The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-12
Important Reports to the Virginia
State Convention.
The Guarantees Required by
the South.
Conference Of the Border Slave States Recon-
mended by Virginia and Missouri
The Latest Manifesto Of Governor
Wise.
&C., &c, &c.
THE VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.
OUR RICHMOND CORRESPONDENTS.

IVY SVet AGs
THE VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.
OUR RICHMOND CORRESPONDENCE.
RICHMOND, Va, March 0, 1861
send you herewith four reports submitted to the
Convention TO day sby the Committee on Federal Rea-
TONS
Mr.. r. Y. Conrad, Chairman OF the Committee pre-
sened the following, which is the majority report 1t
represents the sentiments Of Mr. Conrad Robt E. Scott
and other of that stamp
The representatives Of the people or Virginia in Con-
vention assembled are profoundly sensible of the diff
Guilty, delicacy and importance OF the duty which, in
obedience TO the popular will, they have assumed to
perform.
distracts and divides country has brought about
condition Of public affairs for which history has no paral
lei end the experience of governments precedent
They recognise the fact that the great questions which
press for consideration Of entire novelty Of great
intrinsic difficulty, and that their proper solution will re-
qure ON tne part OF our governments State and federal
and Of our people, the exercise Of the utmost prudence
discretion, camness and forbearance
Above all other things at this time they esteem it of
indispensable necessity to maintain the peace Of the
try and avoid everything calculated or tending to pro
duce collision and bl0Odshed.
The grievances for which several of the States have
withdrawn from the Union and overthrown the federal
government within their limits are such have affected
the people Of Virginia TO greater extent than any the
que such guarantees for the protection of the rights
the people Of the slaveholdng States the judgment
of Virginia will be sufficient for the accomplishment Of
that object.
Virginia having initiated measures TO obtain such qua
rantees proper serespec mpels her to demand Of all
the parties that they shall refrain during the tendency
tending to produce collision of forces; therefore,
J. BE i resolved and declared by the people of the
State of Virginia in Convention assembled, That the
States which composed the United States of America
when the federal constitution formed were ndepen
dent sovereign'es and in adopting that instrument the
people OF each State agreed TO associate with the people
of the other States apon footing Of exact equality. 1t
is the duty therefore Of the common government to
spect the rights of the States and the equality of the PEG
pie thereof and within the Just limits of the consttu
ton protect with equal the great interests that
spring from the institutions Of each.
African slavery is vital part OF the social system OF
the States wherein exists and that form Of servude
existed when the Union formed and the jurisdiction
of the several States it within their respective ms
was recognized by the constitution any interference TO
its pref 1dice by the federal authority the author
ties Of the other States by the people thereof is in de
rogatoE from plain right contrary 10 the constitution
offensive and dangerous
3 The choice of functopares of common gov erument
established for the good the that they
entertain opinions and avow purposes hostile to the nst
tutons Of some of the States necessarily excludes the
people Of section from participation in the admnisra
ton Of the government subjects the weaker TO the dom
nation Of the stronger section leads to abuse, and is
compatible with the safety of those whose interests
imperilled the formation therefore, Of geographical
sectional parties respect federal politics contrary
TO the principles on which our system rests and tends to
its overthrow.
A. The Territories Of the United States constitute
trust TO be administered by the general government for
the common benefit of the people Of the United states
and any policy in respect such Territories calculated
to confer greater benefits on the people of one part Of
the United States than the people of another part
contrary TO equality and preudicia to the rights Of some
equal admission of slave labor and free labor any
Territory exctes unfrendly conflict between the sys-
TENS fair partition OF the Territories ought to be made
between them and each system ought to be protected
within the limits assigned to it, by the laws necessary
for its proper development
s. The sites of the federal forts, arsenas &c within
the limits of the States OF this Union were acquired by
the federal government, and jurisdiction over them
ceded by the States, trusts, for the common pur
poses Of the Union, during its continuance and upon
the separation Of the Slater, such jurisdiction revers
of right the States respectively by which the juris.
dictioh was ceded Whilst state remans in the Union
the legitimate of such forts, &C. rs to protect the
country against foreign force and to aid in suppressng
domestic nsurrection. To use or prepare them to be
used TO ntndate State constrain its free action is
perverson OF the purposes for which they were OBJ
States in whose limits they are found in the event Of
civil war In time OF profound peace with foreign ma
tions such now exists, and when symptoms OF do
mestc instruction appear-but whilst irritating ques-
tions of the deepest Importance pending the States
to accumulate within the limits OF State interested in
such question unusual Of troops and mum.
lions Of not required for any legitimate purpose, is
unwse, impolitic and Offensive.
Deeply deporing the present distracted condition Of
the country, and amenting the wrongs that have i'm.
PEELED Of the States 10 cast of obedience to the
federal government, but sensible OF the blessings OF
Union, aud impressed with Its importance TO the peace
prosperity and progress Of the people indulge the
hope that adjustment be reached by which the
! MON may be preserved in It's integrity, and peace,
The land
T. TO remove the existing causes of complaint much
may be ACCOMPLISHED by the fe iera and govern
nents the laws Tor the rendition Of fugtvcs labor
and fugitives from justice may be made more eectua
the expenditures Of the government may be reduced
within moderate limits, and the abuses that have
entered into the administrative departments reformed
The State authorities may repeal their unfriendly
and unconstitutional legislation and substitute
in its stead such becomes the comfy and Is due to the
rights Of the states Of the same Union But TO restore
the Union and preserve confidence the federal consu
tion should be amended IN those particulars wherein
perence has exhibited defects and discovered approaches
dangerous 10 the institutions of OF the states.
s. The people of Virginia recognise the American prn-
cple that government Is founded the OF the
governed and they concede the right Of the people Of
the several states of this Union for Just to with
draw from their association under the federal govern
with the people o the other States and to
governments for their better security, and they will
consent that the federal power which is in part
their power, shall be excfed for the purpose Of subu
eating the people Of such Sace 10 the federal authority
The exercise Of this right by the states OF South
Carolina Georgia. Florida Mississippi Alabama Louisiana
and Texas without the assent Of the other States has
given rise to conditions, aud presented questions
touching those conditions Intimately affecting the rights
and safety OF the other states Among these the
free pavgation OF the Mississippi river the maintenance
~ the forts intended to protect the commerce OF the Gulf
Of Mexico and the power TO restrain smuggling along the
interior borders of the seeded States but the federal
authorities, under the constitution IL IL, dsclam
to recognize withdrawal OF any state from the
rnion and consequently 70 deal with these questions
holding that Is reserved only TO the states as parties TO
the compact 10 take lawful action touching
them.
10. without expressing opinion as TO the question Of
power but Difference 10 the opinion Of the federal
thortes the people Of Virginia hereby declare their de
sire 10 confer upon the OF the United States
the powers necessary to enable its proper authorities 10
deal peaceaoly WITH these questions, and, IL shall be
come necessary to recognize the separate independence
OF the seeding States and TO make such treaties with
them and 10 pass such laws the separation may make
proper.
H. Tbis Convention composed OF delegates elected by
the people In Districts for the purpose Of considering the
existing difficulties in our federal relations represents
the desire aud earnest request OF the people of Virginia
TO meet as directly as possible the people Of her sister
states and TO them appeal for satisfactory adjustment
Virginia. therefore, requests the people OF the severa
states either by popular vote, or in Conventions SINH
lar 10 her own, to respond, At their earliest
nience, 10 the positions assumed in the foregoing
resolutions, AMI the proposed amendments TO the
tuition OF the United States hereunto appended And
the event that this Commonwealth fails to obtain salts.
factory responses TO her requests from the
holding states she viii feel compelled to the
powers granted by her under the constitution OF the
United states and to throw herself upon her reserved
rights.
10 The people OF virginia win await any reasonable