Year: 1861

ne committee fe-aSSemDled at o'clock,
and MI NJ ACFARLASD res umed his remarks


lie said he had, in the morning, invited the
attention cf the Committee 10 4 prlc Teal
view OF the method by which the great ques-
ton now aSitatlng the country might be defi-
nltely settled. HIS object was 20 show that il
the subject of slavery WAS to be taken out of
the halls OF legislation, and Withdrawn from
the fields OF agitation, we might yet live on
terms OF friendship and respect with the
North. Unless this could be done. he would
not consent TO remain i'll q Union With the
people OF that section, for it would be by 10


means desirable. lie took the position that
the Northern people Were Us much in
terested in perpetu9ting the institution
OF slavery as we were, and If the ques ton
OF lis extinction We're presented to them,
1t would be decided in the negative
They were dependent upon it tor subsistence,
and you might as well expect that the col
nerles of England would be abandoned, as
that the Yankees would consent to their own
lmpoverlsh shment by the abolition OF slavery
at the South. There was, he assumed, a
change going in the sentiment OF the world
on the subject, IS shown by the employment
of coolies by France and England. W had Il
r1gnt 10 insist that the North should let us
alone, and he believed that when the naked
issue was presented the North would recede
from Its aggressive position IA ther than en-
counter the evils which must result from
continued agitation OF the slavery question.
Abiding to the grandeur OF the Union III the
eyes OF The world, he thought it would be
time enough To pass sentence upon IL after
our best efforts for its preservation shall have
Jailed. He looked upon II as altogether In-
probable, that war could be avoided in the
event of separation; and one single war be-
tween the North and the South would entail
upon each section an amount OF suffering and
waste which years OF industry and successful
commerce would in vain endeayor to repair.
The considera tions he conceived, wouid have
their due weight upon the Northern mind
Bring them 10 the question, slavery or war
and no sensible Inan would decide in favor OF
TI4.Af "a
remedy existing evils TO close the docr
forever as s~inst agitation. II we could bring
the North to agree that there should be no in
PRODUCTION OF the slavery question in the halls
OF Congress, no effort to impair the relation
between master ana slave, the public mind
would become uieted, and peace would return
TO the country. But suppose We Were mis- taken
III this? Would anything be lost by making
the experiment Is IL not ts easy TO separate
twenty years hence now The relative
positions of the two sections would not be
changed. Everything encouraged us 10 make
Tue effort. He conceived there would be no
dishonor in saying 10 the North, We must
have these guarantees, or disunion is the in
evitabe result II may be said that this has
already been done but he apprehended il had
not been done in the form and with the au-
tEoriiy here proposed


He argued that the Federal Government
ought, ana might now with proprety
knowledge the independence of the Confede-
ra ted States, and that it was an indispensable
step towards settlement OF the difficulty.
He agreed with the gentleman from Middle
sex, that the condition OF the Confederated
States was not to be disturbed by force He
held that the Committee ought to agree upon
something that would speedily settle the
pending difficulty, taking care to demand
enough 10 meet the exigencies of the case-
He spoke highly OF the resources OF the South
ern Coniederacy, and the gallantry OF her
people, bat must bs permitted to say that he
thought she acted with rather too IN uch has te
In going of without consulting with her
Southern sisters lie was not, however dis
posed TO quarrel with her that account
He apprehended that, as strong as the South
ern confederacy WIS, she would not object to
an addition to her strength, if II could be done
with perfect security and without sacrifice of
principle.


argumezt on the question of the Tariff, TO
show that the Southern Confederacy was not
en- u tied TO any particular favor from virginia
upon the ground of her ayowed policy OF Tree
trade yet he was so firmly attached by every
TO the Gulf States, that he
would be unw ling, under any fair eireum-
s tanees, TO turn bis back upon them. lie was
la favor of a further and final eHor; 10 recon
struct the Union and whoever should have
the good fortune 10 so shape the course OF
events as to bring about peaceful solution OF
the great questions 1T issue, would be entitled
TO the lasting gratitude of posterity.


MIR. ScoTr, OF Fauquier, said he understood
the time had nearly arrived at which the Com
'iiLtrs usually rose. lie desired 70 give some
views upon subject SO engrossing as the
lues ton under debals, but was reluctant 10
iaf ther exhaust the patience Of the Committee
~ this time. He therefore moved that
the Committee rise


The motion was agreed to, and the Commit.
Iee rose ana reported progress.


IN CONVENTION


Bar. EARIf, Of Franklin, presented n snbsii. |
Iate, Whieh ne proposed 10 offer, for the re.
port Of the Committee on Federal Relations.
lie did 50 with view 10 place himself on the
record Ia sach manner that there should be