Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-29

and approval of the people of Virginia
This he asserted to be true, and he challen-
ged contradiction.
After celebrating upon this point. lie al
luded to the expressions on this floor in re-
gard to the degradation of Virginia, and
said he hurled such an imputation back with
scorn and contempt.
Mr.. Holcombe here asked The gentleman
if he said this as an allusion to anything he
had said
Mr.. Baldwin had understood him to make
use Of such language.
Mr.. Holcombe denied that he had spoken
of Virginia as degraded at present. 1t was
in allusion to the future, in th event of her
failure to dissolve her connection with the
North.
Mr. Baldwin did not so understand him,
but cheerfully accepted his construction
He desired to reflect upon no one, and es-
pecially the distinguished gentleman from
Albemarle. He applied his remarks to all,
here and elsewhere, who spoke of Virginia
as degraded at present 1t was his belief
that the destiny Of this great nation depen-
ded upon thesdecision which Virginia shall
pronounce. On the action of this assem-
blage depended more, in all that concerns
the veal or woe of man in all that concerns
the high destiny of free people-than was
ever before committed to any assembage by
mortal man. He invoked the representa-
tives of all sections to join hands with one
another and swear, as the ark of the cove
nant of constitutional liberty had been con-
6ded to their keeping, to be true to their
trust; to register vow in Heaven to lift up
this bleeding country and set her free.
Mr.. Randolph, of Richmond As it is
apparent that the gentleman from Augusta
would prefer to suspend his remarks until
tomorrow, move that the Committee rise.
On the 22nd, the hour of II having ar
rived, the Convention resolved itself into
Committee Of the Whole. (Mr. Southall Of
Albemarle, in the chair. and proceeded to
consider the reports from the Committee on
Federal Relations. with the substitute Offer
ed by the gentleman from. Harrison.
MIR. Baldwin, of Augusta, being entitled
to tho floor resumed his remarks, advertiDg
in the outset to the tendency to introduce
subjects in debate which had no bearing
upon the great question at issue. He un-
derstood gentlemen to acquiesce yesterday
in his declaration, that the agitation of the
slavery question at the North was the only
grievance of which Virginia had to COM
pl,il.
Mr. Morton, of Orange, desired to know
If the gentleman represented this as an adj
miDistraton from the entire BODY Of seceg-
sionists in the Convention.
Mr.. Baldwin said be distinctly understood
the gentleman from Albemare (Mr. Hol-
combe) to acquiesce in the proposition as he
stated it yesterday.
Mr.. Holcombe said he signiGed his indi-
vidual assent to the proposition that the az
ton of the General Government on the sle-
very question was not such as to Justify VirS
ginia in taking the issue of Union or disu-
Mon; he did not admit that he acquiesced in
the entire policy Of the Government.
Mr.. Baldwin resumed. He did not ex.
pect to find gentlemen who approved every
act of the General Government, item by
item; but he asserted that the general policy
of that Government had been directed by
Virginia's own sons, or those of her choice,
up to the time of the Inauguration of Abra-
ham lincoln. He then reviewed the acts
of various Administrations, showing that
the line of compromise had been recognized
in the settlement of all the vexed questions
before the nation. Coming to the Missouri
Compromise. be said it was sanctioned by
Virginia'S Senators and by Southern mem
bers of the Cabinet. and received the appro-
wing voice Of Virginia herself. The next
measure of slavery restriction was under the
Administration of the distinguished gentle
man from Charles City, now member of
this body.
Mr.. Tyler asked to be allowed to call the
gentleman's attention to fact 10 connection
with the Missouri Compromise. He had
stated 1t in the main correctly, but had for
gotten portion Of the history. He (Mr.
L. was member of Congress at the time,
and, with eighteen of his colleagues, voted a.
gainstit He would have stood there against
it until he had persisted, if he could thereby
have defeated the measure, for he believed
it was unconstitutional. Mr.. Tyler was
going On to allude to the annexation of
Texas, when
Mr.. Baldwin desired to state his point
before the gentleman made his defence.
Mr.. Tyler merely wished to set history
right in regard to the annexation OF that
State. 1T was the result of the acquisition
of territory, and treaties were made 10 &C.
cordance with the existing law.
Mr.. Baldwin said he had made the allu-
sion to show tie recognition of the dividing
line in carrying out what the gentleman and
his friends called the browning act of his
Administration. He then proceeded to
speak Of its recognition in the admission Of
Oregon, and its approval by Presidents Polk.
Virginia recognized the right to apply the
Wilmot Provso where it did not Interfere
with the Compromise line. She also an.
proved the Compromise of 1850 as the great
measure of peace. and both parties in the
State reiterated it in their political platform
lie thought he was justified in defying the
production of single act of the General
government, in reference to slavery, which
did not receive, al some time or other. 81.
distinct approval of Virginia He hoped
if any gentleman should do him the honor
to- notice, in the subsequent sous ion Of The
question. any portion of his argument, that
he would give particular attention to the
challenge which he here threw down
MIR. Wise-1 take up the glove.
MIR Baldwin, hope he will take il 10;
he will End that the battle has but just be-