The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-01


Mr.. KExpER said he sympa thized in the In
dt&nation manifested by the gentleman from
Richmond city ,(Mr. RoBERTsoy,l but thought
that gentleman had "roarad as gently as
smoking dove" He mir. RopERrsoS) advocates
simple protest against the removal OF the
arms, and questions our power to seize them
\ our meek protest Is crouching supplicatiAl
atthe foot OF the Black Republican throne for
when you protest with an acknowledgment on
your lips that you have no right 10 enforce
your protest you asew that you will amely
submit II your protest is contemporary
sltfned back upon you. BETTER Go notnihs
than resort to the brutpm gatmem of such
thing as that. Have no power to execute
our purposes by any means better IMAM
words What did gentlemen mean on
the first day of this session when tney
voted that Virginia would meet any effort
at coercion by arms, and would resist IL
TO the blood and to the death Did any
gentleman then say we violated the Con
stitu ton or our Official oaths by pledging
and binding Virginia to make war upon the
Federal Government in specific con tlngencles
Why, sir, gentlemen here have acknowieu2-
ed that the removal and appropriate n OF
these 1rms in the present conditioh OF thiiiRs,
by the Federal Government, Is coercion, ana
not to resist this incipient coercion by all the
instrumentalities necessary TO It's suppression.
is an i.cnominious backing down from the po-
sition of the State. The gentleman, Mr. no
BERTsoN,) too. while questioning the power OF
the General Assembly TO resist the removal,
yet assures us that the Governor will resist
1t and prevent it, thus assuming that the
Governor, who is the agent sworn to execute
the viii of the General Assembly, has more
power than the General AsseDlbly-that
fragment of the Government is more powerful
than the whole Government. But Will not,
at this la day, stop to demonstrate that Viz
ginia may interpose to arrest aggression by
force, if necessary. Any question or denial OF
that power now, any employment OF your
empty protests, or representations, or sup
plications in crisis like this, is but a con-
timidity and inaction, which has brought
upon us ali the ilad of our woes. Sir,
I feel it, and know it, that if this old
Common wealth had in the beginning of this
crisis met Black NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in
its face that sacred taichion which she
Sathed in the best blood of Great Britain
eighty years ago, every son of hers would
have rushed to her defence, filled with the
very spirit OF the Revolution. Every man
would have been hero ready and exulting
to die in her cause. The whole Common
wealth would have breathed deliberate yalor,
from the Ohio 10 the ocean, and the very
spirit OF aggression would have crouched in
dismay. Virginia would have exercised her
immemorial prerOgatiye OF leader OF whatever
cause she espoused she would have been the
marshal of the van guard of the Southern col
umn, and would have led the whole South
which was eager to follow her in solid array.
There would have been no fragmentary disso-
luton OF the Union there would have been
no talk of coercion and no menace of civil
war. Such a lead and such 4 Union of the
South would have driven Black Republican,
ism to surrender the Government which it |
had conf1scated under the forms of the Con |
sttution, and would have insured a peaceful |
and perpetual settlement of all cur troubles |
But the yaclllation of Virginia has brought |
about the diSunion of the South itself and it |
has united and emboldened her enemies 1t |
has robbed the old Commonwealth of all her
power in the councils of the South present |
ed her 10 the world as ga luke warm friend |
ana placable enemy brought upou her |
al
trlbuted to bring the country to the utmost |
verge of civil war.
Mr.. K, continuing, said he was sick and
tired OF this Mandy PANTY policy If we
meant to do nothing we should say nothing
Ii we really meant to prevent the removal of |
the arms, it was logically necessary to provide
the means to execute the purpose of proven
ZION. If We showed, by our preparation of |
means, that we were earnest in the ma tier
then our action would prevent riot and coIli-
SION, and tore calm TO the public mind of
lhis vicinity upon this matter, at least. Any
superficial tanpering with the matter would
create the very ground-Swell of popular riot
tnd revolution, which gentlemen deplored -
lie commented with severity upon the letters
)f the L >. Colonel of Ordnance and Secre-
iary Of War, denounced their duplicity and
declared that the Secretary of War was con- |
yicted of falsehood in denying that there had
been no order for the removal of the arms
Gentlemen had spoken of another probable
>rder, suspending or countermanding tile
'oEOFal. Eyen If such order should
nave actually arrived, what of it p
" hat faith was to be attached to the orders
II the Administration after their known pre-
and dupiicity? Were not war
anted IN believing their ohjeGt to be to tempo
Ze and delay for the present, and then to re-
lew the order after the General Assembly had |
one home? No matter what order might be |
>sued now, ii Gid not warrant us in enIrust-.
ne Ibis delicate business in the future, either
o the mercy or the honor Of Il Black ReDub-
lean authority, already convicted of perfidy
fiISenOoG |
lie argued that thing short OF the Senate |
would be no guaranty against |
uoiic outbreak in the future. and would not |
ecure the rights of Dr. Archer, which we had |
lready taken charge of and Were bound TO re-
pee I, Tor we had deprived him of the fruits of
is contract with the Federal Governments
liz deprecated any supplicatGry effort to mol
~ the Administration i'll its action, OF to
or treat with that power, but in
sted that Virginia should execute her own
all. and by her own action secure her peace
MI safety
Pending discussion, the House took a recess
II y O'Clock.