Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-12
, ssa,, va 4 ese.,; eeiE.;i, ktksssfy s~!!.ssts..ski .s.ssas!::
Epesi, st.p!ss, ~Esthe:ln, sassins. X, II. Turner s.i. ~,
nor. Tyler, Waller, Wios!lSpi. aiIlszar. wilson, Nascs Aae

Wysat.
So tho amepdrcnt was rejected.
The question then required upon the Aoop
ton Of the ordinance offered by Mr.. SHEFFEl.
Mr.. BALDWIN, of Augusta 1t seems 10 me
sir, that tho subjects before this convention ar
of too vast importance to be dealt VITA 10 III
very brief and haSty way That 'hey arc oCa'
with here. | don't propose to So into any aus
cushion on the question OF the power OF ,h!'
Convention 10 make &c arrangement. VI I'LL:
SORT. T think | entered INTO : stipulation SOM
davs hack in this Convention not TO debate II
this bodv any more questions as to its powers;
7 doom il to be but Just tc myself 10 say, thai
T have no IDEA at all that this Convenria': has
any power to make SUCH al agreement - pro
posed BY this paper. | understand that al
though we have revolusion;zcd t!.e government
of the United States, and separated ourselves
from that government and the o!he: States
composing it, that we have not as yei undeEia'
ken to revolutionizc the State government bn'
I take it that every member .: 1EE; bnGy VII
recognize the l.ce that We are assembled hsii
under the Constitution Of the State, subject u
the Constitution Of the Sta!a in u! oGr ;icL:otis
having the power to change the Constitution
it is true, when the changes we make arc rati
lied by the people Of the Stste-Su: :iarir6 nc
other power to change tins Constitltloh q
Virginia. have never understood that fh!S
Convention had, as yet, come to !~T1it;'i"H'zs
the State Government. 1t il true that wc haze,
in a number Of Instances, assumed, under lac
pressure Of the circumstances oT "!iica We
have been surrounded, 20 exercise po@Gr when
could not ne justified by 4 fair construction o.
the Constitution Of the State, Gid Uliicl c"'iiu
only be excused by the press oi tho siacFgen-
cy but we never have undertaken yes ~ u.
as far Us is undertaken Is ,n;s agreement. l
take it, sir, that tie authority c; iii;s L2::faa'
ton is plaialy limited, SO .:is: We shSi' ';oI
change tine relations between lh'S siSir enc
the General government e Inc tnite'; 3-a;@!
without the assent Of The pcapso ii the STATE
and | afe it that We navc nn ri b: any Nor:
70 enter into ucw go",Tno:en:si c1n"e:i!on:
with aaothc: Government ~~:tf1:u' 8 Ike cor
sent Of tie people; and i we had the p3Sy;
50 fer AZ I am concerned, ] wc.!i hot be wiz!
ing to exercise it, brcaus. j: 80 r''alai? e;,scis
the rights of the people ":i;;icGt consuming
them at the polls.
But. sir, I don't p!opose 81 discuss thai
question ut Ill. ] merely Wis! ~ STAKE ny
o,wn opinion and besicI iii@s ;!.s cG""ea:ic&
has no power wiia;essr IL GO any ore G 4
number Of things that are proposed in I'm
paper.
la the first placa, 40 have 10 authority, -
was stated by the gentleman ifH!a r'rit;!cH
20 supercsde The Executive functions 81 II;
Governor OF Ibis State. II t!:c Gc&t place, w'
have no authority whatever 10 un1aT!ah. i'
place our people under ;i!e military control a
any foreign potentsta wti";a:"T, c".1 "ite t!t
Governors consent. The G@Te:ncT 'n.n;sli aaG
ul the authorities Of IL. o:aio i:sTa rn r'S'!'
10 demand OF our peosle ifs2 they shat gave
s.prea,a obedience 70 ;nc.!:2r &19c'H'!&aI-
II is true that under iGC treaty l~iatkiaS powc!
20 an independent save! s'%fiig: - Es:rE . right
to contribute cur forces ,"a c)lliGG';. "ii:nS."t
and defensive alliance: bar oar government
has not q right to depart will: tile ;DT3r oI
governing our " pc':;:ic. IL i not merely
q power ana e right. bu. gpTe:!imens laa dG'y
as well, End "uE g3Te':;ui=!:t hlS M :is't 10
depart irnul the duty CT governing every clti'
zen of the Commensurate, according 70 Tie
Constitution und laws TT Virginia; ard We
assume p fearful responsibility when SIC uaGcT-
take to say that oil the military strengthen tnis
Commonwealth, by which W ,usan inst ;he
life. the blood, tho muscle, the spirit, she Ell
ETkf Ol SVSll N.S ar l'S
be transferred aaG made subject 20 &c Supreme
control Of q foreign p3"oT. We anu'"l.sr =
fearful responsibility; aud, - i, se"uis - me.
wo undertake {" it: 50 & :;iSn duly ""sn we
abandon the gare:nme;t c! L.: people .! lass
State and the protection Of their rights.
So far as I an corcsrned, am not willing 10
do that. l sn perfectly willing, and Think It
desirable on every ground Whichever, that us {
sovereign, independent State, III peril Ola great
conflict lust st hand, We should have the al.
lance of other sovereign States III = like s:,aa.
ton witr ourselves, Of Ike Interests and ike
srmpathies. Bur, sir, tho worlds history is
full to overlooking % instances Of alliances ne.
tween sovereign S.a;Cs !cG offensive sEc G"fen
siye warfare, withru: either enc undertaking
to place its eal:rc military force and all Ii.
under tho supreme control of the @oT.
eminent Of the "tnsI. l can see 10 rtaSon, S!E.
Why, in the exercise OF THE treaty
power, the State c; Virginia or the
one part and the Confederate States upon the
other, may not agree - tho terms Hg1H winch.
as EQUALS, as CO. equal sorereign.ie&, the? snail
wage O COMMON war frT 6 comHion cause. !
have never heard OF 81 !a:stancc--l reaIiire 10
say there IS no instance in the history .: ;nc
W OIIU-h q ~ CIV y ~ N-~kS|, $50 t""N'
governing the people OF the one is 70 be sur.
rendered over to the ccntro! Of tic other
How was it with England End France III the
Crimean way? They co.cperated together,
and / suppose that the terms ct tlia; CO opera
ton were agreed upoH between them, and car
ried out according 70 the GERMS Of the csrTen'
ton. Who ever heard that Inc people 81 Eng
land agreed that the Empire of France shou!i
have the supreme control ard direction. ~arc6-:i'
ing 70 the laws Of France, &! the whole military
Of England? Or rice ve1sa, that tae people ot
France agreed that England should nave the
control and direction. according - ne
laws of England. of the whole military 5cwcr
of France2
Sir, it seems % me that this il q matter IT,
necessary, wholly UNNECESSARY. u liza. DC
said-and I have 20 doubt shat ihsr is the
chief consideration in This ;hs;;cT--:aai :ha
Confederate States undertake 20 hcar ;ne
whole burden Of this conflict. That certainly
is a very important affair. Bat ii lA*y be1r
the expenses Of the var. and We become 2
part of the Confederate States, &c will hare
to bear, after all, - very iagse portion Of the
expenses. But il Seems TO ns that there
is no necessity az al! Tor this course. il m+re
pcCHlildIi d.it NiiS - SsiIS vi Jus
tify this Convention, csEnor Justify this gn~-
eraraens in parting with 3 responsibility ~hich
God Almighty has placed, undcr these circu'n.
stances, in their baads-the responsibility Of
guiding ana governing the des';'ries CT The
people of this Commonwealth. Ion may iaik
about resisting civil power, but. n Migrant
war, he who has the uarestrsined military c1n.
troll of the land md na"al fn-ccs-:ot only 81
those called into the field, bur The ?orer to
call as many more as they want--wieias {"
which i: is 8&in TO attempt resisting.
want 10 know from the committee vElc-
Their Virginia has any more discretion in This
matter.
Mr.. HcicoMsE.-iha: provision 10 which
TIE gentleman refers. making She President OF
the Confederate States the Commander IN.
Chief Of the military AMI :hs nagai i]1ces, is y
provision that will last only for Jour oT i've
days. 1t will lest only unit! &c :" i"t" tha
Provisional Government, or anti; o." owa E:-
plication to go int .nrt Government is gTau:.