Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-28
The Virginia State Convention.
ELEVENTH DAY.

which was agreed 70:
Resolved, That the Auditor of Public Ac.
counts be requested to furnish to the Conren-
! ton statement Showing the aggregate number
Of persons returned delinquent BY the ShcriGS
OF the different counties Of the Commonwealth
for the non-paymcnt Of taxes for the year 1860;
! also, the aggregate amount Of taxes with such
delinquent list"
Mr.. GoGGIS-I would enquire whether the
resolutions offered by the gentleman from
Rockbridgc (Mr MooRE) on yesterday, are the
first business in order to-day.
| The PREslDENT--The resolutions were, by
order oil the Convention, laid Oh the table, and
a motion TO take them up would now be in
order
Mr. GoGGlx Il would move then that thsy
| be now taken up.
| The motion WIS agreed to.
The resolutions having been read By the
! Secretary, the PRESIDENT announced that the
gentleman from Bedford, (AIr. GooDE) not hay
| ing concluded his remarks yesterday, was
entitled to the floor
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
Mr. GoopE Of Bediord-Mr. President: As
the reading Of the resolutions has been called
for, deem it proper to state that it was not my
purpose yesterday, to speak to the resolutions
but in reply to the speech OF the gentleman
from Rockbridgc (Mr MooRR.)
regret, Mr. President, that my physical con.
dition, this morning, is such tha: am wholly
unable to do Justice to the catiSc which am
endeavoring to represent upon this floor. re-
gret, also, that circumstances, beyond my con-
troll prevented me- yesterday, from concluding
the few remarks which intended to submit in
answer to the address Of the gentleman from
Rockbridge | have TO allusion to make to the
occurrences of yesterday farther than to give
expression to the hope that our fellow citizens
who occupy the galleries, will, in future, alb
stain from such demonstrations of applause
Sirs, it is solemn work in which We IRE HOW
engaged The action Of this Contention may
determine, and, doubtless, will determine, the
destinies of Virginia il; all time to cone. And
while it is natural, that the eagle eye, ofa people
Jealous Of their rights, aud trembling for their
| honor, should be rivctted snxious!y upon US
beg them 10 remember, in tn. language Of Nj
rabeau 10 the French ASSEMBLY, tha; "lha ST.
lerce OF people il o lessen 10 kings"
was proceeding on yesterday, Nj. presi-
dent, when interrupted, 10 inquire what Vir.
yinia ought to do i'll this the most trying and
perous hour OF her history. That, sir, is the
all absorbing question Of the hour 1t comes
home to the minds and hearts Of our people
and it mus. be answered by this ConTen;on.
We must answer it before God and our conn.
try. We must answer il plainly, fatty, pointed
ly, and unequivocally; if We fai! to answer it.
| we fail to meet the just expectations OF cur
constituents.
Sir, gentlemen may sing raans 10 the Union;
they may discourse eloquentiy upon the
halIoued glories, the historic memories nf the
Union; but the Union is already dissolvcd.--
The Union Of 1889 which our fathers formed;
| which we have heretofore cherished with such
| fund devotion, and that Which,, in the language
| of the Father Of his country, we have been
accustomed in days that are gore to look upon
as the palladium Of our liberties, safety and
prosyerlty-that Union is already numbered
with the things that were.
"Why stand We here, then. all the day,
idle?' Whittier will we go? What will Vir-
ginia do? Will SHE be true 10 herself ard her
historical rennwn? Will she nohly vudicate
her ancient illne? or is her Proud blood alto.
eether extinct, and are wc prepared 10 lower
her proud banner, and permit her 10 humble
/ her pride and pass under tine yoke Of Northern
abolition Whittier, then, will 60, sir
Will We 20 north, or will We 60 south! Will
we 20 to the house Of our enemy, or will wc
90 to the house Of our friends? Will Virginia
cast her lot with her southern sister States OF
the South or will she still hope on, hope ever,
hope against hope, trusting, in the meantime, to
the tender mercies of Mr. Abraham Lincoln
Sir know not Whist others may think; ]
know not what others may do; lot fer my
SELF feel sense Of the solemn reSponsib,li.
tics which now rest upon inc, and appealing 10
the Searcher Of hearts, as to the rectituts OF
nv purpose, have no hesitation in declaring,
that in my humble opinion, Virginia ought
now, promptly aud without delay, 10 take her
| position at the head Of the Southern column.
Sir, believe in my inmost soul that Inllne-
diate separation from the Northern Confrdcra-
cy is peace measure. II we are to believe
the organs Of Black Republican sentiment in The
North, the coercion Of the seeded States is 10
be attempted by the Lincoln administration.
The tone Of the Northern press, the dec.ara
.ons Of their representative men, the votes
and speeches Of their Senators ard Represen.
,ativcs in Congress, the action Of their State
Legislatures, the collection Of the Federal
troops at the Federal Metropolis, tie repeated
declarations of Mr.. Abraham Lincoln himself,
the organization and constant drilling OF North
ern Wide-Awakes, are sufficient in my jndg
ment to convince the most skcptlcal upon this
subject he may not attempt, sir, 10 narcb
his Federal myrmidun into seeded State, but
he will attempt to collect the Federal revenue,
and retake the. captured forts. VIII our
| Southern brethren submit 10 this Submit! !!
Why, sir,it isa SANDER upon their fair flme and
good name to entertain the idea ior ono scllta.
! ry moment You CIay talk about TouT alien
and sedition laws your stamp acts y'Gr tax
upon tea, and the most aoorninab!e tyranny
that ever cursed any people upon earth /; but
| | maintain that the most abhorront tyranny
upon earth would be 10 attempt 10 wiring
| tribute from the pockets o( an unwilling peu'
Pile
Sir, the union Of these States can never be
restored ty the power Of the Sword. 1t has
rested upon entirely different grounds IN Tue
past; it has rested upun public opinion, and
| been preserved in the hearts and affections Of
the people say then, that threats OF coer,
e!on can have no fears for freemen. The blood
Of the martyrs, in every age, has Eeen the seed
Of the Church; and il coercion is attempted,
the blood of slaughtered patriots would be like
the dragons teeth sown upon the earth, irom
! which would come forth heroes, full grown ana
armed, ready to spring into life and rush 10
| battle.
Then, sir, they wilI attempt, doubtless, the
coercion Of the seccdcd States; but they Will
never attempt to cocrce united South. lie
strong, sometimes, are tempted 20 make VA!
/ upon the weak; but the strong sit down and
reflect long and we'll before they make war
uron the strong. And, sir, wien old Virginia
niaces herself az the head Of this Southern COL
umn. the other border States will whee! quick
" into line, and then, and not till then, in my
humble Judgment, will the offensive and in
sulting threats of Northerh coercion &c uoan.
doned. Then, sir, and not anti then, will
'turim vsaged war smooth his wEinkled front
and all-again be peace-then may the Union
of our fathers be reconstructed upon la'r, jus.
i and honorable principles, and our country
! move forward once again upon1 brllllant ca