Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-15

:. Gentlemen, there is an old FLAG, the flag o
:. the Union, which has been borne in triumph
J. now for nearly century through the battle
!. and the brccze, and that flag now floats ovcl
this Capitol, with star upon it representing
). this ancient Commonwealth Of ours. God grant
: that 1t may remain there for ever, and | an
l. sure that but utter the sentiments Of every
= man in this body, when | utter from the bot
: tom Of my heart that prayer But, gentle
!, men, it must remain there with it's crowBnn
/, lustre undmmc1 and untarnished. (Applause.
: We shall ask here ior all the rights, and all
the privileges, and full equality with the citi
J zenS of the Empire States Of New York, Penn.
5 sylvania and Ohio but in doing that we will
scOrn to demand one jot OF little more than we
are willing cheerlully 10 concedc to the citizens
: of our little sister States, Delaware and Rhode
+, Island Rhode Island Heaven bless her-a
little State with Il heart biz enough for whole
: Continent; and | pray God that The example
which she set but the other day may he
followed, and rapidly followed, by all her sis.
+, ters of the North
Gentlemen, the responsibility resting upon
this body is an awful one When agreed to
| be candidate for this Convention-whcn
!. said to my constituents If it was their pleasure
to give to ME their unsolicited suffragcs for 4
seat in this body, would serve them said
!. it with fear and trembling. The people have
said they will revise our work but still, the
consequences Of our action here, although sub
ject to that revision, may be full Of good or
full Of evil. We may, trust-and trust in
God we shall So conduct our measures here,
and bring them 10 such a conclusion, as that
some OF our sister States Of the South who, for
what they believe to bc just cause, have wan
dered little from their orbits, may be brought
back into the old constellation, to give and re-
ccvc light to and from their old sisters. am
not without hope that even old Massachusetts,
when she comes to remember the paSt-for she
has past as well as preSent-whcn she
comes to remember whose sword it was tha.
was first torn from the scabbard upon her own
soil, and never returned to the shield until her
independence and liberty were secured and
remembers from whence he came will waken
up to I sense Of justice, and, following the ex-
ample of her sister, Rhode Island. will cxpunge
| from her Statute book that which her own
wsest and best citizens say is disgrace to it.
Gentlemen, this is no party Convention 1t
is our duty in considering the subjects that will
come before us, to elevate ourselves into al
atmosphere where party passion and party
| prejudice cannot live, and 10 conduct our pro-
ceedings in n manner as l doubt not wc shall,
that will reflect credit upon all. hope and
trust that the result Of our labors may re-
dound to the good Of the State and Of the
Union. (Applause.)
The President stated that the next business
in order, to be the election OF Il Secretary,
| whereupon-
Mr.. TREDwAY said, rise to place 10 noIni-
nation for the Office OF Secretary, Mr.. 5. b.
| Whittle. | need not recommend to you
or to those members of the Convention
| that occupied seats in the Convention
Of 1850 the name of Mr.. WHIrTLE. TO them
| know sir, ] need not give any assurance Of
his fitness for this office, and his fidelity in the
discharge Of the duties OF that office. His in
tclligcncc, his promptness, his activity in the
discharge of all the duties Of that office will he
attested know, by all who have had an OPP
portunty, as members Of the Convention Of
1850 have had Of witnessing the manner in
which he discharged all its duties, and his
department. personally and officially towards
the members OF that body. will, therefore,
20 no further than to say that bis experience
as the Secretary of the last Convention emi-
nently qualities him for the discharge Of the du-
ties which may devolvc upon him as the Sccrc-
tary OF this Convention, should it be the pleas
urc of this body to elect him.
Mr. PATRICK Of Kanawho, said ! beg leave,
] sir to present for the office OF Secretary to
this Convention, the name Of GREEN PEyToH,
Of the county Of Albemarle. | am assured,
sir, by those who know him well, that he pos
| scsscs the highest qualifications to discharge
the duties that would devolve upon that official,
and | therefore, without saying anything fur
ther, present his name to the Convention with
great confidence that if he shalt be the choice
of this body, he will efficiently perform the
duties Of the Office.
Mr.. \. N. BARBOUR said: Mr.. President,
beg leave to nominate for the Office Of Secreta.
ry to this Convention Mr. SAMUEL Y. WALKER,
Of the county Of Rockingham. That gentleman
is known to all the public men of the State of
Virginia, and certainly no eulosy can be needed
for any man who is endorsed on this floor by the
sturdy constituency Of that great and noble
county Of Rockingham. Mr. WALKER is
4 man Of ability and experience Hc comes
from the Valley Of Virginia, and l appeal
to the magnanimity Of this body to give
us l. man from the Valley as VIC have
given man from the East. make no Sec
tional distinction here, sir. would cut this
arm of, sir, before on the threshold Of this
Convention would perpetratc one act, or say
one word that would bring discord or acrimony
in such n Convention as this, because hope
that in its deliberations, first Of all, we will look
to the honor and integrity of the Common
wealth of Virginia. We sit here in Il body OF
gentlemen chosen by the sovereign vote Of the
people to represent them, and the matters
which will probably come up for consideration
will be Of character too important to admit
Of strife or division. | will not introduce sec.
tonal strife here, and did not intend to do so
when made reference TO the locality whence
the gentleman came whom put in nomina.
ton. will now conclude by presenting the
name of 5. Il. WALKER for the office OF Secrc-
tary Of this Convention.
Mr. JAMES BARBOUR then nominated Zephe-
niah 7. Turner Of the county of Culpcper, with
a short eulogy upon his fitness far the position.
Mr.. SouTuALL seconded tbs nomination of
Mr., Green Pcyton.
Mr.. Mcdowell MooRE nolni. lated Mr.. j. l..
Eubank of Richmond
Mr.. GARLAND seconded the omnation
Mr.. R. L. ScorT seconded tLc nomination Of
Mr.. Turner.
Mr.. WALTER D. LEAre nominated S. Bassctt
French Of Chesterfield
Mr.. MAcFARLASD, OF Richmond, advocated
the claims of Mr. Eubank
Mr.. MONTAGUE nominated John Bel! Bigger,
of Richmond.
Mr.. WIcKHAM nominated +. Lindsey Walk
er of New Kent.
Mr. FORBES advocated Mr. Eubanks claims.
Mr. MoFFETr supported - nomination Of
Mr.. Turner
The Clerk then proceeded 10 call the roll,
with the following result:
Il. I. Turner 2S, S. T. Walker 10, j. L. Eu.
bank lG, Green peyton II, R. L. Walker II,
j. B. Bigger 9, S. 3. French s, S. D. Whttle G.
Mr.. Whites name being lowest on the list
was withdrawn.
The second ballot was then proceeded with
and resulted:
Green Peyton -, S. T. Walker 90, H. r.
Turner 81, j.. L. Eubank u, S. =. French -,
u p:..xa,. ID T