Year: 1861

Another Speech by Senator Car1i1e.


ECoNoLUDED FROM YEsTERDAY.l


!. Sir, nations, and political COMMUNITIES
are governed, so says every writer upon
the laws of nations and every writer upon
the morals that govern political communi-
ties, by interest. Interest is at the base of
all political action; and if we believe it to
be to our interest to sever the bonds that
connect US to old Virginia we are justified
in the eyes of the world. We have the
highest authority for our availing ourselves
of the opportunity now Il thiuk) proVi-
dentially presented to us, of obtaining that
which we believe to be essential to our in.
terest. Sir, am enlisted in this war for
the maintainance of the Union as much as
any man; will do no act, take no step that
will in the slightest degree, if l know it,
prejudice the Union cause in any way
shape or form; and will say here now
what have always said that the first OBJ
ject with me, is the preservation of the
Union, Ia member t'that's it.") Satisfy me
that that first object is to be enfeebled and
endangered by any act now looking to
division of the State and am with you.
make division of the State, SUI
bordinate to the maintainance of the
Union. But l cannot believe that
it is to come in conflict with any eff
fort that is to be made by us or by
any one else for the preservation of the
Union; and until have reason assigned
me, showing how it is to conflict, will l
not yield the position have taken upon
this subject.


Why, sir, was surprised to hear gentle
men enumerate difficulty after difficulty,
all of which as was we'll said on yesterday
by my friend from this city, (Mr. Paxton)
has existed and will continue to ex-
ist throughout all time, with the SOL
itary exception of the embarrassment
of the Administration in this strug-
gle. These reasons are assigned by
gentlemen who tell us that they are in
favor of division sat the proper time;"
and that '.proper time" is when all Virginia
is represented in the Legislature, and then
the time is when you never can get the
consent of the Legislature. Now, sir, l
have my own views about the position of
gentlemen when they tell me they are in
favor of division of the State, and say
they intend to postpone it until that time;
for they must know ifthey postpone it un-
til then they never can get the consent of
tho Legislature. Then, sir, there is an
argument which 1 alluded to the other
day and will repeat, that is full answer
to all that has been said on this question
of embarrassing the government. If 1T is
believed by the Congress of the United
States that separation of this State will
embarrass the efforts making to suppress
the rebellion, will they admit US as a
State2 Each one can put that to himself
and answer. It ls not worth while for US
to say what Congress will do or will not
do. That is all speculation. do not
think that any gentleman is authorized to
speak for any deliberative body, because
they very often, in a very short period of
time reverse their own opinions. Now,
sir, if we act as is proposed, and. provide
that the sense of the people within the
boundary shall be taken upon this ques-
tion of new State, aud they declare for
it, and the Legislature consents to it, and
Congress gives its assent, why it will be
very best evidence in the world that gem
tlemen are mistaken in supposing that it
will embar:ass the Administration; but IT
Congress should Withhold its consent
should it be the opinion that the AdmlnIs-
tration or the Government is to be embar-
rassed in the slightest degree, my word
for it they will postpone action on your
application. Congress will not admityou;
they may not reject your applications; they
FInay let it lie over and say to you: "When
the proper time arrives we will admit
you" but they will not admit you now
Tell me how the initiatory steps, the pro-
ceedings taken here, are to affect in the
slightest degree the power of the govern
4 ment TO determine this question of embar-
rassment for itself. That is the question |
put Answer that. Depend upon it Con-
gress, according to its members, is just as
iloyal as we are. Congress will guard the
interests of this Union with as much care
j as we can; and if our application should be
made to that body for admission into the
Union hs State, and they believe it will
embarrass the government in the slightest
degree, they will either refuse our applice-
tion at once or postpone action upon it
They will take care that the public inter-
ests suffer no detriment whatever by any
faction we have had out here in the country
Itry, and thataction isthe assembling on
given day of voters in their prescribed dis
Iricts to declare their wishes upon separ-
alton of the State, and their adoption or
rejection of a Constitution proposed to
them to govern them if they do vote for
/ new State, and the action of the Legisla-
ture upon it: all of which is nothing, af-
fects nothing, binds nobody; changes the
! relation of no one, affects no political or
lpauization whatever until it has obtained
the assent of Congress. Such consent will
l.not be given, we may rest assured, If
.Iqeptlemen shall be found right in their
predictions, and if it is found that the
government is to be embarrassed in the
struggle,


i 1 thrust my opinions unwarranted upon no
lone. Iilfate heretofore shown that { am
willing to yield the cherished principles
that have advocated with warmth and
zeal. l yielded to the gentleman from Ma
son, and others who thought with him in
1the ConYention of Nay. Welded, as my