Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-07

inaugural address was received by telegraph,
and therefore he desired us to wait. The re.
port is here to-day, sir, in the regular course of
mail. The gentleman still desires to whit. He
is determined not to DO precipitated into any
hasty action. tLaughter.) Sir, we were told
by the gentleman, and those who co.onerate
with him, prior to the election of Abraham
Lincoln, that we must wait for the covert act. "
We were told by the gentleman, and those who
cooperate with him in this Convention assem-.
bled that We must wait and dance attendance
upon the so-called Peace Conference at Wash.
inGton. We were told by the gentleman when
that failed that we must wait upon Black
Republican Congress. And now, sir since
they have deliberately rejected the solemn de.
nands OF the State OF Virginia. which were put
forth as the final effort to restore the integrity
ofthe Union, the gentleman from Franklin comes
agslu With the Syren song wait"
And, sir. yesterday We were told by him -
The lightning has perhaps made blundcr
let us wait wait until We hear what the rar,
really has to say, wait until it is written down
in black and white" Well, sir, we waited.
The gentleman moved an adjournment yestc1-
day we voted an adjournment; we have
waited upon him; he has consulted his pillow,
And now, sir. We have heard from Mr. Lincoln,
and the gentleman from Franklin rises here,
and while he repudiates the doctrines con.
tanned in the inaugural, while he does not wish
to meet the crushing, overwhelming criticisms
which have been made upon it, although VIC
waited yesterday at his instance, and have
heard what Mr.. Lincoln had to Say, the gen.
tleman, contrary to all expectations, asks us
now TO wait. applause and laushter)
The PEESIpEHr.-lt may save the Chair the
| actual performance of very unpleasant duty
BY announcing now his firm determination t.
clear the galleries if there is a repetition q
! such conduct. The scenes Of the House o.
Representatives and Of the Senate Chamk err
| shall not be repeated here in this Convention
unless 1t takes irom me the power delegated to
me in the beginning.
Mr.. Goods resumed We have waited Mr.
President; we have deliberated, but the gentle
man from franklin asks us to wait now upoI
the committee OF twenty-one. Wait upon tn,
! committee Of twenty.one Why, sir, ",
have waited; We have been here twenty days
that committee have been in solemn sessio.
upon this question Of coercion; distinguished
gentleman, who is d member of the committee
informed the Convention ten day. ago that the,
had this very question under consideration
aud wonld be prepared to report in very few
days. Are we to wait any longer upon tina
committee Is this Convention to be shorl
of its strength and its power, and is the com
! mittee OF twenty-one to be the "pent up Utica
which confines all our powers? Is the CON,
mittee of swentyone to remain the slaughter
house and the burial place 0! all the resolution
| upon the question Of coercion, which have beeI
sent to them Tor their consideration?
Sir, tho patience OF the country is exhausted
The gentleman has referred to his own noun
tain home. can tell him, for his considera
tion that yesterday letters came to me trou
the mountains of Franklin, stating that hi
patience of ttlus people, his own constituents
was well nigh exhausted. And sir, say
take up the words Of the gallant and chivalrou
gentleman FROM Prince Edward, orr THORN
TON and repeat that the time has come TO
action, decisive, emphatic, earnest action
Now is the time 10 strike, or all may be lost.
Sir, the people OF this Commonwealth de
sire peace. They have desired peace. 1t il
the daily prayer of this people 10 Almighty
God that this hitherto favored country may b,
saved from all The untold horrors Of civil wal
and fraternal strife. This peace.loVing Com
monwealth, with an unselt1sh and disintereStet
patriotism worthy Of the pure and carly day.
of the Republic, hos thrown herself into the
breach, and with uplifted hands begged both
sections to stay the hand that would explode
the magazine and light cp the Eres Of civil
war.
How, sir, has she been met: the answer /:
contained in the inaugural address of Abra
ham Lincoln. He, the mere creature OF an
hour he, the mere servant Of the people; he,
with all the solemn responsibilities Of his oil
cia station, with his oath to support the Con
stitution just registered in Heaven, and still
fresh upon his soul-he tells you that coercion
is to be attempted; that this Union is still un
broken, that he will not recognize acts Of ST.
cession. that he will hold the forts and other
public places within the seeded States, ano
that he will collect the duties upon Imports
What does that mean. sir II there is ar
apologist Of Abraham Lincoln in thls
body-which will not admit-but, ii
there is one here. demand to know
! what does this mean It means war
war to the knife, and from the knife
to the hlt; war, cruel, bitter, unrelent
ing war upon our friends our kindred, and our
brethren OF the South. Will they submit
| Submit! Why sir, it is foul stain and a burn
ing shane upon their fair fame and good name
! to entertain that thought for single moment
| When it isatteWpted sir, when the programme
laid down in that inaugural is attempted-whc
believes that Jefferson Davis, the bright Salla
din of the South, and the President OF the Con
federated StateS-who believes that he vii
hesitate one moment TO march his proud leglons
upon the Capitol Of the Black Republicans al
Washington
lie will do it. he has said he would. lie has
said that if war must come, they should have
war in QUEENSLAND Jefferson Davis Is AT
earnest man-;hat the war should be carried
into Africa, that the battle should be fought
upon Northern soil. And, sir, | for one stand
here to-day, with all my heart, TO bid him God
speed. 1t would be my battle as well as ms, II
would be the battle of our wives and children
it would be battle for the very existence o
the Southern people; and hesitate not 10 de-
clare-I don't know whether it will strike
responsive chord in the hearts OF the members
of this Assembly or not-but hesitate not TO
declare that the Southern cause IN such
struggle would be entitled to the sustaining
prayers, the material aid and the operative
sympathy Of every man and woman IN the ianu'
uron the altar of whose heart the fires o! hner'
tv had not become entirely extinguishea.
Mr.. President, do not intend to detaln TINS
Convention, with a speech, for this is sime 'or
action; but want to say few more words
shake hands With tie gentleman from Halt
fax that this is a peace measure. Ana why
DO say it? Sir, he is an inattentive observer
nj the Signs Of the times, who does not see anu
know, that the people ofVirginia are determin'
ed to resist coercion To the death. And, s,r'
the first attempt that is made to carry out the
doctrines Of Abraham Lincoln, will light up
this land with the flames Of civil war, aud
raise Storm Of fiery Indignation throughout
Sir, the heavy tramp Of her citizen soldiery
would be heard from the aboard to the noun,
tains, the ca.rp fires would blaze brightly upon
every hilltop, and the notes CT martial music
would be heard in every valley; her brave vo-
luntccrs, her citizen. soldicry, the prop OF the
-.....u III. The Anrer If her Youth, Mould