to settle their dlthcul!i,s at The end Of The war,
than they we're whoa they begun think,
Mr.. President, they would not be in better
condition. but would be in a far worse condl.
lion. Al last they would be compelled to Set.
tie their difficulties by treaty or compromise.
And after Tie war would be over, after having
s.,ert millions Of treasure and lost the lives Of
hundreds Of thousands Of cur best citizens,