Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-08
them such sanctions as will render them

VI suggest, therefore,, that you adopt rcS0iu'
tons in favor of the call Of such a Convention,
and appeal to the Legislatures Of the scvera'
States to unite i'll the application proposed tc
be made to Congress, in pursuance OF the pro
visions Of the article aforesaid. If the non.
slavcholding States shall fail or refuse to unite
in the application, such failure or refusal will
furnish conclusive evidence Of a determination
on their part to keep up the agitation, and 10
continue their aggrcSSlons upon rs. If tho
Convention shall meet, and tue question canuo;
be satisfactorily adjusted. il will furnish cvi.
dence equally conclusive OF their determination
In either event, the people Of tie South will
clearly understand what thcr are TO expect i'll
the future"
The article Of the Constitution to which re-
ference is here made, is III tho following words,
and I quote it, inasmuch as it will he referred
to hereafter in this communication
THE Congress, whenever two-thirds OF 1"t;l
Houses shall deem it necessary. Shall propose
amendments to this Constitution, or, on the
applications Of the Legislatures Of two-th!rds
of the several States. shall call a Convention
for proposing amendments, which, III clthei
case, shall be- valid to all intcnts and purposes,
AS part of this Constitution, when ratified by
the Legislatures OF ihrcc-lo urths Of the scve'aI
States, or by Conventions i'll threc-'ourths
thereof Us the ono or the other mode OF rntiii'
cation may be proposed by the Congress
Under this article, the Constitution Of the
United States has been amended on tltrce serc'
raj occasions in our history, and those aIHr;id,
ments have all been exceedingly valuable and
important. The first ten amendments "crc IA
titled by some Of the States i'll 1850, by others
in 1890, and by the residue in lf9i. Another
amendment was proposed in lT9l, wlllcli the
President Of the United States ani:ountc'! III
his message to both Houses, dated january :,
1898, as having beer adopted by the Con>tit''-
tional number Of States. The last a:ncntlsent
was proposed in 1908, and adopted ny the c"IISli-
tutional number ofStates in lSot. These amend
mcn,s were proposed and adopted n periods
less alarming, perhaps, than at the present day.
Still their adoption was necessary TO insure
peace and quiet TO our country, anI were de-
manded by Il proper teiercncc 10 public opln-
ion.
In the prcscn. condition of public affairs,
WHY cannot such additional amendments, rs
the circumstance nov existing require, be pro-
posed .oy ratification and adoption: lhe ne
cessity is manifest, and the duty 10 adopt all
Constitutional measures, before wc resort 10
the ultimate remedy oil secession, IS iinpera-
tive. Is il not monstrouS TO see Il Government
like ours DESTROYED, merely because men cam
not agree about a domestic institution whlch
existed at the formation Of the Government,
and which is Tow recognized oy u out Of Inc
33 States composing tie Union:
In support of my position, ] quote from The
message Of Gov. John Floyd, dated January
25th, 1888. lie was orc Of III" ablsst anu most
reliable Of the State rights men oil Virginia
Though he has been taken llom amongst US,
he has lett behind him L record is enduring
as time:
but the call Of 4 Genera! Convention ot tie
States, brings AZ once iui, before all Tie parties
to the compact, every doubtful! or disputed pow
e: Of the Federal Government in The m"le
pointed out by the instrument Itself, where at'
amendments could be made. and G'sputeo pow
crs settled, in Il spirit Of kindness lnNcl more
congenial to the harmony OF DIR institutions
than that which now Sccias iii contemplation.
This course ought 10 hc acceptable 70 ALL as II
gives full assurance Of peaceful! days hereafter,
and will restore confidence IL tue mint u! ti'c
patriot, already too long aeiiaie'I "iiil the lore
seen disasters Of the coming c~o"!iict.
This recommendations WAS made II 4 period
in our history not unlike The present. IL Was
made by q statesman Of great practical WISDOM
and OF large political experience. 1t WAS a tru"
Nirg;nian. in feeling, sentiment, and principe,
Jealous Of her honor, true TO her Interests, iait!.-
full to her rights and institutions, cool, calm M"
sagacious.
1t becomes our State 20 a2 ;ain'itC! OF her
own interests, in the present dcTailctd ant nh-
settled condition Of public affairs. The cotton
| States seem to he looking 10 their own interests
alone, and why should We no: look TO uurs:-
Virginia has immense interests, valuable ana
important, at stake, anu It becomes Us 10 see
| that those interests are adequately protected
She occupies 4 position How, as she dlu in
1895, when she can mediate between the con-
tendln. parties, North and South, ard SIC that
some fair settlement and arrangement oi exist
inc differences shall be agreed upon. Nlhie
| would not have her occupy n position That
would require the slightest sacrifice oil her
honor, her rights or her institutions, s!Ie must
see that in all her future movements and assoc
Citations these are securely protected. Now
that guarantees are the order Of the day, and
each State is earnestly and anxiouSly cnqcirirs
what guarantees are required for her prot"c.
ton, il becomes us to secure such as will pro-
tect and preserve the rights OF persons ard pro.
pcrty Of our own citizens. \ disruption OF
the Union is inevitable; and il rev conicdcra-
GIGS are 10 DC lpllESl, We tll$L ih'S 49, 1851
guarantees before we can attach Oil: State 20
either Of them.
The late Executive Of South Carolina, in his
message to the legislature, dcyotes conSldera-
bic space to 4 commentary upon your acton
respecting "a Conference Of the Southern
States" That reference does not appear 10 inc
to be dictated by 4 kind spirit. 1t wears Inc
aspect Of dissatisfaction with your decision
and. in connection with other portions o. t'ie
message. indicates diStrGst OF, and hostility on
his mart, towards this Commonwealth. Inc
1nty which | owe TO Virginia demands Il notice
Of 50 much Of this communication rs relates
to our State, and the action Of her Legislature.
Why Virginia alone, Of all the So;lihern
States. should have been singled out for COM
ment, is to Inc unaccountablc. The resolutions
of the South! Carolina Legislature, asking the
conference, were transmitted 10 nj! the South
ern States, ind none of those States responded,
except Mississippi and Alabama. Why no
complaint Of the other States who dcctiHci TO
accede to the proposal: After a careful tX-
animation Of Jour resolutions, since tho peru
sal of the Governors message, | see nothing
that could have entitled them 10 the special
notice that has been bestowed upon ,hcrr.-
They declare, 'Tha! the General Assembly o!
' lTElIlSt, lCSOSAiLhiO ~ '"'
with the non.slaveholding States IN imperative
necessity for decisive measures, does not yet
distrust the capacity Of the Southern States,
bv a wise and firm exercise Of their reserved
powers, to protect the rights and liberties Of
the people, and TO preserve tic federal Union.
For this purpose, we earnestly desire the coz
current action IF the Southern States" The
authorities of Virginia acted withkindness and
courtesy towards the State Of South Carolina
and her cstimaele commissioner, and in de-
Ginning to so into a Southern conference at that
time, they intended no diSrcspcct (" that State.
South Carolina having determined upon her
future course, without consultation with any
one Of her siavehoIding sister States, her !a;e
Executive Announces in his message, ut is too
late TO receive propositions f"r Il conference;
and the State would DC wanting in sc!iTcsl'ec!.
after having deliberately decided OH her Course,
-. 49,.