The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-28

~. FISHER, OF Northampton, offered the
following
Ef',T fSi be appointed by the President,
tcr"s dniy Ii Shall be TO inquire into the exped-
W. A. raising ordinance making an appro-
ea,,jop Tor the defence Of the Commonwealth
I'D L, n theif opinion an appropriation should
n, which onSht to be appropriated.
Mr. EASY moved TO lay the resolution upon
'n Tb 'e PKrsIpExr said that he unders TODD the
.Iornau from Northampton as desiring TO
eeger resolution which would cause no de-
Gu The unfinished business of yes terday
net be dis posed of before the Convention can
iced 10 tho consideration of the resolution
ilsi offered
JYr poKx,S moved that the unfinished bust
css Of yesterday be taken up. This having
-, carried in the affirmative,
~ f;oadrS OF Bedford resumed the floor
"a proceeded with his remarks. His Jews
~ said had been presented in no partisan
s.nse and without any purpose 10 make them
me basis Of his ultimate action, in case the
convention should determine TO pursue diff
t--szt course. His purpose was TO discuss
,be<s grave questions in such way as TO
a--.ve At the truth TO compare opinions
ard then to present the result TO the
.rest council nj home, for their action
Whatever might be his love for the Union he
had indicated that when the time shoul Id come
frv Virginia 10 sever her connection therefrom
no would he one of those who would endeavor
- lead her where she should 60 He had
ONE here with desire for peace and har-
,1ony but when all remedies failed he should
rtant BIZ those who entertained views oppo-
.l,e 10 those which he had ex pressed. There
were circumstances which should induce Sir-
gina TO pause and consider whether she should
axe her place by the States which had Sc
-e5aj He had presen ted facts for the Con-
,eDtion TO consider before they determined TO
,akc one course or another. The interests of
Virginia were diversified. She appealed to no
king. and while cotton was represen ted a the
interest 10 be looked TO by those States which
had seeded, there were other interests 10 be
brought into the account by Virginia.
H. cited statistics of the tobacco trade as one
81 her material in terests. Those people whom
We were to hold rs enemies III war and in
reaCc, were the men who purchased this
great staple. If the market were cut off
where would Virginia find one to replace it
He wanted the people of Virginia 10 know
when they left this Union, whet her they
would find the security which they had failed
TO find here. He then read an extract from
The Charleston Mercury, TO show that mea-
su-es had been engrafted on the Provisional
Government which would not probably be
adopted permanently; that they might have
been pat forth TO e2pcilate the Border States
lie then proceeded 70 re argue the question of
ilter. State and African slave trade.
Rut II the rights of Virginia could not be
firmly and fully established, he was ready to
20 wherever Virginia might lead. He wanted
10 wait and see if the Peace Conference might
NOT arrive at some result which would give
peace 10 this distracted country. 1t must be
10 cobweb affair, but some thing permanent
i.
would see what the President about to be in
augurated would say to the country. He
must abandon the principles OF the Chicago
Platform and pledge himself TO the support
and maintenance OF the Cons titut ton. He
feared lie would not do this ; but it our
duty TO act so rs 10 show that we would not
h- SO precipltate as to impair the moral
weight Of that action with the people. -
He hsd indicated q desire that if a Conven-
ton Of the Border States could be inaug ura-
ted here, without jeopardizing the interests of
Virginia, such IL course should be pursued !;
but not otherwise. If ii We're found that de-
lay would be fatal to her peace or security, he
was ready 70 act with others in different
policy. No consideration should divert him
from the line of his duty but he must be sat
isied and be enabled TO say to his people, that
every constitutional remedy had been eX-
hlusted. Every feeling, and every conVic-
ton, would lead him TO take his place under
the folds OF the flag of Virginia. He would
prefer to perish under that flag, If perish he
must, TO Il struggle for the future under the
staTs and stripes. He had little hope from
Abraham Lincoln but il he could show him
that he turned his back upon the principles OF
his party, he would indeed deserve the thanks
Of all men, and feel that he was worthy to
Ill the place occupied by George Washing ton.
MI. SHEFFRY, OF SmY the, next addressed the
Convention. He spoke of the respon bilities
resting upon the body assembled here, the re-
suit OF whose deliberations might decide the
destiny OF Virginia. He had listened with
pleasure 10 the gentleman from Bedford, and
welcomed the sen timent at which he had
aimed, OF his loyalty to Virginia in the even
that the faint hope OF restoration becomes ex-
uHSUlshed He Mr.. ) came from his noun
tain home where cotton was not king; where
the herds upon the hills were the predomi
mating interest; yet he would he indeed Z
brave man who should dare attempt to invade
those noun tain passes with hostile in tent
There We're no people more loyal than those
OF Southwestern Virginia They might main
tain themselves If all the institutions OF thu
State were sweptaway; but still they were tru'
10 the State, and would be true to their historic
fame They would always dare to maintain
their rights.
The present was the most momentous period
in the existence of Virginia. and with he
destiny was intimately connected that o
other States of the Confeieracy. He coun
SEIZED the Convention, Invested rs il was will
such power, to emulate the spirit OF the Rev
outionary pa riots, and endeavor to rescue
this beloved country from the pail of gloon
winch hangs over her.
He looked upon the acts Of Northern States
As equally in violation OF the Cons tltuti
with the acts of secession of the several South
ern States. But he was opposed 10 precipi
late action. He hoped that her delay wouit
not De mistaken for submission ; for if coer
cion were attempted, either OF Virginia or o
the other Southern States, she would repet /
with all her power. An eyes were now direct
ed towards her, the venerable mother; anC
II should be made known that when her ef
lorIs for peaceful settlement shall have
la!ltd she VIII stand i'll the breach and inter
pose her body and the bodies OF her nobi
sohs-and, If need be, her daughters-to irus
lFate the purposes OF her oppressors. ~
virginia had been committed a mission o
ptuct ana reconcllia ton. Ihemost aggrle He'
u all The SGtes-her soil desecrated by tn
lo9t OF the invdder--it was hers yet TO stan'
proudly amid the tumult. and, elevated ia
ABOVE II, calm, dignitied, and firn-a specta
tieoi moral sublimlty worthy OF her ancient re
Ho#n. She Is looked 10 to day the great pa
and media tor i'll this almost fratricida
eILIe, YET she stands with the sword III on
AdLu, ready 10 defend her rights ana tn
rghis of the Southern States and with tn
o,heT she proffers the olive branch of peace
one extends the symbol OF peace to all wh
"l+4 meet and commune with her around
common altar. Her Legislature had declares
dsHns' the right of coercion, aud declares
mat Il all her efforts for a peaceful solution
sna4i iall, every consideration of honor AM
interest demands that she shall unite her DIES
my v tn her sister States of the South. lie
Aeglsle.ure had iuaug IRA ted q Peace Confer
ehoe, hid sent Commissioners to Washing to-
"u % south Carolina, 10 endeayor 10 stay tn
hSAu ~ violence, and thus far they had bee
f4eeesfiuI, for not one drop OF blood had ye
lie prayed that peace might be restored t
lhe distracted country He had hailed tn
MISSIONS as the dawning of hOpe-and h
uus"+ II would prove no delusive hope, blu
gas assurance of the restoration OF III
mon and renewal of the covenant forever
nu' "hether this resulted or not Virgins
tte'l me proud consciousness of having don
iFtuu' y and IL is not derogatory to her T.
ray lilat she has and does cherish an abiding
".e Tor The Union as Ii was.
ne alluded TO the vas. progress of the Uni
'ed States, from the foundation of the Govern
,1H' 20 the present time. All this domain
~" "reks ago was ours, and IL Will still b
oufs' II the interests Of Virginia in the Unio,
.oH d. restored. When considering its grea t
60 anu It's glory, surprising any that the Sun
81 Shone upon, 1t was wonder that tir
ss',i1 sun chung to the Union-though at pres