Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-12
, border saveholding States fer conference aid

@ That additional guarantees or assurances
shall be demanded on the more important Of
these points, in the forms OF checks and k,-
lances Of power, to he defined by amendments
to the Constitution Of the United States.
8. That responses 10 these demands from the
| respective States shall be requested within a
| fixed and limited period to wit: on or before
the lsi dny Of October next, if possible.
4. That, in the mean time it be recommend
ell to the people Of this Commonwealth, in
the event the federal authorities shall, under
any pretext whatever, attempt To enforce their
claim Of jurisdiction over the people Of the So
ceded States, as by collecting the duties for re.
ven,e or diverting the transit or entrance oi
commerce, or in any other mode, hv force Of
arms, To resist such cXcrion Of force by hll tho
means in their power.
5. That the federal authorities lie requested
to Withdraw all occupation Of the places eclurl
in the seeded States, and to reduce the forces
at Fortress Monroe and llarper's Ferry, at Fort
Washington and Fort McHenry, in Mary land,
to garrisons on guard duty; and that the guns
which have been lately mounted laudwardS, he
removed AID ell other preparations for war in
the limits Of this Commonwealth, or On her
border be at once stopped; protesting that
these forces and warlike preparations are irri-
tating CAUSES Of civil war and dangerous 10 tho
people.
G. Tha: the Legislature OF this Common
wealth be recommended and urged to make
ample appropriations to place her people in
complete state of military defence.
I. That this Convention will place itself il
immediate communication with the border and
other savcholling States still remaining in the
{nr nrG nd tr, Ia
awaiting the responses Of the other States 10
these requests and demands
S. That IN ordinance I've adoptcd at 0nce, sub
miltins to the people Of this Commonwealth 10
determine whether, if their just demands arc
rot satisfactorily responded to by tie nol-
savehoidiNg Sta;es, or arc not responded to u.
all by them. Or if civil war shall com.ncncc un
tie part Of the Federal authorities, within the
periuG named pending the efforts ef this Com
Inonwc.l:h for adjustment, they will 0r will
not resume .he powers granted by them under
the Constitution Of the United States; end will
or will not unite their destiny with that of the
srceded slavehoding States Of the South, eai-
bracing in any new Uniun 20 be lorinet such
non slavcholding States as will manifest Il dis.
position and determination to respect and main
tain the equal rights Of al the States and their
people.
All which is respectfully submitted with the
request 10 be permitted TO assign hereafter the
objections TO the report entertained lay the
minority OF the Commi:tcr several Of whom
are now absent. Henry 4. Nl.E.
On motion Of Mr.. WISE, the report was laid
Oh tle table and ordered TO be printed.
Mr.. uAKvIE-With the consent Of my friend
from Louisa (Mr AMpLER,) wil submit II mi
nority report from the Committee on Federal
Relations, and will ask that it bc laid upon tl:c
table and printed.
concur with many portions OF the report
Submitted by the gentleman who has just Ia
ken his seat, Gov. W1sE,) and concur with
the request 10 be allowed, with him, hereafter,
an opportunity CT expressing the objections
that entertain TO the minority report, differ
from i, as do, in many essential particulars.
now beg leave to submit the following re-.
port:
The undersigned. Il minority Of the Commit.
tee on Federal Relations, report that, having
had under consideration the resolution refer.
red 10 the said Committee and dissenting ifuia
the report Of The Ia2jurity, recommend % the
Convention the adoption Of the following resp
luton:
Resolved, Tha, the Committee on Fedora!
Relations be ilsttu u;.ed to report un ordnance
resrmins the pswc,s delegated By Virginia 10
the Fedcrsl Government, and 20 make pr"ri.
s:un for submitting the saE.c 10 tic qualified
voters Of the Commonwealth for their adoption,
or re- jec;iIn. Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS L. HARvIE,
RUBT. L. MoSTAGrr,
SAM'L Z. WILLIAMS.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Richnund-Mr President,
ty leave Of the gentleman from Louisa, Cir.
AMsLEH) and trust by the permission Of this
Convention, | desire 10 SPY a few words Of
personal character.
Il is the first time that have riseIl OF ihi;
floor for any such pui pCsc; and trust. SIR,
It will Le the-last ] fear that the few re.narhs
which will make, vii! not be appreciated hy
the Convention, because it may tc difficult for
them TO place themselves in, and to understand
the position which | occupy.
ain the huabiest Of the representatives OF
the people Of RiaimoHd OIL this tlmr. Sir,
you may net know, and perhaps do mol k'.n".
and this Convention may not know. ard per
maps tho members 10 not know, tia; II hes
been industrously circulated, and | say ma
liciouSly circulated, in the Streets Of the city Of
Richmond, that |, three days ago, made
Black Republican and q coercion SpCrch
SAY THAI members may he surprised to hear
this; but associa,ing, Us do, with the people
of Richmond have i.raEd it frequently, n1t G.
little, either, to my modification and 10 my III
dignaton. The report, Mr.. President, Is CIR
culatcd and predicted upon the fact that three
DAYS ago made speech in reply to the gen.
,leman from Halifax, CIR. FLorsSoY.) tie gen.
.cman from Prince Edwurd iMr. THoRIroN)
and nv friend from Bedford. tNlr. GnoDE.J
The circumstances IN which That s. e:c!i w's
made will be well rcinenIhritl by ihe urin.
bers Of this Convention. 1t was %hcn thGrc
was an effort made by gentlemen who did not
agree with me in regard to the particular SUBJ
irct under consideration, to press vote upon
the Convention upon the question If co"rcioa
and upon other questlons when the Committee
then had under consideration these very
identical subjects. Then, sir, presented my
yicws in opposition TO any immediate action
upon this question, and have reason to be-
l;evc that the Committee concurred with me
in sentiment. inasnuch as mp TO this time no
action had been taken by them.
Nuw, sir, the remarks waich / made til en-,
were made in reply 10 the very beautiful AZ
garments Of the gentleman from Halifax, (Mr.
NJ SCHtlCEIaH oH ihSS AN""''' y
lMr. THogSToS,) and the gentleman from Bed
ford (Mr. GooDE) see but one Of these gene
temcn in his seat to-day, ard | will appeal to
him now if I said one single word, if uttered
ono single senlimcn', that could inteiilgbly nnd
truly be construed into an advocacy OF t"irra'
ton Of Back R.puo!icansm, or into any sort
of liberation Of the doctrine OF coercion, ana
appeal to my friend no~ TO answer.
Mr.. THORNTON, lin his scat )-f1u did not.
Mr. JOHNSON, Qesuming )-l trust the gen
tIeulcii Of tue Convention will bear with me
moment longer. | tell them now that there is
an effort here tn pus tne down. Wig, do not
know. What have done, do not know:
What have said, sc not know. Iii what |
have offended, have been unable 10 get n'"T-
! ta man 10 tell in:.
Now, sir, if understand, if appreciate the
honor Of this Convention, will ascrlbe 10 no