Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-03
The Virginia State Convention
R,cuMoSD, MONDAY, APRIL ], 1861.
sueech of Robert l.. Montague,
Of .Natheps and Hiddleses.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.

~ pSSSA
Of NatAeps and -Iiddleses.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
Mr. MONTAGUE, in Committee of the Whole,
spoke as follows: . i,
Mr.. Chairman, | have some views which
desire to present to this Convention, but 1t
will be utterly impossible for Inc to go fully
into the questions which | propose to discuss
without having before me some material which
I have not now at hand. If the Committee
will indulge nc, | will proceed with some in
troductory remarks, and then ask the privilege
Of allowing me TO complete what have to say
Tomorrow. VIII that course be acceptable to
gentlemen? -,
Cries of-"Agrced.'
7 congratulate nv friend from PittSylvunia,
who has lust tukcn his seat, (Mr. IEEDwAf,J
un1n the progress he is making. | think when
bs euts ovar that arrangement which he says is
nerSyading the public mind OF the country ant
shall settle down 10 calm, sober reason and re-
a~,rtior, he will not be very far from the point
when he shall 20 with me South. But, sir,
c.I .hc attention Of this Committee, and eSpe
riaIly nv fricnd from Pittsylrania, TO the ed
missions wl.icn he, and those who havespokeI
before him, have made, and | wish gentlemen
vino follow me in this discussion to answer
the questions | shall prop0und for the benefit
Of us here and the people OF the country.
NV distinguished friend from Augusta,
IMr, BALDWIN, the distinguished Chair
man of tie Committee Oh Federal Relations
iMr, K. Y. CoxRan,) every man who ha,
spoken here at all acknowledge tina
we have arrived at t. crisis when thcr,
mus: ne Il settlement, and a permanent settle
ment, Of the questions which have divided the
country. The gentleman who has just taken
bis seat declares that there must be such q
settlement us will assure the seccedcd States
that thoi" r'.hts u,ll he nr.lt. cod. and that theY
will be safe i'll returning to the Union. incil
gentlemen you admit that the Government is
it now stands, does not atfJrd safety aud pro-
lection 10 ali The rights Of the sla"eholding
States, yet you still declare that those States
ure guilty Of treason and rebellion, in lcav-
ing Il Government which you admit did Tot
afford them safety anil protection.
Mr.. BALnwIS.-WIth the permission Of the
gentleman, inasmuch rs h.. has referred TO
he AS one Of those making the admission IL
which he refers, l desire 10 say that my posi-.
ton distinctly was, that VII were sa(c, having
the safeguards Gf the Constitution under our
control, until they left Us anil involved upon us
new dangers.
Mr.. MoSrAeuE--vegy well; tlru you have
gentlemen upon tie same side, une taking one
position and anol .er, another. And the bible
Bays that when a house is divided against IT.
self it cannot stand" Bat, Mr.. Chairman,
here is the point. Here is the fact to which |
wish To bring the attention Of this committee.
You all admit-thg gentleman from augusta
says he did not, but every other gentleman
has made the admission-that 4 crisis is upon
us in which VIC must settle these questi,ns,
and settle them forever. Now, | ask JOu,
you gentlemen who are drnouncing the Sccclcd
States, and yet who admit that your present.
Constitution and laws do not give such sc;l-
rity and protection 10 the slaveholding Staes
as will permit them to rest in safety and in
peace for all time to come, if you now ent.r-
tain that opinion, | want to know when cid
you ever before express il: What las
brought about such a change in the pubic
mind, which has made this opinion fix itst!:
upon the heart and conscience Of every mar ?
What has done it The exercise of the right
of secession on the part Of these much abuIcd
Southern States ? And, when you admit tlat
there must be Il settlement Tor tine purpose of
giving security and satisfaction, you may zig
gle and twist as much as you please, but sou
cannot avoid the necessary result or the ad.
mission that these States did right when thcy
left the Union. Iol admit their safc,1 re-.
quircd this.
So much upon that point; and do no: pro-
pose 10 go further this evening than T. give
merely an introduction to the remarks; | in
tend to submit: Tomorrow. When this con.
federation was formed, what were the great
primary fundamental principles upon which it
was based: You know, sir, that two great
prominent ideas lay at the foundation Of tho
whole system. There were n Thousand little
details, n thousand different minor points. but
the great fundamental ideas lying at the bot.
tom Of the whole system were these: First,
to form such q government as should be u eem.
--.n-aennt-sn combine tho cnnmor iorcc5 VI
the country for the purpose of repellins 70.
reign invasion, in other words, projection
without; that was the first What was the
second : That there should be commercial,
social, and political equality between the
States that the government should secure dc.
nestle tranquility ard prevent any invasion
upon the partuf one State upon the rights OF
another.
Now, SIT, | undertake 10 say, that if any
gentleman Will investigate the history Of the
foundation nf this ronlcderacy, he will agree
that these two great principles are the [ourda-
ton stones upon which the Whole structure
rests. Here, then, is the fact to which | wish
to bring your attention and max, the social
commercial ard political equality Of the States
is l. Fundamental principle in our system. How
stands Virginia to day, when you apply that
principle IL her conditions? S!Ec has been in.
vadad By citizens ni her sister States. That
invasion cost your State between $500. 00U and
$400, 600, Us you can ascertain by calling upon
your auditor. Your Legislature, last winter.
appropriated $500, 000 Tor the construction of
an armory to manufacture arms and munitions
OF war. Your Legislature. ut the present scs.
sion, has appropriated 81 600, 600 for arming
your State. Here, then, is u tax of 20, Doc, 06u
imposed upon n people already ground down
by Il debt Of SO, uuG, 0GD. and Tor what, ask!
For what? Why, sir, to put your Stale in n
position 10 defend herself against the mculbers
Of her own family TO defend her equality 10
protect herself agains. her sister States, or
against the Federal Government, which is the
common agent Of all The States. Can this statt
OF things last?
Sir, your Go*crnuiciIt lr>IS III ihs affections
of the people. It's abiding place must be in
the honest hearts of the great masses OF the
people. And when those hearts become per,
yertcd, ar'i when hate and malignily take the
place OF affection and regard, Your whole
system, is Il failure, and it becomes The paTt o.
wisdom and prudence 10 organize another
that sill cure these dcitc's.
Aud now. Mr.. Chairman, in regard TO what
seemed To he the main leading point of the
speech Of my able and distinguished friend
from Augusta, CIR. BALDWIN, | will shy n
word OF two.
That gentleman declared here, with n tri.
umphant air, and challenged the whole Com
monwcnlth to reIute him. that Virginia had
ratified, and expressed her Satisfaction, at
every act Of the Federal Government on the
slnvery question and Of all others, ny to the
time Of Abraham Lincoln's election. That de-
~claralion has gone forth before tho country to
have its effect. lie said further-that the
Federal Government has 'een administered
since its organization, By Virginia men on Vir.
vinia pri clples; that when not administered
-. "a ,-1- al ,Al - w.,