Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-06

the Committee of Twcnty.onc that gentleman
voted against tho propositions o' inc fehe'
Conferences.
Mr. BALDwix.-The gentleman will allow me
to say that he is sntirely under nlsapPrehch-
sion IS to my voting against the propositions
of the Peace Conference. II they we're sub
mitted now as independent propositions, US
satisfactory settlement Of these difficulties As
far as constitutional provisions can settle tnem'
I would, to-day, unhesitatingy vote Tor them.
The other day voted for plan which l thinN
is an amendment to the Peace Conference pro-
positions, and in approving that proposition |
did not resort to the cxpedient which was re-
sorted to day or two since by those with
whom the gentleman acts upon this floor, who,
when the constitution Of the Southern Confed-
cracy was before the House, retired outside the
bar aud did not vote at all.
Mr.. GoopE of Mecklenburg. Chair
| man, ii these Peace Conference propositions
De the great panacea, the gentleman Woula
have us believe, for nil the ills that aiii!ct Inc
country; if it would leave us nothing to COM
plain Of why is it that the Committee, win
which the gentleman acted, dit not report
those proposition here, as their own PROPOSE
tons, to 20 forth To the people Of Virginia =
|
gentleman told Us that they were better than
The Critsendcn propositions. II that BE- true,
il is much to be regretted they were mt sub
ruitt,d 10 the people, for, throughout TIE
breadth and length OF The State of Virginia,
| in Tie late CANVASS, beard but one sentiment,
and that Was, that the Crittendcn propositions
would be acceptable and satisfactory to the peo-
ole Of Virginia But, sill, seems the Legislature
| kpn. ybpt
that they did not know what were proper guar
antees and guards Of Southern rights. 1hcy
sent TO the Peace Conference demanding The
adoption Of the Critterden propositions rs a
basis Of settlement satisfactory 10 Virginia,
but our generous friends, the Black Republi
cans, gave US, in that Peace Conference pro-
positions something better, something more
than we demanded. Sir. to sar the least Of
it, this is counter to the coarse which they have
heretofore pursued tOworda rs.
Our Senators are nrraigued. Yes, Sir, while
standing upon the battlemrnts Of the remnant
Of the Constitution Of the country; while bat
ting for Eirginia'S rights and FIrgniaS honor;
while in,erposing their arms to stay the storm
which threatens to burst upon us; while stand
ing, as hithful sentine!s, upon the wateh-tower
liron which they were placed by the people Of
]
them md deEmnd a settlement | EN- not sur
priScd tia. the TIai 1ritr oil this Convention
Should want settlement with the Virginia
| senators.
| have no doub; that when the time for set
Element COMES, there will he many gentlemen
here who will he very willing TO step into the
shoes OF TIC Virginia Senator's. 1t may be, for
aught know, that urr!rr the clamor which
] II Il Al. =, q
MIA Senators may 50 down; but. SIR. they will
90 dJ%n fighting the battles Ut the people Of
Virginia. and / would rather DC one Of those
Senators going down than DC the gentleman
who rises OH his ruins.
SIR, our gallant Ser! tors could fai! upon no
field more worthy OF Inc patriot statesman
but stand or fall, there will be
The srse: rewards ha: decorate .h- brave
| rewards. not the less sa.rcd to the statesman
than to the soldier
But. Sir, believe t:ii: whatever may be the
sentiment d! the Convention, the great heart
Of the Commonwealth will, when the test
comes, throo in Appreciation Of the course Of
our Virginia Senator'S II ever public men dc.
servcd to he greeted with rcll done, good,
and faithful Servant, it is the Virginia Senators.
desire to say Il very r:w words in regard to
the majority report Of the Committee Of Twen-
;y-nrc do not propose to examine that re-
oort in detail. !ind in it two, to me-, IN.
superaLe objections.
Oae is, tina. it looks to n conference Of the
border States; ard the other, that it locks to
vet further delay in sercring the connection OF
| Virginia with the broken and dshonurcd Con.
lederncy. What do VIC Of Virginia want with
y conference Of border Statcsp Do we not
| know our own rights? Can we not maintain
them, without consultation and without adj
vsemenl: Ii we 50 into conference Of border
States, aud il those States choose to submit to
wrong and aggression, which We would moi
submit t., and refuse IT, sustain ou7 ultirHatuTn,
do gentlemen mean that they will yield the
| ind :l.ent 81 Virginia 10 that Of The border
State? If they do not mcan that, then :: hor
der Conference is vain and lido
The Union is now dissnlred-it has passed
away
-xlimus'!:g through the dream: OF things thas
A ,chooiboy's ,ale, the wonder CT an hour"
The American Union nov belongs bu! TO his.
tory. 1t remains but for the historical pen 10
tell of its decline aud flil'' ~ after times.
Seven States If the Confederscv, carrying
GU. the great cardinal principles of free govern
menr, q, ANNOUNCED by the patriots and saccs
Of the revolution, in serering their connection
with the mniicr COUNTRY, have taken their DIS.
TIMES in their own hands and with their
owm keeping. A Southern Confrt!eracy is nov
a fixed fact The il1g Of the Confederate States
now il1ats iii majestic beauty from the capital,
At Montgomery. | pray that ere long, as II
floats out 10 the Southern breeze, it will crre-
lope within its ample folds, this mo,har Of
Suites end Statesmen. hope the dag Is reHT
when tina, hag will he your fay and m:
Gag. But, sir, we are told that the Govern
mcnt may be reconstructed. viii these
discovered States ever be Reunited! No, SIR.
For never can true reconclcment grow where
wounds oi deadly hate have pierced so deep"
Sir, had This government gone down ara been
overthrow from some defect il itd system. we
might hope that experience and wisdom ln!Sht
supply what was wanting. Had II gore down
in s,rnc sudden, internal CONFUSION, we might
nope tina: with the disappearance 81 Tie excl
ting cause, fraternal spirit would be restored.
In the one cause, rs in tho other, we might
hope for reconstruction. Bnt it has fallen
from neither Of those causes. it has gone
down because its foundations were sapped by
Northern hate Of Southern men and for South
ern institutions. tn word, sir. no human
power can ever RECONSTRUCT u. - '.'.t VIC ~
there remains for the people Of Virginia but one
question, ard that is, whethcr their fortunes and
des;inics shyll he united in glorious brother
hood, with kindred spirits of the South, or
whether she will ingIpriou-ly remain in
Union with those who arc aliens and enemies
to her people and to their interests, TO my
mind there is single view Of this
question, which is co"ciusi7e Il is tlra,
that Virginia remaining in Tive present
Conf.deracy. with the Northern States
not only can never again WELD the powers ofthe
government, but caa never even participate in
the exercise Of those powers again. You have
SECTIONAL northern, dominant party, whose
leading, moving principle, is hostility to the
social organization Of the Southern States.
Tic decree has gone forth, and has been re-
Al, ,lo,oc ,},nt p,ip gh II