Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-01

W f'Np ~ ~ WV VI NV lbUSt ilIC QlSCuSSlUnS L
ever knew of. 1t is II mere dispute about
words, nothing more. [ think the difficulty
with gentlemen arises, in part, from their not
drawing a distinction between sovereignty and
the capacity to maintain it. 1t seems even
among the writer's on the law of nations, that
there is som inconsistency. They sneak
sometimes Of the king as sovereign, and they
talk Of the sovereignty Of subjects; but they
all agree that the source Of sovereignty is in
the people.
Now, Sir, apprehend that no one will con.
tend that the State Government Of Virginia is
sovereign. And why noty Because the peo.
pie never invested it with these sovereign
~powers-the power to declare war and con.
fclude peace, to make treaties, &c. Those
powers were invested by them in another Go.
Eernluent. But there is one point on which wc
all agree, and the report of the committee &C.
knowledges 1t over and over: that Virginia has
the source of sovereignty in herself, and that
she can exercise it when she ~pleases. That
principle is admitted, | think, in various IN
stances in the report Of tho committee. Why
then are We here day after day engaged in a
dispute upon this, sir, when there is really no
substantial difference between US? ! hope,
SIT, we VIII Jake a vote upon the amendment.
Mr.. IREDwAY of Pittsylvania. MIR. Chair.
man, before the vote il taken, ! desire to put
myself right as. to the vote shall give. I agree
with several gentlemen in the opinion that The
amendment moved by the gentleman from Mid.
dlesex, (Mr. MoATAGrg,} although it contains z
proposition to which | will assent when it is
proper to lay down that proposition; yet, DO.
l!eYlng, as | do, that the insertion OF, or the
attempt to insert that proposition, to wit: that
the States arc now sovereign, which ] believe
to DO a trulSm, for | have been trained in that
school Of politics which has brought me to the
same conclusion as the gentleman from Princess
Anne, (Mr. WIsE.) and those gentlemen wlio
have advocated the States Rights doctrine
But, while | ertertaM that opinion, | think 1t
has been demonstrated conclusiveIy by the gen.
t!eman from Frederick, (Mr. CoSEAD,) that the
insertion Of this proposition, although | regard
il rs . truiSm, would only tend to produce dis
traction to others in this body, and that It's in
sert,on here is Certainly unnecrssary and im-
proper.
Mr.. Chairman, there are two scnocls OF pc.
l~iticiens in Virginia, as every Ole knows, and
you cannot place such n proposition in this re.
solution, raising T. question in regard - this
doctrine, without placing those who belong to
the States Rights party, as they have been de-
nominated, III opposition 10 tbuSc who belong
to the other school Of politics, nnd who ere some.
times denoa,inated "Fedcralists," though will
not use, in this assembly, an epilhet which is
sometimes regarded as disagrerablr. But ex.
treme rs are my own opinions Gpon This ques.
ton, yet | know men with whom | am acting in
this body, End among them some Of the most
eminent statesmen Of Virginia, who differ with
Tue upon this question on an article in the poll
teal creed /; who differ with Inc honestly :;
and l am unwilling, until it is necessary,
to involve those gentlemen with myself in n
discussion, while vi are beset with difficulties
surrounding US certainly stuff cIent for this day.
therefore say, that | should regret the inscr-
ton Of the amendment either Of the gentle.
man from MiddleseX, or that Of the gentleman
from Powhatan, US unnecessary, and Us, in fact,
improper to be Incorporated in this connection
in the report Of the COMMITTEE. While, there
fore. !, myself entertain the opinion that that
proposition is true, and desire to put myself
right as a States Rights man, | shall vote
against it for the reasons have assigned.
lEries of Question, question:
Mr.. WISE understand the question now
to be upon the proposition of the gentleman
from Powhatan, (Mr. ScorT) What is that
propositiony
The CuAlRMAN.-The gentleman from Mid.
OlSSSA, lai. -hoNINNIE,J lb'l"ESSa y lSS III
the report Of the Committee the words, land
still are" Tie gentleman from Powhatan
proposes TO add to that amendment the words,
lover the power not granted to the United
States by the Constitution of the United
States" IF both amendments he adopted, the
clause will then read. THAT the States which
COMPOSED the United States Of America when
the Federal Constitution was formed, were in
dependent sovereignties, and still are sovereign
over the power not granted TO the United
States by the Constitution Of the United
States"
Mr.. NIsk-I cannot understand that amend.
rpent
The Secretary again reported the amend
ment.
Mr.. Wlss.-I do not catch it yet Do | IN.
derstand the gentleman TO state that Virginia
is independent, sovereign and free, except what
belongs somewhere else! Does he mean to grant
the sovereignty and then deny it in the same
breath? Why, sir, | might as well say TO one
Of the slaves on my plantation, you are free,
except what belongs 10 ne. 1t Is c ~sOlecisIn
in the statement of it. DO | understand my
friend from Pittsylvania, (Mr. TkEDwAY,) TO say
that he admits the principle Of States.riShts,
but he will not insert an assertion Of the prln.
ciple, because the assertion Of it might breed
distraction? Will he not assert aprincirle that
he admits to be true, that he admits to bu
sound, when it is denied by Implication in the
resolution be proposes to adopt! II the asser-
ton of the principle will breed distraction, lei
nue. ask him what will the denial Of 1t breed:
Mr.. TREDwAY-With the consent Of the
gentleman | will say to him that l do noe IN
derstand it to he denied III the section as it
now stands. / understand it in fact TO he al.
mittel in the 9Th section Of that report to
which the gentleman alluded yesterday bu!
vote against the amendment, because / believe
it to be unnecessary here, and III TACT Improper.
Ar. WIsE-The gentleman tells me he does
not understand it to be denied, when the re-
port expressly speaks in the pas: tense that
they "~ere" sovereign, implying ut least tsat
the Committee ignore sovereignty in the pre-.
sent tense. lie tells me that he does not un.
derstand it to be denied, when the gentleman
from Fauquier and the gentleman from Rich
mond, both in the Committee which reported
It, told him expressly that they do deny and
mean. to deny it. Will the gentleman fail to
assert it, and leave tho denial to be Implied,
because the report docs not deny it in express
wordsf
Ar. TREpwAy-lf the gentleman will per-
init me, | have not heard the gentleman from
Richmond, nor the gentleman from Fauqu!sr.
I am governed in my own construction Ivy the
language of the section. To illustrate my po.
sitiol, | hold that the failure to assert that
which is true, is not a denial Of it as n truth.
Some gentleman has said, that if we are to as
sert all truth, why not insert the Lords Prayer
which, according to the gentleman theory,
will be denied if we fail TO insert 1t?
Mr.. WIsE--I think tie Lords Pray CT should
very properly DO inserted for the beneG: OF
gentlemen in this Convention, Mho refuse to
assert their owl principles and their oHn pro-
positions.
Mr.. MORRIS called for the yeas and nays
upon the adoption Of tue amendment to the
amendment.