Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-15
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
Speech Of Alr. Benjamin VIII
SCH, OF Harrison.

ScA> ~
Delxered iH toarsatioa. 25M March, 1861.
Mr.. WILSON said: Nothing, Mr.. Chairman.
would irducn me 10 occupy the time of the Con-.
uittee but the sense Of duty which | owe TO
! my constituents. In these times OF peril and
danger, il becomes US before We act 10 look
well To tt:c circumstances by which we are
surrounded. l. may be well to consider t c
cnEseQueucts Which may yesu'c from our
action. We pre-, in the language Of the dis
tinglished senllcman from kanawha, Cir.
SrsaEgs.j in "A new ora. We arc now passing
through another and fiery ordeal. Another
blow his been struck 1t American institu ions
in their onward march 10 greatness ard power.
Our county Is jeoparfizsd, iluper.led-lt is
rceiirg 2 srd staggering Ike a drunken man; and
growing out Of its endangered condition this
Contention, clothed S'lth extraordinary powers,
hiss been called. Our duty is to administer u
lae relief Of the Government, to heal, if posi-
biz, the breach aud prevent the country from
bein; riecip!tatcd into the deep abyss which
lies before us, 10 save it, if possible, irym down
fall.
In order, lIr. Chairrasn, ,hst we may
correctly understand the power with which
tais Convention is clothed, it may not
b. Improper 20 consider, Tor 3 moment
the frrtHati"n and character Of the Govern.
melt ard then look TO lis present coudi-
ton. Man is . social being, and in Il
state Of nature is possessed Of no higher or
superior rights than tie brute creation. In that
condition might is his right and the strength vi
his arm The measure of his redress. But, be-
ing endowed by his Creator with reason and a
capacity lor social enjoyment ard self govern.
mcni, from necessity and in accordance with
his nature, he entered into q compact for the for.
nation 81 society; by tina! compact each iudi.
vidual citizen surrendered to the aggregate Of
society, some Of bis natural rights and privi-
lc&es, and in return therefor received the guar.
antce, that he should be protected in the en-.
! joyment of his life, liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness
Looking hn"k 10 the early history of this
continent We fad the original thirteen Colo
mics were chartered by England as separate
Colonies, in which condition they remained
until The establishment of American indepen-
dcnco. The resolution of the Virginia Con-
veniicn Of the 9th Of May, 177G, instructed
their delegates in the General Congress TO d..
clare those Colonies free and independent
Suites.
On Ii: memorable fourth OF July, in that
year Congress iii so declare them. | read
the following extract from that sacred instru-
memo, the Declaration Of Independence, TO give
the very language Of the patriot fathers Of the
country in their declaration Of treedon end IT,
dependence:
I'VE, the! elnre, the representatives Of the
United States of America, in general Congress
assembled. appealing TO the the Supreme
judge III lie woGld iYr the rec;;lude Of our in
t~entio1s, DO, in the :iaine. and by authority Of
the good people Of these colonies, s~c!onIily
publish and declare, That these United Colo
mics are, and OF right ought to be, Free and In.
dependent States; and they are absolved iron,
ali all"gianc. ~ The British Crown, and that
ui political connection between them and the
stare Of Hreg, Britain, is, and onsht To be, to.
tally dissolved and that as Free and indie.
pendent States, they have ful! power 10 levy
war, conclude peace, contract alliances, estab.
l;sl commerce. and to do ell other acts and
things which Independent States may Of right
IL. Ana for tho support Of this declaration.
with a iirn reliance en- the protection Of Dr.
vins Providence, We mutually pledge TO
each other, our lives, our fortunes, ind our
Sacred honor"
Dat CT lfat declaration the revolutionary war
rev, thu history of which war, with its hor.
rGrs ard consequences, is familiar 10 US all
t.un the termination Of that war and thu
declaration ct pcace, each Stale WAS recognized
By England as Jree GHd Independent, and not
Is consolidation OF States.
Liberty being thus achieved, and the indie
penaence Of The States recognized, those
States for the purposes Of mutual defence
and better security, ultimately adopted the
present Constitution.
The powers delegated to The General Govern.
ment were limi!rd, and oil powers not 80 dele.
gated were expressly reserved by the States
By the fourth section Of the fourth article Of
that Constitution, q Republican form Of Gov
crnment is guaranteed 10 tuch State.
The part vi that section to which I refer, is
rs follows:
Tine United States shall guarantee to every
State in this Union Republican Form of Gov
crnulent and shall protuc; elch OF them against
INVASION"
After the Constitution had been framed and
revised, it was submitted Tor ratification or re.
~icc.ion TO tie Convention Of each State, and
not 70 thu people in their aggregate number.
! baye pursued this line ol argument 10 meet
tie argument Of gentlemen that each State
diYeste1 Itself Of all the attributes of indepen-
dc1ce and sovereignty by the adoption Of the
Federal Constitution. How far the States have
retained, and now possess, sovereign powers.
upon the great question which is a~sitatIug The
nation, shall presently discuss.
1t will be reelected. Mr.. Chairman, that
the declaration OF Independence not only re.
cosnized the freedom and independence Of the
States, bu. recognized the right OF the people TO
alter or abolish their fern Ct Government
whenever it becomes destructive Of The ends
for which it vas established.
Is the Government has u Constitutional ex-
i~stence, ii Vas contemplated that its abolish.
,nent or alteration should be accomplished.
not NJ the point of the sword or buyonet, but in
some legal and Constitutional manner. 1t can
not be done by O Legislative body, for its pow.
ers are limi;ed-l take it then it Gao only he
done by the same power that created or
adopted (which was by Conventions Of
the people possessing sovereign power, subject
only to the will of tho people. In this con-
ucction refer 10 the following extract from
the Declaration Of Independence:
I'VE hold these truths to be self evident
| that all men are created equal; that they are ELL
| dowed, by their Creator, with certain ~unaliena
Die rights that among these are life, liberty,
and the pursuit Of happiness. That to secure
these rights, governments are instituted among
MEN, deriving their Just powers from the con-
sent OF The governed; that whenever any
form Of government becomes destructive of
these ends, il is the right Of the people 10 alter
or TO abolish il, and to institute new govern
lnent, layiag its foundation on such principles,
and organizing its powers in such form, ss to
them shall seem most likely 10 effect their
"a E.ty and hrppiness."
II will ALSO b.. recollected that the Conren-
ton Of Virginia. which ratified the Federal
Constitution, declared That the powers granted
under the Constitution being derived from the
people Of tbs United States, may he resumed
.by them nflensoevcr the same shall be per
'vertel u tncir injury or oppression, and that
every power not granted thereby remains
with then at their will"
The government being thus established, our
national history commenced. Our free insti.
~tut:ons, 6 generous climate and fertile soil at