Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-30
SPEECH OF ". L.. GoscIN, ESQ.

and Of our public affairs everywhere, shows
that we have not Let mo ask, then, are re
10 continue ia n Union which cannot do this J.?
or, is il q Union at all? Let me ask, have We
q Ua;on that can enforce its laws? have al
ready referred to the fugitive slave law, and I
suppose there is not a man upon this floor who
would contend that we have q Government that
has the power to enforce that law. or, il it had
the power. that does enforce it, with personal
liberty bills in the States to resist it admit
that we have such a law in existence, but, YET,
such is the force Of the popular sentiment, the
public opinion at the North, that the Law IS q
dead letter upon the statute book. l ask you
If you rant to be part aud parcel OF such a
Government us that?
Mr.. CARLlLE, Of ltarrison.-W the gentle
man allow me to ask him a question
Mr. G3GGly-I am not much in tho baoit OF
being catcchised in delibera;ire bodies, out the
gentleman may proceed.
Mr. CAKunE-I understand the gentleman
from Bedford to say that the fugitive save
law is a dead letter, and canno! be enforced
merely wish to csil the attention OF the gen.
tlamen 10 Mr.. Buciauan's last message to Con.
rress. where ne says that he has enforced It in
every Instance that occurred during his admin
i~stra;ion.
Mr., GocGIX.-Perhaps the gentleman from
Harrison does not know that l occupy 4 posi-
ZION on this floor Of not being a defender OF
Mc. Buchanan. There are many things, permit
ME 10 say to the gentleman frcm Harrison, that
Mr.. Buchanan has said to which | co not give
nv ass chi. think Mr.. Buchanan is reported
to lave said, on one occasion, that ii he had q
drop of Democratic blood in his veins he would
lie, it out; bat some gentlemen thought he had
much of ;t-too mGch for them. | think he
said many inconsistent things, for which do
not stand here to defend him The law may
have been executed in SON Instances, but
State interposition and mobs have rendered it
wholly imperative in others.
But sir, I was proceeding to speak OF the
Fugitive Slave law, when interrupted by the
gentleman from Harrison, to whom | respond
ed with checrfulneSs; for however no may dill
fer from me in opinion, l will 90 him the
Justice to say that in whatever part he has
taken in the discussion in this Convention, he
has borne himself with = courtesy Of deport'
men: that becomes a member 0! such d body
as this.
And here, sir, | take occasion to say, that |
have been 4 member, not only OF deiiberatlVe
bodies under the laws and the Constitution
elsewhere, but OF many other bodies, assem-
bled merely by private citizens, and that never
before. in my humble career, and believe
never before in the history Of this country,
within the recollection Of any man upon this
floor, has there ever assembled 8 body OF men
more Justly entitled to all respect than that
which now constitutes the Convention repre-
ecn,ing the Sovereignty Of the people OF Fir-
GINA. | feel a pleasure, sir, in bearing test:mo.
NJ 10 fact which must nave Impressed every
member Of it, who is a man Of any habits OF
observation st all, that a feeling of kindness,
courtesy, politcneSs, and gentlemanly deport.
ment has characterized a" those around me,
and who, for so great a length Of time, have
been in this body, engaged daily in the discus
sion OF the most exciting subjects. There are
other influences, sometimes, which manifest
themselves in such aSsemblages as this, (espe.
cially after dinner,) which am happy TO say
no one has tvur exhibited here. And, Sir, L
feel, whatever may be the fate Of this State,
or of the Union-wha:eyer may be the action
Of this Convention, that there is not 8 Man in
1t who will not feel at least some degree of
satisfaction, hereafter. that his name was con
nec.ed With it in its deliberations and il the
history OF the private character of all who
COMPOSE il coald be written, | believe i: would
caEp,re iavoIatiy with the history of the pr
Tstc Cild. dClSI VI my tduai uHc 1870
who have ever assembled within the borders CT
this Commonwealth.
But, sir, | was proceeding to remark upon
the powers Of the government 10 enforce its
laws: and | now leave the fugitive slave law.
Caa it execute its laws in relation to the post
office derarllaent? It does not do so; for it
vas but the o:her day I saw that, even in my
cen section of the State, there waS IN intima-
,ioa given to one OF Mt. Lincoln's officials Of
:hs mail service, that he should not be permit.
scd to. come into that quarter al all, in order to
perform his duties as an agent upon one OF
The nail routes in the State. This nay be
wrong to tie parties-wrong toward us but
YOU See mere is u government inefficient IN this
respect Csn il protect its flag, aud does that
aag protect the people Of the States who look
to Vt as the beacon light Of the nationf Let
scenes which have been witnessed where that
Ia, which belongs 10 American treemen, has
been hauled down and made 10 trail in the
dust by those who oppose the operations OF the
government, answer The enquiry.
Bur, Mr.. Chairman, above all things, have
we G Government now, constituted as this now
is, that has punished, or does punish its own
cnrrur;ioEs: Why, sir, we had 1t from some
Of the mos; distinguished men in Virginia, last
fail. during the campaign OF 1869, that the
Fedclal Government was the most corrupt
Government upon the face Of the cartn; anu
sc: tho gentlemen It'll Us that Virginia ought
sal. - Ivluain u part Of that Government thus
ra::uted. Does it contribute 10 the genera!
weir.-e in its operations: 1t is organized up.
on Il sectional platform. and most nearly all OF
the benefits TO De derived from it are, BY tbs
existing state Of ~affl;Ts, secured TO the people
.: that particular section. The people Of the
Safe of Virginia are virtually excluded from
its Leneits. at least 70 4 very gTea; extent.
Tc:. sir. tlat they do not appoint men to Office
j, E,rgiaia, and even in Alabama, who claim
Z, be nlt u the U.liun, and even in all tho Sc
ce!c,: States, but the very ct-s | do not
sd,r,. it should bc so-but the very fact that
one has accepted an office under the present
standardization, is Of itself, in the estimation OF
some sufficient To render him unit 70 be thc
assoc,a:e rf others. | do not cay that it should
b. so, because men take Office under Mr.. Lin
coin even in The State of Virginia, for | am
sarc | know none Of the uumber who are not
l..c,! who bear q high and honorable character.
While we arc in the Union, the Offices should
be filled, n We enjoy the benefits, a1a filled, IN.
Deed, BY the hes, men. And hare, Mr.. Chairman,
les, forget il, as l desire to advert to it, l wish
&c sG% tbs: [ have upon this hoo- q very hear
frie"d, one win whom l have gone along in.,be
way Of lie, upon many pleasant OCCASIONS; one
whom I have known in the social circle aud IN
lie councils Of the country; one whom
have known q, his own haspitable 6rcside;
one whom I nave known but to love for
MS virtues. MS patriotism and his whole chsr'
Ac:er. | do not know that he is within the
sound of my voice. I wish, therefore, to say
that l saw it animated, from certain quarters,
thai, when he was in Washington, where he
had oecn sent BY his State on q mission OF
peace. when he vas cndeavoring honestly,
have no doubt, to discharge the duty assigned
h;". ID &c we're men who could ins!nuate,
though .i,.y would not charge. that he would
DO iahavneei in his course by a desire to
receive 3 Cabinet appointment which would DC