Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-30

ments Of gentlemen about State sovereignty
and ;he right OF State to Stcedo and Resume
lis reserved rights, have 20 power TO change
my opinions and say So with Sreu: respect.
Let Inc again ask those gcntletnca who a'Iro'
cate secession as constitutional remedy. how
much better chance have they 70 escape the con.
sequences OF treason than those who advocated
tho doctrine of revolution! NoT, Mr. Chair
man. what is treason against The government
Uf the Unted States l. | ain arrested here,
sir, as rebc! against the government ard tried
for treason. | ASK these gentlemen who advocate
their doctrines, if they are regarded as traitors
also? Why, sir, should not Ike 10 see
lny friend from the county Of Orange, (Mr.
MoRToS,) who believes in that doctrine,
come up and say believe the law o!
treason in this regard was intercepted
IN its application to lus by State
sovereignty, aud that could not be tried Us
rebel. But the Judge would tell hin. "you
cannot construe the law-it is for me 10 say
what il mcans, and 10, you who are aaena5.c
10 it."
Now, what is the doctrine of treason undc:
the Constitution Of the United States "i'r":.-
son against the United States shall consist only
in leyying var agains! them or in adheriIG Il
fort"
don't propose TO raise armies. 1 dontpTo-
puse by any means to organize party that Is
to march with pike and muskes and bayonci
to put down the government At Washington.
only propose that The Safe OF Virginia shall
stand where she stood in '2 upon The doctrine nl
revolutionary right, to ronounce as the act Of the
whole people tic authority OF government
which can no longer protect them, and whose
authority they caurot avoid unless they place
themselves in this attitude OF resistance 10 uP.
presslsu. | don't know il thusc VI the Sc
cesslon party believe that the doctrines
AZ claimed by tncul, than tho right 70
raise armies | am sure, sir, they 90 not pro
pp<e any such act They propose 20 effect nll
This in somewhat the same manner that do.
We propose to DO, in some respects as the
Comm ,lee Of 81 has told Us We should do
And We propose 10 tell the North, by the or.
dinance and resolutions which have introdu.
ccd. that we would regard any act by the Cen
cral Government Intended 10 coerce us into
obedience or which was aggressive On the lights
Of tho South, os just cause OF complaint on
the part Of the people Of Virginia, and that /;
would be resisted by our own arms in our Own
way That, sir, is what We state in the ordl.
nance which have proposed, and To that ex-
tent the Committee and rnyselt stand on CON-
mon ground. have engraiied upon tic ordl.
nance proposed to this Convention, Ole OF
the very causes that is embraced in the report
Of the Committee Of twenty one; and must
say, sir, that was struck. not only with the
power Of reasoning displayed in That report,
lroln beginning 20 end, but *lth the great eau.
tion which the Committee have observed IN
refra:nirg to dclnand anything that ouch; not
| 70 be demanded; and, also, so IS not TO give
the slightest offence 10 those oI whom the dc
mands are made Fer that, sir, ] commcGd
them, and agree with that Committee in its
earnest effort, rs indicated by that report, 10
propoee plan by which the harmony Of this
Union may be restored. They think that we
should remain in the Union in order to ACCOM-.
ulsh that Whca | GDalItuin Can best Ge uc.
| coInplisbed By going out OF the Union. And
! here permit me, while we are settling such
| great difficulties, to ask gentlemen Of the Com.
Ittee who have adopted the proposition Of Il
| border slave State conference, suppose the
States of Kentucky, North Carolina end the
other border slave S.sles refuse to inect You in
| tina; conference have you proposcd amy remedy
| for Sucii n Contingency: The plan proposed
| by myself does this. GrE,ieuicn scrrii 10 have
| proceeded upon the iuea TINT these bur":r
slave States would aiopt The proposition which
! is embodied in this report. As ! said while
ago, everything that has transprcd in the bor-
der slave States recently, II any evidence cAn
| be deiuced lion their ACTON heretofore, as 10
their purpose in the future, indicates u dis.
position On the part Of these States not 10 unite
| in any conference with IL. The States Of
! North .CarOllaa and TENNESSEE at least, have
already rejected L proposition 10 hold Con
| veaton. Now, sir If this conference OF the
border slave States fails to meet, or to act
when it has met, ask you where IS Virginia
to be? Why, may be answered that if the
| people of the North accept the propositions
which are made, and endorse them as amend.
| mcnts TO the Constitution, that Virginia will
then remain in the Union. Tell you frankly
that that is not the position which | would
have her occupy.
| If every Stale in the North should pass this
compromise, should pass these amendments To
the constitution, still must say, even then,
that should wish to bring back those friends
Of ours that are ut the South also. shonld
first wish TO bring back those States that have
| seeded. bave, therefore, propnsed that tnc
State uf Virginia shall stand apart from tia!
Cunlederacy, apsrt from the North also, and
acs as may then be best that she shall put
| herself in position in which she may be just
to herself and still true to others. Not with
the purpose OF making war upon the North,
not with the view Of uniting alone with the
! Confrderatrd States OF the South-a!one, if she
can carry her sisters wth her-but with the
view Of uniting with those Conlederated States
in CONJUNCTION with the other border slave States
The proposition which have submitted also
invites the co operation Of the seeding States.
Ii Invites them 10 send Commissioners to
Lexington, where propose that the Conferences
shal! be holden. 1t proposes that lhey shall
| scnd three Commissioners there, not for the
purpose OF taking part in the deliberations, not
for tho purpose Of voting ana controlling the
action OF that body, but tur the purpose Of
presenting their views and cour"'''lng With us
| propose they shall Come to t.; Conference
as Commissioners Of like cha': Ter were Sent
mere but few weeks ago, when - their talents,
| high character and thrir whua department,
and their instructive arsuNcrs, they com
manded, for several DAYS thr divided atteEi.
ton of this Conven.ici,. llrvpose, then, that
these States shall send Commissioners to
coInsel with us, in like ula:.aei, nd v It'll others
also. As one of the representatives h:re, !
noT say, that 10 not propose to 80 :Eio q
union ur association with to Con!c9cra,ed
States Of the South withon: :i.st looking into
their constitution, and without N,rsinia >
having something to say in IT? 'enec 10
its formation: or amendment, {, as to
SUIT our condition as sell as theirs,
and SO as fully to understand H. principles
upon which that government is he admins
tered. claim here for Virgini. that she has
L right also TO be consulted 10 this conference
Of the border slave States and If the other
slave States 90 rot 30 .ith her, | vii! not ind!-
cate what her course ought to be. will say
here, however, as the proposition itself proves
Dn its face, as have presented it that she will
then belong neither 10 the North nor to the
South. She will be free to so where she
peases, ard If you determine to go North, you
have nothing to do bu: to repeal your ordinance
| nj secession and Won will be lust Eherc you