The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-16


The Convention was called to order a, II |
bssk Prayer by the Rev Gse. w. Motley. |
@e NJ. L. Church.
voics eF THs rsorlg. |
-. FtsssR. Of Northampton, preseute,, a
- et resolutions adopted by the citizens
2 TT'cnyeniica, rvpudiating the Peace Con.
bL.oce a. pFcro$ticasl and !avoring immedint,
sT, FIsnER. in commenting on the reso,u.
.,,ns, aii,tJeVf to ths change of feeling among
~ tsnioe men of his county, as one of the
tssne-ipz signs that the popular tide was sci.
~ 10 the right direction.
w he rpsolui items We're referred to the Com
',.ae en Federal Relations.
NJ tseoHE, OF Mecklenbnrc. presented n
- of resolutions adopted by the citizens of
=. csEntv, repudiating the result of the
,ssfa oniereaee. and declaring IL the duty of
i~-iufs st once 20 Withdraw W from the Ifoion
Va place herself by the side of her Sont
s1w NJ Cioops endorsed the high character of
,se atizens he represented, and paid a tribute
a. ;AeIr Ealiantry-
1se resolution were referred
Nr Wrsos, Of Poiassi, presented a series
q, rsoiutions from that county. declaring
.hst Virginia had already done all that her
Aauog required 10 preserve the Union ant
'SSt al further overtnves niust come frona the
Nor;h opposing coercion, declaring that the
tr<t attempt in that direction ought to be re-
,,stei by Virginia, and favoring secession
MT. fNSsts, Oh frecAthghafn. presented
.sr,ss Of freunlon resolutions from that county.
paierred TO the Committee on Federal Re
h.ious.
Nj RICHARDSON. OF Hanover. moved III,
he Convention take up his resolution on the
.stb,ary strength of the Stste--a like motion
hs,inc heru lost yesterday for want of a fun
ro.e Mr.. RICEARDsoN demanded The yeas and
NJ Bsowx. Of Preston opposed the taking M
,J the resolution. lie thought the agitation of
ey subjects foreign II The purposes of the
Canyrniion would have tendency to depre-
tq1e State stock.
The notion 10 take up was lost--ayes S5.
uoes 20,
The Convention then resolved itself into
committee OF the Whole, (Mr. SoUrHALL, of
Alhenarie IN the thair,) and proceeded to the
,.,usIderaticn of the reports from the Com
rit-aa on Federal Relations.
The CHAI2XAS said the strict parliamentary
ruo wouid require the consideration of the
rlapTitv report alone: but such 4 course
wlali exclude the minority reports. Hence
ths Chair wonid proceed by the method OF
sivu- all a fair and equal opportunity of
competing with the majority report.
n. CoNRAD, of Frederick, (Cha irman OF
the Committee on Federal Rela tions,l took
the floor. He said the majority report was
taa result of a thorough and deliberate inves-
igst.ou OF all the subjects referred 10 the
Committee. pom the final vote on that re-
parl. the Committee being comparatively
thin ST the time the vote stood twelve in the
ArGaatye 10 TWO in the negative. He be-
lfysi that with a full committee, not more
ik7H four or five VOTES would have been rt.-
corded against it. lie urged a full examina- 4
tloa Of the subjects reported, and proceeded
20 discuss the propositions embraced. He
pissed over the several sections with Il brief
announcement OF tGelr purposes, ana SAID
mat be- considered their adoption necessary
% the safety OF the country. He did not re-
--pt that the Committee had vet been unable
70 IA ruish report upon the proposed amend
neu;s TO the Federal Cons titution, for a dis
luSSon of the subjects here presented would
enable tla members to sec their intimate con-
rpcoa with the final report. lie could not
agree with those gentlemen who went for i'm
mediate secession without further effort to
adjust the pending difficulties. He enter tanned
The highest respect for their opinions, but
could not subscribe 20 them. He believed the
pe0ple expac ted the Convention to make every
possible effort TO restore the Union as it was
and If all failed, then the last resort Nigh
be adopted.
He proceeded 20 consider the oblec tion urger
ayslust assuming q decided posi- ton on theS'
great questions He thought it proceeded from
= want of due reflection. Whenever a grea
erl,is in our National history arises, it is pc
euiiarly proper for Virginia TO make decla
meutous crisis than the present had ever beef
presented. New questions had sprung out .
the existing difficulties. which 1t was indis
pensable, If there was to be any amicabte al
l.
demands we must lay down the principle
upoa which We make those demands Inc
must be presented in the imperative form OF
demand of right. He would leave it 10 In
Judgment of the Convention TO say whethe
anv portiuu of The report could be omitted
without des troying the symmetry OF IN
whole. He then proceeded 10 consider IN
eighth resolution, which he thought Woui
meet the edisapprobation of the Northern MIND
and even among us il would find opponent
when first presented. 1t reads as follows
The people of Virginia recognize the America
Yr1cple that government is founded IN the con
sent # the governed, and they c0ncede the n 81
the people of the several States OF tnls Ihloi
iar just causes to withdraw rom tneih a., Iss1elS ,aS
Ve " the other States, and to erect new govern
merl. for their better security and they VI
lever consent that the Federal power, whlch Is
Iort lt.ir power, shall be exered for the purpos
4 fsubagaung the people of such States to III
Th4 Eorthern people continued Mr. Coz
R.pl for the seventy years OF our national e1
l,tence, had given little attention 10 ques non
Of constitutional right. The prihciple ina
any people have a right 10 reform, after {
abolish any form OF their Government, mad
far their benefit was the fundamental prlnc
ple Of Republican liberty. The aIiirinatio
here is simply that the people OF the sewers
States NAV, for Just causes, Withdraw lroi
rbsir ASSOCIATION with the Federal ToVeri
fnent II gentlemen We're disposed TO cen
IN. principle on this floor, 1t was MS opiilo
that they had sadly degenerated since the ia
l,f 40 -
government of the people OF State ha
E-pn DESTROYED, or merged in some other ioi
of government, they still possessed TINS figh Ii
II tLpy had a right TO change their FORM
STATE government, they also hau lIsn' !
change their form of Federal government t.
H. did not regard il as revolutionary rish
lie main tanned that the proposluon was SOU !,
and impregnable, established curing VI
American Revolution, leaving the people III
70 change their forms OF government ~ WI
originally AN American rinciple, but was 20
recoguized both in England ana France. i
then called attention 10 the iang uase oi u
Declaration of Independence ana the ths'n
Bill Of Rights, where the PrlhciPio va" ="
unctl~ affirmed. ,
Tba ranort was further intended TO deny
he Government at Washington any rishi
any vay, forcible or other"ise, 10 uet -
question OF the secession OF the ota'ee.
al1rrr- tina, IL is not granted by the CohstI.
uor u vas sn,uewhH remarkable that M
Ligcpln while he admits that ne mas !
powp, TO deal with the question peaceapi
should contend for the night Oh deaiing WIZ" WIN
iorrlb'y This alone Wouid present tl1 u ,
HJn in An ex ira ordinary lorm-thal lie ht.s
power 70 make peace, but mas the Iiehs
m sa ,var. ON this point Mr.. Conrad mace
Constitutional argument, and SPOKE Oh tue =
gen.ousIy devised bill in Congress LOT Iiie "
entry. but this bill, he said, was directly
contradiction of IA provision Vi 'he N"'
ton.
The other propositions We're those whi
made demands upon the Northern Sti,es, a.
he believed that when those deihahas can
from ,he comm, ttee they would meet WIN
opposi ton upon this floor. Iney Wouit "a
brace all that WAS necessary lor the P,or
ton OF Virginia. There might be some oins
euee of opinion TO the method proposou,
direct appeal to the people; but ms ov
opinion was that if il was carried, the MORT
ern people were now prepared 10 say IN
they would give 10 Virginia anytni WIN WIN