Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-26

ment.
Mr. TsrpwAr.-I nope the gcnllcuan vii
accept it.
Mr. MorrEtr. Il acceptit.
Mr, WHITFIELD. would suggest another
amendment, which is that Tue n..:t;a siioule
be included
Mr.. MorrsTT.-I cannot accept that.
Mr. WOODS Of B.Ibnur.-l desire 20 sub
nit Il remark or Two uy0a the proposition as il
now stands before liic Contention; not with
any vain expectation nf being able to change
tho mind OF any member Of this body in rea
ton TO the subject, but for the purpose Of en-
tcrlng my solemn protest against the whole
proceedings, If any one TACT - Inorc appa-
rent than another to this Convention, srd the
people Of the State of Virginia. it is this, tnst
tho larmh.-s Ct this body deem It their prcu
lar privilege, and deem themselves peculiarly
qualified to da. in an hour, what has require;
,ne wisdom ami the energy Of the STATE 0!
Ylrgit.,a to accomplish IN IS years.
SIR, Mn reminded, tS king .. tho clock,
thGt but ten minutes are allowed 10 each mem
Der of this Convention 10 discuss any PROPOSE.
lion tia. may arise or. the report OF this com.
mittcc. When CT my mind backwards to
tac year 1929, and recall the venerable Assem-
ba.e Oi wise men who uuce set in this House
for he purpose OF reforming the Constitution
OF Virginia, and when remember that they
Devoted upwards Of one hundred days. and
,hcn 30 tie Convention Of 1850, which occu
pied i,seif for L much longer period, in the
discussion of these same questions. | cannut
bring my mind to the conclusion tbst we have
20 far surpassed them in wIsd".u ami IN patriot
! ism, a+ 10 be enabled u.erftciy 10 arrive IL;
Drooar Conclusions without debate. u IS very
ila::criag to a mans vanity; it s very hatter.
lrg to Il IIli,'s Srlf.respcct 10 say "that his
opinion il; made Up. and that nothing tnat EDy
man GIN say can change H." Wise men do
sometimes change their opnlnn.. for one,
ain willing to ajm: that need instruction !;
that desire 10 bc instructed, and am unable
to Instruct any. Yet it is due to my own sell
respect it is due to the people vino sent ,ne
here il is due to The men who fight the ba:-
ties Of Vrginia it is due 10 the spirit of the
aga, that We shall not ruthess = ay our hands
uprn the we'll Established policy If tie Stats
Of Virginia, an.i take from large number OF
the qualified vy:sTs Of tic Commonwealth toe
right OF suffrage, unless tue strongest reasons
can be slio"n To justify il.
! The p!opuSiici, is now pending before the
Convention, allows people wh' volunteered IN
the service oI :ilo State 10 exercise The rights
Of suffrage; while 1t disiranchi:cs large por-
ton Of the State already beggareG This var.
Sir, do you know how many ofyour citizens ere
70 Gay ueggared, who, when you tirst entered
upor this war, we're IL comfortable clrcun-
stances know, .fcr one, that many ol tae
heat men in Virginia are bcgsaTcd. They have
isid eli Upon the sltar Of lbGir Country, and
hey Lave cost all. End. sir, Ii y"n %'l! tell
! MT how long tlr. "af is .c ias;; how many
arc 10 be bcggarud by the maiUng, wonnd
| ing, and d;sinc,ntermcnt Of ineir fathers Srd
brothers, who had molly volunteered III the
! service Of their country, and who, without
hope of reward or OF fame, risked all and lost
all in that servicer Sir, if you tell ne this. J
irlll point out to you the extent OF the Injustice
which this principle, reco:nmened III Vic rc
port, will inbict.
cannot pretend 10 discuss the principle in
volved in this question in the space of ten Iuin-
utes which is all the tino allowed for Discus
sicn. This is an iron rule, sir, and the fair in
f:re;,ce is, that there is disposition in this
i,otY 70 loreclose debate. csnnot but tcsl
! that it is the duty Of every man in this Con
yen:;on IL give to the people IF tie State ei
!! Virgins, not only ...heir rrusnng, no; Gnly
.he!r aSsertioas that It is b,s: /" have
rho law SO altered but ,nat they si:al!
c1ndrscend to show to their lnsSlris what
reasons have induced them to come 10 this
conclusion; for believe the history CT the
elections ni Virginia Hli verify tue sia's-
,ncnt thai the peo.la are ufteuer right thun
their Legislative bodies. think, sir-and
! need net go very ia: back INTO the history ci
Virginia TO verify that truth--lhat tie very
ppsllinn that tie people OF Virginia nos oc-
cupr III this great struggle. i'll which ls IL
vDl"ed UTT ali, IS because Of the superior lntel-
lig:Ecc energy aud patriotism OF the people ni
Virginia. and fer one, will never Comss:!t 10
,!ist,unchise Z inan Of thar glorious number,
ThH. when VIZ were being surrounded by Il
wall d fire; wbnIi Cur borders, il N the Chess
peakr 70 inc X kcutucky lite. we're surrounded bE
| uOs's cl a:;uud Ticn, rcat!y ~ he precip'l:ed
| upon our territory, 10 uVelrun il with hic anc
sword, came nobly forward and, with ccura
geous heart and strong arm, stayed the pro-
gross ci the Invader. AIN not one, sir, to
raise :ny hand 10 disfranchse single man
VINO, in the iuce of such odds, walked up to
t!:c polls and voted thai Virginia should re-
sumo the rights which she h:L c:i.rustcd 70 TIE
Federal Government.
! feel deeply OH his subject, sir, because ii
this val is 20 cG3tiEue for twelve nionIt!s more
and very nuGf, fear it wlll--;hat region OF
the State ol Virginia, afic;; IN part represent,
and which, unfortunately iUr Virginia, Is almost
urrcpreSrn;ed on this tl.vr, will b. literally
begsared. And, sir, if they CONSENT to live
in such Il country, they will have tu 60 out in
to the world as did iiagar with lShusel, not
knowing that thcy cat supply the neccssaries
Of life for themselves and their families; and
when they have borne all, riskcd al! anc hos;
all, aIu then com" up to Tue polls to vote, they
will be, under This rule, forced aside to glTe
way to the army worn who has lived and fat
tened upon the best energies Of that gallant
but Impoverished people.
Sir, the people will not bear it, uud trust
that this Convention will not subject them to
so huInliAtins triGl, to So calling q test, BY
ruthsssly laying it handss upon the rights Of
the people and DISTINGUISHING, it may be-, one
third of the population 81 Virginia, if this war
should continue twclyelnGh!
| would like, il bad time, ir i've the res
sons which ought TO Control th'. uoGy bat
| have felt it my duty to throw r:: these views
as those immediately occurring, me. would
admonish the Convention th;s &c adoption Of
this proposition may disfrar ch.. . and degrade
the best aud most gallant Ii,rn Of your whole
population.
Mr. pnrsros y rise t.: : Question OF order.
My judgment Is very c!s,", Sir, thit the oncs-
tion is not presented 10 8 9Fu: hat will enable
US to decide the matter.
The proposition Of :in gentleman !;oin
SmY,h (Mr suEFrEYj is tp strike out certain
words restricting the right of suffrage. Tha!
is a clear, distinct propn..;i,.a. The gentle
man does not propose :" substitute anything
for these words.
Tho gentleman rrau, Rap.aAsnaoch or.
MorFETr) proposes to smerd TIE proposition
BY enbodying in it other 1orris. Let US Sec
what the effect Of thrss words would be.
Tine Constitution, rs it is extends the right
cf suffrage, whether he be twelve or a six
months volunteer Hho is no~ in the army, OF
who may hereafter be in the army Iwsnt Il
l.a.... l. ..ac;.aI.r .lat Ansis In L.: