Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-02

are at this hour, more slaves in England and
France, where they raise such cry about
slavery, than there are In the whole United
States put together
AS to tho white population OF Virginia, l
believe that though some evils result from the
existence Of the institution OF slavery, they
arc fully counterbalanccd by benefits resulting
from it If the preservation Of Republican
form Of government ia desirable, and am old
fashioned enough to think so, it is highly bene-
icial to the white population Of the State
Ny observation Of the tendency Of things in
the free States has convinced me that they
have very nearly approached that point, at
which Republican form Of Government can
no longer be maintained The idea formerly
prevailed extensively that the increase OF po'
pulation and weulth, was the only criterion by
which the prosperity Of 3 country could be
Judged. That idea, ain satisfied, il entirely
erroneous. think that the population OF a
State as silaIsely settled as Virginia, may
emjov Is high degree of happiness. as more
,iel,>ely populated country.
Now, sir, these are the views which enter
tam upon that subject.
In another part OF the genlleman's speech, be
SAYS that the gentleman from Rockbrldge, that
il myself. would not answer distinctly the
question, where are we 10 60? lie says thai 70
fused to answer that question distinctly. l
deny that | made any such refusal here or
elsewhere. | have distinctly announced here
and elsewhere tllgt did not intend to go any
where; that meant to stand here in Virginia
and to maintain ner rights. / saic did not
iaean 10 be forced 10 go TO the South ty gentle
nlcn whcso interests may induce tEt;n !" 30
there.
see That one Of the outside Inarsha!s in
this ,;:,unoa conclavc, has been pleased to al.
Jude to my connection with what is called The
RuiiNsl pamphlet! will say few words Oh
that subject
There has been great maconceplton Oh
ihut matter. A few gentlemen, OF whom vas
one, called upon Dr.. Rufner 10 publish an
address which ne delivered in debating socie.
IL in the ,owu Of Lexington. There is mis-.
conception as to the facts connected with that
address Dr. Rufncr suggested the idea OF
educating slaves and preparing them Tor etnan'
cip.,!on, il Western Virginia, III view OF an u!
innate division of the State. That was not my
l,lru nor the idea Of any gentleman who Signed
,!ae t:yilalion. Ny ide. was to require that the
owners should make sule Of the slaves then IN
existence, and in case they refused 10 do 60,
that they should bo seized by the sheriff and
|, has been also stated that il WAS our pur.
pose 10 divide the Stale OF Virginia There
was such Il purpose at that time. We know
that otter States have been divided lmme.
,liately after the adoption Of the Federal Con
s,i,u,ion, the State OF Vermont had been
formed out OF the territory claimed by Massa.
ctlnseti.; Maine had been formed out Of the
territory Of New Hampshire; Tennessee had
been iYrined out Of the territory Of Surlh Ca
roiina; Alabama and Mississippi out of Geor.
gia territory. Virginia cedcd TO the General
Government large extent Of territory in The
North West, ard the States Of Ohio and Ken,
tucky were formed ont oil that territory by the
consent of all the States. We had an idea that
a division would be best under the clrcum'
stances. in Virginia. We demanded IN equal
representation, and it Ind been denied to us
We were tpid in the Convention Of 1922 SO,
that they could not consent TO give US the basis
OF representation that we desired, und to which
we were entitled. They said they would pre-.
fer 10 divide the State rather than do so -
Then, sir, we desired that tins separation
should take place only, however, will. the con,
sent Of all concerned.
Unu VOID rs TO the cause which led US 10
take tic action We did We all know that Il
| d
from Buffalo, u Y, To the city OF New Orleans,
through cur country, had been rejected by 4
majority Of une.iourll, through the instrument
tally Of gentlemen On this side OF the NOUN
lains. When Baltimore asked the privilege 10
extend her !oad up the Valley and down the
kauawha it was denied her, upon the express
ground that we would have the means Of get
ling tc market Afforded us by the State OF Viz
sinis.
When the canal reached the town OF Lynch
burg. it was proposed to stop It there, ant TINS
We conceived an act Of gross injustice and bad
faith and We urged lis extension towards our
region Of countrY. lii addition to that We still
insisted upon the right OF fair representation,
which we understood 20 be the purpose OF the
Eastern portion Of the State 10 deny to Us.
say now, without moments hesitation, that
il that injustice had been persisted in to this
time, would 60 al this hour for dividing the
State. would sac it relt into fragments NOT
larger lilan the smallest of the thousand islands
on the S.. Lawrence, before would submit to
hay. the State placed in IL position Of inequality
in the Cnlon, or the I.eople Of the State in u
position Of inequality in the State
have 10 desire now, Mr. President. to have
this Commonwealth divided say to gentle.
|
mean 70 hold it together, and not sell it to any
party here Or elsewhere.
arm sorry, sir, 10 see illusions MADE IN this
| body 10 the positions Of members here coni'G
froi certain portions Of the State. II i ltiiils.
ted that they lack fidelity to her interests. ]
hope i, is not So II ever there was time
wien Virginia required the united aid Of
| her ;,ecpe, it is now. should regret 10 see
any division among the people of Virginia, or
any want Of fidelity to her interests. believe,
when the occasion arises that there will DC
found thousands os brave and true men in
every section Of the State, ready to defend her
| rights and her interests. Virgins las many
rouje sons, and need not tell gentlemen mere
that sue mas also as many beautiful daughters
us are TO be found on the face Of the ear,h-as
you, gentlemen, may see, by casting Jour eyes
around the Hall. Laughter
Mr.. DoKMAS offered the following rcsoiu'
tion.:
Resolved, That the Federal Cnion Was made
bv the peopl. Of the several States, and can
res pcctful!y be dissolved by the power alone
! that made il
Resolved, That Virginia should use her best
efforts to procure direct vote OF the people Of
all the States, including those which haTe sece-
led from the Union upon the alternative pro.
position OF Disunion or Adjustment on the
basis of the Peace Conference proposition, aud
that she will thereafter cooperate with such
| State as concur with her III the result oil their
| votes.
Referred to the Committee OIL Federal Re!a-
! lions.
Mr. HrcnEs, OF Randolph and Tucker, Of
fercd tho following resolution, which was
adopted:
| Resolved, That committee Of three be ap.
pointed 10 confer with the editors Of the Rich
nond Enquirer" to ascertain whether the pro-
ceedings of this Convention could be PUBLISH
ed upon separate sheet without any DINER
! matter.
Mr.. BcRLrT-I bold in my hand certain re-
solutions adopted by citizens of Marshall coun-
tr, which beg leave to offer. ask that they
J =. - E..i..l R..l.-