Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-16

! SST0THcDL u HNlu tiltSc iSkS. NhSS
think it hostile to the seeded States for the
Federal Government L. WELD their own guns
in their own territory? Now he begins to
calculate what the idea of some Of his friends
is about peace.
Mr.. CARTER, Tin q low voice)-llappv to hear
il.
Mr.. W1sE-IIappy to hear i'll | am unllap-
nv to hear it, because these doctrines Of peace
are the doctrines that really open the gates Of
the temple Of Janus. 1t seems TINT our temple
| of janus has one gate thrown open for peace,
and one for war. tell the gentleman, that his
gale is the gate Of war alone. The gate which
the gentleman opens is the gate Of hostility. VIII
he please tell me what difference he can make;
what distinction he can make between the Tor.
tugas in Florida which has seeded and the
Forts Of South Carolina within the bay Of
Charleston harbor? Where is the distinction
in international law? where is tins authority
any more to hold the Tortugas than to hold
the Forts at CharleSton-Fort Sumter and
Fort Moultric, for instancer The gentleman
tells us that he is not for interfering with the
IN Of the seeded States, and yet he
moves TO strike out all from the VOID 'autho-
rity in the 9th line down to the word com.
merce'' in the 10th line, when the language of
the last part Of this section which he proposes
to strike out proposes TO prevent the Federal
Government from cxacting 'the payment oflm-
posts" upon the commerce Of the Confederate
States. Let me tell my friend that that very
phrase gave uS more difficulty before the
Committee of Twenty. One. than almost any
other phrase in the Report-some gentlemen
contcnding that we have a right, us some
Contend now, to defend our revenue by turning
the ships while set upon the high seas, away
from the port OF Charleston to the port OF New
York. The question was asked, how arc we
to defend our revenue unless we can divert the
ships bound to the Confederate ports from their
port to our port on the ground Of self pre-
s~ervation and sell defence! 1t was thought that
they had a right 10 turn a ship before she
reached that port. How can you take her
upon the high Seas if she sails under u
foreign aagi If you take Il ship sailing under
the English or French flag, you will be guilty
of piracy, and England and France will hold
you responsible. Take her when she has
passed the boundary line Of the high seas and
entered upon the Eastern line Of the marine
league, and then you raise the question oljuris'
dicliun. To whom does the marine league be-
long TO the Federal Government or the State?
Is, there, a gentleman here who will say that
tie Jurisdiction Of Virginia does not cover the
marine League! There is not q man IN
Northampton, in .Accolnac or in Princess Anne
who will not pursue q fugitive out that dis
lance and arrest him, with a full conviction
that he is acting within the jurisdiction y! Nir-
ein:a. Let 4 man commit murder OF his fell
low within that marine league, and what court
is il that will not decide that it is within the
jurisdiction Of Virginia! To whom does the
,nariIc league belongH Upon national grounds,
al u.Is,l. ,a ~ a. ,1ofalEr-tn ,,.Ntla il
belongs to the United States; but how
ca.nr the United States in possession of
tne marine league: Will the gentleman say,
a. an international lawyer, that the TortugaS
didn't belong TO the United States, before The
secession, in right of The Safe Of Florida:
Florida was indeed created Il State after the
United States were eslablished-shc was pur-
chased from Spain; but after the purchase, she
WIS created a State upon an equal footing with
the original States. Will the gentleman tell
me that the original States had not the power
Of eminent domain three leagues out at sea:
Where do these three leagues commenced!
They in HmiRe upon the cut Of the
surf ut low water mark; and it is we'll settled
that they extend beyond the low water mark
from peninsula, or head land, or island. Al!
those difficult questions arc to he swallowed
up and submerged III pacification. The sc.
coded States, iorsoolh, shall yield all, in order
that no attempt. shall De made at subjec,ing
them TO Federal authority. Is it not suhju.
eating them, when the Federal Government
continues to hold the forts within their terri
tory? How was it with the United States
themselves, when Great Britain took and meant
to hold, under the stipulations Of the treaty
Of Ghent a fort upon our borderi Negotia-
ton and correspondence were resorlcd to in
vain; and at last the threat was made, If the
British lion did not take his invading paw
from of that fort it would be Akeu, ut the
hazard of another war. What proud sove-
reign;y, claiming to DC sovereign, will allow
lie army Of an enemy-tor such is the rela.
ton in which the Confederate States view the
Federal Governmcnt-to remain within her
limits? Not one. If you mean peace, say So
and say, specifically, what you understand TO
be peace. Don't delude your people, | appeal
TO you, and say peace, peace to them, when
there is no peace.
Sir, | said this morning, if this adlninistra-
ton would only pursue the line Of u rnagnani-
nous policy, it would evacuatc every ons Of
these f1rts Immediately. But ii the amend
ment OF toe gentleman shall not prevail, | pro-
pose to add here, what the resolution does NOT
embrace, the declaration that it is their duty,
for the sake CT peace, to ~evacuate at Uncc all
the forts, and relieve us from this a%pprehen-
sion OF war. Let the question Of adjustment
go Oil. In the name Of God, do not allow the al
teuIpts at adjustment TO be conducted at the
lannon's mouth.
Mr.. CAKrER-I regret that | an not better
able to meet in debate the gentleman from
Princess Anne, but still I have very distinct
IDEAS upon this subject, Of what | think would
be- right, and therefore ! still insist upon my
proposed amendment to strike on. the words |
have indicated, and l will endeavor, 50 far as
mT time will allo~ me, TO make myself under
stood.
The Committee will observe that this reco.
luSsn proposes to keep the peace, as between
The Confederated States and the Government
Of the United States, aud it will observe that
in laying down the proposition, it lays down
no indispensable condition as to what the Con-
federated States shall or shall not do. Accord
ing to this resolution, they are left free to act
at will; TO accumulate forces, to make attacks,
and the whole force of the resolution goes to
prevent the United States from taking any
steps 10 make wal, or even to reinforce the
! forts they now hold. 1t does seem to me if
} perfect equality was contemplated by this re.
solution, that it should have also provided that
The Confcderated States should not perform
any hostile acts towards the General Govern
ment. The whole idea, as | understand it, is
that 30 far as the territory now occupied by the
Confederate States, and by the Government Of
the United States is concerned, whilst these
! peace negotiations Of Virginia are going 90, il
shall remain as it now Is.
, A question much mooted here has been how
the status quo should be preserved. And yet
the effect of this phrase is, if you make it ian
; indispensable condition" that the General Gov
: ern,nent of the United States should throw re.
! Inducements into their forts, and you yet leave
t the Coufedera,ed States to gather around those
E forts whatever forces for attack they may
choose and even make An attack. we in point
, of fact tell the General Government that it is an
$ 81 indispensable condition that they should