Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-12

But tc restore the Union and preserve conf
dencc, the Federal Constitution should bs
amended in. those particulars wherein ex
pericnce has exhibited defects aud discovered
approaches dangerous to the institutions o
some Of the States
s. The people OF Virginia recognize the
American principle that government is founded
in the consent Of tue governed, and they con.
cede the right of the people Of the several
States Of this Union, for just causes, to with
draw from their association under the Federal
Government with the people Of the other States,
and To erect new governments for their better
security, aud they will never consent that the
federal power. which is in part their power,
shall be excrted for the purpose Of subjugating
the people Of such States TO the federal autho.
rity.
9. The exercise of this right by the States
! of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, MsSissip.
pi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas without the
assent Of the other States, has given rise to new
conditions. and presented questions touching
those conditions intimately affecting the rights
aud safety of the other States. Among these
are the free navigation Of the Mississippi river,
the maintenance Of the forts intended TO pro.
tect the commerce nf the Gulf Of Mexico, and
the power TO restrain smuggling along the in
terror borders Of the seeded States; but the
federal authorities under the Constitution as it
is, dlSclalm power 10 recognize the withdrawal
Of any State from the Union, and consequently
to deal with these Questions, holding that it is
reserved only to the States AS parties 10 the
government compact 10 lake lawful action
touching them.
~. Without expressing an opinion as to the
question Of power, but III Difference to the
opinion Of the federal authorities the people Of
Virginia hereby declare their desire To confer
upon the Government OF the United States, the
powers necessary to enable its proper authori-
ties to deal peacesbly with these Questions, and,
II It Shall become necessary, To recognize tho
separate independence Of the seeding States,
and TO ulake such treaties. with them, and to
pass such laws as the separation may make
proper.
II. This Convention. composed Of delegates
elected by the people iii districts, for The pur-
pose Of considering the existing difficulties in
our federal relations, represents the desire and
earnest request OF the people of Virginia, to
meet as directly as possible the people of her
sister States, and to them appeal for satsfacto-
~ adjustment Virginia, therefore, requests
the people Of the several States, either by pop.
uiar VOTE Or i'll Conventions sirailar 10 her owi1.
to respond, at their earliest convenience, to the
positions assumed in the foregoing resolutions,
and the proposed amendments to the Cons,itu-
,ion OF the United States hereunto appended.
And in the even; that this Cummonw eath fails
To obtain satisfactory responses to her requests,
from the Slareholdng States, she will feel
compelled to resume the powers granted by her
~, tad
and to throw herself upon her reserved rights
H. The people ui Virginia will await any
reasonable time to obtain answers from the
other States, TO these propositions, aware Ci
the embarrssslueats that may produce delay,
but they will expect, as Hi Indispensable con-
dition, that a pacific policy shall ue adopted to.
wards the seeded States aud that no attempt
be made TO subject them to the federal author
ity, nor to reinforce the forts now in possession
Of the military forces OF the United States, or
recapture the lurtS, urScualS or other property
Of the United States within their limits nor 20
exact tins pay yment Of imposts upon their co,n-
1nerce; nor any measure resorted 10, justly
calculated to provoke hostile collision.
l3. In the opinion of this Convention, the
people Of Virginia would regard any action Of
the Federal Government, tending 10 produce a
collision OF forces, pending negotiations Tor the
| adjustment uf exisurg difficulties, as aggressive
and injurious TO the Interests and offensive to
the honor of this Commonwealth and they
would regard any such action on the part Of
the seeded or conlederaied States as hurtful
! and unfriendIy, and rs leaving them free to &c.
termine their future policy.
Ii. The peculiar relations Of the States Of
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,
! Tennessee. Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas
TO tie other States, make it proper, in the juds'
meHt Of this Convention, that the former States
should consult together and concert such inca
sures for their final action as the honor, the IN
tereStS and the safety of the people thereof may
! demand, end for that purpose the proper au'
tf,ortics ofthose States are requested 10 appoint
commissioners to meet commissioners to be ap
pointed bg this Convention on behalf OF the
people OF this Stale, vt Frankfort in the State
vf kentucky, on the last Monday in May
next
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Nir. BIgNr-i desire to make correction
in the report of the remarks which made here
Oh yesterday.
ain represented in the report in the "En
qurer" this morning, as stating that Englanc
consumed six millions Of bales ul cotton anEI;
allv, whet. my remark was that India pro
duced six millions Of bales annually. There
are other inaccuracrS which shall be corrected
in the revised remarks which shall PUBLISH.
TIE FREDERICKSBURG RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. MAgYe presented several resolutions re
Gently adopted at public meeting of the citi
zens Of FrederirkSburg-ana addressed th'
Convention vt some length on the subject tt
which they referred For the want OF spnc!
in to dar's PAPER, Mr.. MaRyEs remarks and til,
resolutions, are deferred till tomorrow.
REPORT By GOV. WISE.
Mr. Wiss.-Witi, the assent Of the gentle
man from Louisa, Cir ANBLER) rise to
privileged question, that OF making a rep"r
f! from the Committee on Federal Relations, o
rather minurit: report. ask leave 10 pre-
sent NV dissenting report in the form OF I'M
nority report, aud slncil now Deg leave u
! read :,
The undersigned begs lesve to assign TIT
reasons for bis dissent from the Report ot 'h'
Committee on Federal Relations, aud presents
the following as substitute fer the plan
| measures Recommended thereby to be adopted
by the Convention:
! syas.itvte oftrrd by Mr.. WISE To tic Pfean,'t'
md Res2tutinnS II Mr.. SCOTT, as ams"oo"
! IN the Commit,,s IN FtdsraI Retatao"s
! Friday. -uarch s, lSGl:
This Convention, called by the people OF t'''
! ornmonwesl.h Of Virginia, to deliberate upoT
the present cx,yenccs OF their federal relations
/ and upon the redress Of their wrongs ard sr'e'
.nces in the Cor!edsracy OF the United States
deems it necessary and proper, win u we" e'
| ,,resarve neacc to defend the Federal Con
st;tutiou. and to restore and perpetuate th'
Federal Union of all the States on oaS's y
| lust and equal rights, to declare:
/ That for long series OF years the ProPert.
If tho citizens of the sIavrhulding States, ant
particularly that Of her own cltizet,S, mas pte'
asSai!ed and endangered; that the Constitutes
Of the United States has been broken; 'hat LIN
rights and comities OF States ana tnelr equaht.!