Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-26

orestion would have been raised on the admis'
sion of these gentlemen to their seats, anu II
is. therefore, obvious that if they had the power
70 authorize these elections to be held IN inc
nrecise manner in which they have been neio,
thew certainly have the power to ratify tnese
7 nropose tho word admitted" instead Of
e,titjed not to admit the perpetrahon OF
wrong but BY way of confirming that Wh'cn
we had the power and the 1ightto authorize NJ
the outset. o,
Now. in reference to the analogy OF The gen
tI.nsn from Albemarle, (Mr. HoLcoNsE,)
drawn from the Federal Government. thatN
him fir it. lie has said that Virginia Is emil
tied 70 sixteen meGbers in the Congress OF Tue
Confederate States; that these may be electen
nv GENERAL ticket; but that the State mao a
r;,hf 70 car they shall be elected by districts.
WsIl cir IL. us Sic how this analogy WORKS.
Under The law, thc State OF Virginia Is en-
.,.lrd n sixteen representatives in the Conted-
er,te Compress. Suppose tho enemy had oc-
cun;ed the whole OF the State of Virginia ou.
Hvr coun,irsY According to the gentleman's
admission. and according to the Clear ID" OF
tbs casa the five counties could have elected
,ho o;y,sen representatives to the Confederate
Concress, and the res. OF the State Of Virginia
And The rest of the States Of the Coniederacy
would have had no right to complain.
Now, sir, just rs the State OF Virginia N en-
titled to representation by sixteen members III
the Confederate Congress, 80 these respective
counties arc entitled under tho las TO repre-
sanitation by i certain number OF members
upon this floor; and the fact that but e" oi
the citiz.ns OF tue counties could vote IN the
election ought not deprive these citizens u the
right Of eectns their representatives, nno
thus securing TO the counties The vote upon
this floor which they otherwise would bave.
Suppose tina. y pestlence had prevented the
people of the county Of Albemarle, which
sent the distinguished gentleman near me,
tMr. RAypoLpu,) to iii tho vacancy which
lately existed in the representation from that
county, occIsonod by the death Of MIR.
SournALL, from voting or will say, suppose
a pestIlence he'd prevented nineteen t~eute'lsS
OF them from voting or even all but live per-
sons from voting Tor the present delegate,
would h.: not be entitled to Il seat here! And
would the uooule of The other counties OF the
Stale have any right TO complain that ne hol6s
his seat and acts upon this htur lbs The repre-
sentative from the county OF AloemaTlc r
Most clearly mol, Then, sir, upon the same
principle that these people tho could vote
uppht to have been permitted to vote; and,
having voted, their action ought to be lesaizeu
and ratified by this Convention.
| an, therefore, in favor Of admitting lhos"
members to the floor, and do not care PIE
cis.ly on what terms you DO 1t.
The pgEslDgNE-D, es the gentleman from
Pauauier tMr Bao9kg,) withdraw his motion
Mir. BEookR-I don't wish TO appear to be
captious. | will state that my proposition dis
cards tho whole proceeding had heretofore
the proclamation, election &c.-from view, and
proposes to 60 into en- election Of delegates 10
ill these vacancies. b coEnGn consent, this
whole proceeding rad 10 sanction in Law, and
dat suppose ina. this Convention would be
acting properly nov bf passing Al &C post
Eucto luw 10 sanction thar action. desire ,J
orng this proposition before the Convcn:!on
az az. original nnr in order that this body shall
nov proceed to exercise lis power TO Ill these
vacancies wiihon; regard 10 the action Of the
Executive on the proceedings had in the camp.
We might with prupriety, perhaps regard that
action HI IecommtndatorS or as liking upon !he
lneu whom we should elect to supply these va
cancies regard the vote taken III the camps
IN tho lish. OF a petition ard nothiu: ihorc. |
Cannot Withdraw my resolution.
Mr. MOORE w hat i; tho question now 10
fgrs the House (;
The paEsDENr. The substitute Offered By !:
the gentleman from Augusta (Mr. SruAkE)
Mr. FLoukNJY. The question before the !
Cunyenri5n certainly is one which involves !
sotnr difficulty. From the best Consideration !
thu. | have been able to give it during the de. /
bat. which las occupied the time OF the Con !
yention ,t;iuu il my mind has been brought ~ +
the conclusion tn: il is a question not OF con-
slitu,iu. ii night, hut Il question that addresses
itself Ia tae sound discretion Of this CoG:"n-
ton. Ii wculd bc Oh: duty in the eXerc!sr t.!
that discretion to conform as far and as closely
US possible to tha Law calling this h3dy. into
cxlseacu; AID in voting to Ill! the racaEcies
occasonci hy ths expulsion OF the meInaerS
from the North west, this Convention ought
first 70 bs satisfied that every means within the
power Of The body to fill these vacancies IN &C.
cordance with tho enactment OF the Leg'Sia-
turc giving existence TO this body, mas bee:
exhausted. If they have all been exhs ustct
and II the proclamation Of the Governor nag
been agreed to and the people Of the North
bayo been notified Of these vacancies and re-
olired to fill them, and if from an unwilling.
ness To fill these vacancies or sn insbt!tv 10 dp
SO by tho enemy being In possession OF tae
country, these seats are left vacant tho queS-
ton arises what il the duty OF this Convention
in the exercise OF sound discretion to give u
to that part Of the State II the
alteration Of its organic lawf
We a.e in very drheren. position from the
Legislature OF the State Of Virginia. The Leg
issture passes laws which are final, and not sub
m;ttcd 10 the people ior qualification; ont when
We shull have admitted these members to Dill
the vacancies, 1t " i'll be remembered that every
act of this Convention throughout its whole
session in which these gentlemen may partlcl-
gate, so far at least az rclGtes to our organic
iag. will have to be submitted to the people
for ratification or rejection-the people OF tie
North west included. And if the amendments
that shall be adopted by the Convention shall
be unacceptable TO tho people, they will all,
doubtless, be rejected by them aud our WORK
will be for naught
We are assuming responsibility in elec:
ing these members 10 our Convention. We
are filling these vacancies in the exercise, |
hone. of a sound discretion. We are filling
lhsm under circumstances IN which We can by
no possibility make mistake rs 70 the pea
who ure to Eli these places, because ~e hnve
in evidence that the loyal citizens iron The I
Northwest who are in tho camps, that the
gentlemen whom We arc now asked 10 admit
to seats, have TIE confidence OF these citizens
and arc esteemed by them worthy and compc.
tent to represent them. We stand here now
with every requirement Of the law calling US
into existence, exhausted BIZ the efJIts OF tie
Executive of the State, ind the Convention;
and il. thu utter inability of these people to
hold An election, we are now applied to to al
low thorn to have representation upon this
Hoor. We are tcli that the men in the camp
who have held this election have endorsed
these gentlemen who are now applying for
,dmies,on To seats here, as sound and loyal
citizens worthy to be trusted with The rights
and the honor of Virginia 10 thrsu trying times.
All these facts, sir, are to be weighed and cen
sids-ed in the exercise Of what IEcga-d 9 iegi.