Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-16
The VIRGINIA State Convention
FoRTy-SEVEETY DA T.-tC0SCLtDhD'
1NrrSnay APRIL ., 1851.

TUESDAY, ArEIL ., 1861: 49,,
", p,c, pnsoS moved to amend the lltn
resolution of the Committee on feoerai Hsis-
tions. - specified in the extra ed'uon OF tnis
DAYS sEnqairer."
M RIcnARpsoS-Nhat I mean by my
amendment is perfectly plain: This reso-
luton uuder discussion. and which presume
will be voted for by the gentleman from Prin-
cess Anne, and adopted by tine Committee,
sars thai, Virginia, therefore. requests the
pecple of the several States, either by popular
vote or in Conventions similar to her own, 10
respond at their earliest convenience to Tue Pc
sitions assumed in the foregoing resolutions
and the proposed amendments to the Constitu,
ti,n OF the United States hereunto appended:
Well, now, sir, supposing hat resolution Is
adopted, when are the people 70 vote IN re,
sporse? When is the election to be called
under which they are to vote! by what au-
thoritv is it to 6e callcd9 Cannot their vote
be postponed for years or forever AS De-
fore stuffed, the vote of the people saneuoning
the constitutional amendments proposed ny
this Convention viii amount to nothing, unless
INIT vote be sanctioned in the manner prescribed
br the Constitution Of the United States for its
own amendment That Constitution provides
tina. Congress, whenever two-hirds Of both Hou.
scs s'.all deem it necessary, shall propose
amendments to the constitutions; or Oh the appli-
cs..on Of two.thiris Of the Legislatures Of the
several States shall call a Convention for pro.
posing amendments, which in either case Shall
BE- Y. lid to all intcnts and purposes, when rati-
fed BY tarec.four:hs Of the Legislatures or
Conventions OF tue several States. Well, Sir,
wha. is the mos. direct mode by which the
vote of the people is TO sanction these amend
-. n, :, so o., ,,ptr,Df tha,r roprpcapfa-
tivcS in Congress 10 propose them? unqucs-
t~ionablv; because if they do not speak at once
through their representatives in Congress,
tayy must speak through their Legislatures,
which Legislatures must then apply to Con-
gress to cali a Convention to propose amend
mmi,S, which amendments are to be ratified IN
precisely the same way rs il they were pro-
posed BY Congress. The proceeding begin.
ming with the Legislatures, is three times as
long rs that brought ahont by a direct
instruction TO Congress, and it is in order that
these amendments may be sanctioned by the
rcuple in such torul as to he authoritative anu
biading, that | propose this resolution; they
must he proposed by two thirds OF Congress,
Or by the application Of swo-talrds of tho Le-
gis,atures Of the several States. Ny dlstin-
suishei friend from Princess Anne objects 10
an amendment requesting !kc Northern PEG.
PIE to Instruct their representatives. | admit
that this is Objectionable. but there IS no other
way Of getting over the difficulty. If we have
4 right 10 request them 10 respond at all, sure
II we have the right to request them
20 make a response which will be vi some va,
lue, and not a mere farce. j. is no act or tau:;
OF nine that such an appeal is to DC made t.
tie Northern people. Gould nay ~counse!s pre-
vail !; should TOT he doae at ali-but it will be
doae-sni in Gods nau.e let it be so done,
1h-t il will ie responded to, if ut all, at once,
.": will amount to something. ] desire that the
ms: direct mode of obtaining that expression
snail he adopted. | desire that they shall not
haze the privilege Of delaying their action for
ever. tn" object, then, Of my amendment Is
so . alter lie resolution as to require n once,
through a constitutional mode. an antborita-
tive response from the people of the Northern
States. If q mode can be adopted by which
they are required TO decide the matter speedily
AID ii: Z constitutional way, then the rcsoli-
tioa will be Improved, though even then it will
be bad enough.
The amendment was disagreed to.
Mr.. EARIY-t move to strike out the whole
81 the 1lln section and insert in lieu lhereo:,
IS follows:
Tins Convention is Of tie opinion that the
extraordinary condstion oil the country result
iag !ro;l o4r National difficulties renders it pro.
per ar necessary that amendments should be
made 70 tha Federal Constitution; and it is al
50 of the opinion that the proposed amend
In2nts to said Federal Constitution hcreuuto
appended, il adopted, will be satisfactory to the
Ieople Of Virginia, and ought TO be so to all
the other Stare States"
NJ. Chairman, | am no. to be affected in my
course in regard to this report by any tele.
graphic dispatches. have witnessed too many
Stampedes, caused by iulse rumors, 10 be-
Low frightened from my propriety in that way.
l. seems to Inc that gentlemen on this floor
who talk sh"u; laying down al ultimaturn,
forget utterly the, powers with which this
Convention IS invested. Tie Jill under which
W. are called provides that the question should
be- submitted TO the people, whether in the
event Of cur adopting al ordinance Of seces-
sion. our action should be referred back to
them, auI by a majority Of over $4,000 they
decided that we should pass no ordnance or
H.aer ACT seyerirg our connection with the
Federal Government without submitting it to
their ratification or rejection at the POLLS
Gentlemen whose constituents voted against
referring, may feel themselves authorized TO
lay down an uliimatum, but nv constituents
voted, by a majority Of over 1900, that the
action of this Convention should be referred
back TO them. How can this Convention lay
down, Oh behalf Of the people Of Virginia, an
%aitimGtum that they will, in certain contin-
gync,es, feel compelled to resume the powers
delegated under the Federal Constitution : If
wc do so, may We not be placed in this posi-
tion-that our utimatum, not being accepted
By the North, we will have TO pass an ordi
nance Of secession, aud the people will refuse
to ratify it?
But, sir, we have not only no, a right to pass
an ordinance Ct secession without submitting
il, b.; We have no power to lay down an ulti-
m.tuui without also submitting it. But be-
SIDES, the 18th resolution contemplates q con.
~sultatioa with the border slave States. Where
is the necessity Of consulting with the border
slave States If We are first to lay down our
u!timatum and declare that if not acceded to
Virginia Will go Out Of the Union? Would it
not be an Insult TO those border slave States to
invite them to q conference after having laid
down an ultimatum? | have, therefore, sub
mi;;ed my substitute Tor the 18th resolution
which deprivcs it Of the character of OIL ulti.
rnatum. When We shall have made every
effort to procure the desired amendments, II
will be time enough fer us 10 decide what Vir-
ginia Ought 20 do, and 10 submit that action to
the legal voters at the polls.
Mr.. f. B. HALL called for d division of the
question.
Nj. Sized called for the yeas and nays on
striking out the eleventh section.
the yta;and nays were not ordered.
The question vas taken, and the Committee
refused TO strike out the eleventh section.
TITO Chairman CIR MoNTAGuE in the Chair
s.a.ed that mat vote adopted the eleventh, sec
ton.
Mr.. MoRroS.-Do I understand the Chair Il
decide that on a motion to strike out and in
sert, tee failure TO strike out is the adoption o
:ae r.st!utian2
TIC CuAlENkN.-That is the opinion Of thu
Chais, Ar. The Chair understands it hus beer
80 decided By tie former occupant.
Mr. Mnnrnv IL fnuro moi a snnninl ruiz on