Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-03-25
VIRGINIA STATE CcNvENT;op

to the State Constitution, were taken NJ, ."' y
advocated by Mr.. Hall. of Marion, unt, anu Il.
hour of going INTO the committee nf u .u'
Whole. ''s
The Convention then resolved ITSELF,
Committee ol the Whole, on the suh;e., '' 4
Federal Relations, and "
MIR. Baldwin, of Augusta, resumed thai,
livery Of his argument in favor of 4 fnr,t De'
effort to prevent permanent dissolut;on "' r
the American Union. Aitera recapitnla.;'O
of the points presented by him YESTERDAY W IIa
B. proceeded to show that the people Of : w. IT,
ginia had either distinctly ex pressed na ,,
approval or endorsement Of every act If '" q
Federal Government affecting the instr,; '"'
of slavery, from the Ordinance of'S7 to III.
present time, and challenged the projpc,;aS'
of single act which was not thus appr~sI
OR ratified.
Mr. Wise said that he took up the sIo,,
Mr. Baldwin-And when the glove !, ' -
ken up, beg the gentleman to remeuf..
that the battle is justabout to begin.
Mr.. Wise hoped it would las: long.
| Mr.. Baldwin said that in the warm,, ,
debate, yesterday, lie had used harsbns,'
of expression not consonant with his feeljo,,
or with parliamentary usage. lie discIs;n
ed any intention to be offensive, and de,I,,
ed that he had no taste for asperities.
Mr.. Wise said he hoped the gentleman III
not refer to him, as he took up tina, pbny,
with Il sweet smile.
Mr. B. replied that he did not refer to In,
gentleman from Princess. Anne, (Mr. Wis.,,
and then proceeded with his argumen,
lie said that American liberty is iounaa3
in confidence in the virtue and inteiligen,.
of the people. The Constitution proyj3..
checks and balances against maladministn,
ton, and when grievances are to be redres.ei
all the agencies Of government should be p.
sorted to-Executive, Legislative, and JUL.
| cial. ltall these fail, then an appeal to tt.
people who conferred the TRISTAN appesj
from the servants TO the muster s-mu>t b.
made.
| But for the withdrawal of the Cotton St.,s.
the friends Of the South would now be in,
majority in Congress, aud could therei,s
have the power to withhold supple still ;htr
compelled justice and safety for the Svu,i
Why have they LETT US thus helpless? MrB
abiding, incidentally, to the firing Of !pI
guns ct Charleston as Il token vi reiociues,
the election of Lincoln, sand he feared ,te,-
was no earnest second: in the South, four
| efforts To prevent the election CT the REBUILT
| can candidate
MIR. B. referred to the recent action a
North Carolina, Tennessee, and the BorIf,
States, in refusing to hold State Convention.
Virginia could not unite with the Southern
70 ar,au ~ oh ,;ac,raI t, 1,r
in the street said that he supposed she would
have to 20 round by water Butt was sait
that the voice and example Of Virginia wer.
potential, and If she should determine I,
unite her destiny with the Southern Cone!.
eracy, the other States would t3!Iyw,-
Would it not be respectful frs. 10 ask then,
if they would &c? Mr.. B. proceeded to 81.
vocate the Conference of Border States Or.
posed by the Committee. His idea was ihs
the Conference should demand the mus
complete and thorough recognition Of III
rights of the South, and if it was refused By
the North, then we'll have row. He xoul
present the alternative OF a satisfactory ID
justment or peaceful separation.
MIR. b. declared that the institution Of sa
very stood higher at this time, in the estims
ton of the intellectual, moral and physica
world, than it ever stood before. He rec1.
lected when it was only spoken OF by Nortt
ern men in terms of reprobati0n. No laa!s
rapid revolution has taken place in the publn
sentiment OF any country than has occurred
in the South on this subject of slavery Il
was at one time regarded by many persons
this State as political and social evil. Nov
it is defended us IL most benetccnt institution
The conscience of the South is easy. 10 t:
North there were more pro-Slayery lnra 8.
this time, than there were in all the Souho |
in all the world ut the period to which hs
memory reverted. A few llair-branej ms4
and old DaidS--the materials for tanatlt>A
observation-disclosures the antl-slayaryl"5
tation. The weaker preachers found It's
it pleased the fair sex, and 80 they wa
about adding to the excitement, sirsc2.
psalms and hymus and spiritual song
(Laughter.) The dogs Of politicians ven
eagerly after the scraps which fell iron. ID:
table of this tanatcal Abolition party, al!
thus that party obtained an adyentitlou: u. I
portanre which, 10 Il superficial obse'a, 4
gave false idea Of Northern sentiment
the questioned slavery. Mr.. B. knew tis'
he was liable to the imputation OF benz:
Black Republican for presenting these YES l
but he is Il false friend who does not attcnf: 1
10 give the true character Of an enemy IT.
whom assaults are expected. In reply to u
allegation that the Northern people will nc''
let the subject Of slavery rest because lnetat
"respunsible' for It's existence, MIR. d. ~!
that if they consent 10 the amendment ten:
Constitution recently proposed by Cons's>
they are no more Irresponsible aterTa1'
for the existence of the institution t!aaH
they were the people Of another nation.
Mr. B., commented with severity on IL
gambling politicians North and S'uta'
Has it come to this, he asked, tina; pep.
united by SO many historic ASSOCIATIONS ''
substantial interests must now haze
angry separation? Until that decree L =
clared by the people OF both sections a'~H
polls, he would never never consent 10 :"
up the blessed Union. h
Mr.. b., then discussed and atfoe";e' y.
:he plan Of adjustment adopted lbF
Peace Congress. He conrnrret III ID.
amendments proposed by the C'mm'ir"
Federal Relations, not Decanse ne dren
them essential, but because they would y"
the mouths of cavaliers. The qne''''
slavery extension bad luomed up I"'' c'-
gerated Importance because there |"'
territory belou ging to the United Sa'':
which any sane man would carry . -"
with the expectation Of deriving az! p
from his employment, and if 1t were 90. 1
wise, there are no slaves to be spared iF,",
old States. Mr.. 3. vas advocating tF