Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-18

ueichce oi our c1nEnun enemies, to divide nS
uP.h or own internal questions. Sir, II We
are divided we should be ready to ware any
/ minor point cf difference and to unite upon the
great Questions now before Us.
Gnt II | were ready 10 enter upon these
questions now, of Constitutional amendment,
wauld not b. willing 10 dn it. for am very
Certain that in the county Of Princess Anne, to
whose people en- indebted for my seat uppn
tins Hour, no man dreamed that any such
charge would he proposed when they sent Inc
here. But there Is another reason why will
not act upon it, say 10 Western gentlemen
that want tD seq whether they Will act IN
de.erce Vi my rights NJ L STAKEHOLDER, before !
ever c0u.c 10 uny mere compromises upon this
) negro question: want to know whrlhcr They
> ale going to Stand Lr rre upon the main qIles-
tinn. b:iDre auss.r how | will stand with
them upon any incni entail GIcatiun was
gcnuruua once, ! wus self dc, uted once upon
tins q'IreIrr; ard was assured then that |
: would t:nd lnen alTaye ready to stand by me
AID to PROTECT rIc But | must BAY, that there
are some Incn here from the Fast and from The
West both, that Garnet rely upon any more
u defend my rights upon the Eegrn question;
and cpec;ally EtCud, before giving To these
gentlemen additional power ~ tax slave pro-
p,rty, 10 be well sali,:d ID that they are willing
tu unlte With HE 10 de!cEd Tho rights OF slave
property.
Mr. kent desire, in very few words, to
explain my position upon thia question. | ca!
say, Ike l!!u gentleman from Princess Anue,
and o!her gentlemen who hsvc Inae personal
cxpiansiiuns upon this floor, that this ques.
ton OF lsAItiun and rcprts .ntation is one that
dd not enter in the slightest degree il,to the
cinras, among NY constituents. Since The
Cohrcntioa has been in Session, however,
have been instructed by my constituency, TO
vote against all propositions tending to disturb
this question ct this time, and shall endsavoT
to carry out their wishes as far rs | can. |
may hc reduced 10 the necessity of voting for
alternate propositions. When il Comes to thai,
think Will have no difficulty il determining
on wh ch siie my vote VII, be recorded.
TINS is question which requires, with me,
some time ivs deliberations; or erce 1850 this
institution has undergone 4 very greaG charge
in my part Of tie State. 1t occupies position
shs1e unlike its position n aIy other portion
ii tue State is an institution 10 w!ch my
people arc very much altac isd. We arc at
tached To- IL n.t simply btcatise wo derive any
great profits ire!n It, for 81. 10 not derive pro.
tits equal to those ol other portIn;> Of the
Stale, where sla:e, can be employed prvGtably
~ all oca>onS ii The Year, but we are sonnd
upon Il, ara drvtledIy attached 10 it, AID are
anAious 10 foster H..
IL ogc respect this question Of al ralorem
taya'inn presents 10 Southwest Virginia,
i ilitult problem ior solution. II the price cf
slave, continues To be high, & tax in the ratio
0f their m: Aet vail2 viii be so bnrlhcnsolne,
"ith Tue small profits upon its LABOR, Is very
suIn TO cx;insu!Ssl ii tltlsctua:ly. Ii, from waIt
OF proper protection, there l. q stampede OF
,GTes from Virginia, tile turthcn Of paying the
State debt will tall necessarily, in a great nlea
-lrc, Oil The lanrlS and productions OF the West
haze, therefore, desired time TO 80 home, have
4 Conference with my people, and know from
t!iem II, !! uose suicn1 lIanEer, than the ncdc
III "nicn nave lad ah expression Of opinion
from the,n, what course they desire me 10
a,lhpt oil this question. shall, therefore, vnte
| lvr the n,nenGment 10 the rradlcst mode u! dis
i''@ing Of the Question, for the present.
Mr.. EcnoLs Mr.. President, when tits Gles
ton Was first moe.ed in tie c, nvention was
one OF those wLo thought no uctioa should be
| taken by TIE Convention in regard to II ut this
session. The questions embraced IN the rcsn
! luton q! Ito Ect!emgn from MInonghlia, had
not rrtrIcd into The canvas in The portion OF
the ate From WHICH come, II lli.y entered
into /: 81 ~, the general understanding was
| mat at ihIo Iiihe when the representatives cf
tic mIlc Ul S;r:iri;a met III solemn co;.Il. We,
1n si.c vital qucslInTS ia are EoT being agilu.
tel among Us. it was hardly ;,rnpcr that this
MI jet II taxation VI sliVe property shou,d nn
! t + iulo uur uciircratin,iS. " Ten tho rcso'u.
tirn luckiugiu the consideration Of this qucs-
| Iiun VAS ti;st offered by the delegate IRON
Prestc:i (M.. RKoHN) l. rs Western dele
gate, moved to lay it un the sable. That mo.
Ton prevailed, the resolution was laid on The
table, ard tho subject remained at rest for a
| considerable tim: iitcrward, rtr resolution |
Of the delegate from Monongalia, (Mr. WILEY
va offered and discussed for somctime-l the |
Wrs rrn ilitu.bsIs generally taking part in the |
| ii,'u,s,u 10 tbs exclusion Of delegates from
tho East. Several Of Us from the West hsd
thought il best thpaght il would be currying
! out our faith as VIC understood it to have been
pledged to cur ,stern bre.ilern in the Canvcn-
ton Of 1850, II let this question go bJ until
:re had come safey thr2us sh tile death strug
gle in which We were engaged. But white oc
cupying that pnsiinn VAS told, 10 my aston
i~h;nalr, ny delegate from Of the Eastern |
counties, representing Il large slavehold!ng
c0urllueLcy, that nc Tor cGe, did not consider
tnere ~as any pledge i'll the Convention o,
1850 on this ijcct, and that he thought it
proper his question should be aSitated, should
i've discussed, and should br determined by this
Convention.
Therefore, sir, representing, az DO a West
ern Constituency, can no longer refrain from
,ptirg fer al Investigation ul this question
when am, Is it were, upbraded by a delegate
irum the East, for tie position which | Pre-
virusly occupied. regard the principle OF
L.
delegate from Munnng.it, the proper rrlnci
pic. 1t is a principle Oh which We Westen.
lu:n stand almost unanimously together. It
is principle tor which xe have con;cndec
whenever Cuareriiun rt TIC people has becr.
| called together. II Eastern delegates were
united in opposition la the discussion OF the
question at thIs time /, ior ore, you'd say -
Gentlemen, We will nnt Lress it on on nov.
we do not think il right Your constituents
consider that their great interest is seriously
| involved IN the great struggle now beng made
ia regard 10 State sovereignty, State inlnpen
.ielcc, and Stats equality; We will ao'. there
fore. Dress Other qurst:ons upon You at this
time"
There is aGothtr reason, Mr. President, whs
| oppose the amendment Of the gentleman
! IRON Jackson, iMr. f. p Turner amended u
it has hten, by the substitute OF Tie gentleman
from Monon-ali (Ir WILEY and why !
prefer the original resolution. If we are to 50
lntp the discussion OF questions affecting the
organic las Of the land, let US 90 fully into
those reforms. Let us not stop ct this single
question OF taxation. Oae Of tho chief recGnl
uGndarlOrs Of the resolution Of the gentleman
from N M,nohsalrs, liz tho fact that it looks also
10 the reform Of our judiciary system, in tho
election Of judges, magistrates and other eli
GERS. II We are 10 have refJrm at all, let thai
reform be thorough and complete. |, there
fore, as Western delegate, say To the dele.
gatta from the Erst, "scttic this matter far
! yourselves, gentlrmcn." Not one week ago,
inc delegate from The county uf Franklin said,
on this hour, that he thought the resolution
Mus prourl: that The reinru Has dasirabie, and |