Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-06

ton pelltlonS presented 10 CoilSIeoS' In SoN'
try will net be flooded with debates in tho na'
tonal halls on this exciting question OF slavery.
These debates will not be spread broadcast over
the land. We will remove the subject from
the field Of discussion. We will put it where
it will have that reposc, which, alone can give
it security and prosperity.
But sir, il has been the pleasure gentlemen
who have addressed us, on tho other side OF the
House. TO arrai gn the cotton Statss, and especial
" the State OF South Carolina. II stranger had
entered this ball during the delivery Of some OF
the addresses that we have heard, he would have
that we were sitting here, a high court
in judgment on the cotton States, and especially
on the State of South Carolina, for high crimes
and misdemcanors against the national govern
mrnt. And what is the great cause Of COM
plant? That those States acted precipitatcly.
That they acted without conference with Fir-
sni: and with the other Southern States Sir,
If they acted without concert-if they acted
without conference with Virginia and all the
5lavcholding States, the responsibility restS not
1t their doors In view OF the rnutterings Of
the storm which threatened to burst upon the
country, two Of the Southern States, by the
solemn acts of their State Legislatures. ap
m6nwealth Of Virginia, asking her to meet
ti:cm in council-askng her to take counsel
With them on the great crisis that was APP
proaciiiag-and what was the response Cen
ile.uen who have been Un;on.savcrs for tho
last twenty five Or thirty years were so
anxious to preserve the Union that they were
afraid TO take any steps locking to the preser.
ratinn Of our rights under the Uncontrolled
their arms and said to South Carolina and
Mississippi: mo, you want Convention for
purpose. Of disunion. We will not extend
to you the right hand Of fellowship. We
will not confer with you" But, say gen
tlc!ucn, that Convention WAS for the nTowe!
purpose Of disuulon. Sir, deny it, and
uupcal 10 the address delivered before
the Virginia Legislature by the Commissioner
of South Carolina, and ~ the written comnu'
nica:ion OF the Commissioner OF the State Of
Mississippi to the Executive Of the State OF
Virginia These will show that the object OF
those States, in asking that Conference, was to
perpetuate, and not to destroy the Union
1t was to assert our constitutional guaran.
tees in the Union. Mr.. MernIuinger, Conn
missioner from tue State Of South Carolina, in
his address to the Virginia Legislature, uses
this unlnistakable language:
II would be wanting IN the franknesS and
candor due TO this august assemblage, II d!h
not pauly declare the opinions which we en-
terrain in South Carolina We have no con-
id.ncr in any paper guarantees-neiLher do
retaliation within the present Union will avail
Bu:, %ith equal frunkness we declare, that
when We propose conference we do so with
the fail understanding thGt We are but one Of
the States in that conference, entitled like al!
tho others 10 express our opinions. but willing
t. respect and abide ~ the united judgment 81
;hr sSdoie.
There, sir. is an unlnistaHlble, unequ;rocai
declaration, from the Commissioner oil the State
Of South Carolina. Speaking for and in behalf
Of his Stale To tho General Assembly Of Fir
snia he SAYS that We will be but one in tina.
Conference, we pledge ourselves to abide It's
Judgment. And this is the avowed purpose Of
dlsnnon which gentlemen have spoken Of
| will now read an extract from the colnmu-
ncativn OF The Commissioner from Mississippi,
General Starke.
Mr.. BALDwlS, Of Augustu-Will the gentle
man allow Inc TO interrupt him, that may
correct statement i'll regard t" matter OF
TACT!
DoeS not the address OF the Commissioner
rom South Carolina directly declare that South
Ca'riias desire, in going into that Conference
VAS tn bri.. about O dissolution 0! the Union
md that, although she intended 10 abide the
action Of the Conference, her own vote in the
Conference world bc a vote for diSIInion
Mr.. GooDg-The gentleman could not nave
heard the first part Of this extract lie will
find there that the Commissioner says
~ would be wanting in the lrunkncss and
can,lor due TO this august .ssrmbagc if did
mol plainly declare the opinions winch NC eli
tc;rcc ia any paper guarantees. neither do we
believe thar am measures Of restriction or re-
;alialion within this Union will lrall."
And vet, sir, notwithstanding this avowal OF
the sentiments Of South Carolina, she pledged
herself, IT, il, conference with bcr sister States Of
the South, ~ abide The result Of that confer.
"ncc.
Nov for the avowals Of the Commissioner
from Mississippi, Gen. Ssarke. lie says
I'll, after wha: have said, AIN asked-con-
f.rerce Tor What? My answer is in word
for protection 20 ourselves. for self prcserva.
tinn, for defence Of the Constitution Of the
United States, fer the preservation Of the
Union, and the equal rights Of all the States
and OF their people in the C0nfederacy. This
is no question Of party. 1t is one of patriot
ism. am delegated here by party opponents
.-hy those who would confer On ne no honors
Of the parlisan--but who have done me the
n,yi,cr honor Of cnn6ding 10 ne the trust Of
the patriot. II others design disunion BY COM
mendlng conference they have mistaken the
means adapted to their end. So far from tend.
iny TO dlSunion, conference such rs my State
now teuders, and which | am instructed to
urge upon the acceptance Of the Common.
wealth Of Virginia, i'll The name and for the sake
of the very bond itself Of Union which ought
t. enable sister States to unite all the mere
readily, the more easily, the more conlldlngly
in council aud in confcrcnce-:uch conference
aud that slore can eneclually secure the coop
Grafton to which the General Assembly Of firgi.
MIA is now invited to save our equal rights, our
honor, and our federal relations. Nothing.
indeed can more directly tend to dsunOn than
diS:nclination among the Southern States 10
consult with and confide in the counsels of each
other. If it shall be found impossible to lend
to moderate and peaceable action that effective
force and impressive dignity which can result
only from united c0unSels aad concerted ac-
liOI--lucil thCi 10 ~ P''H"D'S S'"N
the individual States will be obliged to resort
10 measures Of redress which shall compensate
in extreme severity the comparative weakness
Of individual effort
Thus, Mr. Chairman, the declaration Of the
Commissioner from Mississippi IS unequiToeal,
that his State solicited that Conference with 4
view, not to the destruction, hnt 10 the per
yrtuat!ua OF this Union. And. SIR, ls not the
course OF tine majority Of this body no% full
a,tes.a,on, Of the propriety aud the necessity Of
rhe adoption OF the Suggestions OF South Caro-
iua and Mississippi, at hut time! Does it
not fully attest the propristy ami The
necessity Of Conference Of the Southern
Statcs? We are told nov that We should have
consultation. Ina, we should nave conference
We are told that il we had a full conference u
the Southern States End if ar uliinstum were
laid down BIZ them, that all would DC we'll
But, sir, these gentlemen, who are so anxious
for an unimatum now, were not willing 70
L.,