Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-28

tmbarrass our commerce., to cut up our trade,
% destroy our mail facilities. We arc inviting
this hostile action, and yet [ have not heard
from nv friend from Amelia (Mr. HARvIs,) Or
any advocate of this amendment a suggestion
of any evil likely to follow to The good people OF
this Commonwealth for the space OF one month
from leaving the civil laws in operation. Why,
cir. YOU have the Federal Courts and for
whose benefit have these courts been created !?
I apprehend for the benefit of the people OF
! Virginia. Who are interested in the business
of these Cel-tsY l apprehcnd the people
of Virginia; and yet you propose at TINS time
to deny TO our own people ell the benefits which
lhey are resolving from the execution OF the
civil laws Of the United States. | cannot see
the propriety of this act. If gentlemen will
poirt out to me any evil likely 10 follow from
a continued application OF these laws; any
danger to be apprctcnded 10 the public veal /;
I any danger to the public safety, Will listen
10 the objections. can see none-l can ap-
prehend none. On the contrary, as | have
said, | can sec, and do apprehend hat great
Inconvenience, great evil, great injury IS likely
to result from the operation Of The proposed
amendment
So far as the military power goes, | am con.
tent TO take the responsibility now Of suspend
ing that powcr-now, because | Gun SEQ dan
ecr hat is likely 10 result even for this short
snace of one month, if we suffer our people to
remain subject to tho military orders oil tho
President. Therefore it is, hat tho ordinance
proposes tqEcorfine its operation to the source
of danger; and If va protect ourselves from
danger likely 10 occur, it seems to me NE go
far enough. I cannot see the propriety oil gong
further, uni, for the mere sake ola temporary
ordinance, to subject ourselves to tiie,llneihve-
~nicnccs and the evils that, it seems 10 lac,
must necessarily follow from II.
| therefore trust it will not ba tho pleasure
If the Convention TO adopt the amendmen' !;
but if We pass lie ordinance, that it shall re
main confined, as it is according to is terms,
TO the military power, because that is The ONLY
service from which | npprrhend danger-
The PRESIDENT laid before the Convention
the following communication from the Hov'
ernor, in reply 10 the resolution offered oy
Mr.. HARv1E, inquiring whether the Governor
had acted upon the ordinance directing ll:ln 10
extend an invitation to worthy natives ana
residents OF Virginia, in. the service OF Inc
United States, 10 enter the service OF VIZ
glnia:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
April 25Lh, ls6l.i
Gentlemen cf the Convention:
In response to your resolution, adopted TINS
day, requesting the Executive to inform your
body whether he has invited the efficient and
worthy Eirginians and residents Of Virginia IN
the army and navy of tho United Suites to
retro therefrom and to enter the service OF
Virginia, has been communicated to the SAID
officers or my Of them, and what response has
been made" l have the honor to state that |
have made known to the friends OF officers IN
the service of tho United States the action of
the Convention on this subject, with a request
70 communicate with them, and advise me oi
their determination. Two days since de-
outed Mr. Funston, Of Alexandria, to visit Col.
Lee, and extend to him, in my name, aud that
If the Convention, such m invitation as Your
ordinance directed. Mr.. Funston was to have
replied by telegraph from Alexandria, bnt up
70 this date no reply has been received. |
dispatched Judge John Robertson, CT this city,
asst evening; but, in consequence OF the SEIZURE
Of the Potomac mail boats BIZ the authorities
It Washington, he was compelled to return this
morning. l1n is no'g on his sav, via Gord0ns.
willie.
Qnits a number CT the officers Of tho navy
It Norfolk haze resigned, and commissions
lavo been sent to several Of them. Commits
ions will be sent to tho others so soon as
heir rank can be asccrtaincd Commits.
ions have been issued to two who have retired
rom the army. Col. Ruggles, now in the
:itV, will be commissioned this evening.
I did not suppose the Convention intended
hat | should issue n proclamation, through
he press, and | have not done so. II, how
yer, such vas the wish and intention, and I
70 so advised, your wishes will be executed
promptly md with pleasure.
Respectfully,
JouN LETcHEK.
Mr. HARvIE Il think there is nm answer to
'ho whole argument Of the gentleman from
T~suquier iMr. scoTT.) in that par"r. ! nnder.
Land that the Information we have asked for
ammo. no communicated TO this House, be-
:lulse the Federal authorities have discnntin-
red the mails, so that re arc unable, under
ne laws Of the United States, to have our
nail matter transmitted through our "
crrilory without being intercepted 6y the
federal authorities. That is not a military
uta civil order from the Federal functionarics.
he Federal Government is disregarding its
'ivil obligations. and We are asked here to OBJ.
.erGe our civil obligations 10 the Federal Gov
rnment. This is the situation in which we
re placed. am no lawyer, but it strikes me
hat it is a principle Of law which ~justiies the
publication OF contract the mOment any of
he parties to it violate its stipulations. Upon
his principle, are we not fully justified in re.
'udiating our civil obligations TO the Federal
Government, in view OF their disregard Of their
proper obligations to us?
And the Geographic despatch, which | have
rcad since | took my scat, shows that wo will
10 subjected, if possible, to all the pains and
penalties attaching to the robbery of the
federal property. | imagine that an indict-
nent would lie against us, under the United
States law, for the acts VIC have already perpe.
rated; and arc we to run the risk OF such an
ordeal, by yielding obedience 10 the civil au-
.hority Of that GovernmentY think it would
De foolish policy to leave ourselves in such a
condition.
As regards The mail facilities, they are now
virtually Withdrawn.
In the manner il which they are now re-
tarded, with the espionage practiced IN.
Ter the sanction of the Federal author
tiles, thoY are rather a disadvantage than
otherwise. No letter il nov safe that passes
through the hands of Post.Ofice officials, and
It were better, in ng opinion, for the interests
Of the South that the entire mai! system with
N its liruils, as it cxis,s under Fo1cral aus
oices, shoald be abolished, than continued as
it has been recently. | am informed this
morning ths. the mail facilities have been
stopped and the eject of continuing tho
civil obligations upon our people will be to
render them amena ble TO criminal prosecutions
without yielding anything like a collateral
benefit.
Mr.. SCOTT, Of Fauquier.-Will the gentle
man let me make a suggestion In oil the
Southern States, where ordinances OF secession
we're adopted and tho laws of the Federal
;Tnion were revoked, it wns necessary Mt once
-r--:l--, .,vr laws to take their place; and
ne mist be entering upon pretty wide field
Of duty when We revoke all the present laws
Of the United Sales, within the limits Of Yir.
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