Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-08
The CRAlRNAS.-The question now rocurs
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HU1GlUIUes1l, Huu L " III " SoN tAS ~
the Chairman of the Committee to the amend.
mcnt that | propose. 1t is q matter OF TASTE as
much as anything else
The resolution now reads:
1.-THE sites of the Federal forts, ~arsenals, &c
within the limits of the States of this Union,
were acquired by the Federal Government and
Jurisdiction over them coded by the States, as
trusts, for the common purposes OF the Union
during its continuance; and upon the separa.
ton of the States"
I PROPOSE to strike out "during its continu-
ance and upon the separation Of the States"
and to insert in lieu thereof the following:
"And upon the Federal Government ceasing
to execute the trust"
So that the resolution as ] propose to amend
It would read,
Tho sites OF the Federal fo7ta, a~rsenals. SC.
were acquired by tho Federal Government,
and jurisdiction over them coded by the
States as trusts for the common purposes OF
the Union, and upon the Federal Government
ceasins to execute the trust, such jurisdiction
reverts Of right 20 the States respectively, by
which The Jurisdiction was ceded."
The section speaks Of u trust being created
ard | conceive, whenever the General GO
itt''t q = WV SeSt
cause, that it reyerls as a matter Of right to the
States.
Mr.. WIse.-I would inquire Of tho mover
Of this amendment whether he stated that he
offered it as a matter of taste.
Mr.. REowS.-l called the attention OF the
Chairman to it and | stated that it might pro-
badly 10 some extent be q matter oil taste. The
General Government may cease to execute the
sm,.t rr -, .,,ca flon y nSeiunnf IN the
original resolution. The amendment | offer
covers the whole ground, md provides that
whenever the Federal Government from any
cause ceases to execute The trust, either by
being interfered with, or bT the sfPara-
ton of. States or from any other cause, their
Jurisdiction reverts az q matter OF right to me
States.
Mr. WlsE-I oppose that amendment with
nil nv might. II has something more titan
mere taste in il; there is something more than
the gentleman named in it AS the report stands,
| agree with the proposition Of the committee,
which ccmmcnds Itself to me upon the ground
that i! does acknowledge the act Of separation
CT the States. anG does admit that, under such
separation, the forts 60 revert 10 the States by
virtue Of their own act Of separation Tho
gentieulan's proposition is meant to deny that,
and it smscks TO me Of war. 1t is, in TART. an
ayowal Of n proposition that the Federal TyV-
%crnrnent has the right, after separation, to in
sist upon the occnp ilioa CT the forts.
,Mr. BEowS.-l had no idea of getting into
d war. We have been hearing of war and
bloodshed ever since we assembled here l
trust we will cease hearing of these bloody
conflicts. simply designed, BY my amend
lneut, neither to affirm nor deny The right oil
secession, or the right Of Jurisdiction revertins
upon the secession OF q State; but ! intended
simply TO declare, that whenever the Federal
Government, from any cause, ceased to per-
form its part and execute the trust contiued to
it, tbs State ought Of right to assur'e J~urlsdlc.
ton over the subject.
The question was taken on Mr.. BRo"N's
amendment, and it YVES rejected.
Mr.. CAaL1LE.-Do | understand from the
Chair that it would be in order to move to
strike ont the whole sectionr
The ~CnAlRHaN.-It would be in order.
Mr.. CAKL1LR-I propose 70 strike out the
whole section, and I vould like to have my
name recorded in favor ofsSstriking it out, md
therefore I will ask for the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The question was thsn taken anL the Com
mittee refused to strike out the ~section-yeas
IA, nays;1l5-as follows: :
~Ygls-Mes.rl brown, Bu.de,t. hurley, Carlle, Dent,
EARLY, Hubbard. Nuehes, Jackson Lewis, Meere"' Pat
Tars -Msssrs. Jauney, President Amber. Armstrong,
A.iop, A. ". : art"ur.J J. haroour' baylor Masey, b,o%,
Jr, Bosg.as, Boi'seau, BoTs., ponldiu, Boyd, Branch,
Brent. Bruce. Byrre. Campbell, CsprrtoD, Cecil, chapman,
ccEnsn, Conn, c. . Conrad. K. !. coDrad, Couch, T.. u,
French. Garland, Glie,p!r, Graham: Gravelr, Gray, Cog.
cir, J. GoOde, J5. Hale, A. Haul E; H.I, L. :; Hall; Ham
Shell, NJ. Johnson. P. G. johns.on, Kent, Klhy, Kindred,
L.wson, Leaae, mccomas. Mcneil, MscfaTlsr1. J. B. Nal
Tory, Msrshal. Asrr' Mare, e; Mss'fSs; ,iaat ost SoT ~.
(. I. scor:, ". C. scc.:, srnweil, sn.Gry, F~i,limston,
mt 9. :. Srusrt, Summers, su:hcriin. Tsy!oe. 'TredTav. R.
4. Turner, 2. P. Turner, Tyler, Waller, VIII; field, Wick.
ham, Wiley. Williams. Wliaon, Wise, Woods, "y'or-1lo
Mr.. W.LsoS-I now move that tho Commit.
tee rise. 1t is very desirable that We should
take a veto in the Convention.
The question was taken and the motion was
not agreed &c.
The 6;h section waS then reported as fol-
lows:
Deeply dePloring the present distracted
condition of the country, and lanentlDg the
wrongs that have impelled some Of The States
to cast oG obedience TO the Federal Govern
ment, hut sensible Of the blessings Of the
Union, and impressed with its Importance 10
the peace, prosperity and progress OF the
people, we indulge the hope, TINT m adjust
ment may be reached by which the Union may
| be- preserved in is integrity, and peace, pros.
pcrity and ~fraternal feelings be restored
| ihroughous the land"
Mr.. HanrIr-T understand that it is in order
70 move . substitute for that whole section.
As ! an thoroughly opposed to every ~enuncia'
ton in it, except the one contained in the first
line, | purpose to offer tho following substitute
for the whole Of it:
"Rescived, That an Ordinance Of Secession,
resuming the powers Delegated by Virginia TO
the Federal Government, and providing rcr sub.
hitting tho same 20 the qualified voters Of tho
Commonwealth, for their adoption Or rejection
at the polls in the spring election in May next
should be adopted By tbs Convention"
NJ. Chairman, there is but One provision in
this sixth resolution that I approve. I do
| deeply deplore the present distracted condition
Of The country, aud after saying that much, ]
this section. The section goes OH TO say:
deeply deploring the present distracted
condition Of the country, and lamcnting the
wrongs that have impelled o m Of the States
to cast of obedience to the Federal Govern
ment.'
Now, Mr.. Chairman, I utterly dissent from
tIe opinlOn eap'E>eeu theie, Giu tHc SH'"i
| ton made by this Committee, that the States
are bound to obey the Federal Government
The Federal Government, in my opinion, is
bound 10 obey the States. The States are par.
ties to the compact that made the Federal
Government their agent, and tho States have
the right to control the Federal Government.
T utterly dissent from the doctrine, that under
any circumstances, at any time, the Federal
Government had inc right to enforce obedience
upon the States that created it There is the
great mistake, in my opinion, that this Com.
mittee oftwent:one have made. ] an enc of
those who believe hat the States have the
! right, in their judgment, if they choose, to put
an end 10 this government do believe that
this government is now ended; that it is not a
government to which seven States owe obedi-
eace ncw, and that they did not owe obedience