Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-16


,a,.d towards the seeded states;
pc aa' s,,em pit DO made TO subject sn tba
"a; ~ ,srsl authority nor 10 ; Ii forces
E''s' nossession Of tho mlilsalS t 80
c3H ~ States; nor recapture the f1 io1ts Is,
ta'.t1 other property OF the UNI. leo ca
i or '' their limits; nor to exact the
WITHIN ;mposts upon their eonneTcss nor
a:a ., -, resor,ed 10, justly calculate" ~
. !. hostile collision - tho same effect.
he iS'' .,sSt against any attempt at eoer'
i, spTo'es., Il the Federal authorities,
m me r "'s Mr.. Chairman, not upon
VII, II, ISu npon any ground OF mere espe :,
iiv!T. "S ,aa ", the ground of right; and, It
d! 'a' r Insurance or protest on ,he part
> :F.h,o',nwoaith against any action cal
: t'Ha'o,!'"ssn .h a collision Of force by
; :E- s sister States Oh INV
E:sr: ..,b section referring to the
FL tSlF, 'sal:;n- States Of this Union and ID
r. ~. Conn: Da"S""' ,:o;n.
q '9 Ss, vy diem and the submission n On
:Te"'s ' ,5S propositions which may be
| hrm Of ''s !! ~, nf virginia, both to the
ie OF i.s ,l s' and The Federal authorities.
ihsyn s's'rs a ';r.,.,, are all the sections
[asss' M !, ,s par,ia report OF the commit mint,
Ic:a:sd II Wv .,,n inside. beg leave to repeat
whi,h M, i to the Intelligence OF gentle
n; >':'HE, , :, these propositions for
WI" sir,s.-;n, ;hrFe IS NOT one VI i ;,1ispsuro
nl:e ;''I lswa here which is not .uIspensa-
's . '@s ga bass for some one OF more ,,
'se sends w:rh we have made or sinai! !!
be ts !i,,r. is nothing unnecessary, and it
r. .F'. .,.; nothing has heen omitted; in
! % Io-5 that his is declaration Of prln,
~ "''I h,s:s Tor the demands properly and
Is r ;i,. f,r lie safety o: the country, to DC
:: W. lima upon her sister States and
':s y liberties Of the Federal Govern
nj. rc-rst Mr.. Chairman, that the Com
70 ' S.yr Is vet been unable 70 complete
''s: . 'r ty furnishing to the Convention
;" . ~ ,sl amendments to the tederas Con-
~" .!, i.,,ause twill better enable the mem.
49, -. -. CcyenliUn, when those proposed
? !. shall be laid before then, to see,
: ''u ',",s discussion and examination ct these
= 10, ,:.;,,. with those amendments, whether
:. ,,ne - fully to the declarations OF rights,
!. n Ii. report. SO far as it is no~ com-
:. 49,. II, this matter little more, | ask
,ra .;nc,s concession in advance. In the
wiz, "; n which this Convention finds itself,
.' ".,".r ina, some etf,r,s should be made on
~, E.' a: the Immediate representatives OF
!a h,r. 10 settle and compose the existing
s :.,,% Of the country. With those gentle
80 80 VII, entertain no other than the pro.
:,;,n 81 m instantaneous withdrawal from
- frion aa;. the instant disrupture OF
..as, nation without further effort and
,;.r consideration, it is utterly impossible,
r;,,ru,an, that | can agree. | can only
,r.s myself to the proper effort and proper
,.,;ir. which Should be adopted BY the
90 IF Tr,ia;s. in order, il possible, to set
100; ,,,upvse the S;rifeS which now agitate
r.rn,-v' ana therefore, / a,n utterly una
even 10 approach those WHO will not enter
he possibility If en- adjustment OF these
i:CItieS.
ned not say, sir, that for those gentlemen
.o- their opinions entertain entire respect.
ssp 70. to cast the slightest cenSure or re-
aci. Upon them. Isimply wish to remark
; Tor nir pa.t-and | can say it for the Com
,sy o.. Federal Relations, or at least all ex-
ogs Of those who signed one Of the minor
they duly entered upon this
!; because they considered that the people
ir.na their constituents, had sent them
. :2- tia, purpose, us was plainly indicated
....e y,'e cas-, by the people at the polls upon
acton Of delegates to this Convention;
70 sciien ot this Convention tending to
i the connection Of Virginia from the Fed.
Government should bind Virginia unless
should give their subsequent approval OF
Assem-. thereto. | repeat, then, sir, that
.n:.re,! upon that examination only on that
native: that it was the business, the i'm.
.:!re duty Of this Convention to trJ to
u;m0Si 10 devise means to restore this
On Is it originally existed. And if these
rs should unhappily prove unavaillng then
DUR 81 ibis Convention will be simply to
i. ;ae people Of this Commonwealth of that
.;una,e result, and to advise them as to the
course that remains to be pursued.
9Th his concession, then, sir, will pro-
10 consider generally, in the first instance,
e Of tie objections which | have heard
ie % this report: sad first to one made by
.ls,aen whose opinions have felt bound to
,sc:, from my knowledge Of their intelli-
&c and character. The FIRST objection, COW
!. the whole subject, is: that it is unneces-
! that i; is inra :rd:ent that any declaration
sh's and principles such as the committee
,i:s;ard It necessary to report TO this
yc.,ioG, s:loald be made or adopted by
Convention. I have heard that objection
ri il 'arioas quarters. confess have
! surprised, and, with ell respect, / must
La; / =! oceeIs from q want Of due rehec-
upon tie eIigenc!es Of the case. Why,
does am one doubt that it was proper and
.lisni, when our people cast of the yoke
lie King Of Great Britain, 10 make any
i;s;cn Of rights Or Of principles? Have
nj roS The ablest state papers that exist
..,:ors, enuncia;ing rights and principles
giie prepared II that period Of our histo-
A;subseQuent periods it has been deemed
:>>ary and proper for Virginia, in solemn
J. 20 make declarations OF this character.
IS ard 80, resolutions which have formed
s:boos Of the political party which has
sys p:eTai!cd in the Commonwealth Of Vlr-
a, were enuncia!ed. And, sir, whenever a
1: crisis in OUR affairs arises, it is peculiarly
per that these examinations, these enuncia-
5 Of rights and of principles, should be
K II conformity with the advice which was
a:i!y given US by our fathers: that in or
Dpreserye our institutions in their purity,
necessary frequently to recur to funda.
1a principles.
Nv, Sir, | submit to this Convention, if a
he! occasion, more momentous crisis in
liars and interests Of the American peo-
ass ever arisen, than that which has called
Convention into this hall. And, sir, it
DC i9und that it no, merely involves rights
constructions which have been practically
1sat 10 the attention OF the American peo-
'sl9Ts, but new difficulties, questions which
81 asve beer practically submitted to the
rs Of our statesmen, and which probably
sF have been discussed even theoretically.
al able 70 proceed with the exposition, as
,FFc:e % do, the Convention will bear lne
IL Tia! assertion that new questions, never
re agl!a!ed, have sprung out Of the present
::Gtirs wh:ca it is indispensable, if there
. DC any amIcable adjustment Of them,
10 be settled now.
! $ necessary further, Mr.. Chairman, that
s-'ulo declare these principles; because we
% take demands, we are to make extra