Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-02-21
VIRGINIA STAT; jjssc,ii,1a.
s:gEyTE EATF D4E.
~.saAY. December S., lSsl.
MIGHT SESSION.
sJScLCOEn.i

NiGaA SEcSIoS-
fcJNcLVDkn.
vi. Tcssss, Of iackscn.-i na7e Serious
,s:so,ions TO the proposition OF tho sen1lot'en
;rsn Rock5ridge, {Mr. DoSaAS) | 40 nc: kaoT
ri shall even desain this Convention 20: a
--siosut after the present occasion; ny earnest
Isle is that the deliberations OF this bc1y
-sy be brought to speedy Termination.
iTbS, entertain that desire lii comu.3u
a,,h the gentleman from Rockbridgs, ! Al
,,r, as always nsvs been IL this Corrcaiion,
o-epsred to remain here and discharge any
arty that desol7es upon me as tee Representa-.
..re OF the people.
Sir, nave never shirked any responsibility
vnich may havs heen assigned me here in vlr
ne OF my representative character; and
though it would take days, nay weeks, 70 exc.
c.se here what may be due &c the people OF
,ts State, sn prepared to submit to the dc.
Ia, and labor ssalousy 70. its accomplishment
Nr. President, one serious objection, in my
md. TO the proposition of the gentleman rom
s,ckbridgs is, that in the ars: place, j: re-
5lrss that these vacancies shall be filled by
.rs General Assembly, snd that, as under
stand by the concurrent vote OF both Houses.
That in my mind, constitutes an insuperaole
objection to this proposition. In proceeding
70 an election under that ordinance, assuming
X, provision 10 this respect to be what repre-
sent We will have combination after comblua
son With reference to the election of Confede-
ssts States Senators.
In addition 70 shat, the very propie VINO arc
% be represented, will have no voice in select>
ing thei7 representative es in eirhez body. Such
i no: the case here, for the counties to be re-
presented have delegates on this 6oor who nGy
snlisdten the Convection With respect - iho
men mos. competent to represent the people
Of these couateS
But the gentleman says thst the House
would have to be governed in their cnoico
by he representation Of dozsn Or SO
Tho are here from shs North vest, aad
;tsi, il isct tie election would be made
e tiesa members. presume there is
81; little grounds :0r apprehension, ecar II
tie fact Eas So that these members would so
Il. disregard ths obligations which they leel
. lheiT constituents as 10 recommend unwor-
b: persons Tor election. should suppose that
ii, duty would involve just as naca respon-
sbiity, and form ss much par: OF their duty
as any thar they have been called upon here
70 ps;iorn aad if thoir constituents deemea
:asG worthy Of trust in the selection Of Con-
s.=s;iona representatives, they would hardly
c4asi:on their integrity II Matter Of this
s3II So
lave suoihec great objection 20 the propo-
;:cn Of the geatis1sa from 6ockbridge. snd
cae which ought to strike gentlemen here from
he Valley. As late as yesterday, orders went
:.oa ,eis city To Gen. i'ioyd's command to go
;3Nsnsrcay; and it msy be that before many
Tess& before the county Of iay friend, Mr.
Pc, iGrsenbrieG,) might be in tas hands Of
&c .aely. The troops in that section are
:!iEs into winter quarters at Stauntou; Sc that
;hs country west of that will be left wholly
Unprotected In view Of these facts, pTopo-
s:tian is submitted here, to authorize the Gen
ats! Assembly to pass az act providing for
elections in the camps 70 I'll vacancies - !:s
o|n body.
what will such vote amount to aftoT the
eeneral Assembly shall nave perfected This
az: Literally nothing, SO fsr as it can oe
SAID to resse. the wishes and sentiments Of
ne counties to be represented. Let Us gee
Tast the Bill of Rights says upon :h;s subject.
The 6;h section of the Bill of Rights says:
Inst al elections Of melocra 20 serve Us
representatives Of ;Se peo2!e IL assembly
ought TO be free. s:i:d tb"i I'll Eeo ha7inS
S-tIcc. eTideacs Of pefrna0eu: common Inter
81 S.'S and a.tschuest 10 the Community,
aATt right 70 suffrage, and cannot 90 taxed
= 'c.ir.Ted Of their property for public uses,
"i!aous their own consent. or that OF their re-
p'ssenatives so electod, c2r bound by eay
AZ 10 which they have not in like nelueE
~Stated, for the public good"
:aere are TOW cbout three suoirao ci.i
'a2a OF the elective district .hat .rp1e-
::%:; ao6 il the camp Of Gsn1T.; Floyd,
sSe:as the battles OF The STATE ind Of the
Confederate States, and can it be sup
POSED that they would be bound by any which
;as General Assembly can pass whsn they are
got represented in that body. danJ sns: .he
aIndreds who are at home fighting ths ba:-
:-s of Virginia, day after day, ere bou.d by
.5y law that anJ impericc. General Assem-
ely csn make Those. people ars e. lay.l as
any TO be found in the Sta,o Of Virginia, over
TN even: ag they have been oy the enemy,
s'ihout being l-afoTded tbs protection oi the
GoTennent-of the State or Of the uoi,:yic,
ass States. -, ], demand for that 900 IRON nv
district who are now galsntly ior the State,
representation in tho General Assembly [
have no special interest in this matter omar
shsn belongs 70 mJ representative position,
ana the obliget;t:;, which rests upon ne to
soc that taaa: gallant men shall have voice
ID sae Councils oi !heir State. d. not aspire
% De the SUCCESSOR Of anJ one who has hero
'oiore represented taem As have already
sa.a, claim Representation for those loyal cit
Isns Who are at hslno and in the battle field.
c!aln, as an &C. o. justice to them, that their
.o!css shall be hearu in tho halls cf the Con-
.soeTase Senate through Senators chosen by
.ae vote IN part ci these representatives
u The General Assembly. deny that
Senator's chosen by Legislature il
snleh the voice q! ths people Of my section
y aot represented, l.7c any Claim 10 repre-
'sas me or Ey people.
| would feign !!"i,a that scne effort would
1e maze 70 fos.cT nc feelings of loyalty which
sapialy inclesSi-. il that section, rather
@An 1t should be D.: Iraged 5y sn act which
1cIudes its poop! III Z ;a: participation
q sae Legislative i. s3iass c: tne State. l
:p'ole tho -Conss.-.l :nstsad Of transfer
ae 70 the ,GenerGI ;: ,,;>nbiy tho right to fill
nese vacancies, to Il: them themselves. !
ap!ote -a.: them to DC il, because believe it ia
p0uoc, and will teet 70 beneficial results in
ss.ss;oSnfaglng ss;S the loySi sentiments WITCH G.s so
'Toiy being developed in ths. sectol.
SgEFFEr.-l haYe I;ssa : ,:Se- = rrsciu.