Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-28

! to support Tire ConSttuuOn, ln2I VIII ho.
only sec that that Constitution is supported
! and maintained 10 the last. but will here lay
down the weapons OF my rebellion against II -
! suy if he had the mugnunimiIy to make th.a
procamntiou he would mmortaiize h'U'Se'l :
! and render himself The greatest bcnelactor III
the ugc But, sir, | cannot dare not eSlee.
such concession as this But say, SIT t'i"'
there arc men who have sacrificed themselves
for the good of their country; there have oce"
men in our own land and III ol.''i
countries, who have sacrificed all lliat
was dear to them for tic sake 81 lh"t
country which gave them birth; that country
which is the land that holds everything that
| i, near and dear 10 us--that land the S'ories Of
which NV name shall never be ldent'hca ~
dimminc unless under the force OF snch
events as have already referred to. might
say, sir with some degree OF certainty ln"'
| there are men now in this Union who. II eiect'
ed UPON such principles MS those upon %h'ca
| Mr.. Lincoln has ridden into power, "cu'u VI
magnanmous and brave enough TO make tIi,H
sacrifice. don't say That Linco'n VIII 90 ";
| fear he will not; but. sir whatever he may DO
! md however he may act, it IS oar auty HUI :
so to act as TO avoid undue preclri;ancy, anu
no. itunair the force and great moral weight o.
our action when it is presented 10 the cons,"e'
ration of the people for ratification c: fciec'
! ton.
say, tnen, sir, that would wait Tor ms
| "Pracc Conference" 50 that NC may Act liilei'
| libby and secure more unity t!ian "ouio no"
! mark any final movement We may determine
| upon. ,;.s
In the remarks which, | submitted yes
t.rdov and in tho resolutions which then
toe occasion to submit, referred I" the lacl
that there was another remedy when cohI" DC
resurtcd to, il circumstances had mol So cnanse"
rs to make an amendment 10 the Constitution
practicable. don't see now, SIT, that We can
.,.r ANY such measure; | don't desire It. do
not saw that we ought To have any aSsembiase
If :: conference Of the border States. Ill
Dictated it as nv wish and desire, i! we could
have it without compromising the rights and
interests uf the State OF Virginia To not
wish this Convention to understand ne as dc
string, BY the expression Of any such wish or
sentiment, delay on their part, in whatever
action they contemplate taking. But II | vas
satisfied that nothing would be introduced here
that promised to establish peace and equality,
and restore us the rights which our fathers
gave us, rhond have regarded il as duty
which we owed To ourselves and our conStltu-
cnts, to resort to the means which Indicated,
namely: \ Conference Of the border slave
States And il would Ire our duty to await
the result bcrnyc proceeding 10 take any pre-
cipiiate action.
But sir, in the meantime, if resistance should
become necessary, if it go happened that the
State of Virginia should be invaded; that her
rights should be crippled i'll any way; thar ans
l.. IL, IN mr. u q
her by marching Federal troops through the
Sia,c-I say, sir, should these things DC at
tempted, Will stand b. you, sir, aud st@n1
by you to the last
l shall never depar, il; the slightest degree
from tho exact line Of that path OF prorriety
ard necessity which shall be presented To me
But say, that before we move, we must he
satisfied that the remedies which sc have de-
vised, or shall dc"isr, for HE evils which now
allict US, have been first exhausted. mu.t
say to my people, when | return home, that
there were no POSSIBLE means Of cticcting any
thing within our reacl 10 "hch We had not
resorlcd; that nil the measures We had tried
had proved uravaing; that We hal rI''irav.
ored b. every mcaS IL accomplish what might
result in the preservation Of Ibis Union; but
these having proved fruitie>s, we were com
PEELED to take the uiIimaturu Of dissolution,
trusting by.and bye 10 i!,u prospect .! recon.
a,ructins *. would Stale 10 my people iii
this connection. that IN resOriing 10 dissolution,
would, in some degree, be governed hy the
prospect "f being enabled To bring orr intlu-
cnce to bear, through the medium u! :. South
ern Confederacy, upon The Siatcs that have al
ready seeded. in the hope Of again bringing it
| back and forming ~ union upon It's oid basis,
! with additional guarantees, Of course. When
it comes 10 the question OF North or South
alone; when am to choose my position and
decide for Virginia, whether she will take her
stand with the North "r the SOUTH tell you
that my sympalh:s will DO with the South;
and ttnt feeling which was born in me, ami
which share in colInon with The people vi
Virginia, will place me urdcr that Tag which
is now floating over us to-day. If perish | must,
| had rather die fighting gloriousiy under it,
than 10 die inglorlousy, 10 be wrapped ami
buried under the folds Of enc Of even thirty
tour stars upon 1t.
This, sir, is my position, and intend 10 main.
tain it. come what may. | say most distinct
" and urequivCcui!y that. so far rs am con-
cerned have little hope !:uir Ahrahara Lin
coin and his coadjutors. II had faith that he
would inaugnraie anything Ike just principles,
which would form basis ior the settlement Of
this question, should be willing TO iorego any
action until the test was applied; but there is
nc hope OF SUCH q result. lie told W. the other
day IRON that consccra,cd spot in Ptiladel-
n--lndcpendcncc Habitat he ives elected
upon the principles Of that Statement III the
Declaration Of Independence which gives il.
berty, not alone to the people Of this country,
but TO the people Of the world for all future
tiIne-those principles which give promise that
in due time the weight would be lifted from the
shoulders Of all men. Do YOU tell mc that
can 20 10 Washington and feel that | can
breathe the ai; which once hreathcd in all i,s
purity that can 60 there and take 10y the
hand ilie man who says that these principles
must be carried out throughout the land-tlic
man who is 10 be installed into the highest Of
flee of the land upon principles that give libcr.
y not 0nly 10 the white race, but tn the slaves:
lie tells me, like IN advocate ut The bar who
receives a fee for his services, that these are
principles at which nobody can take offence;
and he tells you that he means what he says.
In view Of all this, while might hope that he
might do otherwise, while | might wish he
would do otherwise, | call have but little hope
and no expectation that he Will. Indeed, nj.
most entirely despair OF his doing 50; tut
there are instances IN which men nave Sacrl-
feed themselves in order 10 save their country.
1t is indeed a rare occurrence to find one turn
ing his back upon he very platform Of prin.
riples upon which he vas elected to power.
When find such man, | shall indeed
find u jewel. When find Lincoln turn.
ing upon these who arc polluted with
the sentiments Of that irresponsible con
1ict doctrine; when he can So far forget the
behcsts Of party as to shake of whatever par
takes of the fanaticism which belongs to the
Garrison, the Phillips, and the Greeley school,
then, indeed will regard him as having the
good Of his country ut heart, and as exhibiting
some disposition to reconcile the distracted ele.
men;s Of the country and bring peace 10 its
people | have no hope that he will do this,
reulrIub erng us must, that he is obliged to
carry out the behests Of the party by whom he
,r,s elevated IN mower rather Than corsult the