Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-07

benefit. she has never iGiIlRsed Inc right VI
an7 State or section; jealous Of the integrity OF
tn. Constitution ard The equality Of the States,
shs has lived up to the obligations imposed
upon her Ly the Federal compact. That, ON
the other hand. the Northern section has dis
regarded many Of lis obligations, und attempt.
cd 10 set aside SOME Of the compromises made
between the two great sections oil the Coincide
racy without which, no Union could ever have
been formed. Hatred has been substituted TOR
tina, fraternity upon which these compromises
rested for vitality; and power is claimed for
sectional ,uaiorIIv, utterly at war with the
spirit and letter OF the compact, and subverS've
OF our safety, our well being and our rights
Equality ul rights in the enjoyment OF the
common property is denied US, azgreSslon5 are
made upon our Suii, the powers OF lawful
government are claimed IA the lawn! means 1Hr
Our oppression, and tho hedging III our rights
All this opposition 10 cur CIVILIZATION, all inns
hatred Of Our domestic institutions, ahd al!
this cnmity To our place, are bandcd together
in the formation and unfolding OF great Sec
t;nnal par,y that has elected President upon
the ayuwed principle Of hostility TO lie it,sll'
tons Of the South, and upon the pledge to use
the power of the Government for their uitl-
mate extinsuisEuncnr; forgellul that the Union
vas formed for '.estahlishing justice and ell.
surin.. domestic TRANQUILITY" The violations
Of the integrity Of the compact having given
rise to other great evils now impending over W.,
which rneuaye the first principles, The very
foundations Of Tree inst utionS,. aud which
threaten the overthrow oith light Ct sovereign
States. They hare g;:rn RISE TO Inc c'a:m o!
right upon tile part ri sovereign STATES III che
section, to cnerce sovere IN States ol aIi0'tiei
SECTION into Union TO which they Will noI as.
sent; and 10 The assertion Oi HE doctrine that
resistance 20 violations OF The terms OF our
federal compact j, treason 10 the claims Of Z
sectional uiaiYr!ty; and which have led to the
srneG vccuyatiou Of the seat OF the co,nnioi'
Government by an armed force, with friendly
purposes towards the one section, with hostile
feelings towards the other; ard which To-, HAYS
led the authorities at Washington ~ uiake the
fortre>scs of Virginia to lrcwn upon her while
She WAS showing determination to ey!aIs,
all the resources vf Cancellation und compro
mise. These oGtrages Of Il sectional majority
have broken the Constitution, driven seven
States on, Of the Uniun, dissolved the Union
of our fathers. and is now substituting another
Union ia us place. Virginia Is no party to AM
such new Union; and she demands a re c''nstruc'
ton, to secure her ard The whcle South irOm
any future outrage. In this reconstruction, SHE
ought 10 stand with the South in the assertion O.
her rights, and she ought 10 occupy no position IN
connection with the North. III the state oil things
brought about by Northern aggressions, which
would cripple her power for her own dsIencG
and prevent her from aiding in maintaining The
rights and the equality Of all the State. And
that the said Committee especially Sc; l"rtn
the fact, that ia consequence Of the secession ol
the Southern States and the hopeless condition
Of New; England tanatcisin, the blind hate OF
Black Republicapisul, and the coerciye vollcy
indicated by the President OF dismembercd
Union, there is no hope Of amendment OF the
Constitution that can De satisfactory 10 Eirsi.
ni1 in the constitutional way, aud tina! The on.
" mode, in the circumstances whic! now sur
round u, to secure any union in which the
rights of Virginia would be safe amt protected,
is for Virginia ~ re.aSSune all the powers SHE
delegated 10 the General Government, and &c
declare her independence; and then to ca'i IN
tu Convention all the siar"no'a!ns States, 10
determine what sha,! be thc ErS construction
necessary iur their rights and protection III u
Cnnfedcracy Of slave States alone, Or OF the
slave State, and such free States us are willing
to come into 2 Union under this mex C0nst;tn
ton with the slave States.
Ma. ANelMH rise fer information from the
Chair.
As understand the original resolution II Is
& resolution Of Instruction. do not under
stand the alne!ldmcn: offered hy The gentleman
from. Goocs,Iand, Sir LEAxu,ll 10 be d asrnliar
character.
~ r,,,r ,t,l. "A
both 10 he resolutions ri Instruction.
Mr.. LrAEE-Shat 10 understand l!ir Chair
to say!
Tie PRESIDENT The Chair has Informed the
gentleman from Louisa, (Air. AMILER.) that the
original aHA amendment were resolutions o.
instruction.
Mr. LEAxE-ls it not III order, sir:
The PIE.,oLNr-Th Chair decides that il il
in order.
Mr.. LEaRE-Then propose to offer some
remarks on the subject Of these resolutions.
lIr. President, tao sentiments have been in
corh.ct in the h,,Su,ns Of tho people IL refer
ence 10 the CONDITION. Of our national altar.
Sir, there is among them all Inherent love d
the Union--a Union formed 10y tie blood o'
patriots am, Ly the eif,rts CT her best ci!:zrr's
aid there TOO, beyonri that ani before that. Is
the love ii equality, is the love for ell the
rights al ali the States. AnG, Sir. the Facts
which have been Developed for tie last lew
wears have satiSic,! The SGulh--iiarr satisfied
Virginia that to marta!n io7e Of equality, to
naintaiu ti.s rights Of ill the States III This
Union. would bring up this conflict ~ that
sentiment, tu that attachment which! las been
revercd by all.
But, sir, the course Of Northern iHnai!cistn,
the strides which sectional party has made
towards the usurpali"n ul Ia. power Of the
Federal Government, has brought about state
Of things when the people Of Virginia s:inul 10
loncer hesitate M to what part they shai! take
IN the conflict that is now going on betwec''
the rights Of the South and sectional ma
iority which is claiming the power u the fede-
raj Government Tor the purpose oil ARRANGING,
their selfish interests, und not Tor the purpose
of saving the Consultation ct advancing The
rights and interests Of all.
Mc. President the devotion to The lH:oh
which exists among us, has made the
people OF Virginia anxious that all the
means of conciliuliun and Of compromise
should be used for the purpose OF pre-:
serving that Union, if it could be preserved
consistently with our rights consistently With
our honor, consistently with our safety. And,
SIR if the people Of Virginia have been anxious
that our rights shall he SO recognized ~ tins
Northern majority, that it would no. become
necessary for them to resort to any changes or
measures to secure their rights and prevent
them from being usurpcd hy u Northern ma
jority. Have not passing events satisfied them
that it is utterly Impossible tosrcure our rights
in Constitutional way?
The Constitution, it l. true, as was stated
by the gentleman FROM Bedford. (AT. GooclS)
provides tn. rueans for It's own amendment
But it is now utterly Impossible that that Con.
s,itution can BE-, amended in the Way pointed
on: by any resolutions which have been otter
cd.
Sir, this Northern sectional majority headed
by Lincoln, Seward and Chase, arc unwilling
to acknowledge the right Of secession. They
plant themselves upon the platform that no
Stat. ia any case whatsoever, las right to 80
cede from this Union; ard Sc far froui acknow-
lodging the right OF secession, so FAR from az
l,l,,;;, me urorrirty OF the conduct oi any