Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-12
!I1lymon0 Enquirer.
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.
SECRET SESSION.
!EiNTH DAY.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 81, 1861.
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WEDNESDAY,, APRIL 81, 1861.
EEEN2rG SESSION.
icoNTINuED.
M:. RAspoipu should like 10 know il
,a,7- is sny other report from the ssuo Oo;n-
.a!t:re.
Nj. TYLsR--I lase another ordinance which
nus. &c consequent upoa the adoption vi that
r!ya:i will send i, 10 the Secretary 10 be
:rai (ur the information ois the body.
The Secretary reed the ordinance, as fol
:o%,:
AN ORDISAScE j"y the adoption The Cons.!-
tuition Of tho Propis VhGi Goeerhment Of the
Confederate .Shtes ty Amer:cu Passeei
april a5tE, 1851.
We, the delegates Of the people Of Virginia,
10 Convention assembled, scleEinly impressed
with the perils which surround ihe Common
wealth, and appealing to the Searcher Of
h.arts icr the rectituds of our intentions in
a=sg:aiHg tho grave responsibility of this act,
CO. oy shis ordinance, adopt and ratify the
Constitution Of the Provisional Government of
Inc Confederate States Of America, ordained
Ind established st Montgomery, Alabama, Oh
tie eighth day Of February, eighteen hundred
anu sixty -one Provided, That this ordinance
shall cease 10 have any legal op Grafton or effect
!;he people of this Commonwealth, upon the
vote directed to be taken on the ordinance Of
secession passed oy this Convention on the
seventeenth tay Of April, eighteen hundred
Ard sixty one, shall reject the same.
sIr TyLEA-I desire merely TO say, by way
q explanation Of the agreement which has
been entered into between the Committee ap-
5via,ea BY this body and the Commissioner
.9.a the Confederate States, that after con-
s:deF;ng .as propositions which presented
themselves to our uiinds, in every imaginshle
.Gru, Se were driv.n 10 the conclusion that
Il. only possible mode in which we could
.ss.l ourselves Of the organized government
q: the Confederate States was u become
,reuber OF il forthwith. But lnark you, not
81 G-eT; bus merely member OF its provi-
:!S:.sl soverpn,eDt, which expires in twelve
months from the time Of its adoption by the
Confederate States thiak it expires, prooa.
5y. 10 February next 1t was adopted on the
Nu DAY Of February last, and it expires in
;Ss!ve months from that dag, unless, indeed,
:.h9ald BE ths pleasure Of Congress to change
Tia, limitation by prompt and early organi-
ii:!on Of aeS government under the new Con-
,;i,uion which has been adopted by all the
S;.:r$ci thu. Confederacy. Still it would run
3pto February before it could expire. The
-=4i:o; under the Constitution OF the perma'
n.i.! 20. ernu.snt could not occur sooner than
E,7smber; and during the whole intervening
!;.re. and before that Congress could be in
sailed in Office, the provisional government
aaS existence, and DO other. 1t is into that
p:ovisional government that you 60 1t is moi,
rrpeat, permanent association with these
Confederate States, under q permanent sys-
sn OF soverDment, but altogether tem-
P5rsry But should that ordinance which
a,s hsen r=ad to YOU in connection with the
'rssly which has been made between the Con
E!srste States and your cou.lnl.tee, go into
eIr:l il vii! only provide for the period o
;:rs ,hst the treaty may exist, namely, tor the
-=.' of It's ratification here by the assembling
.: Congress. You perceive that it may be
s@Gae tau days before ths Congress which Is to
-'ie!Ghe or the 29th Of APRIL will be installed
.a;o othee. You want some provision to exist
os:seeu you aud the Confederate States De
:"eea li;is; and The 2atd day Of the month
ia:se slpul.t:ons-cg them tresty Or What
e'=. else you p;aase--are designed simply &c
s;lup the period that may elapse between the
adoption OF that treaty and the assembling o
:s- Congress- of the Confederate States, pc
!Oa of about nine days; thet is to say, thai
y9a should adopt the. ordinance Of union te
;tt PROVISIONAL government which, Of course
jpa gill be obliged to do, for otherwise the
Issty would be no of avail whatever.
in turning Tie matter over in the minds Of
'ns cemiat;es, We found it impossible to place
sas State Of Virginia in proper and becoming
altitude without adopting That ordinance 81
7s.oa and Of confraternity. If you stood out
2,@O q separate treaty OF alliance, offensive
I'D defensive, you would have no power con.
's::rd upon you that would be sufficient t.
,-y you through this war. For instance
-. being member Of a duly organized gov
esauent, you would have difficulty in nego
G.,ing treaties; you could negotiate with diff.
cai,y any treaty whatever with any European
,esar. These powers require some evidence
a lh- entire capacity Of yourselves TO main
an your existence before they viii enter ipl
;i,u!ations with you. Might i not be mat
81 ci aou5; whether Virginia, standing isola-
ed from ali other connections, could BY pos
,.5Ilty maintain her existence and separate
'rvereign.vi We might hope so III the pride
>! our ieelnza We nigh: even think 30;
~; 2e: it would be desperate and hazardous
tYatict which you would enter iDtG, It is only
y fo,mns d union with powerful State CT u
vsa::;'as,icn Of States, that you csn With per
.e' certainty and confidence assure yourselves
9'you. capacity and your ability IL Y;ndcste
;onr ezisterce ard your sovereignty.
But sir, ] VAS renarkirg that yen could not
2sertats foreign treaties, standing ISOLATED!
III: ai2ne 'up0n an alliance merely otf.nsiVe
@1 defensive. In this case your character
''idiG net be- changed into separate and in
.s@eldeEt State Separate and distinct from
lie Confederate States, you wnUld he forced to
tne sesoatsnir az the F:euch Call il; and, stand
rs ia hist position, it tecu,ues more thyn
questionable whether you could enier into any
. 'Tea'y whatever With fore; IN l;owcr Enter
~ however, into union with these States,
'he difficulty yaaiShes. You are connected
9Th pos erful Coniedeiacy, regularly or
ss'ized governments government dc Jacto,
'ach has maintained its Independence tor the
''st if'!ee, or iour, or 6vss or siy months. I.
30 scarcely be assailed from any quarter. II
5 no" understood by all European govern
meats 10 be sufely established under the pan
'Pi? CT its own arms. There will be no diff.
sal'y, therefore, especially when you have
'sred into this union; because your soye-
,:'snsy will be maintained, to say nothing Of
We rapid accession of Southern power from
yher States which you will be likely to receive.
.s 1su VIII have e power aud an interest In the
~1a'is Vi tie world th. very instant you enter