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

The situation of Virginia is responsible anu Il
painful one Bnt, think, know Virginia
we'll enough, from her sra.hoar'l {" The ocanti-
full Ohio, to know that she is equal 10 any re-
sponsbility that circumstances may impose
upon her. | regret, Mr. President, III ihs
course Of the running debate 10 which we have
listened in this Convention 10 have heard NJ
any time the word party announced. ar any III
fusion 10 the different portions ol unr Mate
East or Vest. Sir, trlst-and until some
evidence conclusive To the contrary shall be
shown by the action OF gentlemen in the future
shall believe that none but the true
hearts of Vrginians beat in the b1SomS oil our
neoble upon every foot of our soil.
I say, Mr.. President, that desire to address
myself to this single question Ot coercion, sau
desire TO see this Convention take strong,
decisive, firm, uncqnieocal and unmistakaoie
position upon that SUBJECT. And in urging IT,
urge It upon the consideration OF this body
as measure of peace. urge it, as, IN my
humble Judgment, the only chance and hope
that is left to preserve this Government oi
ours. and restore it in all its parts and III all
il, mel fiction. do 4nt think, Mr. President, mat
in the course Of my life ever rcud with deeper
interest or more painful emotion any paper
that has ever come under my observation than
the Inaugural Address Of abraham Lincoln,
the President Of the United States; and the
outrage Of that document is greater upon
y;ryiuia and upon us assembled here, who re-
prrsrnt her sovereignty, than 1t is upon any
mnrtiou Of this vast Republic. The States oi
IN. South, seven Of them, had seeded from
RMS Union They had placed themselves IN
hostility and III anlag"IIisln to the henerai
,;uyernnrrnt. But WIS that the condition
If Virginia How did Virginia stand
when this Inaugural Address vi Abraham
Lincoln MAS srnt cut to The country with It's
mcnaccs and It's threats Of coercion. hen
This Convention, which is now assembled, WAS
Jailed to meet together, what was the fesporSi
b!lity Of the people OF Virginia, even though
. 4 uurtun OF our sister States OF the South liau
already left the Union? She res;nnde ed to the
call for Convention, and SHE sent here upon
t This Auor, 10 represent he'll and 10 prOtcc',
guard aud preserve her honor aid her interest,
and to restore this Government to It's UNITY,
very large MA jurty uf men, who were deter
mined To exhaust every means to save the
country was, and arn still, among tiiat mum
her came here with III earnest desire ana the
r,pouc vino sent HE here felt that same earnest
.iesire--t!,nt under the Providence Df uod
, something nigh! occur 10 crlHc away Inc
storm that hung over u,ir lana ana save lis
from It's tinai drstructoi!. VIZ assembled
Our Legislature i'll the meantime, IN the spirit
of ucact and with desire Ui preserving our
Government and Of bringing back oar sister
States OF the South, appointed distinguished
citizens Us Commissioners 10 assemble III
Washington, and Virginia invited all the States
If the CUnlrderacy 10 meet her there :. larse
number responded 10 the call made by virginia
I, assemble there aud see II men fresh from
the people, would not TIC able to settle ana az.
$ lust these difficulties upon basis that WOULD
br, serve our country anu preserve the rights,
honor interest aid liberty Ut the South
, rb.y did assemble. sir. That Conference
finally adopted measures, the franklin prOpo-
. .;tions. no. w to the standard oil Virginia,
| not up to her desire
Hut. sir, even the Franklin propositions,
, which were adopted by that Peace Conference,
, when submitted 10 the Congress Of the United
, States, found no; response sufficient in the
hearts Of the Black Republicans in Congress.
The Peace Conference has adjourned; Con-
cress has udjOurucd, whil- We III Virginia. as.
, Snrublc in convention have been waiting Tor
6 SONIC action upon the part OF the General GoT'
ernmert tina, would drive away the clouds
: which now hang over Us anu darken our
i whole horizon. Upon the very adjournment
, cr that Peace Conference and the Adjournment
. of the Congress Of the United States, the Ere
;. sidcnt, ia his inaugural address, says to US
;. "this Union is not dissolved; this Union can
+ ro; be dissolved that il Is his duty To exc.
. cute all the laws IN every part oi the laha, anu
. that he intends to hold, occupy and possess ii!
y the public property in the seceded S'a'e$ anu
I collect the duties upon imports.
: have heard it said by some here thai Mr..
Lincoln does not mean what he has said; that
q his language is susceptible of different con
structions. and that while. il. reading his 'nau-
i cural it may appear that he intends TO exercise
:. f,rce to carry out his purpose, no coercion Will
~ be ATTEMPTED ami no force rcSortcd TO- Sir, no
It man with Just sense ui responsibility, no
{ man. who. when called to preside over thirty
millions of people, and upon whose conduct
IS hangs the happiness Of naiion, il not civil
r ization and liberty throughout ChrlStendom,
ought to speak in doubtful language upon such
:. II question; and hope if his language is really
:, susceptible OF . different construction; II he
/, really does not Intent coercion; il his object
o really is not to attempt tn repossess himself Of
,c the public property in the seeded STATES by
:, force; that voice with unanimity, with rlrar'
Y ness, with emphasis that does not ndtnlt oil Two
i. constructions, will 30 up from this Convention
saving to Mr. Lincoln. ii coercion IS attempted
d that Virginia, with all her power and resources
~ will at once be in position 10 inainta'n her
x honor and her interrs, and protect her sisters
it of the South.
In reference 10 the proposition submitted on
yesterday, desire, when the Convention CONES I
m take action upon it, that the question will BE-
: divided, SO that we may pass that orancLi OF inc
y resolution requiring the CoIh,Ilittee Oh enera
flntQr
u subject Of cncrciuu hope that they will strip
l. rff and law aside everything else connected
: with the matters referred To sl!cm, and make a
V renort To us at once upon this subject, 81 that
&c the voice Of Virginia may he heard, 5" that
y she NAV give Guiet and assurance To our OWL!
e neop,e and saw to this Government OF thc North
V threatening the COERCION Of Southern States,
Tint virginia will never, never, never submit
~ ~ 10 see her Southern sisters cocrced, until an
y arm more sowerrul than any that she Gun raise
VI shall crimson her soil with the blood Of heI
>, children.
u The time has passed, Mr.. President, IN my
&c Judgment, to speak in doubtful language any
:. longer. make this suggestion to ibis BODY
= in good faith, and as carrying ont the views
with which was elected. | make II hoping
y that il will be the means Ut preserving
u harmony between tic sections, ard as the
i means OF restoring tbs peace Of the country
! by awarding to every portion Of our LAM
protection for all the rights and interests It
IS which they arc o"ti,lr,l. make it with nc
e view of breaking mp ami destroying this Gov
ernment, for | trust, that sustained by th'
righteous o,nnpo,ent hand Of Him who pre-
sides over the l!cS:i:iicS Of men and nations
the peace Of this land will be preserved, AM
its fraternity ultimately restored. The measure
= that insist this Convention shall act upon, j:
cminently peace measure. 1t is the only way
c Of preserving peace
1t is unnecessary for me to occupy the time
II of this Convention in telling you. that if tb'
II peace is broken, and war begun, the Union Is
!: At an end, and the possibility of'its restoration
l. over a free and excited people utterly impusSl