Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-03-05

had been spent and thousands of citizens hat
been slaughtered?
He denied the imputation that he or his PEG
pie were sublnissionists. But it to rally AROUND
the flag of the country constituted Submission
ist, he was one Whenever the time come
when the dignity and honor of Virginia requires
q fight, he and his people would be counted in
He Was for exhausting all fair and honorable
means for the settlement of difficulties, before
resorting to extreme measures. People wht
were in the habit of denouncing the Who'll,
North, seemed to have forgotten that 100000
votes were cast against Abraham Lincoln there
more votes than all the South cast agains
him. a
1t might be thought his conservative senti
ments were too strong; but he could not forge
the past, he could not forget the struggles of the
revolutionary fathers who fought for our Iibertes
In the war of 1912, some of his own kindred
lost their lives under the heroic jackson, fight
ing for the Union be wanted to preserve. He
could not relinqush the attachment that he had
formed for the Union in his early days.
He believed the Government of the United
States was the best ever formed, and that none
could ever be made equal to it. The question
was how should the Union be reconstructed
1t Virginia went out, she could not be instru-
mental in this. He opposed her going out, be-
cause he thought it was doubtful about her eve,
getting back.
Why make propositions for the settlement O
difficulty unless you are willing to wait to SEE
whether the result of that proposition would be
rejected or acquiesced in2 t
He went on to reply to the proposition of the
Commissioner from Georgia, in regard to
10 so1s
He had heard nothing yet to satisfy him that il
was to the interest of Virginia to 90 out Of the
Union. He was pleased that the gentleman
from Bedford (Mr. Goggin) had read from the
Farewell Address Of George Washington, to point
out the Constitutional remedy for existing evils
He would, with the leave OF the Convention
read another extract from his parting advice
| The speaker then read that portion which coun.
sells cordial, hsbitual, immovable attachment
| to the Union, and went on to urge the Conven-
ton to stand up to the advice of that great man
| 1t was unjust to charge the Black Republican
party with the responsibility Of the John Brown
raid. He did not sympathize with that party,
On the contrary he denounced them but he
could not hold them responsible for the invasion
as others did.
He opposed the proposition that Virginia
should go anywhere i:her to the North or to
the South. He cautioned gentlemen that they
could make nothing by threats. 1t was useless
for the South to attempt to intimidate the North
| by such course.
Whatever m ght be the opinions of others, he
accepted the proposition Of the Peace Confer
ence. He hoped Virginia would accept it, and
lie thought she would. He knew his own PEG.
pie would accept it, and believed it would be &C.
cepted by the people Of the other States. He
wanted it to be known exactly where he stood
| He did not know whether Congress would ac-
cept the proposition or not. He expected little
of Black Republican Congress- Ii they tailed
there was another remedy provided in the fifth
article of the Federal Constitution. If the Peace
Conference proposition failed, be wanted this
Convention to inaugurate movement towards
the adoption of the last remedy. II, in the fina
event, we were compelled to depart, and they
refused to let us depart in peace, then he would
be ready to meet the issue.
An animated debate spiang up on resolution
offered by Mr.. Sheffey, inviting the Virgins
Commissioners to the Conference to address the
Convention, at their convenience, and to occupy
seats on the floor. A substitute, offered by Mr.
Price, merely inviting the Commissioners te
seals, was finally adopted.
SATURDAY, March gnd.-A resolution was of
fered in the Convention on Saturday, to amend
| the Constitution SO as to tax slaves without ex
emption, according to value; and one was a
dopted referring the contract for printing the de-
bates to a select committee. Mr. Goode, o
Mecklenburg, delivered an address On the sub
ject of the resolutions offered few days ago BY
Mr.. Moore, of Rockbridge. Sundry resolutions
relating to Federal Relations were referred t.
the Committee on that subject.