Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-08
,,- Chairman 7 have taken this, the first

Mr.. Chairman, I have taken this, tho first
opportunity | could get 70 offer these PROPOSE.
tions of Aine, because | expected they would
DO voted down when the vote should TAXA place.
Is my time up, sir?
The CuAIRMAN.-Ycs, sir.
Mr.. GoGGlS, Of Bedford.-Mr. Chairman,
PROPOSE to amend that amendment, if it is in
order, by striking out all After the word IRE
solved and inserting the following
Mr.. SuErrEr of Smyth.-Mr. Chairman,
this being an important matter i'll the del!be.
rations Of this body, and the point Of all our
labors, | move that the Committee do now
rise.
The motion was put and the Committee re-
fused to rise.
MIR. Gocs1s's amendment was then read, as
follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
"Whcress, tho State Of Virginia has made
every honorable ,fort 10 restore lhe friendly
relations which should exist between the Gen.
eral Government and the several States OF the
Union-upun terms perfectly just to ali, but
deeming il unnecessary TO refer to the causes
| of complaint " hich have existed for 4 series Of
years, sill more aggravated rs those causes
now arc by the declared purposes Of a mere
sectional maiori:y-snd "a all the e!farls so
/ made have fuoTed uravslliag-wilhout recltlng
the differences Of opinion which exist in regard
to the powers Ct the State Government, or
those of tho Government Ct the United States,
us derived frotn The reserved rights OF the one,
the constitutional authority of the other, or
the inherent rights Of the people, constituting
q Government which seeks to protect the per.
sons and property Of these who compose and
who have ordained and established it, acains:
the abuses of such Government ltself, or which
arise from its connection with the Government
Of other States, or that Of All association of
States, the people Of Virginia, in Convention
assembled, deem il proper now TO declare that
the tine has arrived when it bccomtE them to
assume, MS they do, their position us the people
Of n sovereign indepenGfht &ntc.
/. Be it, therefore, ordained by the people
of Virginia. snd they do hereby declare, That
the said State is no longer one Of The Unicn 81
Ststes known is the United States Of America,
i anu that tie people Of the said State uwe no
allegiance or duty 10 any Government what
SotTer.
2. &c it further ordained, and it is hereby
| declared, That the people Of the said State DO
resume oil the rights of property, or the use
thereof, which have teen granted by the said
Sac TO the Government Of the United States,
u: which have in anywise accrued to The same
by reaS0o Of the connection OF the said State
with the said Government, by the assent OF
the said State, given with a vie" to the pro-
lection Of her Own people, and the people 81
all the other States, composing q Union iorHl-
cd under an agreement that 1t should establish
iustice-insure domestic ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
for the couInun dc!ence-PromUtc the general
welfare, and secure the blessings OF liberty to
themselves and their posteritT-lhat agreement
having been violated, and the Objects OF the
Union perverted so as to defeat the purposes Of
justice-to destroy the very foundations of
domestic tranquility-to lessen toe neo1s Of
common dctenca-so az TO disregard the ohjec;s
of the genera! welfare o: one entire section Of
the Union, and thereby to entail, in tia. sec.
ton, injury and oppression upon the people
Thereof, and for their p~osterity forever.
8. And without determining, ct this time,
whether the State Ct Virginia will unite her.
self with any other State OF association OF
States, in any common government, this Con.
~vention doth respectfully and earnestly request
that the States Of North Carolina, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Arkansas ind
Delaware will, as soon as possible, appoint cum.
| missioners IL meet commissioners to be ap-
pointed by III. people Of this State, in the city
Of Lexington, in the State Of Kentucky. on the
last Wednesday in May next, TO confer together,
and to propose q plan Of constructing Govern.
ment to be formed by the said States, Virginia
inclusive, and the Confederate States oil America.
| Such plan Of Government, however, to have no
binding authority till the same shall DC adopted
and ratified by this Convention and 10y the
people. And for the better accomplishment Of
the objects intended, the said Confederate
States Of America are also respectfully request
ed 10 send three commissioners to the Confer
ence herein proposed, who shall be invited, nj
such time IS may be agreeable to them, 10 ad-
dress the same. That each Of the States here
il .bclore named, shall be entitled to as many
| votes as it mad Representatives ard Senators
in the last Congress, in the Conference herein
proposed. That the Commissioners TO he ap-
pointed by the people Of TINS Sta,c shall mike
report to the Governor Of this Commonwealth,
as speedily as possible, Of the result, Of their de.
Observation-Disclosures he shall make known
the same nv proclamation. That on the 10th
day after the date Of such proclamation, {un-
less tho sumo be Sunday, then on the next
day.) this Convention shall re.asseInb!e in the
city Of Richmond, at such place as the Gov.
ernor shall designate in said proclamation, and
shall then md there consider the report Of the
Said commissioners, and all other matters
which at this time are, CT may then be, proper
subjects for delibcraiion. touching the future
relations Of the State Of Virginia to cny other
| Government or State, ard Tor tho submission
Of tho action Of the Convention 70 the people.
4. And it is hereby ordained and declared
by tie people IF Virginia, That they do rccog-
niz2 and acknowledge the independence and
nationality Of the said Confederate States OF
America; and that they will eS!enl to tie said
States any aid which lhcy, Tho said people OF
virginia can command, or which may be ne,
cessary to enable tie said States 10 maintain
their independence, or against any cuciclyc
measures which mus be adopted by the author
tiles of the United States.
5. Be- il further declared, Tha: tho people Of
Virginia have ever cherished m ardent attach
ment for the Union Rad Inc Constitution Of the
United States while i was the bond Of peace
and fraternity; ard that il CAN now only lie
restored uron the original bcs:s by Ill AMEND
ment Of the Constitution through the primary
agency of the nor.s!avchc!diEg States them
selves proposing suitable and sure guarantees,
and by a full and unconditional, plain and
positive recognition Of the rights OF properly
in slaves, az held under :he laws Of any Of the
States; so as also to obtain satisfactory assn,
runces and guarantees, for the future, as to
slavery in the District Of Columbia; as to the
powers of the Federal Government over A'ri-
can slavery, and the employment Of slave
labor in the forts, arsenals, dock yards, and all
places coded Ly the States for Federal uses; as
n nrot.c,inn o,rainst excessive direct taxes on
slaves; as 10 the rendition Of fugitive slaves; ms
to the transit with slaves through en- Of the
States by land or water, and Of tho right Of
transportation on the high seas OF slaves from
one State to another Slate or Territory; as to
the protection Of slave property in the common
territories Of the United States; as to the bet.
ter ~secuTi;; Of the independence Of the jadici.
airy, and ioT protection agains. unjust taxation
in the form OF excessive iirrosts laid upon for
eisn iraporta:icGs-
q pa + f,,rthnr rieciorcj That The noonle of