Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-30
The Virginia State Convention.
lDeErred Pr0ccedin1s.l

MT CLEMESS- HlO'e W iSSoi'o'N>
vote, and lay the motion to reconsider on The
table. -
Mr.. Brent would be glad to hear the
gentleman's reason for making that motion.
Mr.. CLEMENS withdraw it, and move IN
stead that tho Convention 60 into Committee
OF the whole, and upon that motion call the
previous question.
The call was sustained.
Mr.. MoRroS-I move to adjourn.
The PREsIDENT-Thc motion is not in order.
Mr.. JACKSON desire to call the attention
of the House to another fact, and it is this,
that the gentleman from Orange, (hlr. MoRroS,)
would not vote to make a quorum, while he is
making motions to adjourn, which rather cause
delay than otherwise. I hope the reporter
will take a note Of that.
Mr.. MoRros-I am responsible to my con.
s~tituents and nobody else for my course here,
and | would say to the gentleman that his nd
monitions will avail nothing in diverting me
from the course which think proper to pur,
sue.
Mr.. WOODS Of Barbour.-What is the ques.
ton before the House
The PREsIDESr.-The question before the
House is the motion OF the gentleman from
Ohio, (Mr. CLEMENS to go into Committee OF
the Whole.
Mr.. WooDs.-I call for the ayes and noes
upon that motion.
The call was sustained, and the vote being
taken by ayes and nays, resulted, ayes "a,
noes +. as follows:
Barbour, Berlin. DOggss, Brown, Burdett. Gurley, Byrne,
Cah-l!. Campbell, Carter, Chapman, Clemens, c.. B. Coz
rad, Robert Y. Conrad, James II. Cox, Richard II. Cox.
Hrttclrr NuxtIS Hrgklua DOrmaO. En- FIY. EChnlS. French,
Fugate, GARLAND, Gillespie, Gravsly, GoggIn. Addison Hall,
EphraIm d. Hall, hammond, HoRs, Hubbard, Hughes,
Mcneil, Machnrlanh, Charles X. Mallory, jaime. d. Mano-
ry, Marshall, Marye, Maslln, Masters, MoIett, Med.
Preston. Price. PuGh, isives, Robert +: Scott, Sharp, Shelf
iey, s~itlington, Slaughter. sutherlin, Whitfield, willey-I!,
NaYs-Nessrs. brent, Dulaney, L. s.. Hall, Raymond,
Montague, Chapman J. Stuart, Tayloe, Woods.
ABSENT MEMBERS.
Mr.. BALDWIN, of Staunton.-When Mr.. BAY
LoR's lame was called, stated that he was ab-
sen. on account Of indisposition.
Mr.. EARLY made q similar excuse for Mr..
SAUNDERS.
COMMITTEE OF TIRE WHOLE.
The Convention then resolved itself into
Committee of the Whole, Mr.. PRICE, Of Green
bricr, in the Chair.
Mr.. HALL, OF Wetzel.-It is due to myselfand
to other gentlemen on this floor, who voted in
a certain way tonight, to say, that so far as
the offering Of the motion that | submitted
was concerned, I consulted with no mortal
man about it. Whatever blame is attached to
it falls upon inc. | take the responsibility of
the whole matter.
Mr.. SurfFEr.-What is the pending ques-
ton.
The C~ualRMAS.-The substitute offered by
gentleman from Weizcl, CIR. HALL to the
report CT the Committee OH Federal Rcla.
tons.
Mr.. Hail. say, that whatever blame may
he attached to the introduction Of the PROPOSE
ton submitted by me, | alone am responsible
for, and, in answer to the gentleman from
Frederick, (AIr. CoSRAn,) that he regarded this
rs u very important matter, that 1t was no
more nor less than n question whether a fac
tious minority should control irresponsible ma.
jOrity, l.
Mr. toHRAp.-I beg to correct the gentle
man. did net characterize either the ma
jority or minority as tactious.
Mr.. HALL.-Now, sir, | will refer briefly to
the history Of this matter. | was seated at a
remote end Of the Hall this evening, when ]
heard the Secretary read the first section OF
the committees report. | came over, with 4
view Of getting the floor, believing that the
usual courtesy would be granted 10 Inc that
was granted to other gentlemen. ! submitted
nv proposition; | was at the time unprepared,
not having the proposition with me, but the
Secretary stated that he had the proposition 10
which | referred. | Immediately afterwards
determined, should the House afford me an OPP
portunity, to present it in better form to-mor.
row. The gentleman from Princess Anne (Nlr.
WIsr.) called for the reading Of the document,
and, after it was read, | asked for the courtesy
Of withdrawing it. That courtesy was refused,
and hence the scene which followed. | would
ask If there was anything in my course that
was calculated to provoke the discuurtesy man
Tested to me. shall not ~retaliate in language
betting such o course Of conduct towards me
as has been exhibited. shall be respectful,
sued here tonight I am perfectly responsible
here or elsewhere or under any circumstances
And gentlemen may understand that, too. I
merely want to place myself right. So far
rs responsibility is concerned, | tell the majority
here that if the gag ~ to be put on men in the
manner in which it has been tonight, the soon
err the people know it the better for their in
teres,s and their rights. There is a power, sir,
behind, that will be respected ere long,
80 far as the privilege Of discussing the PROPOSE.
tons seriously and honestly, is concerned. I
had no sinister purpose in view in Offering that
substitute; and in order to show you that ] atm
not ~factious in this matter, ! will state that the
whole Of the conservative journals OF the
North-the journal Of Commerce" the New
York Herald" the Cincinnati Enquirer"
Cleveland "Plaindealer," aud other conserva.
tive papers, have agreed on the plan that | pro-
posed here tonight. will read an extract from
a letter signed Robert Tyler, which also takes
the same ground. mr.. HALL read an extract
from this letter ~favOring the adoption of the
amendments embodied in the Constitution of
the Confederate States, rs the terms Of the ad.
~justment of existing difficulties.
Mr.. HALL, continuing-I am not alone on
this question. Gentlemen may arrogate to
themselves all wisdom, power and authority,
yet, sir, they will find a greater power to
whom they will have to render a strict account.
| disclaim arrogating to myself anything. /
am only carrying out the opinions ofotEer dis
tinguished men and Of the conservative papers
Of the North which appealed to the South to
adopt these amendments. And here, sir, | am
TO gagged and cut off from the exercise Of my
just rights as a representative, because |
choose TO adopt the opinions of men rs good
as any in this Convention.
The PREslDENr-Ihc gentleman must not be
disrsspectful to the committee.
Mr.. HALL am not disreSpectful. 1t is no
manifestation of liSrespcct to say that there
are other men rs good as any in this Cunyen.
ton. | will remark that many gentlemen who
proclaim opinions in keeping with those which
| hold, are as good as any in this body, how
ever this body may affect to disregard those
opinions.
Mr.. MOORE, Of Rockingham Order, order,
order.
The PREsIDENr-The gentleman is out of or.
der. lie will please take his seat.
The pending question is upon the substi-
tute offered by the gentleman from Wetzel.
Mr.. poKTEK-l call for the ayes and noes
on that substitute.
The call was not sustained at first, but soon
after a sufficient number arose to sustain the
call.
Mr.. CoobE-I ask if it is not now tuo late.
The call was not sustained a. first. and the