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

thing short OF absolute degradation that
would not submit to in order to get the whole
Of Virginia unitcd; but what is our remedy ?
do not know what is the temper Of the
people of Western Virginia; but from their
rcpresentatives-their honorable and faith
full representatives. take it that West.
ern Virginia is not up to the standard
that l would lay down. This question
is to be settled by compromise. know that
the word compromise is hateful to the extremes
in this hall on both sides. But compromise is
u very dear word to mo. You cannot do any
thing without com promise. The existence of
the Constitution, of laws, Of everything de.
ponds upon compromise. Compromised is
the soul Of the world the harmony of nature,
the music OF the spheres Even our salvation
was probably won by celestial compromise in
the councils Of Heaven. And shall gentlemen
reject compromise win they make none /?
! am sure that this Committee ~ not of this
mind. But what compromise would | make !?
| would propose this compromise There are
ultra secesSionists, who luke the ground that
Virginia should go right out of the Union
There Is another part Of this Convention who
say that they will not, under any circumstsn-
ces, go out; but I know they will But it
will bs rather hard to make case that they
Think would be justification to Virginia for
going out. Now, SIR. Chairman, think that
there may be middle ground, and that mid
die ground in my estimation is this. Let
Virginia put forth an utimatum and send it to
the North, and say to the North, unless this
ultnatum is granted that | Will refuse any
Longer to remain in the Union. That is the
language Of the llth resolution, in the report
Of the Comnittce-a good resolution and
will stand to it; but, for one am not willing
to stand by the last resolution in this report ny
understood BY this Committee, or rather the
COMMITTEES of Twenty-onc. think, though,
that that report will bear fairly the intrrprcla-
ton that Virginia pledges herself to 90 ont if
this compromise Or amendments to the CoEsti-
tuition, intended as a compromise, arc not
adopted. am afraid that snmt Of my
friends in the Committee of Twenty.onc
aud in this Convention. do no. take
this broad aud catholic view would have
it tnore Ineligible | am instructed BY
my constituents, and i. has been the voice Of
The State repeated time after time and reflect
ed in the Legislature of Virginia-that this
question must be settled quickly, Tor wo are in
m agony Of suspense which is now fatal to our
trade fatal to our social rslatiu,s With the North
and our social cclationS with the South.
| eiiihA We F'opI ~ 10 u ihIi
that We will send before the people'to morrow,
if we can get at our ultimatum, authorizing
the people TO send back to us the power, il This
ultimatum is ~ accepted, to 90 out ol She
| Union. this Hhat those who are in favor Of
immediate secession would agree to it, and lha,
the conservative party may also come into this
compromise. We can harmpnizc here, be-
! lieye, but no where else | would-saY to the
conservatives, that if they will,take The ground,
they will at last have such checks us the peo
pie may he disposed to put upon il. 1t is no
| final action, AMI the people have t. pass upon
it; and au glad that the people have to pass
upon it. would have voted, if | had voted at
all, for a reference Of this whole matter back to
the people. III were III immediate Scccssons!.
| would never deny the sovereignty Of tie
people by refusing the right to them Of voting
upon any act, therefore hope that all sides IGay
De united, and that we may send forth our re-
solutions %th an unanimous voice end with al
unanimous purpose to stand up 10 and sustain
the rights Of Virginia.
! But gentlemen say we must have confer
ence of the Border States You had confer
encc the other day. What was the result p
They were in session for weeks, but they could
not unite. Even the Border States could not
unite. Suppose you have conference OF
the Border States for consultation, for argument,
debate and diSputation-this very circumstance
will kindle animoSitieS and hu,reds among the
Border States that will render union iIupoSsi
ble What did Virginia send US here for? To
consult the Border StatesI Not ut all. We
were sent here for Virginia. Virginia is TO act
for Virginia's self. Do you propose to send an
ultimatuln to the Border States | thank the
gentleman from Augusta (Mr. BAL0wIS) for
proving in his very candid, luminous and able
argument on Saturday-tEe abSurdity OF send
| ing an ullinatum to this Border Convention
| To send an utimatum to the Border States
would be an insult to them. What else can
you dop We may so without Nh ultimatum,
| or in other words, without our resolutions.
Il this Committee of Tweny-one which has
been aborins and sweating in room which is
almost like the Black Hole Of Calcutta, to send
forth resolution which is not an ultimatuEi
This thing is absurd upon the very face Of it.
| will not put the libertcs, the rights aud
honor Of Virginia iato other han9s than Viz
| GINA hands. will never cunSeEt 10 it-nrvcr
| never
But this is good ground, that which hd7o.
cate, end am sure that no one who occupies
as do the middle position, can refuse to take
this ground-to 60 before the people at once,
and say to them whether they IRE willing 10
stand upon it and authorize this Convention,
if they do not, to 60 out OF the Union. And
the people will vote for it quickly, and it vii!
be final. That is what 50 for. | confess
have strong sympathies for my friends who ore
the ultra secessiorists. IF had my own way,
exactly do not know, but l would 20 with
them. Candor requires me to say this, but
prudence requires me to take different course.
| want Virginia 10 be united This is the dear
est thing 10 my heart, and ! will seek this
union in every way | can. The middle party
holds the power between the extremes and will
settle this question and ask them, one and
| all, to unite at ONCE upon this compromise;
send it before the people, get the decision OF
the people, and then We can act and act Us q
unit. Where are we to go? Suppose the
North will not grant US this ultmatum. | do
not believe it will. | am afraid it will not.
Suppose they do not act What are we to do:
Some say, give US border State Conederacy,
and try and get in some Of the Northern States.
That does not meet my views. The slave in
terest is too weak for this house divided
against itself-we hive it upon high authority
-caupot stand. Aud sir, with Europe against
you, with the North against you, without
solitary friend except ONO South American
State, the empire of Brazil, not another State
could give you any countcnancc, any right
hand OF fellowship; and yet we are talking
about dividing tho slave States Of this Union.
No, never! Our interests are embarked IN
the same bottom, ard am for holding our
slaveholdng States together and acting to-
gether.
Mr. Chairman, en- not prepared yet {" say
that will take the ulluatum rs presented b.:
the Committee. Ii is good rs far as it goes
think, with the gentleman from Princess anne,
(Mr. WIsF) thatit docs not go quite far enough
am not disposed to be unreasonable, nun
disposed to act on honest, open and an upright
part mean not to take any advantage Q;
gentlemen who do not agree With me upon THIS
subjec, for the purpose Of opposing them.