Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-06-18
VIRGINIA CONVENTION
sIXTH DAY.
MONDAY, June II, 1861


Parsons, of Tucker. (now absent) to state
that the reason of his absence was that he
was confined to his room by indispOsition,
bnt that he was now much better and would
be in his scat in n few days.
The hour ofeleven not huVing yet ArriY-
ed and there being no business pressing,
Mr.. Carlile suggested that the order of the
/ day be now taken up. There being no
objection the Declaration of Rights, which
had been made the order of the day for
/ eleven, was taken up and the Convention
proceeded to its consideration.
The Declaration was read by the Secre-
tary, after which
Mr.. PIERPOIST, of Marion, said:
Mr.. PIERPoNr's srEEca.
Mr.. PIERPoNr-I propose to submit few
remarks upon this Declaration before the
question is taken; and, sill, if / should ex-
tend my remarks TO several topics not par
Iicularly embraced in the Declaration, l
hope shall not be considered out of or
der. We have arrived, sir, ut an important
and momentouS crisis in the history of our
country-one that is to be deplored by ev-
cry lover of constitutional liberty, and who
has any desire in his heart for the Govern
ment of this United States performing the
great destiny for which it was intended
And, sir, it may not be inappropriate for
me to refer briefly to a state of facts which
has brought about the condition of our
country at the present time. | think il
must be Obvious-perhaps patent to every
observer of the history of this country
til It the crisis now upon us is not the re-
suit of any momentRry revision that has
come upon the country, or of any sudden
Outburst of feeling in any one section of
the country; but that it is the result sir,
of mature elaboration, cOncoCted in trea-
son, for the express purpose OF breaking
up constitutional liberty in this county
Aud, sir, | think l am borne out by the
facts in the statement that this treason
dates as far back as 1888; dissatisfaction
on the part of one single State of this
Union with the Government of the United
States, and a determination to break it
up. The history of the events of those
times is fresh in the memory of most
of US now. The declaration on the part
of the committee that reported the bill
calling the convention in the State of South
Carolina to pass the ordinance of Secession
Immediately after the last Presidential cleo
ton, shows not only the determination of
the people of South Carolina at that time,
but that it had been n determination in the
minds ofthnt people for twenty-eight years;
that they had been educating the minds of
the people of South Carolina for the ex-
press pHrpose of breaking off their allie
glance to the Government of the United
States, and that ii they were not taught
now, they never would be. That, Sir,
South Carolinians admit. That is tbs
boast of their chivalryi they al Ftoo high.
minded to deny the truth. ~ was their
determination to keep nothing concealed.
Ever since the transactions of 1888 the
statesmen OF South Carolina have never
suffered themselves to be called by any of
the party names that distinguish the people
OF the United States in other section of the
country; but have called themselves the
great Southern State Rights party. Thus
showing all the time that their object was
beyond that of conducting
this Government to the high destiny to /
which all the other States of this Union
so proudly looked forward, and for which
they had so diligently labored.
When we look, Sir, ut the transactions,
or theory rather, and the statements of the
leading politicians of the South, during
the canvass of the last Presidential cleo
ton, VIC find that they went on the theory
OF separate State action, opposing entire
ly any border conference of Southern
States, any action of a general character
that would bind together and have for
its object the healing up of the SEEM
ing discussions between the North and
the South. That separate State action
was taken in defiance of the temon-
strances of tue State of Virginia, and
regardless of the wishes of other States
reluctantly drawn into it. There was pow
erful Union party in Alabama, Georgia,
Mississippi, louisiana and Texas. But
these men Mt the head of affairs in South
Carolina, determining to carry out their
fayorite theory and purpose, precipitated
the country into this fearful rebellion.-
South Carolina seeded, and was followed
by the other States. Blu: we see MS early
as the ninth of December last, the program
me laid down by statesmen in Washington
for the formation of Provisional Govern
ment Mt Montgomery, by the ASSEMBLING
Of a Congress on the 18th of February.
Virgiuia's representatives in the Legis-
luture had been chosen year before, They
were called together by the Governor of
the State, who WINS opposed to Secession.
That Legislature however, was deeply i'm
bued with the spirit of Secession. They
Immediately on assembling called a Con-
vention Of the State, contrary to the usages
of the State. We know, Sir, that so far
as Virginia was concerned at the time of
the calling of that Convention, there was
large majority of her people opposed
even to a Convention being called, while
there was an overwhelming majority in the
State, opposed to Secession, and 10 favor
of the Union, under the Stars and Stripes
and the Constitution Of the United States,
knowing rs they did, and as we all do. that
It was to this Union that We are indebted
for all our greatness and prosperity.
Now: Sir IL has been said that the pro.
lection of negro slavery was the great OBJ
ject of this revolution. l deny Sir, the
whole proposition from beginning to end.-
And assert that slavery was only the
occasion, the pretext for the rebellion,
and for the steps taken to hiring it on
South Carolina, the most honest and
bold in her declarations, denied that
that such was the case. They were dis
satisfied with the Uniou-"the accursed
government" They wanted different