Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-20

als W SAl'A \ 800
but regard it mere as having in view tn
purpo;e s Of nv friend and those with whom b.
agrees. to hing this Convention 10 action ~liict
will submit to the Northern people from tbi
Convention, aud this Convention alone, an 'lltl
matu:n. That is the mannrriE hich cnnstru'
the object of the amendment offered By M
friend from Halifax. Now, sir, if understand
the question under consideration, it presents
itself to the Convention il, this wise. The ILL
section declares, that if the Sorthern States
do not respond satisfactorily TO the amend
ments which this Committee will i'd 'pf
then Virginia will resume her granted
powers The twelfth and thirteenth sections
declare shat IA an Indispensable condition the
Federal Government shall abstain from any
aggressive policy and that both sections shall
60 nothing tending to occasion hostility and
then we come to the fourteenth section, when
PROPOSES q Border Slave State Conference.
Now, sir, | submit to this Convention that
G border slave State conference must oe intend
ed for something. | submit that there must
be some consequence attached to g conference
which is designed to be held with The border
slave States. therefore, take it, that II any
consequence is attachahle TO that conference we
will not 50 there carrying in our pockets our
Own resolutions, telling them in a manner OF
dicta;ion !: you shall assent to this or nothing.
Now, sir, that is the attitude which Virginia
would occupy under such circums' aces. Inc
fact is, that The reason why We are not now IN
a border State conference, is because Of the &c
ogrsphical imposslb!lity, and it is the purpose
to bring about a border State Conference as
soon As it is practicable, but, in The meantime,
it is our purpose to submit to ;ins Northern
people our policy, and the terms upon which
we will live with them, and if they are not re
spoRded to, We will then resume our granted
powers. In the meantime we will hold u border
State conference with our immediate neighborS
AND why Because they are our imrlediatc
%neighborS; because We are suTraInded by them
because we are bounded on the South by Nor'h
Carolina, on the Southwest b. Tennessee, on
the West By Kentucky, and on the North and
Northeast by Maryland and Delaware; be
cause these States sre slayehoidims States; be-
cause ne are in the midst Of them and be
cause we cannot nc! independent OF .lieln final
ly. II We Go not get satisfactory responses I"
our amendments and do then resume our pow
ers-that is not fnal action. We then nave
taken one more, and I fear sad step but that
is not fnal action. We then have something
else to do. We must moi Stand alone, unassa
ciated with any body, as an independent "no
isolated power. We have something else 10
d.: but we must ascertain what tia: Is. Eo~
must we ascertain y hat ti!ai is! by 2 iair
and na,lv conference with our border slave
States-with those who are identified With u
BY associations, by Institutions, and by God.
And. therefore, | say. sir, thar 10 present Oh
our part irretrac,able, i7rcrocable and final
propositions to the Northern States, without
concerning with the border slave States, ana
con rerrirg with them would be an a:t entirely
unwarranted on our part-an act %Gich We
would not be authorized 10 do, because OF our
associations With orr immediate ne'shoorS.
There is no Inconsistency between the
amendment and the llth resolution, because II
is for the people Of Virginia to determine al
last, and say whether the responses which
come from the Northern people are satisfactory
or not. | say that i. we'll bebooves the people
Of Virginia in determining that question, no:
to be controlled, not TO be dictated to, not 10
be regulated by anybody else, but 10 determine
the question upon consultation With those whom
God Almighty had connected with then he.
sisters of the border slave States. trust, there,
fore, it will moi BIZ the pleasure OF this Conven
ton to adopt the amendment OF the gentleman
from Halifax, which, il adopted, vii! render 0
conference with the border slave States neon
sistent with any practical purpose, because Il
you 60 into 4 Conference with them, with The m
alterable temper that the proposition shall not
be altered, modified Or changed, even 10! GU:
benefit; if you go there and say, We Till not
listen to your wisdom. we would put them in
a position IN which their own dignity would
constrain them TO say, we cannot hold coatc.
renee with you, because it is tot 4 conference
conducted upon equal and honorable terms.
Here the bammer fell.
Mr.. FLoCRSoY-lf the construction Of the
amendment Of the gentleman from Fauquier
tuade by my friend from the city Of Richmond,
(Mr. JoaSsoS,) ia correct. then there is y direct
conflict between the 18th section and the
amendment Of the gentleman from Fauquler,
Mr.. ScoTr) Ny friend from R chlnond argues
sgainst the amendment proposed by myself,
that it would be pres enting the final action OF
Virginia end would ~restraiu the conference n;
Frankfort, from altering or amending the pro.
positions. submitted oy this Convcni'oa. Ii
was that very difference Of construction p'sc' d
upon this substitute and upon the lth section
that induced me to offer this amendment, thar
certainty might be given to the action OF this
body; that none might m:sunderstand 1t who
had finally 10 act upon it.
When uy distinguished friend from Mana
whu, CIR. SUMMERS addressed the Contention
but a short time since, he referred to this l1'h
section and said that he had voted against it.
He referred to it es indicating that By that sec.
ton the action Of this Convention upon these
amendments would be 6ual and cut of all
conference with the Border States.
AS to the character Of these amendments,
| turn from the gentleman from kanawha, tMr.
SCMxERs,) to my friend from Richmond, tMr.
JouSsos,j and l find that he CONSTITUTES ths
amendment Of the gentleman from Fauquier,
(Mr. ScorT) exactly ths other waJ. Now, sir,
leave the lllh section as it 10. Send tut our
proposition and then come back upon this
Convention for the construction Of their labors
and re arc divided here as 10 the meaning
Of the language that we use, IN regard to the
very amendment upon which We require &C
ton. While | did NOT hear the construction
which the distinguished gentleman from Eau
ouier put upon il, | think that it must be II,
same as that of the gentleman from Richmond.
The other deg the gentleman from Fauquier,
offered an amendment, which was printed b!
the order OF the Convention.
The amendment makes IL request CT the au.
thorisies Of the several Border Slave States to
ASSEMBLE tho peopls thereof in primary Con.
ventiors, to take into consideration tue propo.
sitions Of this Convention" thus giving 6ahli-
ty to it. aud making it. consistent rith the
l1th section.
In the amendment ne now proposes thu:
this be stricken out, and in place Of it he
proposes to insert the proposed amendments
TO the Constitution. In reply to my friend lrom
Charlotte, (Mr. BOuLDis,) | inferred that be
still regarded that when we went to the Border
States, oil these questions were open, for be
said no restriction ought 10 he imposed, because
in that border conference stronger demands
might and ought to be made, than were con.
tanned in the amendment now proposed TO be
adopted by this Convention.
Then, sir, are VIZ to be placed in the condi.
ton that, when our labors are over, we our.
selves don't krow what we have donef Are
<bo nooola nf tba Enrthnrn Sfatps TO bo left in