Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-23

Judgment, was a fsLo de ss--a self destroyer.
Ia one breath he says that the convention
which met at Wheeling was unconstitutional
convention, and the Legislature, there as
sembled q constitutional Legislature; In the
next breath he denies that these bodies are
constitutional oElegal bodies. lift be the
constitutional Legislature of the State OF
Virginia whick assembled at Wheeling,
then it hadIth power to provide, as It did
provide, for the action of the people touch
ing the adoption or rejection of this consti-
tntion, aud the organization of this pro.
posed new State within the limits of Yir-
ginia. Aud yet the gentleman, further on
in his speech, came to the conclusion that
this legislative body at Wheeling Was in
formal; thRtit was unconstitutional; that it
was tyraunical and oppressive; and he asks
this House to interpose its shield between
the outraged people Of Virginia and this
tyranny. A constitutional Legislature who,
by q constitutional act authorized the peo-
pie 20 vote for or against a constitution
framed by their own delegates TO enable
them, il they see fit, TO organize for them
selves g new State, and to petition the
Congress Of the United States for its admis
sion into the Union. q tyranpical bodyi
1t is the first time / have ever heard q
Representative upon this floor venture so
far as to say that an act authorized by the
Federal Constitution. and within the ex-
press reserved rights of the people of every
State, is an act of tyranny. The gentleman
says that in the convention which convened
the Legislature of Virginia, eleven of the
counties within the proposed State were
not,represented. What Of that2 Does the
gentleman mean to say that it makes inval-
i'd all that has been done under that con-
Yentionf Lethim remember, if he pleases,
when he makes an argument Of that sort,
that that conventions which was an origt,
nal act of sovereignty of the people them.
selves In Virginia, appointed the very Gov
ernor Of Virginia under whose proclanR-
ton he Ventured to become candidate for
a-seatin this House, and under whose-cer.
tifioate he ventured 70 present himselfhere
for admissi0n.s He cannot be allowed to
blow hot and cold in this way upon ques.
tion of this sort. If the copYention was in
valid, then their appointment Of a Govern
or was invalid, and his proclamation for the
eleoIioui puder which the gentleman claim
ed his seat was also invalid. The election
proclamation of Governor Peirpoint, if l
recolieet the record atig was Issued be.
'fore'the people of Virginia were permitted
to speak by ballot ON the question whether
Governor Peirpoint should be their execu-
tive or not. uItiwas the act of the conVen-
tiou itself that appoihted the Governor Of
Virginia under whose proclamation the
gentleman was elected of that very con-
Vention which the gentleman from Virgin
inia LMr. Segar] stands herethis day to re-
pudiate; $40 s. T,asi4is7 SseasYe5H r 7s
There WAS one other objection in the
gentlemau's argument--if IL may bepalled
an AFgument-WhfehI desire to notice, aud
a. Nk..H AZ ~ -
number Of votes given ut the election to
justify the House in concluding that this
constitution is the act OF the people. 1t Is
the first time, / may be permitted to say,
that ! have heard any man say that the
neglect or refusal to vote Of part of those
duly qualified to vote inyalidates an elee-
tion which in other respects is legal, If
that were so, then it would be impossible
for the people in the State of Virginia, rs
long these rebels choose 70 remain rebels,
70 assert their rights against msjority of
rebels, and Of this shall have something
TO say hereafter. .s-,..'5 -, s Il ~.
81 If the gentleman honestly enteFtaius the
view of the subject which be has expresS-
ed, and to which l have just referred, that
an election legally held is made invalid be-
cause the great majority Of the voters
choose. not TO attend and vote, then with
What pfepriety did the gentleman come
here from n district in which there are fif-
teen or twenty thousand voters, backed by
the pitifal vote OF about / Wenty ave citizens,
and ask seat ,uPonnthisi floor 2 Laugh
ter. A man capable Of playing that role
might be.capabIe Of bstraying 10 his place,
after he-is admitted, 4 the reserved rights OF
the people whom he represents. Eiiss -i-,saig
Mr.. Speaker, i come nov TO the other
question that has been raised In this de-
bate. No one could be more surprised
than, ] vas 10 see the veneFAbla gentleman
from Kentucky, 4r. Crittendeu, upon
whose head time With its s1frosty sflaRers
has scattered the SHOWS Of more than sew.
enty winters, aud. who, for ,nearlY half .
century Of public service, has had, so mucA
OF aus opportunity to learn the true theory
of our GoveFnment, come hero and ignore
its tcVery 6rst principles altogether; and
that, too, Ia the teeth Of his avn manly
ptterapces made no longer ago than Gt the
last session OF this House, He uttered a
great truth At the last session, in spegkipg
of the reserved rights Of the people of Yir-
ginia, when be said that the convention OF
that people to feotganile their Stare gov
ernmeut was ap original act Of sovereignty.
Constitution under which the American
" otSA ~~AehS AAte uni wv Nptl ikouAhlhuAluu
under which eyesy Representative upon
this door holds his seat this day, came 10
be by virtue Of that original soVereiRnty in
the people which they have mot Gurfen.
dered, which they could Inot surrender II
they, would, and which they should, not
surrender if they could. There is not a
man familiar with the history Of this Gov
etntneht but knows the fact that The Con-
stitutioHsofc the United States was formed
aud ratified BY the people, and put iAto full
operation and effect ia direct violation Of
the written compact between the several
States of,tbe gopfederaey.a By what au-
Lhority2 let him who Is called Gthe father
Of the CONSTITUTIONS answer that question
himself. ssg tHassg 'etei q OOCI
when'the ConstitdtiOn was on;triAl for
its deliVeFance before,ths American people,
the enemies of that great instrument poin-
ted to the fact that n Il were adopted { in
direct .ihe written CON.
pact Of peTpetual ppi9a between the thir.
-. 4 q. 4 .