Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-01-11
debate in the Virginia Senate.

tons:
J. Resolved by the General Assembly of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, That the Govern
OTIS of the States composing the United States
of America be, and they are hereby, earnestly
requested to conv"Ie as soon US practcaOle Inc
Legislatures of their respective States, IN ordnr
that the States may consult 10 ether and advise
with each other respecting the late interference
Of the army d the United States with the Leg
issture of the State of Louisiana, and determine
simultaneously and promptly what is necessary
to be done to defend end preserve the lndepend-
.nce and autonomy OF the States.
z. Resolved. That tho Governor of this Com
morwesth be, and he is hereby requested
forthwith to telegraph these resolutions u the
Governors of tao several States and request m-
mediate replies.
MIR. Cvchraoc said the telegraph flashed the
news tina, the Legislature OF sovereign State
had been prorogued and dispersed at the point
o., the hayonat, aud ii mad been matter OF auxi-
! Gus inquiry what action should be taken by the
States to preserve their liberties. The great
issue forced upon the people OF the United
! States BIZ This act of despUtlsm was 90 party
| matter He was opposed to considering 1t 10
| party caucus 1t was question OF significance
| too dcep for such barrow limits. Virginia
| ought TO take some action. 1t was true she
was powcrless; the broken spear had fallen
| from her aprvcess arm, butit would be remem
| berca that Virginia has occupied place 10 this
| government that entities her to be heard
| Somebody hal SAID that a mysterious line lies
| between liberty and d, spotism. Ii was easy to
step over il and Caesar always DISCUSSES his
steps 50 that the people may not suspect his
| design Even DOW the rublcon had been cross
ed and cui purple Ce ,ar must b. brought to 4
| halt All our liberties are gone. The resolu
tions are guarded DOT ob;rus!ve. They COO
| i buF titpa bos
! c ,mc for all the States to make effort to arrest
| the progress of dcspoiism, and who has a bet
| ter right than Virginia 10 call a conference.
| Let men of all parties take their stand on this
! uueston aud say whether they will have coustl-
| tu.ional government or despOlsm.
! Mr. Blaod said he SymplhlZcd With the
| Senate! from Augusta, but must oppose the
resuiutons 1t would be imprudent for Vlr-
| ginia 10 inaug urate such movement. Let ac-
ton be taken in the Northern States, whose
| liberties we're threatened equally with our own.
! He gave graphic sketch Of the struggle of
! Flrgiula for constitutional liberty and III
g nc usun urged that mauly and dlgnl-
| fei priest be made against the outrage
upou l. :uis!aua, which could 20. be mlScou-
! strued, aud would strengthen our friends 10 the
! n ri.
Mr. Penn, Of Patrick, also expressed his re-
greet that tie Senator had introduced the Ieso-
lutionS, as Virginia was DOT in position to
take the lead 10 this great crisis. Ii passed.
our action .uI,! be msconstrued, and the cry
OF united South against the government would
hr raisrd Here the Senator read from the
| Enuu!rcr the report Of The debate between
| Mcs>rS Sergeant, Hamilton, and Conk!lng In
| III. Unicd States Srliate when the question
was under c,usi Iteration few days ago. Con-
| tlnui.g he SAID that if the Senator'S ideas
were adopted w: would embark on an unknown
sea. H.. could not endorse them We had
hornc as much as Louisiana in the days Of mil
itary s&t,apy. NV the North was moving.
Let The ball roll Oh, but keep our own house
| hold 10 order. Let Us act with prudence. ln
| conclusion he offered resolution providing for
the appointment of joint committee TO con-
| slider The matter.
Mr.. Smith, Of N,Ison thought that the mat
Ter should either 90 to the committee on Fede-
raj relations or await the action of 4 Conserva-
tive caucus We had been advised by our
friends in Congress to protest In moderate
terms The proposed conference of States
could not be had, aud therefore let Us .oemnly
protest and no more. Let the parties in Con.
greSs and the people settle the usurpation.
MIR. Kirk patrick, of Lynchburg, urged that
| there were reasons which addressed themselves
| to all parties why Virginia should act 10 the
| premises There we're two parties to this mo-
| mentous controversy, and with one certainly
| her voice would not be impotent. Her voice
| to Louisiana counseDg calmness and patient
| waiting for the hour of their dellverance would
| do good, and while speaking to her we might
speak TO others. Our manner should not be
belllgerent and Insulting, but we had right to
| remind Graat of his Friendship after the sur
render, aud appeal to him, and if he was deaf
there were Republicans in Congress who were
| true as himself be believed, and who were com
| mitted to the position that Kellogg was an
usurper. He thought that they would draw
| the sword if necessary IN defence OF constitu-
tioua liberty. Virgioia, he thought, should
her action was calm and statesmaDlke. la con-
cIusoo he urged the reference of the subject to
| committee of five on the part of the House
aud two on the part Of the Senate.
Mr. Queseuberry, of Caroline, regretted that
| the question should have been brought before
| the Seuate IN such d manner as to reveal d.
vision OF sentiment when there should be
| unanimity. H. believed Virginia should act.
| This was 40 ordinary case OF usurpatlon. 1t
was direct attack by the Executive of the
| United States upoa the Legislature of State.
| y step not only towards third term but to-
wards a dictatorship. Every State 10 the land
should protest against the authority of General
Grant to send his armed men into the halls of
legislature. Virginia should let the world
know how she stands, but he considered that
her action should be d.iued 10 caucus by the
Conservative party.
Mr.. Hnudley, of Buckingham, considered it
became Virginia to take action in the premises,
but regretted thai the reso utions Of the Sena-
Tor from Augusta had been introduced. Ii
they meant anything, it was that Virginia
should take the first step in new revolution
They we're net needed to express The sentiment
Of this people; every one knew that. The
question was whether an expression of seuti-
mcnt was puiitic He. with other Senator's
spoke with bridied tongue, for fear that they
should injuye the cause Of their friends in the
North. It was not necessary for the DRY Of
Virginia that she should speak at all. Her