Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-02-21
j lion which seaa.s 10 too to afford the bsst So
Luton ct this Intricate subject.

thst bcGy, III such counties as arc not repre-
Sentad therein, by reason of tho disloyaity Of
tho n:r-Sons choEen for ssid counties, OF by
rcas;: ct said counties boing in possasiiog of
Ghc ru2iic enemy, aud that the Senate be as-
thrr;zed to cleo; members to that body, in such
senatorial districts as ere not now represented
therein frorn the ssmo caGses and that the
House cf Delegates bs, and is authorized to
till the vacancy occssionud BY tho death Of
John \. Huges, in ;is :nuntiee os Randclah
and Tucker.
Mr.. SuEFFEY.-Mr. President, am not frou.
the Northwest, l. have nc personal feeling ia
this rlatter; but am Eirginian--a Virginian
from, the South west. feel that ry interest,
and that my duties upon this floor are co ex-
;ens've with tho limits OF the Commonwealth
.: Virginia. claim Sll Virginia, East AND
West Sc7th sad So:th to DO my own native
+! Virgins; md s'u uc, willing, sir, to su-ron
d''r a''y portion ii i. either to the public
cnstnvv, or to abandon it by excluding # from.
its cue share Of representation in the Councils
ct ;hc country. claim that our right, orr
lnrst'-csiou eX.eriS from ths sea-boaro. to the
One; aiid that notwithstanding the calaait1
Of "sr. notwithstanding portion Of OR
country is orerrun by the public enercr, and
THAI there cs1 be and ia no actual Representa-,
tinn oi last region In the General Assembly
OF Virginia, that il is in our power, and that
i: Is i'ar nounden duty to provide reppcson-
tas... n' that portion OF the State.
Arc we prepared .to abandon any ono coun-
tY Or sGy one district in the Commonwealth :
II We ere, siT, ~ ara not true to Virginia
We sTs no! tr4c 20 ourselves We are not true
! TO the great outiss which the sovereign people
! Of Fnsinia hags con6ded to, and invested in ns-
| |, for ons. sir, ain ready to shoulder the drt7
and the responsibility, either Of the appoint
; meni CT me.ubers to Ill these vacancies 10 the
| House ci Delegates una Senate, or 10 confer
thsl povsr upon the General Assembly. donoy
understand that vacancies, in the sense Of ,nn
Constitution, e1!st here When that Consti-
tuii1n was su.ui"d such state Of things as
e&:s' now wgs never contemplated Vacancies
Ia u: larsnins Of tho Constitution, waro only
sucn d .ou'd 5s occasioaed by death, re-
5:sE...o,i:'uE 'cts:VY:i !:ou ctace 1t was never
Contemplated ~ t:p@a who framed the Cor
si;.i; ;a,cr i,Ich se now live, that there
HoU:I - 7;'eaci:i in the legislative depart.
1nei:I ri :,s s"y- nt:ters, BY reason oi the dis.
10y ait Il, -" ct'zens OF any portion Of Tlr.
g!ni:', ii u reason Of any portion of Virginia
oeins il possession Of the public enomy
" ,,nst las constitution has made each House
turns CT It's own members has imposed the duty
upon each House TO issue T'rits Of election in
cases :; racancies, lAe us confer upon each
House icc poTor, which it is competent for US
to coui=g ui iii!ing up the vacancies il tha Tas
presentation Of these Houses. occasioned by
the disloyal,y Of those who have been
oaosen TO represent the North. western
portion oi tae State, or, by reason Of
that portion Of the Stste being in pos.
session OF the public enemy If We d. that,
sir, then We DO assert a clsni To every inch Of
Virginia; tbon do We assert right to extend
tho oPe7st,u u 3Ir Legislation End laws to
the utmost verge of the Commonwealth; then
DO We caln tho right Of extending. aye, sir,
the Sovereignty oi yieglEls over all it's parts
to sll lis people; thea do we assert right adj
verse 70 the pretarsions OF the Northern
.uSurpars to disuenbar the Commonwealth,
s1d SET iiI government adverse to the
goSerrncat Of Virginia; then do we per.
form tic duties which the people of tas Cons
mon Fca?lk have conferred upon US; then do
We exercise tho sovereignty Of the State, by
empowering the Legislature IN both branches
to lc that which the existing Constitution
reyc: contemplated ara doss not provide foT.
Thers IS one difficulty in the rainds Of sanaes
and that is, whether il Is il cur power to do
this, without submitting it tc the people of
Virginia. We are only required &c submit to
the people sny action, if any, oy which We
sever our conneclion With the Federal govern
neut or change the organic law of the State.
10 not propose to make any change in tho
organic lsE; but in the exercise Of the SOY
ero;gn power vested in us, TO confer upon the
Legislature tho power to give representation
to portion Of tie State, which, from its Pecu-
liar condition, caunot provide representation
Tor itself ! agree with the gentleman. that
unless We do so, there is no obligation CT tho
psr: cf these becEle tc respect the laws which
tue Legislature may enact without their being
represented IL bath branches Of the Geaerd
Assembly.
do trust. Sir, that this proposition viii os
adopted, which imposes tbs duty upon the
Legislature ef providing representation for
these Northwestern counties; not by reason
G: tee existence Of vacancies In point of fact,
cut by reason Of the disloyalty CT the MEM
be1s chosen to Eeprsssn! these counties, and
of the preaelce tlcre Of the public enemy.
.!r. EAyxoND.-I trust !! will net be the
pleasure OF ;Ec Convention to adopt The sab
sstute OF the gentleman from Smyth, (Ir.
SaEFrET.) CT :ae original proposition offered
by the gentleman from Rockbridge, Or. Dor
NAS.)
have the deepest imaginable feeling With
regard to ths condition Of ny oTn native land;
aud an anxcrs tSat i: should be properly
-eprcsan,ed ip ei,e legislative Assembly OF the
State. Nov. sir. enc Northwest !s repre-
yented ia this body, and On opportunity, there
fore, exists, OF eulisbtening the members OF
the Convention as 10 the persons most eompe-
teut and bsst hts:d from their relstions to
that section, to represent tie people Of the
counties " here the vacancies e1ist. If ye
adopt the substitute Of the gentleman fem
Snvrb (Mr. SHEGFET,l what Will be the result
Why, cir, that the choice of representatives
will deeolva upon men who know nothing Of
the feelings and wishes Of the people of these
counties. That substitute admits the power
OF shis body to make trs elections; but this
body dos uot seem to ba7e the nerve to DC IL
IS hayo said, tbs Northwest is represented
here, With the exception, believe, OF two
members; while in tho General Assembly 1t
will not have voice, except feeble voice.
want Justice done On all hands. L do not desire
to see this Convention avoid any responsibility;
but to do what thsy coacade J. to be tn Their
power to do. If We have the power to confer
upon the General Assembly the power to elect,
surely it cannot be doubted, that we possess
that power ourselves; ard, that being So we
should not avoid the performance Of thst duty.
Iv.s told the other dsy, and I appreciate
the sentiment inst Virsinia's bosom was opens
ed to the enemy, and that it was oar duty 10
provide for her protection. We have not dons
so, 80 far, at least, ss Northwestern Virginia
is concerned; and it stTikes me that, IN Wow
os that tact, We would :.ow Do committing an
act VI hich wou!a bo lIo po.tie Es we'll as Unjust,
if Ne permitted that section 10 resuas' un
| represented. II we DC, We will be but con
fircn;n;5 the ;te. wticu the luEai e:eixsi;a OF
that section Gntor ain, thai ", really iesi l.S
interest in sbc people taegc Gnd no ccacert I9r
their safety.