Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-22
SDeech OF Mr.. Carter, of Lancaster n
Nnrtbu rlh erland.

jill sllC 4Skbl -
ter made the following remarks:
Nr, Sneaker: Il rise US the most humble OF
The humble members Of this House. l have a
most grave and solcmn charge to make, which
I can clearly demonstrate, and for which pro-
pose an cfFtctual, and | hope satisfactory rem
edy, if | can get the attention oil the Assembly
for a few minutes.
Mr.. Speaker, I charge LIST. That the records
Of this House for the last four or five days do
not reflect abroad the feelings and sentiments
Of the members, relative to Il call ior a otatc
Convention, Why, sir, a few days ago, MIR.
Collier, the member from Petersburg, offered
an amendment. the substance of which was,
that the question Of Convention OF no ConVef-
ton should be submitted to the people at the
time the election for delegates took place. l.,
sir, with II others, voted against that amend
mcut, Gl voted for it. l voled against the
amendment as unnecessary, because my con-
stituents had very unanimously Instructed me
on that subject, and I believe all, Or nearly all,
of them arc in favor Of the call. | have no
doubt but the 81 in minority voted with equal
honesty, and represented as faithfully their con-
stitucntS. Now, Mr.. Speaker, to more fully Il.
~lustraic, prove and make good my charge, l
state that the personnel Of this House Is very o.
yerSiticd. We haze some small, sumo large,
snmp slender, and some corpulcnt members
Our occupations ut home are very different
some merchants, some mechanics, some doc
tors. some lawyers and some Farmers. | be
lona 10 the ja,lrr ciass. There is still i
greater diversity Of opinion some are
called secessionists, some submIssiotistS, and
some conservatives, the latter the most nu'ne.
ro,ls. The first arr for going out, the second
for staying IN. and the third, or conservative
class, 10 which | bIong, for settling finally al
constitutional rights and demands, an the Union
il we can, out il We must.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, we, the farmers, have SAT
here for four days, and said not a word, but lis
tened attcntivcly and heard these VI. DIS, l.. DIS,
and J.. l.. Dis, on either side discuss fully, ell
fcctually, and entirely to our satisfaction ms re-
CARDS the time occupied in speaking,) the legal
iiy and constitutlunaii,y OF I Virginia LegiSla-
ture, instructing a sovereign people, how far to
restrain the action Of the delegates they propose
To clotlIc with sovereign power; which: We con-
ceive 10 be the substance OF the first amend
ment offered 10y Mr.. Keen, the member from
PittSJlrania. The second resolution, or substl-
tutc, by the saine gentleman, was adopted II
to 81 By this House. Now, Mr.. Speaker, the
amendment, as passed, we consider greatly moro
objectionable than the one offered by thegcnt!e,
man from Petersburg, and we do not see how it
was adopted, Except that the speeches were so
pretty, J ivr Immediately afterwards, on the next
call OF the yeas and nays, on = motion to suS-
pend tie rules 10 reconsider the vote OF the
amendment, | called the previous question aud
the vote stood CS to IS. Nov, Mr.. Speaker, II
for no other reason, tue mere fact OF its having
..,.l1. 49, Il 49,. rI. N Ill, 4, 10, l., ~ IN mi
ty of action is so Desirable would be enough TO
prove my assertion, viz that il was the worse
amendment. But to cl;nciI the nail, and show
beyond contradiction, what | assert 10 be the
fact, ! will demonstrate. Ali OF lis sar sc want
u Convention; this is agreed upon; aud bear in
mind that it is the only point on which we are
agreed, wiz: C0nvcnuon.) The IS who voted
against Mr.. Golfers amendment, wanted only
a clear Convention bill; the 81 said they must
have that or II similar amendment SO # the
rs had withdrawn their objection and accept
ed Mr.. Golfers amendment, NO should have
had n unanimous vote. But | have shown you,
that since 4 more Objectionable amendment
passed by II to to 81; the 81 then occupying
the same ground. where Oh the previous vote
the rs stood, wiz against any amendment to
the Till as reported by the co,umitrc,) and
rice rsrSa the - where the 81 stood. Now,
Mr.. Speaker, | have fully proved my charge,
viz: that the records do not reflect abroad,
the feeling and sentiment Of this House. (For
we know we are all united, but the records
show us divided
Now for the remedy. First. IL is easy and
simple; Second. Neither party compromised;
Third. Each is on record, (,y last vote in equal
and mast favorable position 10 harmonize and
pass Inc bill through unanimously. You
will rrcollect, Mr.. Speaker. that on the first
test vote VIC stood - to I'll. Now TO more
fully demonstrates my plan, So That | may be
iully understood, | viii, for example sake
only, call the rs on the first vote, the fast,
and the 81 the slow coach. firsr, | propose that
the fast coach stop, hnL take up the a!ow and
their amendment with them. Surely the u
will moi refuse the amendment they voted for,
or object to tlc - joining Them and accepting
it. Now, mark you, here are - going 10 u
We'll, let us see wha; more is required to
bring about ~unaniinity. Next VIC soc the
slow coach ahead, - Oh board, with another
amendment, aud the fast coach stalled.
Rcculiect herrJ the fast has voted
a.ainSt both Observation-Disclosures, AMI the
slow voted for both, and expressed fully
and frankly, lis willingness tn accept The
first or Mr.. Golfers amendment So this
time ] propose the slo% coach with II, 20 drop
the SECOND or Mr.. kccns amendment, Gas they
cannot carry il and the Ca>t COACH and 90
over To the Gl, which will place each Together.
This is simple and easy; and, second, neither
party is compromised; because each having made
similar sacrifice, and neither give up any prin-
ciplc, we should unite at once, present m I'm.
broken front, and Immediately show To the
world, that while we differ on minor points.
yet when the tug OF war comes ton the final
vote we will unite and pass the Convention
bill unanimously. Thirdly. and lastly, having
fully sustained my charge, pointed Ont the
plan Of Cancellation uni shown how mutual
and complete would lie the concession each TO
the other, it only remains for me 10 call y"rr
attention To another significant fact, which wlll
further support my appeal for uHanimily, viz
that on the third and last vote taken, the yeas
and nays indicated G3 to 6. So SUM up:
First, tho fast COACH with IS 20 to the slow
with Gl; second, the slow with u 80 TO tie fast
with Gil; and, third. the fast, numbering 6,
and the slow, numbering GS, Gard neither coach
being able to carry ALL both merge into one
big, unanimous Convention coach. Ana in
further support, believing every me:ltmr on
this floor will concede 10 me caud0r AM! hon
esty Of purpose, and entire fairness in the pro.
positions offered, if they will not accept them,
I move that the rnlcSo Of this house be suspend
ed in order that | may make a motion to re-
consider tue vote OH the amendment offered By
the member from Petersburg. This plan will
answer all the legal and constitutional arSu.
,nents We have bad. be less objectionable than
any other amendment; offered, and he more &c.
ccptnLlc ~ the people ut large. Do this, and |
call upon all TO rally as one inan and pass the
Convention bill this dar.
Remarks OF Mr. Joseph Christiun.
Mr.. CHRISTIAN, who has been detained from
his seat in the Senate for several days past by
sickness. said:
Mr.. prrSidcnt-l rise to n personal cNplana-
ton, and respectfully ask the indulgence Of the
Senate for a icw moments. Having been con.
fined to my chamber for several days past by
severe indisroSition, | was not able 20 be pre-
sent when the vote Of the Senate was taken on
- " III r 49,.