Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-15
TO the People Of Virginia,

To the People of Virginia.
The duty we owe to the people of this Com
monweallh demands that we should inform
them, that all that they hold most sacred and
dear, both as to the Federal Constitution, and
the rights and honor Of the State is in immi.
ncnt peril from the t.nidity Of the House Of
Delegates.
After four days Of delay, peechJying, and
amendments, the House Of Delegates have
emasculated the Convention Bill by the adop-
ton of an amendment offered by Mr. Keen Of
Pittsylvania the effect Of which will be to en-
courage Black Republicans to persist in deny.
ing just and fair adjustments, and which i'm
perils the Union by exhibiting d mistrust OF
the people Of Virginia.
Mr.. keen'S amendment provides for opening
poll on the day Of the election for Delegates
and that the people shall then vote whether or
not the Convention shall submit its Ordinance
OF Secession, should such action become neces-
sary, to vote of the people.
The supporters Of this amendment know
that no change Of Virgnias relation to the
Federal Union would ever be made by Con-
vention, without subsequent ratification by
the people. There is, therefore, no necessity
for this stupid amendment; it can do no good
whatever, since the people in the character
Of the men they will elect, have IN ample guar
antee that nothing will be done by the Con
yention detrimental 10 their own interests and
TO the interests of the people. But it is not
tho utter useles,ness Of this amendment,
that renders its adoption so improper, it is
the positive injury that it does to the efforts
now being made to adjust FEEDER al matters, that
nakcs It disastrous.
Itwould be much better 10 have no Con-
yention than one which is SO initiated that
it must merit and receive the conteu,ptous
derisiou of the very party it was de.
signed to intimidate and check. We hope
the House Convention Bill will be defeated
and we turn to the Senate Of Virginia TO save
the Commonwealth from that ruin in which
timdily is about TO cngulf it. We much prefer
revolutionary Convention to one called un
der the forms of law, but so emasculated as
not to enlist the respec: Of the North or the
South. People Of Virginia, you must prepare
to save yourselves by the might OF your owr
right arms, for such measure as the House
Convention Bill will ruin rather than conserve
the Union.
Those who voted for Nj Kecn's resolution
talked much about the dear people, the source
Of all power, the fountain Of all authority
bu, the greater portion Of these same gentle
InelI voted last winter against submitting tc
the people the question OF 4 Southern Confer
ence The Delegates who voted last winter
against submitting the question of Southern
Conference, and on yesterday voted for sub
mi,,ins the Convention ordinance to The peo
ple, we're Mcssrs Anderson, Arnold, Ball,
Bentley, Bisbic, Boreman, Andrew Brown,
Cassin, Christian, Cowan, Crane, Da,
Wis, ", J. Dickinson, Edsington, D.
Gibson, Goodycoontz, Hanley, Harrison,
Raymond, Hackley, Hoffman, Holloway,
Hopkins, johnson, Knots, lyle, Left
wich, Locke, Lockridge, Magruder, J. G Mar
tin. Wm. Martin, Masse, Matthews, McGru
der, Mckinney, David Miller, Morris, Myers
Patterson, Phelps, Porter, Randolph Reid
Richardson, Rddick, Robertson, Saunders
Scott, Sibert, Segar, J. X. Smith, A. Wat
son, Watts, Welch and Yerby-in addition tc
these-Messrs Booker, Coleman, Collier,
Crump, Ferguson, Ferr, Fleming, c. Ii. Gil
mer, uurtt Jett, Keen, Thos. Martin,
Mckenzie, Preston, Pretlow, Rires, Sher-
lard, J. \. Smith, Staples, Walker and Wood,
voted Yesterday for this amendment.
Those who voted against the amendment
were Messrs. Crutchfeld, >(Speaker,) Allen,
Anderson, Bailey, Ballard, Barbour, Basker-
will, Bass, Basel, Bell, Boisseau, Burks, Caper,
ton, Carpenter, Carter, Chapman, Cbilds, Clai-
borne, Duckwall, Edwards. Evans, Friend, Gar.
rc,t, J. r. Gibson, J. Gilner, Graham, Graf
tan, Hunter, James. C. H. Jones, ". I. Jones,
Kaufman, Kemper, Kincheloe, Lundy, Lynn,
Mallory, Mcdowell, McGehec, Medley, Miles.
J. P. Miller Mong, Montague, Montgomery,
Morgan, Nelson, Newton, organ, Robinson,
Rutherford, Seddon, Shannon, Smith, Thomas,
Ton,In. TYLER, Ward, Wilson, Wingheld, Wit
ten, Voolfolk.
The people Of Virginia have above the tull
vote upon this fatal amendment, and do not the
people prefer that this Legislature should not
call Convention, if one cannot DO called un-
emasculated Of it's good effects
All hope is now with the Senate OF 'ir-
sinia; by prompt rejection ofthis amendment
the responsibility will bs thrown upon the
House Of Delegates, for defeating the just VIII
of the pcoplc. We have confidence that the
Senate will be just and true to the expressed
will of Virginia, tina. it will not give to the
Black Republicans any encouragement to nope
that the people of Virginia are less true 10 her
interests lhau tie inch they elect to their Con-
vcution.
We cannot leave this subject without calling
the attention. Of the people to those. gentlemen
Of the House who, through all the deo'te'
have steadily exerted themselves to pass u prop
or Convention Bill. 10 the unrcmtting eXor-
tons oc Mr. Kcmpcr Of Madison, have been ad
dcd the able efforts Of Messrs Anderson, zap
ertor. Chapman, c. II. Jones, W. I: jones'
Evans, Baskerviil, Rutherford, Newton, Sed-
don, BaSsc! Bass and others.
IL is due to Mr.. Rives 10 say that which he
mos. ably opposed, the amendment, his vote. for
it was given against individual opinion, BE-
cause he heie:ed it to be in accordance with
the wislic- nI his constituents.
. < > -
Notice.
all Senators and Delegates of the Virginia
legislature. who are favorable to prompt ac-
t;on in uassing law for Convention, are