Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-02
T1IRTEEE7N nay.
THURSDAY, February %, 1861.
n n Hopropt,op ,oot n. 1 q .IaIo.l- Sf

Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Burrows.
The PREsIDEET-The unfinished business G
yesterday is now in order.
Mr.. MORTON was entitled to the noor bu
gave way to Mr.. RlcuARr,oS, OF Hanover, It
enable him to offer tho following resolution
which was adopted
Resolved. That in furttlerance of:he resolu
tion adopted by this Convention on the 20!I
inst, seeking Information Of the Governor, re
garding the militia, the Adjutent General o
the State be and he is hereby requested 4
communicate to this body MS speedily us coin
patble. with thorough report on the subject
how many and what kind of arms arc in Ill
possession Of the State undiStrbute,l, aud th
number and kind Of additional companies
which can and Will probably shortly b
armed Also, at what points in his j;iisemerr
having due reference to the localities IF tn
different companies and TO economy in tins
and money, the whole volunteer force of tn
State can be best assembled in bodies Suih
ciently large TO be instructed, in battalion eve
lutiOns in the evolutions Of tue line, in siege
garrison and camp duties. and NIL the dulie
incident to the respective arms Of the service
and any other information in hiI reach calculi
ted TO throw light on the means necessary t.
put the Commonwealth in 4 complete state Z
preparation against attack.
Mr.. EAnLY-.l resolution was offered yesler
day by one Of the gentlemen FROM the country
OF Harrison (Mr. WILSON,, which was laid up
on the table because it was not gcrIlain TO AM
of the proceedings that have been had in th
Convention, and because ii comes under tin
Legislative departctnent Of this State. think
sir that resolution Of that sort has more con
nection with the action Of the Legislature thai
Of this body, and therefore move 20 lay 'h
resolution on the table.
The motion was agreed 10.
The resolution referred to il a. follows:
Resolved That the Auditor Of Public Ac
counts be requested to report to this Conven
ton whether any less has been sustained Il
this State, from the manner in which the Con,
mssioncrs of the Board OF Public Works hav'
disposed OF the bonds Of the Stale; if SO, wha
the loss is, of what it consisted, and when i
occurred. And that he be also requested It
report to this Convention the amount levied b,
each cuunty OF the State for the year 1850, 10
the compensation Of justices Of tho peace
Also. the amount paid to jurors for service!
rendered in the county courts fro0i the Stat
and county treasures during the same period
Mr.. JEREMIAH MoEroS, Of Orange anG
Greene. said:
Mr.. President: fee! deeply impressed BY
this august occasion, aud by the vast inpor
tance Of the deliberations Of this assembly,
But I could feel more satisfied Oh Tie pre-
sent occasion If knew that was to hare I'M
aid Of wisdom from on high; for If there eveI
was time when nen and nations should hum
IL Il l,r 81 Ii,,,b l., II, -
hour Of our perplcyity and danger Never
has there been cJnveoed an assembly, "ilht
the Union, upon the deliberations Of which
so much Of the happiness Of this people, and d
mankind depend rs upon the deliberations
of this body. And, Mr.. President, | trust that
upon the present occasion, however unsuccets
full may be in presenting those views which
impress me with that force a1d power *hIcl
the present crisis demands; yet. think shall
be successful at least in one lhinr-lhat there
will DO neither man nor womun here who wil;
doubt the position which occupy; ind it will
REQUIRE not t.o days nor two speeches fully %
define it. And trust tnat my tongue nay
be pusied. il, upon all occasion like this, It
should be employed in the presentation ct any
views which I do not honestly believe TO bs
best calculated to promote the interests Of the
State and the country. | have listened, Nj.
President, to the discussions Of this body with
pain and pleasure. have heard the sentiments
Of my friend from Rock bridge, CIR. MookEl-
who is not in his seat to-day, although cx'
pccted he would be prcsent-wlth feelings
Of sincere regret, Notwithstanding VAS partly
prepared to hear from him vi=ws very much oi
the character Of those ne has expressed.
Thirty years ago the gentleman from Rock
bridge (Mr. MooEE) believed that slavery was n
moral, religious and political evil. Docs he
believe it now That was the belief of hun
dreds and thousands in tho South and in Fir'
cinia. who. this day. stand up as frin advo
Gates of the institution az G uorsl, social and
religious institution; and csnno. help beicv
ing Of ny old and venerable friend from Rock
bridge, il it had not been for his peculiar
position and surroundings; if he had been
n the latitude in which have been; if 10 had
looked 10 the lights which had looked 10,
believe, OF rather hope, that we should be
standing, to-day, upon the samo platform.
But, Mr. President, there is one comfort hal
feel, that however much We may differ upnT
these questions, when Virginia lakes her Stanc
as she will, in defence of southern rights anc
Southern honor my friend vii! make as gallant
FIGHT under her honored banner, as The
Youngest man within the sound Of my voice
regret that my old and ancient friend, In my
exc. (Mr. GoGG1S) who | know has, beating
in his bosom as true ond paro;ic heart q:
any man who listens to mel regret that hi
found such difficulty in defining his position
upon question that I thought every man, al
least East Of the Blue Ridge, would feel but
little difficulty in doing.
But the gentleman has taken his position. -
1t is when We come to coercion that he viii
stand under the ilg of old Virginia, and rally
to its support in tie battle field. | know that
his syrpathirs are with the South but there Is
one matter OF regret that have, mud That IS,
thut my friend, coming froui the region he
does, occupying position SC distinguished IN
that once distinguished and gallant party ui
other DAYS, had nut raised his voice IN this
hour of need and anxiety, and come up 10 the
crisis 9i,h that boldness which should mark Il
member Of that party in dealing with such
subject. | have DO doubt it would nave pru"en Il
source of JOY to many Of those who were as
sociated with hin, in past party relations az i
would to others occupying party position au-
tagonistic 10 his.
Dul, IHS'S "S@ AA~"s~A N'
nrofouud regret, more in relation 10 the first in
my eye (Mr MOOSE than to thcl last, and il WAS
,his. that whilst there was an acknowledge
ment of Southern wrongs, there was eaptiouS
disposition to hnd fault with our Southern and
spirit saibt disSsysd in the spce Of ny friend Oh
nv lift tMr. MooEE) than in the speech Of my
friend on the right, (1r: Go2c's); but there was
m abundance Of it in each. know not al least,
T .h,ll not undertake to define what was intend
Cd iSsi by this his course oremsrk; but uln s4tsasd
!, conld have no other effect than 10 generate
In the hearts Of Virglnians antagonistc feel
mos towards South Carolina, Alabama and
,h..ir associates in the new Contederaey.
Mr.. President, ,hose gentlemen haze rot
dwelt upon the wrongs that The south has i
suffered, and how long sne has suffered ~, 1t
would be almost insulting 10 an "a'ence % l.SS ,S
this, that | should enter into any detail OF The
sgvressions w which have been committed upon
uss s6s South by the people of the North
They are written upon the minds and