Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-24
that IS in order. Taat is nircady before {;

NJ. HAR7IE-I 60 trust, sir, that feel g
much 1T heart the Interests Of this Conrcn'io,
as any member ia it. Ii i; can be S:!a~n !:
NE that that interest would bo promoted b
| keeping secret cur acts here snd Tic rehccr
! for them, | would be the las: man to lear th
yeil from ,hess ac!s. bI: | vcriiy bciie"e tbs
| tie interests Of tus Commonwealth, ard u ih'
| Confederate States, winch &c have me. hey,
to sucservc ulsks i: !:Dportht. auu necessary
,hnt the sea: of secresT sacald 5e TeUovsl iro'i
I'll :hat .1s ;7aGspired 4eIr.
/ think it is cur Gu,y 10 lie: The people kro'
whg. have d3ae iicra, aud tie reaso:.s ":4!cf
icEusnc-d H.. - every nci;on we have i2kCn
:nlE can ouly 5e Gyiic by publishing ine q:
oaigE. fu. otherwise UNIV urtnS CT .UFTtEt'
.uoliFes may D3 attributed 10 gen.scHsn iu'
their UpposiI.ca ~ sont !E:asuies which nG:e
bsen aGu2ttG here. il seeaIs 20 n!e ,La: vc'v.s
ths people Yu;e upon his o.iiiua.ca { fseceSs3u
;he7 should Ka5w VIZ II =Sss s:;a .:vw I saa
thst j! vas adopted They should isn: n:
arguments icr and sss!Gs. rs anoE:."i', 6:
shat hey may Vote uultrsia: dle e!y up2C Inc
question, an,; approve Or coadecic or Course
here. ! want them % ,iro" iio~ it %.s, that
sf,cr this orduacce Was adopted, so;ss inc
YiduHls ieiI for tbeie aomtS, .es'!Ig lho Co"-
yentl5n Eltt. as.1 GuGrnpl. aau 'G"h 'ep3r'
dz1g Tie public Interest q: q ;IEjs ;iir rl''s;
10 wportaut IN tue history ii i'rg;na. *snt,
when % homo 10 IL? p-0ple, 10 lave the
means Ci defending myself iroI any canrge
the: msy to mada agalns: nc lo: ny caurac
here, rnG that lDCaos consists IN ;he puo!ica-
sion Of e!! that ha: traasp!fed, Inc!uc!nz !he
debates, which contain lha reason that ii.a4.
enced icy votes. ! vii! be unable 20 make
sry jus: Tindica.ion Of lily c0iTa1 iheEe, u"lcsa
thu Injunction 0! secrcsy is removed !rci1 Al.
lhst did here saG a.. iha! SAID. Taerc vas
general d;sI;E iac,ioa n tic Southern S.atts
tnat n=!d secre. cunTentioGs because OF The
suppression ol .he proceedings. AID, for my
part, l em unwilling TO 50 elch 10 my con-
stituen:s perfectly gagge6; for such, III ,iac',
would te M Condition, If The prccst dogs
should bc published upaccoEnpsnSd Titn tie
debates upon THESE proceedings. Fill not
60 back, if possible, uzder III, Sc circumstances s.
csrtairiy not wi,hou. having the privilege ci
communicating freely and without Tesiralnt
with ny people, unless you put me ii 4 nes .'on
to involve my personal honor You hRve no
right to plscs me in that position; nEd yeu
shall not do 1t II can help il.
Nov, give you notice that nothing that
you can do can close M lips, if bnd, ufon
q resies Of my position, that it IS ID rs power
to open them in reference 10 Inat hiss lrans'
pired here cous into this conc!aTe WITH
the understanding that before you adjourned
you would remoTe this seal OF sec!esy.
You told these gentlemen who have LETT
that the Injunction wculd be removed ID time
for them 10 meet their constituents.
ci7e notice here that there is not power
IN this Conreatoa or Commonwealth that
can cause my lips 10 be Closed, il ] Gnd that
YOU yio.G!s wA4. understood TO nc IEc ell
r.gemcnt when agreed 10 put Tho seal oi
sec;esy on ny lips.
Mr. MoR1oS.-l have ::staaed to lccsuarks
oi my FREED lrom Loaisa, tNr aNsLfR,) ana
uy iricrd iiou: Amelia Mr.. HARvIs) wita
unieigped regret. l presume that ;hey viii
allow me tee credit oI beng csccsaioa!st a.
soon, us Ta.m end Us cTceEt IS either q
them.
Mr. HARyis-Is is net os secess!or:s. TN!
make Ills appeal. /. is as representative
Of tho people o. Virginia In:t maize it,
MIR Noa:os-I understood the gca;isnsn
as saving thar during tho session @! BIS Con
7crtlon, iDey were in minority. We FeTe
oriainallg N 4 minority BIZ: the progress o.
e7si;,s Lave placed us iu n.psH pal c-i-'
r sDd ,nose Th0 hare co,as III eTen 3s 10"
las, nnur, I cona.GSr co .vrs ?3ic!'-;. and c.
Gallant mon as any in the Con:nor TeJ.iA.
As regards the tfT&o, oi teari:g a=ay ;hc
veil Of searesy from every 'mPEaitns '&?f's
sion and declaration wu,cE has been made
here, mn satiztied il would operate IS an hi'-
pic Of ,i.scord thrown nnorg on" n1ori"-
" hon We have IN enemy TO cantrad rgl!"s',
we should stand up as cCe ma3, win oNe
beart ard arm t4 RESIST TIA. enemy. Inns Is
NO time 70: dIssens!on and disagreement. !.
ia @ ,ire for united action, and Il she gant'7
man vii! exercise the cendor q. Els nature, ne
vii! sckroH ledge lha! iacrc have been man;
spaechcs made here ,ha! |tud be prodoct:Te
Of injury if published, and that would icaa to
discussion in the Com u3nwealsh
I have made use OF expressions mere Which,
although so lar Is arl cnnccraea indiVidls.-
II, world bo perfectly wiling thai every
ia IN the ConuiGn wealth should know, ior
| have independence cng1Sh TO attsr aud avo'T
them, and have orlderca enough in my con-
..iuan,s 70 SAY, thai il the main my ccaduct
will be approved oy them, however much
,beg might censu-s a. individual! acr-yet
wn!e would be thus willing 10 EaTc all dic
SO known, So far US it could sf1ect nyEeis !
think frcm public motlyes, il would DC pru
den, to suppress all that did Gag, !or the
prt tsent ut least The publication Of many
things that trsnspired here, would in ny op;a.
ion bc yerT Injurious to the public interest.
snd be productive CT much evil. To rerea!
the condition Of this Commonwealth, not
merely bv documents submitted here from
time 10 time, but by the elaborate discussions
which heTe arisen upon them, wouiG be IN the
last degree uanise aud impolitic, aaa ] trust
it will not be done.
The gentleman from Amelia Or. HART!E) tells
Us Of the complaints and dissatisfaction that ex'
lists in the Southern States because Of tie pro
ceediugs Of their Conventions being kcp,
secret. Has the gentleman beer there TO know
what are the sentiments OF these pe0plaf The
wisdom OF that sc!, sir, is shc%a IN The result
The seeded States sro uaaniinoua IS one man
in sustaining The government which they have
established. II the seal o! secresy had been
removed from ali The diversity Of opinion, sni
all The disscnsicns that may have taken place
in these bodies, and these diverSites OF opinion
ard dissenSions published to the world, instead
of there being unity OF action among the Peo
pie, there would have been division aud dis
cord
We should follow that good example, ane
avoid publication, nj this time, which "ou's
produce inevitable injury. So tar as the qaes
tion Of secresy is concerned, j! he's operated
we'll for us. and would trust in God tina
when we leave this Hall We will forge. Eii partj
divisions and all parry discussions which har'
sprung up in this body; that We VII! &c foFtl
as hard of brothers TO unite and not &c dl
vide our people, and that We shall endeavo- Il
array every man, woman and child in suslsiu
ing the action OF this Convention.
ar. BLAzET.-f bez leavo to ofsr at omcnt
ment to the amendment:
.ReEolred. That the seal of secrcsy be re
moved from all the debates aud proceedings {
; this Convention, except such rs appertaln t
| military matters; and that i1 be referred t
Messrs. MAcFARLASD, JoHHsoS ard RASDoLP
10 determine what part Of the prcc, edings