Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-12
Prayer by Rev. J. A. Duncan, Of the Broad Street

III. IL. ChurCh.
BILLS REPORTED.
Amending an act regulating foreign Life Insurances;
amending an act concerning insurance licenses 10
tend the Improvement Of the Little Ksnawha 10 the falls
thereof 10 Brsxon relieving Edward McCabe Of Hsr.
pers Ferry releasing the Commonwealth claim to H.
land in Chesapeake Bay to Ed*ard l. Poulson incorpo
rating the Arnoldsburg and Sandy turnpike CO. to in
corporate the Lynchburg and North Carolina T. T. Co.
PETITIONS
OBJ NJ. Smith, of Prince Edward; of James Long
and OF hers; OF Col. G. f. Sbyrock and others.
STATE CONVENTION.
The bill providing for the calling OF Convention
and the election Of delegates to the same coming up
the order of the day. add the question being on the
adoption OF the amendment offered by Mr.. Watts, TO
submit the action Of the Convention to the people for rat
icaion:
Mr. KENPER said that If the amendment was adopt
ed it would cease to be bill calling sovereign Con-
venton, and become act merely calling restricted
agency In the name Of those who coopera,ed with
him, he would say that il the amendment incorpo;
rated in the BILL he and they shoud be constrained to
vote against it. and resist the bill now and forever
When the gentlemen from the East came forward and
rendered the White basis neat and pure they did il from
regard for the feelings of their friends from the West
hoping for reciprocity. 1t is not for US to say in what
the people shall instruct their delegates to the
Convention He expressed his opposition to such action,
and that the matter might be put to the vote, he
constrained to call the previous question.
The call sustained.
Mr. ANDERSON rose to a personal eIplination.-
While it had been his intention to for Convention
in shape he would not vote for forced upon
his people in that way.
The vote being taken the motion to call the prev
Gus question il was lost-ayes AZ, noes 81.
Mr. KEEN offered the following substitute for the
amendment proposed by Mr.. Warts
AT the same time the said Commissioners shall open
separate poll to take the of the qualified voters
to whether any action OF the said convention solving
connection with the Federal Union, changing the
glnic law OF the Stat shall be submitted TO the people for
their ratification rejection; and in order TO ascertain the
OF the voters upon the question aforesaid the said
officers shall be kept poll to be headed upon
the question of referring such action to the people for
their decson which said pol-book shall have two col
umns, one headed "for reference to the people, and
the other against reference to the people, and the
names o. those who vote for the former shall be written
under the former heading and .hose who vote for the
latter under the latter heading When the said officers
aforesaid they shall ascertain and make return
the number Of persons voting for each of the PROPOSE
tons. They shall forthwith send TO the clerks OF their
respective counties corporations, copy Of the same
whose duty it shall be to transmit Immediately copy
thereof to the President Of the convention at Richmond
aud also TO the Governor of the Commonwealth.
Mr., WATTS accepted the proposed substitute for his
amendment.
The question being on the adoption of the amendment
Mr. KEEN said that in presenting il, he did not desire
to delay the passage of the bill From the earliest
ton. The people of the Common wealth. in conformity
with the bill of rights should at the polls say for them
Ives whether or not the action of the Convention should
b. submitted back to them for ratification. IL plain
prooostion and he hoped would meet the appreciation
Of the House.
DIR. BALL said that individually he was as earnestly
and decidedly in favor of the call of Convention any
gentleman this floor and in this position he
tanned by the wishes and convictions of the people
whom he represented but the grave and important is
involved in the and complications that
surround US demanded in his Judgment strict and IN
faterng adherance 10 the great and fundamental prnc
pie that lies at the foundation of institutions, that
the form OF our government shall not be changed, al
tered subverted unless ratified and sanctioned by
majority of the people themselves. the acts Of this Con-
veuon will be OF such magnitude and Importance as TO
reqniTe clear deliberate and solemn sanction OF them
by the people at the polls He did not intend by bis ac-
ton here, intimate any disrust apprehension that
the people would not raty whatever the Convention
might DO for the best interests, honor and dignity
Of Virginia, for while Virginia would ever guard
their own personal honor they would less sacredy
shield and protect the bright and untarnshed escuheon
of the Commonwealth. The hrongng events OF the hour
OF the most alarming character and he desired 10
the representatives OF the people assembled in Con
venton as promptly possible to deliberate upon the
momsntous questions that now anxiousy engage all
thoughts, but he wished to give to the people some
advisory power its action-the people had not
yet determined they had the right do the exact mode
AID measure Of redress, for immediate
son. and others yet hope to avert this final revolutionary
resort aud that Union which Virginia did so much
create and form and which has constituted of the
prOudest monuments of her glory and tatemanshp yet
preserved and restored all its original beneicence aud
integrity. In view then OF the fact that the people had
not yet detcrm ned upon any definite line of policy
adjustment other than Il stern and determined pur-
pose to demand and assert all their rihgts
It all hazards it emneny proper that the action OF
the Convention should be referred the people for their
approval aud this approval when thus obtained, would
have significance and power which the action Of the
Convention alone could never command. Do gentlemen
realize (said Mr. b. the extent OF the power which this
Convention will possess-sovereign, unlimited and abso
lutte power, not only to fix and determine Federal
and external relations but Also il in their wisdom they
should determine to do so, to change modify in
terna and domestic policy He could never in contra
venton OF great cardinal principle of our R4pubi-
can system Of government, hand over people aud all
their interests this Convention without referring in
some form other its action to the final arbtramen of
the popular Judgment The times (sald Mr. b
alarming and perious, and though pillar after pillar Of
our national Union is being oosened and threatening to
give way let us take care in the general crash aud
wreck not to lose principle valuable and vital
Republican liberty that involved in this question. Mr..
B. read in conclusion from the proceedings Of Loudoun
meeting, representing every phase Of opinion to show
that his constituents had taken this position and instruct
ed him to act accordingly
Mr.. DUCKWALL offered the following as an amend
ment to the amendment:
Provided, however that the vote so taken in each
county election district respectively shall be consd
cred only declaratory of the popular voice Of the
electors of such county or election district and pop
uar instruction OF the electors OF such county cleo
ton district to their delegate delegates to the
Convention"
Mr.. DUCKWALL was for prompt action, but such
ton would cause feeling of regret. We should take
time to deliberate upon the position in which we place
thaS tatn Na anlf nnt. pttAnt,
but when the people together they sovereign
and we cannot dictate 10 them He objected TO the
amendment, because according to its provisions the vote
of one county or section may overshadow and control
the vote of another.
Mr. NEWTON thought the necessity for prompt &C.
ton urgent that he would best consult the interests Of
the people by recording his for immediate Conven
lion. He thought the only effect Of the adoption Of the
amendment would be to throw shade of distrus over
the whole movement. Why should we hesitate to give
the Convention full power to act for the people,
Mr.. KEEN asked of Mr.. DUcKwALL il be meant BY his
amendment that if his district should elect delegates in
favor OF secession and Ptsyvaua should elect delegates
against secession, both being instructed the one should
go and the other remain in the Union. The gentle
mau from Hanover had said that emergency might
arise in which would be proper TO give the entire con-
troll of the question to the people Had the gentleman
got far in advance of the ptoplethe argument hav.
ing been that behind them-as that he bet
ter prepared to judge than the people would be on
election day. and whether might not "a safely trust
the question to the people and let them say whether the
action of the Convention should be referred back to
them or not.
Mr.. C0WAN was surprised to hear in the course of
debate the word section" used from side of the
hall to the other 0ne would suppose from remarks that
had been made, that Western Virginia was making this
noise upon the floor Why this charge when there are
as many acting with in this matter from the East
from the West lam compelled to acknowledge there
are sections in Virginia, and is forced from me by the
allusops of gentlemen.