Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-17
,ring contempt Of those who would impose the

name 10 ttlS ORDINANCE 6l SeceoSluIi, IcSaIui'i
it as the proudest net OF my life one fror
which this proud Commonwealth will rcceiv
no detriment BY which the liberties unde
which we were born will be kept entire, an
transmitted nniH,paired to our posterity an
the heritage Of uur children will DO one O
honor, and not Of Shauir-0f freedom, and no
Of slavery.
Mr.. JoHN B. BALDWIN, of Augusta de-
sire TO say 4 few words. Unjust ackn0~leds
that I am surprised and disturbed to see In
course pursued here upon this floor by Mel
who, like myself, were elected as Union men
representing Union constituencies, and mci
who have, from the commencement OF the scs
sion Of this body, c0Tcurrcl with me in 0pin
ion and cn-opeIatcd with me i'll action il
shaping the policy that was to be pursued b.
this Convention. They have seen occasion Il
change their views in regard 10 n matter 0
policy. | do not object to this. They have
pcrfrct right to change their views; and
would be The last man to question The sinccri
Is 1T the change, or the patriotism OF the mo
tivcs by which they are actuatrd. Blu
what [ 10 complain OF is this, that theS'
gentlemen, who have thus changed their view:
and policy, without conference .. all viii
those who have concurred with Them during
the session; without opportunities Of cxchang.
ing views, come here into this bndy, and, unit
ing with those whom We nave been Opposed
to during the entire session, determine to pre-
vent 1uc and all the rest Of their associates il
opinion and action from having any Opportu
mty whatever to debate this now most iiipor
tant feature of The business Of This honv.
IL seems 10 me that It is as little rs wc cnulL
expect from these gentlemen, "h" have seen
Reason tn change their views, that They Shnr!d
come and in open debate give W. the ~lnf2rila
ton upon which thcy have acted, and the rca.
sans upon which they rrnpH:c to change their
opinions. and hear irom rs. rs, friends and assc-
cIa.rs, the REASONS wc have 10 assign for ON
course under these circumstances.
These gentlemen have tlnnyht with mr. nll
the lime that the trne plan was, that o. Bor
der Conference and ca operation with the slave
States .,"a remaining in the Union. They and
| together have ca operated earnestly and Cor
daily, rs Supprsrd, mp to within a few days
past, and pursued Il system OF that sort. They
have not Only abandoned that, but when ask
them to submit 10 rs one nf the alternatives
proposed to the people OF Virginia, and leave
The people to decide which is right, they lt-
fuse even 10 allow their constituents, who
lave directed them in their course pr 0.ni,c.
ration, up 70 within twn or three days past
tiirir associates Upnn ,his nnnr @hO have labo
united with them in scekin. To carry
out this pnlicy-thcy utterly refuse us any
part ia submitting this policy for the approval
Of the people, am! refuse tn let the ls.oplc
have an opportunity Of Undermining
policy.
Sir, think this is rs little us corili L.. COT
coded by these gentleman, to those whu were
united with them in The past, that they should
either ALLOW us IN opportunity Of fair and nprn
iebaLe in rcSar'! to this %r:ltt"r, Or allow ~; the
Of appealing Ia tin: people, whn
sent them here As Uninn mrn and r.,-op"ra.
I~iunints, 10 determine which is the tue policy,
the one ila; they have matirraI up to within
L day or two pa>I, nr the ono with which they
have recently b@H0Ino enamarGl.
| regard this as an exceedingly dark hour
in the history Of this State; ard one Of the
worst symptoms see in regard to it is. thn,
81 soon rs gentlemen who nave been cautious,
deliberate, prudent III counsel and action, con-
'rut 70 80 iJr secession. they seem L, rhgng.
he whsle character Of their mGtirc: and dis
and fran having before insisted cen.
SANITY rIpna Gclihcration ard investigation Ut
every Inirl, they stand firm around their
with thu mos; ra'i:iI 1T all the prrcipiia.
t"iS. itleS': gentlemen have. suddenly become
he must rab;d "i all, sir. There Seems To n.
'onIctiIlng IN The hour; there seems la be
iuinGtllhG III tic lever with which oar people
larc been seized ; there seems Ia be >nim,.linnr
Ii the cxcrtclncnt Yiich IIc:vadce The c0m,nr-
,ity, which rcnGr.s un inrr:c,S Of bci,, al.I:
u sec anythin. that can pnt "a stna or cnrrk |!
% the WAY, which | think urarniSes nothing
mt calamity and mischief. Eut it Seems 10
ne n sort Of ~fanatical excitement which | think
,ndeS nothing bat III To- The country SIR, it
had the time, I ;t.;rk I could >hnw ,i:al lie
scheme of ca Oprra,ina presented is thr criv
thn only ln[m that could b.: ni
cred To orr people Of avoiding in:lan;
nd Overwhelming .u;l Destructive civil war,
81. unIy hone whatever that is offered Ivy Dos.
ihiltr If r~s'ayin;: from utter and irrrtricVahIr
destruction; the only hnpa ~tia;r"sr Of Scrnring
,oacr; the only hore, whatever oFrcconstruct ng
he government; in connection with States whose
~ntrrcsts We arc bn"nd up IN a way that moth
NJ hut destruction AMI calamity 'ftt cGn fol.
Nv i:om severance en- impair. ronid show
!t' ~ VT ''N 1870 '''' ~ ~ ''tr ''''l' |
now that separate State secession is not NrlY
rar, but calamito|i war. civil war. s~rrviI"
var, aye, sir, \ %ar lrausht with Mi c"nceiva-
lie ami imaGinahic horrors Tor which wc
ave no preparation, ami which. If nnderias"n
l9w, ~e shall haTe TN nppartInlt.r hereafter
o prepare for.
BIT, sir. i: seems that VIC ere Il" be prrs"''li
o n vote n?on this proposition tonight. IL
GEMS to he determined that this act is to be
Tonight sir. All | can say le,
hat while l snail earnestly battle against II.
Shile shall earnestly 1eprccatc II.
hall offer no lacti1nS opposition to it can
say that, 81 far as #m concerned, in
lew Of the responsibility that owe Ia Goa
man, cannot "'ncur i'll the act which is
bout To- hc done.
Mr.. BENJAMIN WiLscS, of Harrishn.--' beg
'ardon nt Tins Convention wf'!r H>>'Gn tho
cason thai 'ndnred me to vote lhr 'nc prnp"-
ition OF the gentleman from f;iu4'iirr, tMr.
We all admit that war is now imminent,