Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-18

very foundation Of Republican Governments,
thai the action "t the representatives Of the ppo
Pie should be known II enters into the vrr5
dcihition Of Republican form Of Cavern
nient. II is arbitrary power aiouo which
thrircs by secrecy. II is arbitrary power only
which desires to obtain advantage through
ignorance or surprise, by encircling It's proceed
nss ~i!h mystery, secuAins all investigation
and enquiry. Ali will probably admit that we
have plsSe1 .ha. step in which we we're likely
TO suff,r by In:king public the character o
our deliberations. We have taken cur posi-
ton. Tint position is in entire harmony with
the public sentimcut--aTd there is no reason
tu believe that our cnuncilS will be distracted
or the cnds Of legislation ntc, lered with. 10y
permitting thu. public, from day to day, to sii
injndsment upon them. trust, therefore
that this body will learn to rcturu to lis aLcieti
habitS and to hold It's sessions openly, aad
that lhr public will have perfect frerdjn TO re
muk upon and critic>e its proceedings. a.
iur myself. | exec. TO hr bent Il ed and er-
lshtened by public criticism. Sir, we firo,
unit, in sentiment. upon the must imrnrian,
question that ever occupied III, attention o:
ru- State.
Heretofore We have been liable TO betrayal
By tho i"1nence> which operate upon bodies
ct this character; Gu!. hereafter, We may boat
guard against the danger Of hriEg ;huS misi.d
by calling IL our aSSi,tancc That most essential
power winch is 10 DC found il Tie great publc
"utside OF this ilAil "a pubic who know now
how To critici$c our lrsi>a!I0n-tu c,rrcct our
crroIs-aud who will throw around us the
shield ui Protection against traitors. Why,
therefore, should we object TO give ourSell es
the benefit ef criticism, iruu such Il sou,ca al
time WHEN 10 possible hsrm can result f,om
The publicity. trust it will Le tic pleasure
of this body IN sit with open doors, and that il
will also be wiling 10 submit 10 any drawback,
Tor the sake Of the great b.n,ii likely 10 result
frcn an open session. In these remarks. while
expressing my hearty concurrence in tie prn.
position u satisfy l. general iisirc, ! desire 10
be understood as letuining the privilege of re-
uriug into secrecy whichever the pu',lic safety
may demand i; bat it IS tie public safety Only
which can justify Us in excluding the public
from Knowledge Uf our deliberations. Cudrr
ordinary circumstances tie dissemination OF
this Information is calculated 10 lmpar, conf.
dence; but there are times, when Tie publca.
ton ot the discussions, which fake place here,
would produce more harm than guni. Sucii
an occasion has Just passed, and, whenever Il
similar one again occurs, shall be among the
first 10 inst upon the Importance Of going ntu
secret session.
Mr.. GoGGIN.-lt is a matter Of very little
Importance IL me, as far as | ain individually
concerned, whether the proceedings uf this
Convention, whatever u,ay Ge tie duration Gi
It's session, ale held IN secret Or openly. | alt.
perfectly Indifferent Oh that point, and | Do
not rise here Tor the purpose Gf discussing lI.u
question 1T all. IL is time that some action
should DC taken upon resolution which
luld In my hand an'i il is my purposr,at pro.
per tnuruenl, though indicate i; now, TO GIL.
iur the previous question.
We bavc COME here under ci7c,irn-
Stances That will not justify our remain.
lGg to deliberate upjn grave questions in re-
gTd 10 the amendment ~ the Safe CvIiStilu
lun Not only here, bat in every part Of tiic
Commonwealth. We are occupied with sub.
ject Ut the gHeat anpurlunce-pcrhaps aS
Important as the IirStlon whether tho TagiS.
tracy snail be eIec,rd by ;le i'ropl,; whether
we shuli rc!urn u The Old Constitution of
1928, or whether We shall amend ahd retain
our present Constitution, So ina, 1t may be as
it was heiore those who have iampercd viii it,
presrl!t state Of degratat."n. ~ l,c i,:nEIT
tine and under O.htr circumstances, shall Ce
as prompt rs any other geiIti Hall III tnIS as.
senb!y TO cuter upon the task ol u,akng such
alterations in that instruucu! ~ | briIevr to
bs Necessary ~ the Interest, welfare and pros
prrity Of this grra: people and this Curious
Commonwealth. Gul at present We stiould te
occupied by orncr suI:j cts. It IS my d,i.btr.
ate opinion, and | uwii it here and nov, lha;
the present session Of this Convention ought
not to last longer than This week. What
have we to DO: do not suppose there VII
be a d ference OF opinion BETWEEN gentlemen
as regards the adoption oil The Constitution
Of the Confederate States. The only subject
thai mains, is TINS one Of a:nc'.dirs the State
Constitution. am aware that, before the asi-
iurnnient OF the last session, VT appointed a
commiltee to take into consideration the vari-
Gus su! j=cts that should cnuc up here for &C.
ton now; but that committee viii probably
not report during the present session. lu1ecd,
The minds vi the members nf This Convention
are not ia condition to deliberate upon suct!
themes. Many Of tie gentlemen have places
in the f:ld-SuIne Of those around NE, ard MY
u~n colleague being among the nnmher-and
ut this critical period III the history Of our
State they ought no. TO he restricted in their
actions or detained here to discuss guestiOhS ul
Stale policy involved i'll am, n1men;s 10 the
Constitution. These are questions which will
more properly come up at some other time ;
unr!l which hope they may be post Iponed.-
The resolution have to oiflr-aHd | trust
that when it comes up for Gc!ion i; will &C.
crive the unanimous sanction ui the Conycn'
ticn-reads as follows:
Ie>1lred, That the main ccts for which
this Convention assembled having been already
accomplished, and there being no~ no pressing
necessity for the continuance Of its session
beyond lev days; therefore, when this Con.
ven;on arj,urns On Wednesday Ecxt, it ad.
juurn Sins die.
Other gentlemen say thar we should rcas-
sembie here in the Fall Giun'i !hirk that we
should adjourn 10 meet again at all; but if gen.
llcnen think otherwise, shall be ready 10 vula
upon any amendment. to The Constitution which
NAV be proposed. IC seems to me that our
time might be more probably employed else
where. either in the tented !ield Or in the pur-
suit of agriculture. ,!o not say that il il my
purpose To 90 into the field Of battle, where
others have gpnc-ms c'lleayuc annrg tic
nu,uber-xiteI the adjournment OI this CUnTen-
llnn- IlhNebuA ~ pc y ""''S
my colleague il. lighting the enemy. desire
to 20 home and take care of that crop which
is 1.cressary to feed cur armies in the field,
md make provision for the CONTINUANCE Of this
war-if it III 10 continue; Tor, in the present
condition Of things. no man can see where II
will end. say ,hst the saving of the crops
now is q duty second in Importance TO none
other that can be perl"r1nch and We should
see that nothing should inl'ilrre with it. u
is II period Of the year, when all men enragc'i
in agricultural pursuits should 0e at home TO
attend TO their crops, upcn which NC n'lst
RELY to maintain our armies iIi the held,
now ell the previous question.
The call was not sustained.
Mr.. MAcsaKLAND.-lt may not be remember,
cd that, mt tho close Of the late Session ii the
Convention, there was u Committee appointed
to decide upon the aroprirty Of publishing Ger
tuip nar,s of our journal. That CoiumitleG