Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-28
PRocEED.Scsor sTArEcoNyENTIoN,

interested in the culture OF tho article OF
tobacco, whether they can expect any sympa.
thy from England, in any aid she may extend to-
wards this article of commerce Let me tell you
that that mother country, England, whose pro-
lection is to be invoked for the South, levies
the enormous amount Of 500 per cent upon
this article, before it goes into the mouth of
the consumer.
would speak here, SIR of another great in
terest OF Virginia, which is represented By !
friend who sits near me. But before do so,
permit me to say, that until within faw years
past, bat few months, should say, l had
very inadequate conception Of the power,
wealth and influence of this glorious old Com
monwealth Of Virginia. Familiar as was with
her history, and with her growth and advance
in all that makes a great State, did net dream
that Virginia had such resources as she mas,
and feel prouder Of her now than ever aia
before vru..d that can call her uother; and
sir, as was eioqucntly said by my colleague
upon the Other side, "her destiny shall be my
destiny where she goes, will go; and if
perish, l will perish only upon her bosom, and
be buried with her.
But sir. was about 10 refer TO another in.
teres.-an interest peculiar TO the county,
which You represent, Mr. President and TO
many other counties of the Commonwealth,
aludc to the staple Of wheat; and then, too,
;here is an immense stock grazing country 10
Virginia. Are these interests to be d,sre-
Carded under the assumption that Cotton Is
King and that every thing else must bow win
Bonded knee beforeit? | want tobacco, wheat
ard the Interests Of grazing country 70 re-:
ceve consideration 10 this grave question OF
what is to be the destiny of this people! Are
you to be told that yoar wheat and TOBACCO,
which you have taken from your farms, IN
whatever form il may be, cannot enter the
ports of Boston. Philadelphia or New York.
because We have made them aliens and strangers
to US? ask you if Virginia would not
place hcrSeifin predicarent she little dreams
Of at present. tina; would affect her most mate.
rial interest, wheE she determines to 90 out OF
this Union. want the Union as 1t was or as
il was designed to be, that gives me the happi-
ness aud the privilege Of going any where
within its broad limits without passport.
wan! Cnion that has sympathy with my
rights ard my interest. want Union that
Will pro:cc: NY industry do not mean
protect it by the imposition OF duties, but
which will allow that intercourse which
should exist between every member OF this
confrderacy. by winch | can exchange with
out reference 10 duties my commodities LOT
those which other people baTe 10 spare,
But, sir, cannot dwell upon subject OF so
much moment because shall consume more
time than | had allotted to myself when ] COM
rncnced nv remarks As See some gentle
men before me who are capable Of answering
some Of tie questions baVe put. let me ask
them, If We are 20 60 out Of this Union with
out any regard 10 the North, and our affections
s:e TO be concentrated upon the South-tell me,
:. So, thnra STfp,a ppnt a.
1nen tell Us that they would not waita moment
tina, Virginia most 20 now, now. How will
she get to Montgomery, Alabama? Are you to
negotiate for a transit route across North Car
DINA ard Tennessee Kentucky and Tennes.
see have not gone out and think that one OF
them has determined that she will not so out.
Suppose, Mr. President, when you 90 home
you tel YOUR constituents that we have made
government By which Virginia is TO become
part VI the Conedcrated States of &c South,
and they ask you-"how, 81. Janney. are you
10 &C; licTc - Way, Sir, you could not an
swrr tie question. You could not, as IL states.
man, 90 hvr:l. and tell your people that yon had
;akc:. the chances OF North CAROLINA following
your lead If We could negotiate and get
through Tennessee and North Carolina, how
ar: we to pass the frowning battlements Of
Fortress Monroe aud the Rip'Raps Suppose
that YOU could pass them in Safety-thesc
forts ;hst belong to the Government-are
YOU 10 pursue a winding course along
the coast Of NORTH. Carolina, and to land at
Charleston? Why, sir. those pilots down
about Elizabeth City would tell you that they
could not take your vessel into the port OF
Charleston, until Charleston has her lights up.
They will tell you that she has virtually block.
AIDED her own ports against her own com.
Tcrcc and the commerce OF the world " III
your vessel land in Savannah? She might but.
sir, you would encounter these fleets OF
thc North They would then be strangers
to US, though they may have been our
national allies in times past. Can we 90
through North Carolina and Tennessee 10
get to the Capital Of the South! |
want gentlemen 70 answer me this question.
Sir, all these difficulties eau be accommodated
by the policy OF a conference Of the border
slave States which ing proposition suggests
That is the way in which TO treat our equals
Of the border States If there is anything that
could &c calculated to throw obstacles in the
way Of an adjustment Of the difficulties which
would be- likely to arise with North Carolina
ana Tennessee.
It would seem to be the impression OF some
gentlemen here that, when Virginia will 60,
North Carolina and Tennessee will follow. /
know, sir, the people Of these States well, and
tell you that if there is anything above an.
other that they dislike, it is the assumption OF
any superiority on the part Of Virginia over
them. | claim that they are our equals
mean the States Of North Carolina and Ten
neSsec. They are the equals of Virginia i'll
this Union her equals in the matter of State
rights ard State principles. claim this for
these States; claim it, sir, for the smallest
States claim it for the little States of Della
ware and Maryland
And here, sir, will observe that saw the
other day in newspaper an article which
brought to my mind some remnrks which
heard repeated elsewhere. 1t relates to the
clements which constitute State:
"wlIAr CONSTITUTES SrATEa
"No, high raised ,,tsments, labo.ed moana.
Thick vail or moaie1 gu @:
No, cities proud with spires aud turTets crowned
Not bays aud broad armed ports,
Where, laughing ut the storm, rich navee ride;
Not st,rre.I and spsnsleL courts,
Where law aud basrue.s ~afs perfume 10 pside,
No mcn-htgh tuiuded mrn--
Ni;h DC y. rs far above dull brutes e25ued,
In forest brake or dem
As beasts excel ct.il rocks or brau6ius RIDE;
Men, who lhrlr dlilea know,
Bu. KNOW i,-ir tights. and knowing dare nainta,s
p,evrtt IN. long arcd blow,
And crush the lyrsni white they repd the eas.a
THESE constitute. State
And Severe gn law, tina; ststes collected VII,
Der ihruoes aEh globes s!a:e,
Sits Empress, Growing good. reprssGpr i'll"
These, Sir, are the clements Of true great
ness in States. Then, if you proceed upon the
assumption Of superiority FOR Virginia over
any other State in this Union, by determining
that you will go out without consulting them,
you destroy Inc bess opportunity that could be
afforded for adjusting one Of The most unfor-
tuna,e difficulties that has ever existed
Thea, sir, say that arm for consultation
with the Border States of the South. Then
we can form our own Constitution and secure
to ourselves our own sacred rights of. persons
and properly. If six States of the South had
right 70 act, if they have right to meet a,
Montgomery and adopt Constitution which
they saw is alone TO poyorn th..l-haye we not