Year: 1861

In either case the effect is bad, and pru-
dence seems to dictate that we keep
entirely aloof, rather than jeopardize
the great interests and principles of
human liberty by hasty, illtimed and
linconsiderate action.


Your committee beg leave to further
trespass upon the time of the Senate
by discussing further objection. The


resolutions referred to your committee


provide that if said Commissioners,


after full and free conference, shall


agree upon any plan of adjustment re-


quiring amendments of the Constitu.


ton for the further security of the


rights OF the people Of the slaye.hold-


ing States, they are requested to COM


municate such amendments to Con-
gress, to be by il submitted to the peo.
pie for ratification. By this resolution


it would seem to be indicated that the


powers of the Commissioners were to


be restricted to providing further secu-


rity to the rights of the people of the


slave-holding States. This your com


mittee regard as a qualification of the
ipreteDce that the General Assembly of


Virginia are willing to unite in an ear


nest effort to adjust the controversies


they seem to deprecate in the spirit in


which the constitution was originally


formed, and consistent with its princi-
plies. The spirit of the trainers of the


constitution was honorable concession,


when it was essential to the happiness


and prosperity of the people. The


spirit which animated the fathers was


to establish justice, and to secure the


blessings of liberty to themselves and


their prosterity. After the most care


ful investigation, your committee have


failed to discover any such spirit of


concession manifested in these resolu-


tons as was manifested by the fathers,


and none of that spirit of hatred of


human slavery or love of equal and ex-


act justice to all men, which animated


the trainers of the federal constitution.
Again, your committee consider the


fact that the action of the commission


ers can only be considered advisory as


another serious objection. If they


cannot agree upon any common basis


of settlement, the sectional animosity,


now too rife, must be greatly increased,
and indeed, if they do agree, it still de-
lpends upon Congress to say whether


action shall be submitted to the people.


The mode proposed of agreeing to


amendments of the Constitution is
novel and new; it is taking from Con-
gress its constitutional privileges, and


making it subservient TO the demands


of few dissatisfied States whenever


they may seek modification of that


instrument All the loyal States are


now represented in Congress, and all


the dissatisfied States may be if they


choose, and thus assembled in the Con-


gress, each State upon an equal footing


with the other, the privilege to amend


the Constitution is undisputed. We


can readily imagine the accumulated


evils that would result from the rejec-
ton by the Congress, of any psapaai.,
tions submitted by such commissioners:


and yet We have no guarantee, but the
probabilities all are that Congress


would reject any and all propositions


thus made.


i Your committee are unanimous in
the opinion that an assembly of COM
missioners like that proposed in the
: Virginia resolutions, should be COM
} posed of patriotic and Union-loving
men (; men wholly and entirely loyal to
J the Constitution and the government
as it is. Only such men would seem


to be capable of framing amendments
to that compact in the spirit in which
it was originally formed, and consis-
tently with its principles" and purposes.
Yet your committee are surprised to


find among the commissioners proposed
by Virginia, men who within the pres
ent month have endorsed publicly the
J detestable and reasonable doctrine Of
, secession men who within the last
thirty days have put upon the record
5 the assertion that the Constitution is
J purely mercantile partnership and de-
nying the right of coercion of State
! by the General Government; doctrines
wholly and entirely at variance with
: fact and the settled convictions of every
1 Union-loving citizen. We deem it
questionable policy, to say the least, to
r undertake to procure an honorable and
t equitable adjustment of existing diff
!, culties with men now holding and Civ


ing currency to such manifested i'm
t proper and disloyal sentiments.


J. In conclusion, your committee would
$ respectfully suggest in view OF the facts
d and premises presented, that it is inex-
d lpedient and unnecessary, if not unwise
e and unsafe, for this Legislature at this
/ time to take any action looking to, OF
: the Reconstruction of the Federal Gov
# ernment. We believe that ample pow.
o er exists in the Congress to correct al
It abuses, and set aside all the grievances
e complained of by any of the States
o and that any and all attempts by State
l. Legislatures or the people Of the States
e to usurp and use those powers arr
s. fraught with great danger to the stabil
is ity eff the Constitution and the perpe
70 tuity of the Union. While we hav,
1T felt it our duty thus to refuse the re
10 quest of our sister State. we do it on
le of no spirit of Indifference to the re
ly sponsibilities she has placed us under
lie and only repretting that the proposa