Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-21

That, whereas the n6n-sIHveholdlne States
hare refused to accord much less IN II" w7y
Of Compromise :han the slaTehoidn. States
are entitled 10: as is evidenced by the refusal Of
Congress to accep. the proposal OF tue Peacs
Conference now, therefore, we, tie people G!
Virginia. Will resist the authority of the Cnioa
over us; and do ordan that the pswcrs thereto
formerly delegated, be resumed and to de-
clare this Slate absolyed from any allegiance TO
that Union and, Furthermore that We, the
people OF Virginia, ucyer will reur,ic in ang
Confedcracy with those States, or any Of them,
except OH the bsss that negroes held to ser
vice are property as we'll as persons, ard
that the element Of property III them must
be created as property i'll the tcIrto.
ries, and especially in the matter OF the
delivery o. fugi!iveS from labor when es-
capped into any Of those States or into any ter.
ritory.
3. Resolved, That such ordinance might ap.
propriatclv prescribe some period, with short
interval, but ample, within which this, our de.
mand must be acceded to. in the way Of amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United States,
by the non-sareholding States $50 that the
attention Of TIE PEOPLE of those States
shall DC drawn 20 the point on which alone iu.
tuTe frateTnty is possible bu: be it under
stood that this leaving OF The door open for
overtures from the people OF those States, is only
intended as condition Of reunion subsequent
to secession or revolution, and not as q condi.
ton precedent
+. Resolved, That whilst we Go rot deem it
Indispensable. as the action Of the Convention
must come buck 10 Us, that We shall send up
Instructions, in Ii andatory form, ,c our dele
gate, Mr.. Branch, yet We hereby request him
to present our proceedings to TIA, body ard,
therefore, it is ordered that copy be certified
TO him for that purpose, and that he be re.
quested to take heed thereto
Mr.. George W. Boiling offered the following
as a substitute for Mr.. Golfers resolutions:
Resolved, That having full confidence in the
intelligence, patriotism and iirmness Of our de-
legate in The Convention, for the protection Of
Southern rights and honor, it is inexpedient 10
instruct him on any question now pending be.
fore the Convention.
Mr. Golfers resolutions were advocated by
himself, Mr.. r. R. Collier and Hon. +. a.
Pryor.
Mr. Rolling's substitute was advocated bc
himself and Mr.. John Lyon.
Daring Mr. Lyons speech he gave way to
Mr.. Pryor, VINO moved that the resolutions and
substitute be laid on the table and that tie
meeting adjourn.
Mr.. &. f. Collier and r. r. Collier each,
with the consent of the meeting, made few
remarks by way Of explanation.
Mr.. Pryor subsequently withdrew his mo-
ton.
Mr.. R. r. Collier then offered the following
resolution:
Resolved That the resolutions offered to this
ku rln ~
substitute therefor offered by Col. George VI.
Boiling, be published in the newspapers CT This
city tomorrow, (Tucsday,) and the next day,
wednesday, and the next day, CThursday)
and that a poll be opened at the Court House,
on each Of those days, at which the legally
qualified voters Of the city may vote aye or no
on the said resolutions Of Mr.. Collier, md aye
or no on the substitute Of Col. Boiling.
Which was adopted.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
VIZ. T. JoYSas, Chairman
JonS LYON oV'
Mr. BRANcn-Mr President, the resolutions
having been read 10 the Convention, | shall
make no aluSion to them, except that portion
which makes reference to myself. The mem
bers Of this Convention well krow my posi-
ton here they know upon what Platform
have stood, and stand now in my own indivIGu.
al opinion; and that is, TO demand all the just
rights Of Virginia in the Union, and il they
are not granted. to leave the Cnion. | was
elected upon that platform. Previous to the
election, during the most interesting, pleasant,
and excited canvass ever witnessed, even
stated that believed in the right Of instruc.
tions that my people had only TO make known
their wishes TO Inc and would carry them out
to the best Of my ability, or / would vacatc
my seat and they might till it with some other
person more worthy to represent them. y:
course you readily see acknowledge manja.
tory instructions, instructions by request, CT
by the known will Of my people coming from
nv quarter; consider them all synonymous,
and believe it to be my imperative duty 70
carry out the will OF the people whom | re.
present
Having made those few remarks, am bound
10 say farther, sir. that now bow with snb-
mission to the will of my constituents. am
satisfied, from the vote which was taken mcst
cyciledly aud anxously by both parties,
that it is the will Of my people tia.
this Convention should pass an ordinance
of secession And have that assurance rot
only from the vote upon the resolutions, but
/ have it upon the authority Of gentlemen VITO
took an active part in opposition to them.
My people have changed very suddenly,
laughter and they have right to change
again SO soon US the dayligh. breaks upon Cur
hopes and when they do, shall be ready 10
carry out their views then. renewed
iaug ghter.l I do 10. know that i, is necessary for
me to say anything more than that make
these remarks simply that my position might
be fully understood in this Convention will
ask that the resolutions he printed and referred
to the Committee on Federal Relations.
They were so referred.
Mr.. CoSRAD-Mr. President, if the gentle.
mnn from Barbour will allow Inc, | desire TO
make motion which will not detain the Con-
vention moment
Mr.. WooDs of Barbour.-I am compelled,
very much against my will, to decline yielding
the floor any longer at this time.
Mr. President, trust in the few remarks
may have occasion to submit TO the Convcn-
,ion this morning, that shall not suffer my
self to be carried away by the whrlwind Of
excitement which seems TO be passing over this
body, the moment this great question Of State
interest is broached here. am sorry to see it.
| would much rather have prcferred-my pco-
pie would much rather have preferred--if the
gentlemen from Eastern Virginia, vino are the
peculiar champions OF this interest would have
manifested the magnanimty that our people
expected they would have done, and upon their
TO present this question in such
d shape that the members from Western Vir-
ginia would have had nothing but to endorse
it, am free to confess that a,n somewhat
surprised at the latitude which this debate has
taken. | understand that the proposition is
merely for the purpose of raising Committee
to whom all these questions may be referred,
that they may take such action upon it as they
deem proper.
regret, then, to see so much tenderness
in regard 10 this question. ! re-
Grct to see the members Of this body exhibit
ing so nucn feeling in regard to this matter,
aud inlimatng that We have sought most III
time in which to consider tie single
question Of taxation Of negro property, when
there are other interests, in which some OF