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

siou vi danger to the whole South, Virginia
inclusive.
Resolved, That in the event aforesaid, Nir-
ginia, however sincere may be her attachment
~ tho Union as it was, will deem 1t her duty
to aid in rcpelins any such attempt
Resolved, That in the hope OF restoring har-
,nonv to all parts of the Union, and before de-
,ernning to sccedc from it, but especially in
order TO secure the cooperation Of the border
Slave States in any course she may pursue, the
State of Virginia earnestly requests the speedy
cooperation of the said States, in effecting with
her plan By which She with all the said
States. may unite themselves with the Conied-
crate States Of the South.
Resolved, That in the formation Of such Il
Union, Virginia would have a due regard to all
| the States, aud that in such Union she should
still cherish the hope of reforming The United
States of America upon the basis of the
present Constitution, so modified as TO protect
the rights Of persons, property and Territory,
in all time.
Resolved, That oil fortified or other places
| in Virginia now belonging to tho General
| Government, IN the even, Of the separation Of
said State fron the Union, may and ought lu
he resumed by her as necessary lor tn. defence
of her citizens and their property in particular
localities" as well Us for purposes Of general
defence
Resolved, That while Virginia maintains
this position, and while she yet renaiuS
member OF the Union, during her deliberations,
she will assume no hostile attitude to the Gen
eral Government, but will be prepared to re-
| pei any assault which may DC ut all times
! made upon her.
Mr. GoGclS conlinued-1hus, Mr.. President,
| | have presented, in u very imperfect Iuanner,
! these resolutions, hastily prepared this morn.
ing, without any concert with any human being
on the face vi TINS earth. have offered them
! upon my own responsibility; and ! take occa-
sion to say, that not single member Vi this
! Convention, except my self none Of my friends
! frOra Piedmont country, nor from Irahs-Aile'
chany country, nor from Underwater country
are responsible for what is contained in these
resolutions, or for the manner in which they
arc presented TO this Convention or for the TACT
! that thew were presented at all l stand here
alone responsible for whatever error there niay
be in presenting tlleln while claim nothing of
any merit, il there be any, which may reSul,
| from it. am aware that they proceed from
an humble source, but thought it was due To
| that position which some gentlemen understood
occupied, and which | now occupy, that
should have occupied the attention OF this
Convention in presenting my views Il few days
since; and wish TO say tina; TO not mean
that any thin. which have said now shall con-
tic, with the position there assume.
! still believe in the Union as the brightest
heritage that was ever bequcathcd to free
usorle: ard | believe that that unicn is deS
tined, in its onward course, 10 great career OF
glory under the Constitution, as it was intend
ed is our fathers, aid will yet make the
proudest and happiest people on the face Of the
III That this may be So sir, shall earn.
es.!y Invoke The blessings and favor Of Hin:
who has made US all, and who directs the al
fairs OF nations as lie does the affairs Of uen.
stand here then, sir, lot 10 rlndlcato myself
because occupy the position here which did
1T hUue; told my constituents that had no
platform upon which would be willing 10 De
placed; that NY platform nas the platform OF
NV country, that it was the honor of Virginia.
ana That there would stand ard there would
ever he found.
Mr.. ilorNAS--t would like 10 have lie reSo
Iutions reported.
The PREs.pEsr-The Clerk will report the
Substitute.
Mr. Cox-ThoSe resolutions must be offered
as distinct proposition; they cannot TO Of
erc.i MS substitute. NY resolution gn's. m
der the rule to the Cu,ulniLtee cn Federal Re.
latious.
Mr. Go60lN--I sill merely remark that, a.
the proper time, will Offer those resolutions,
so that they can be disposed Of by the ConYcl'-
ton
Mr.. HARvIr.-Mr. President, have but a
few words to say, and would not say thcn
EXCEPT that am occupied elsewhere in the Con-
Sideration OF the very question now before
t.< lid,
marks OF the gentleman who has just taken his
seat, (Mr GoGGiS.j and 10 those remarks
give nv hearty concurrence, and wish 10 ten
der to him my heartfelt thanks for having
made them He said ,hat he would stand by
Virginia; that the platform he occupied vas
TO maintain the honor and Interests Of Nirgi.
mia. GO with min, in that position hand and
heart, aud, il. the language o! his resolutions,
will nevc: consent IL put the honor and the
interests of Virginia in the custody ei any
other power than that Of Virgins. Twill ~
with him when Virgins is determined to niai
tain the position she means to occupy, when
sl:. has taken her position upon this question,
in the commissions of this glorious empire, /
will 90 with him to seek aid and comfort and
help in other directions; but insist upon il that
Virginia shall deliberate, that Virginia shall de.
s.riI:,ne. without interference, without compli-
cation, What She Kill do in this particular.
will never cali uy,nr those border States 10
help drfine what Virginia shall do. When
Virginia hos decided what she shall !o--and
trust in God tina, that decision will be 10 main.
tain the rights Of the whole South-thoSc II
and those out, those upon the border and those
in the centrr-tben, sir, will call upon the
border States 10 stand By her. Never will do
it until then.
But, sir, that is not " nat we have 70 decide
to-day; that is not what this Convention ought
TO decide to-day. When We in this Convcn-
ton have been dtlibeI ating cautiously End
calmly and cooly what ought to be done, We
have just heard the trumpet sound oil war
laundering in;r oar r:.idst, hy our servant,
not our master, at Washington. We have bean
told by this servant that ne will use the power
that We have given him, to coerce into Subns-
sionle the bchcsts Of the Federal Government
the seeded States Of the South ; aud then
suppose comes our turn next Undoubtedly
II declaration of war. When the Federal Gov
eminent has exceeded the limits Of proprlcty
and its limits OF power, | ain disposed to
show that Federal Government that Virginia
will ciothe herself in the panoply Of her arms
to maintain her rights against any unwarranta-
BILE power whether it comes FROM Washington
or elsewhere
That is what we ought to dc today, sir
That is what haze come iroE that committee
room, to Insist that we shall do; that We shall
declare here and now that We do not, under any
circumstances, mean TO stand By and suffer our
sister Suites 10 be corrced that We do not
mean that this Government shall do that, after
those States are removed out Of the jurlsdic-
ten Of the Federal Government, which we
would not submit to if we we're similarly stu-
atcl that VIC here proclaim, that the very
moment the power IL brought TO bear against
those States, Virginia vii! some forward and
stand By them And We ought not to delay
that declaration; we ought to act at once. |
call upon this Convention to act now. We
have the Legislature Of the State convened at