Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-08
&ifkuoll0 Enquirer.
The Virginia State Convention.
F0RTE-TR7RD DAY.
THURSDAY, APRIL 4rHs 1851.
Deferred Proceedings.)

{UefeTTeU fTVCeeutHgd.J |
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Committee OF the Whole resumed lus
session a, 4 o'clock, P. NJ, the question being
on the fourth resolution of the Committee on
Federal Relations, as amended.
The question was taken and the resolution,
q. amended, was adopted. The fifth resolu-
t;on IF the Committee was then read rs fol- |
lows:
.5. The sites Of the federal forts, arsenals, |
&c, within the limits of the States OF this
Uaion, were acquired by the Federal Govern.
ment, and jurisdiction over them coded by the
States. as trusts, for the common purposes OF
the Union during its continuance; and upon
the separation Of the States, such jurisdiction
rerer,s Of right to the States, respectively, by
which tho jurisdiction was coded Whilst q
State remains in the Union, the legitimate use
Of such forts, &c, is to protect the country
against foreign force, aud to aid in suppressing
domestic instruction. To use, or prepare
than 10 De used to intimidate q State, or con-
Strain its free action, is a perversion OF the
purposes for which they were obtained; they
were not intended to bs used against the States.
in whose limits they are found, in the event OF
civil war. In q time Of profound peace with
foreign nations, and when no symptoms OF do
mast:c instruction ~appear-but whilst irrlta,
ting questions Of the deepest Importance are
pending between the Statistic accumulate
within the limits Of a State, interested in such
questions, an unusual amount Of troops and
munitions Of war, not required for any leglti-
mate purpose, is unwiSe, impolitic and often
siye.
Mr. FLouRSoY-I move to amend the resolu.
ton by striking out the words: "And to aid
in SURPRISING domestic insurrection." In
looking over the Act Of Assembly by which
the territory on which Fort Monroe and Old
Point Comfort are located, I find that Virginia,
with her usual caution, and in the protection
of her rights. gave this property to the Federal
Government for no such purpose as to suppress
instruction. / will read the Act Of Assem-
bly,:
"Nhereas. Il is shown tue present General
Assembly, that the Government Of the United
States is so,icitous that certain lands, at Old
Point Comfort, and at the Shoal, called the
RIP Raps, should be, with the right Of pro-
perty, and entire jurisdiction thereon, vested
i. the United States, for the purpose of tor.i6-
cations, and other objects Of national defence"
The first section goes on to direct the Cover
nor to make the necessary conveyances. The
second section is as follows:
And be it further enacted, That should the
United States at any time abandon the said
1oJa-t - appropriate aSh w - SeASA PNi
poses than those indicated in the preamble Of
this net, then, and in that case, the Same shall
revert to-, and rerest in the Commonwealth"
This refers to the preamble which | have
read, ard which says that the land is given
solely for purposes Of fertilization and other OBJ.
jee!s Of national defence. It may seem a little
captions to move to strike out these words, but
] really think it important to do so, especially
when we look at the adversary with which we
are dsaling. l understand that the present
head of the Government does not recognize the
sovereignty Of a State. If his public speeches,
from Springfield to the seat Of government, are
to be relied upon as expressive of his opinions,
he looks upon a State Us he does upon a mere
county.
If we should, in the progress of events that
are rapidly developing themselves, find it ne
csssary that Virginia should take q position Of
resistance to the General Government, we might
be looked upon as insurgents, as instruction.
lists; and it would be u most notifying posi-.
ton to pat ourselves in, that the very govern.
ment which was treating US as insurgents and
n5urrecti2niSts should quote our own language
to prove that .he use Of these forts was de-
signed to suppress domestic insurrection, while
the act which grants tho land on which these
forts are located. declares that the cession was
made to the Government for no other purpose
than for defence against foreign invasion. 1t
is for this reason, Mr.. Chairman, that / move
to strike out these words, leaving the section
to read "that the legitimate use of such forts
&C., is to protect the country against foreign
force"
Mr.. R Y. CoSsAD.-I would be glad to
agree with the gentleman in his proposed
amendment, if it was even a matter of indifer-
eacc; bat it is important, in my opinion, that
xi-z .-~-l1 r-,tl L. S-1l -1-tl ,,-
in The frat place, that this resolution contains
our own language, and that it is a matter of
little moment to US how it may be construed
by the Federal Government
II will b. conceded that it IS part Of the du.
ty Of the Federal Government, under the Con.
s%titutiou, to interfere in case of domestic in
surrection; and it is the right Of the State au-
thorities to call 'Ipon the Federal Governmet so
10 interfere. / think it is important not to dis
charge the Federal Government from this obi.
cation. will remind the gentleman of a case
that occurred in an adjoining county to my
own-the case of Harper's Ferry. Was it not
right and proper-nsy, the duty Of the FEEDER.
81 Government, upon the demand Of the civil
authorities Of Virginia, to interfere then 10 put
doTu domestic insurrection?
The apprehension Of the gentleman from Hall. |
fax, (alr. FLoURSor,D seems to be, sir, that BY
some construction or other that action of the
State Of Virginia, through its constituted author
ties, may be construed TO be domestic insur-
~rees;on. That conclusion is excluded by the
terms of this resolution. If the gentleman
will look a little further into this resolution he
will find that in the sixteenth lire there is an
affirmation to the co~ntrary-"and when no
symptoms Of domestic insurrection appear
That domestic :nsurrection, sir, as l am led to
think, means, and can only mean, an opposition
70 State authority and, according to the Con-
%sti:ution of the United States, no interposition
Of Federal authority can take place except up
on the demand Of the State authority, so |
that it is impossible, in any way that this can
bs construed or understood, to import any
right to interfere in case of State action, with
the concurrence of the State authority.
Now, sir, I submit to the gentleman over the
way, whether striking these words out, would
not simply have the effect, SO far as we can dis.
charge, Of discharging the Federal Govern
ment from this Constitutional obligation, upon
our demand, to interfere in case of domestic in
surrection, and not only must it apply in the
case Of Harpor's Ferry, but it must even apply |
to the very points instancsd by the gentleman
himself, Fort Monroe. Domestic instruction
might threaten the peace Of Virginia there, and
it may be necessary that the Virginia authori-
ties should call upon the Federal authorities,
- ~interposs their military arm there, in order
to suppress instruction against the authorities
Of the State of Virginia. I think, then, that
the apprehension Of my friend is unfounded;
that there is no possibility that a csse can arise
in this connection, which would be misappre-
headed to our injury; but a case might easily
arise when il would be important and right for
us to make a demsnd upon the Federal authori-
ties for their :nterposition.
trust that the amendment will not be adopt
cd.
Mr.. FLorRNor. Il have submitted this
amendment In no cantinns enirit and for no