Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-15


triously disseminated, that upon this grca
question Virginia is divided-that some o
the people Of Virginia, in some portions o
the State, and some Of their representative:
upon this floor in this great Convention Q
her sovereignty, are, for some reason OF
other, notto be trusted upon this great par
amount interest OF Virginia. Sir, this idca
Is not new to me, or 10 the members
Of this body. have heard it, with pair
and sorrow. for years; not coming from
abroad, not alleged against US by our enc.
mics. No, it has come up from the midS
Of our own State family. 1t has come from
Eicgin!a's own Sous-thc insinuation, the
suspicion, the charge, that the people ot
particular localities-that the people ot
particular political associations in Virginia
are MOTTO DO trusted to deal with this great
leading, and most important institution o
the State.
Sir, for years past have seen this thing
tndustriously resorted to for the basci
ends OF party, and not Of one party alone
| have seen it in tarns rcsorted to for the
baser eudS OF all parties III this Common.
wealth. What has been the effect Of this
sort OF thing upon the standing and in
AuSh~S VI 'A StAIa, III lue SSuhSiS y!
the nation, and before the nation it.
self? 1t has had the effect Of lead.
ing Oh fanaticism against US by repre-.
scnt:ng that we are divided people. II
has had the effect Of increasing. in
boldness, the attacks made upon us by the
ianatical enemies Of our institutions, under
the impression, disseminated by our own
itizcns, that the people Of Virginia were
not true to Virginia: but that we were q
divided and distracted people in regard to
our own highest interests. Sir. this, as
say, has been resorted to in times past for
the baser ends Of party. This insinuation
seems TO be now resorted 70 as part Of a
species Of terrorism, that is to be brought
10 bear upon the people and the people 5
representatives in Virginia, in the vain hope
that it will TepreSs, if not freedom OF
thought, at least, freedom Of speech. Sir,
this terrorism, thus attempted would be
h;dcoaS, if it were not that it is exceeding
" ridiculous and contemplate. | hope,
when proceed 10 define my position in re-
gard to this great interest, that | shall not
in any quarter be deemed to defer, in any
respect, to clamor, which dcspisc.
As my opinions upon this subject, Mr..
y
J intend 10 pursue in this Convention, J
deem it TO be due to that candor Of debate
which, trust, will characterize us all in
this delioeratire assembly, TO declare from
what stand-poin, in regard to this great in
a,itu:ion I look upon this question of Union.
Sir, in regard to the question Of slavery,
I hold views which were regarded at one
time as peculiar, but an gratified to know
,l.a, they are becoming, day ~ day, the
opinions Of all kinds and conditions Of men
in this Commonwealth. have always
held the same opinions, from my earliest
recollection, on this subject; have had TO
undergo no change, such as was described in
his own case, by the gentleman from
Orange, CIr. MoRroS,} and it may be owing
20 the fact that I have none Of the fierce
zeal OF the new convert, that am unable to
follow him in his violent measures for sum-
mary redress. Ihave always entertained the
cprion that African slavery, as 1t exists
il Virginia, is right and good thing
on every ground, moral, social, religious,
political and economcal-a blessing
alike to the master and the slave
"a blessing TO the noa-slaveholder
and the Shareholder. l entertain
those views and opinions now. Sir: am
no, one Of those who LOOK forward with
expectation or desire, 20 its extinction al
anv time or in any place. l am not one
Of those who look with any sort Of sympa"
thr upon attempts TO restrictlt 10 any par
ticular locality, but, SO far as | am con-
cerned, if i: can be done BIZ fair, legitimate
and honest expansion and extension, ]
haze no objection that this mild, benehcent
and uatriarchai institution may cover the
whole earth as the waters cover the great
deep.
These are nv own opinions upon this
subject-opinions not now expressed Tor
the first time, but entertained and ex-
pressed all my life, everywhere, and per-
fectlv understood by the constituent body
that sent me here. Ny people who have
sent me here with these avowals upon my
lips might be regarded, suppose as SOUND
even little farther South. :,
Sir. I wish, in the consideration of ali
these questions, that it shall be remem-
bered, however my views OF what con-
Germs the interest and the honor OF Flrgl-
MIA, may differ from the views OF otncr
gentlemen in other parts Of the State, tha'
I take them fromthe standpoint OF pro-
slavery man, representing siavehol0lns
constituency; aye, sir, representing con-
stisucncy who have in men and in money.
more resources than any other people IN
this Old Dominion, and who hold all thelI
resources Of men and money ready At oil
times at the call Of the Commonwealth, 10
protcct and defend this great interest aS
earnestly and devotedly as any other IN
terest whatever. c,,
Let US come then to the consideration OF the
grievances Of Virginia growing, out OF tht
Institution Of slavery. Having by consent
narrowed the inquiry down to the queStlon
of slavery, let US now treat it more close
IL and more exactly. undertake then tc
sav, that upon the slavery question Inc
mouth Of Virginia is stopped rs tho-
roughly and as completely to charge mis-
conduct on the part Of the Federal uo',
ernmcut, as upon any OF the other gleA
subjects of administration in this country
Ave, sir, go further, and undertake te
saw that Virginia is estopped more com
nletcly, more thoroughly to charge any
thing against the Federal Government II
relation to slavery, than she is upon an J
other subject; because if there Is any mat
Ter in the whole round Of administrator
IN reeard to which it has been the pride
and boast oi the politicians and statesmen
of Virginia to claim the ascendancy' aye aye
the undivided asccndaucy Of Virginia 1aea'
and Virginia principles IN the adm'ols.ta .L
ton Of the General Government, 1t IS th''
question of African slavery aud 'ts ae
compartments.
Now | challenge the entire body Of th'
Committee to put finger upon s!nGit
act of the General Government OF lh'
United States on this subject in any one o
its deoartInents, from the foundation o
the government down TO the election 0
Abraham Lincoln, that did not either a
the time Or afterwards, receive the sane sane
ton and approval Of Virginia. / know
| sir, that this may take some gentlemen
little By surprise, this broad sweeping an !,