Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-01

! power to shield her people anu 10 say 10 the
agent "you have mallreated my people, you
| have wronged them, and will take their az
furs into my own hands" tina. is all want 10
make out for her. That is all the sore-
reignty and independence that is needed, and
| therefore, it is all that | will ask Let her
now, or in your own time, gentlemen, or at
some time, when you urc satisfied that she
cannot obtain satisfactory responses to her re.
quest, say then, Il, the Commonwealth Of
Virginia resume my powers-the powers which
| had delegated to an agent in trust for my
people, and which have been abused now
take them into my own hands" Let her say
that and her people are safe. Then, if any
United States attorney in the North can be
found 10 prosecute me for treason, | may pu:
III my plea that | was commanded by my sov-
errign, who, when this federal compact was
formed, reserved to herself all the sovereign
powers in the very fact Of her reserving to her
self the right Of rcsuming- those she had del.
cgated Is not that so? Ought not the peo-
pic Of Virginia to be protected 10 that extent? !?
Grant me this, and, i(your people are Cypress.
cd this protection is over them, and you might
as well attempt to
"Frtter the namo with lrxcn band,
To stop the ocean With the sand,
as 10 stop secession by all the powers Of tyran-
ny. would ask my friend from Richmond,
(Mr. MAcfAELASD,) how he would feel, il
after revolution had commenced, he should
be prosecuted for treason on the ground that
the State was not sovereign and not indc-
pendent; md if, when lie should plead her
sovereignty and independence, the United
States attorney should cite the debates in this
Hall and quote the gentleman himself for the
doctrine That Virginia did give away her
sovereignty? Whyy because if she did not
give it away, she would not have to take it
back.
Mr.. MAcPARLAND-Thc gentleman will allow
ne to say that | regard the citizen as occu-
pying very different position, after State
mas terminated her relation to the Union from
thst which she occupied while she acknow-
ledsed her obligations TO the Union.
Mr. WIsr-Wei, that is curious talking.
Tie Siato is either bound or not hound. If
she is bound, her failure to acknowledge the
obligation will no, release her from iler
bond.
If she has been s::iipped Of her sovereign.
t. and is bound hand and foot, her denial
ot her obligations will not save her. The
stronger party will enforce the obligations.
We have had this doctrine of coercion
preached last full throughout the State |
| nave had to answer it before the people.
am glad that my friend does admit, that
though there Is now an Obligation, enc oi
the bound parties may for itself decide when
the obligation ceases, and when il docs not.
! That's a curious Confusion Ct doctrine. Let
the gentleman beware Of his words now Tor
the time of trial NAV come
feel too deeply, fee: too hotly, that an
now over the almost b,lching crater Of the Vol.
cano Of revolution. would implurc you to
put me On SAFER ground than mere revolution
ary ground. would impore you to put me
Oh States rights ground and under the cover of
independent sovereignty; but | say TO YOU that
! if you iurSakc the pcupe, the people will not
| forsakc themselves. Ii you will not cover them
with the shield of the Commonwealth, they
will 60 into battle under their own shield, and
they will trust to God, Us their fathers did, for
their protection
! draw distinction between the sovereignty Of
+ tn. people and the sovereignty of Common.
wealth. and talks Of the State throwing up her
shield as Il protection TO the people. do not
/ comprehend exactly the idea, and | should be
Eiatl ~ lt!c EclitlllI' NUulu
: Mr.. Wi-E--It is very easily explained, S,r. !
make no distinction between the sovereignty
! Of the Stale and the sovereignty Of the people.
! ] spoke Of the difference between the suve-
rclgnty Of the State and that sovereignty OF the
ndlvldual t. which the bill Of rights applies
aS between Virginia and her own people. for
! example. The gentleman understands that.
/ The people Of Virginia are the only sovercignS.
III Il u,
/ Commonwealth bold up over the people OF
! Virginia?
Mr. WIsE--Sir, the sovereign people Of Yir-
gnia have made what they call body polite,
Il Commonwealth or State, which has certain
! tions, and which the individual people have
not. You and ns men, have no corporate, no
! boJy-poiitc, powers but an organized State
has. A State is party to the Federal compact,
but the people in their individual capacity are
not. The State must judge for me Of the inlrac
ton OF its rights and Of the mode and measure
OF redress; but all the people in their primary
aSscmblages, without authority OF law, cannot
! Judge for themselves Is not that so? Is not
my friend from Norfolk (Mr lIoLLApAY,) one
OF that school Of politicians that will agree to
NY doctrine. that the people cannot, by mere
voluntary convention, upset the government
/ that they must have the authority Of the law
That has been tried Dorr tried tha: doctrine
holding that the people could upset even the
charter OF CHARLES II. So that you perceive
there is distinction even between the sos-
ereign people and the sovereignty, constituted
10y the people and called State; and though
lne people d; Rhode Island should, by two to
one, vote up free republican institutions over
the charter of Charles II, yet they Could rot
have them. Why9 Because the State snrer-
cignly, the State authority vas invaded by
mere popular meetings. Am not rght?-
Am not OH conservative ground now!
tell you, gentlemen, that if you throw the
people On their revolutionary rights, you may
have the war ard the revolution much sooner
than you expect But if you tell the people
to be patient, TO wait; that there is a parent
ard protecting power over lhem-the power
of a united, organized, independent sovereignty
which presdcs over them, you may prevent
war. Put your shield over them; guard
| them; guide them Throw away that shield,
renounce that sovereignty renouncc that au.
| thority, leave them TO ihemselve and you
may see a rush for revolution rs far as am
concerned, mean to wait reasonable time,
| ana long. mean W oilllS uo"h FictehtloHc
and claims CT rights as far as safety and honor
permit me. mean to 60 along with you, ac
c0lding to the Constitution, according 10 laws,
according to State ind Federal statutes, to guide,
guard and regulate us oil in cur deliberations,
and in our final action. But after reasonable
time shall have passed. or when our demands
stall have been brought down SO low that
could not even prefer them. with sc!frespec:
tben, il no other man in the Commonwealth
shall raise the flag Of revolution, will raise il
as high aloft a. can make it flaunt in ncaven'S
air ''lf that be treason. make the most o.
it,
Mir MAcFAELAND.-l hope, Mr.. Chairman
That may be pardoped for claiming the alten
ton Of the Committee for few moments
>iace the gentleman Who has just taken
his seat made my remarks Of this morning the
subject Of some structures. Now | beg 1t te
br understood that OH the question before us,