Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-11
wa. sustained and the vote being taken on the adoption


OF the amendment Ii r. scted.
Mr. WATT asked leave to amend the Let section BY
adding land be 1t further provided, that the said con-
ventop which shall assemble the day mentioned, in
the above section shall make or pass any ordinance au
thorzng and directing the withdrawal OF the State from
the Conederacy or authorizing directing her
ton with any State in the Union shall be submitted TO
the legazed voters Of the Commonwealth for their ra
cation and approval
Mr. WATT said il was due the people that the amend.
ment should be placed 10 the bill He did not mean by
offering it, 10 instruct the Convention what to do but If
we have right call a convention, have the right
to say that It's proceedings or any ordinances affecting
the Commonwealth shall be submitted to the people
This is not convention called TO consider the a.
nanca and commercial policy of the State, but to pom
der questions more momentous than have ever been
acted upon since the days Of the Revolution You say
we have not time On Monday, when the anti-coercion
resolution was brought back from the committee TO
whom it was referred, asked little time that might
have an opportunity 70 examine It. That opposition was
voted down then voted against the resolution SIM
DIV because did not know what was voting upon
For that was charged with being tainted with Black
Republcanism Sir came here to discharge my duty,
and do not think it right, when and those who think
with me- came here to attain the end that you are
seeking that we should be thus characterized II those
resolutions are to construed denying the right OF
the Government enforce the laws in the face OF all
the circumstances that surround should have voted
against them We told that the convention must &C,
see no necessity for such haste II the North is willing
to accede to all demands why not remain in the
Unionp He wished all action upon such grave ques-
tons to go to the people, and hoped his amendment
would he adopted.
Mr.. KEMPER wanted to come to an understanding in
regard to the bill How long shall the patience Of the
State endure delay. Are to have Convention or
not? What is Conventions In power Democratic, IL
an assemblage who speak for the people, just they
would speak for themselves in propria persona. The
Uy.ssl thafa uonftnn
shacked hobbled ana incapable Of acting in the last
resort and what was remarkable that the Assem-
bly, should put those shackles upon them. W. are we!
We are body elected abide by the limitations OF the
Constitution Federal and State-a temporary body, the
breath the nosts Of the people To adop' the amend
ment is in principle wrong but in policy worse.
Mr. FOREMAN thought it well to look around and see
whittier we are drifting We in the midst of revou
tion and yet gentlemen talk as II matters OF the most
importance demanded the least consideration Why this
haste, Why we to be driven into voting on pro-
position Of this magnitude without due consideration!
This Convention represents sovereignty They may create
new form Of government-do anything they zee hit
and are be precpitated into this thing because
gentlemen say dangr aheads What Is the propositions
It is not assembling Of legislative body to pass
laws under the Constitution, but 1T is Convention OF
the people TO adopt such measures as they see h lie
earnestly advocated the adoption OF Mr.. Watts proposed
amendment, aud cited the instances Of lS29-SO and
1890 pecedents for submitting the action OF the
Convention to the people.
Mr. CAPERT0N opposed the amendment. The men,
bers OF Convention had powers delegated them from
the people, and could act finally
Mr. MCKINNlE advocated the adoption OF the amend
ment. The people sovereign and he as the repre-
sentative of nearly 5000 people was not willing 10 yield
such principle to any l40 men under heaven.
Mr. SMITH, of Kanawha also advocated the amend.
ment, in orcible speech.
Further debate on the Convention bill was postponed
70 allow the reading of report from the select COM
mittee Mr. Robertson, the chairman, presented the fol-
lowing series OF resolutions as the result OF the deoera
tons OF the committee
l. Reo'sed Jy he General Assembly Of Virginia. That In
view Of the imminent Of ivl this Assembly IN be-
hand President Of the United es and the 9th Of
the authorities 4 Of the southern States to The end that
anIcse response hereto the
embS OF Virginia session, and that the status qgo Of all
ling occasion lton, and concerning the
Of the nation either hand be strictly
maintained for the present. except to repe any actual aggressive
the the Commonwealth be reques;edt to
communicate solutions by telegraph immediately the
President OF the United states and to each of :he Cove Of
Southern States.
The adoption of the resolutions opposed by Messrs
Seldom Kemper and others, and supported by Messrs.
Robertson aud Newton.
Mr. CHRISTIAN.-Gentemen object to these resolu-
TONS that they inconsistent with the resolutions
adopted on Monday last and indicate disposition TO
back down from the stand then taken. Some even say
the resolutions of Monday war measures. For one
lie would not submit to any such construction res
olutons but had the to constue them for himself
now, he did then, measure for peace; that this
the construction then claimed for them, and withou,
which they would never have received the vote they did
But however they must be construed no imputation Of
inconsistency could be charged any who for
the pending resolutions; these can possible inter-
probation be taken backing down from any position
taken by the former, but simply acknowledging thai to
all appearances the opposing forces Of the two sections
approaching each other for deadly strife-they
iOrt ha kp nit nd nd in vie he
awful horrors of civil raise the flag Of truce for awhile
that il possible, the first blow of the uplifted
hand may yet be stayed before it is too late forever
In the heat of the bloody battle Of Talavera the oppo
sing armies paused for while in mere humanity, from
the conflict itself and the fmisbed soldiers on either
side drank together out of each Others cups Of the
little stream that marked the narrow shore between
them, but only to resume the battle afterwards as brave
~ Surely the opposing forces of the North and
South may yet, for the sake of hitherto
Try and yet common humanity, pause long for a last
iua effort for peace and be the only brave wha
Forbearance is often the surest sign of bravery
The generous impulses OF the gentlemen objecting will
needed by themselves insure their hearty these
resolutions Some object that Virginia should thus
become a mediator: Virginia of all oheIs,-the proud
mother of S;ates-should be the very to aay, if
possible, tbs fast approaching nternecne strife be-
tween her children. Let her. in the magnannity, she
has historic right to assert interfere thus tar, even
while the opposing forces stand confronted with drawn
SWORDS ahu nAeu oayohets 10 stay possible the urst
bloody blow. Falling in shat then at least she is clear
OF wanton oi-guitness, and with this proud con-
sciousness all the bravey leave the issue to
the God of battles Then every OF Virginia, united
sentiment in action, will be found at his post and
ready to die at his post for the unsuled glory OF Vr
gina.
The resolutions we're carried in the affirmative BY
large majority.
The House adjourned about ~ o'clock, after the fail
Of motion to meet at Sd o'clock at night leav
ing Convention bill as unfinished business"
WASHINGTON ITEMS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-Commander Harts.eue of