The Daily Dispatch: April 6, 1861., [Electronic resource]

Virginia State Convention.
Forty-Fourth day.

Equality of Taxation.

The floor was then accorded to Mr. Stuart who continued his argument in favor of the resolutions. He wished it to be understood that in saying the Western people would stand by the East, if this measure of justice was done them, he was not committing himself to any act of immediate secession. When it could be shown that this was the only remedy for the evils inflicted by the North, his people would be "in" but he could not conceive any ground for the belief that this would be a remedy. They would fight for their rights in the Union, and defend slavery to the last. They believed that secession would only aggravate the evils complained of.

Mr. Slaughter, of Campbell, moved to lay the whole matter upon the table for the present.

Mr. Willey.--Understanding that to be a test question, I demand the yeas and nays.

The roll was then called, and the motion to lay on the fable was decided in the negative, by the following vote:

Yeas.--Messrs. Ambler, Blakey, Blow, Bolsscan, Borst, Bouldin, Brauch, Brent, Bruce, Carter, Chambliss, Conn, Fisher, Flournoy, Garland, Gravely, John Goode, Jr., Addison Hall Hammond, Harrie, Holcombe, Hunton, Isbell, Kent, Nilby, Leake, Charles K. Mallory, James B. Mallory, Marshall, Marr, Marye, Moffett, Montagne, Morris, Neblett, Nelson, Randolph, Robert E. Scott, William C. Scott, Seawell, Slaughter, Southall, Speed, Strange, Sutherlin, Thornton, Tredway. Robert H. Turner, Tyler, Waller, White, Whitfield, Wickham, and Williams.--54,

Nays.--Messrs. Janney, (President) Armstrong, Aston, Alfred M. Barbour, Baylor, Berlin, Boggass, Boyd, Brown, Burdett, Burley, Byrne, Campbell, Carlile, Cecil, Champman, Clemens, Coffman, C. B. Conrad, Robert Y. Conrad, Couch, Custis, Dent, Deskins, Early, Echols, French, Fugate, Gillespie, Graham, Gray, Goggin, Hale, Cyrus Hall, Ephraim B. Hall, Haymond, Hoge, Hubbard, Hughes, Hull, Jackson, Peter C. Johnston, Lawson, Lewis, McComas, McGrew, McNeil, Masters, Morton, Moore, Orrick, Osburn, Parks, Patrick, Porter, Preston, Price, Pugh, Sharp, Sheffey, Sitlington, Spurlock, Staples, Alex H. H. Stuart Chapman J. Stuart, Summers, Tarr, Tayloe, Franklin P. Turner, Willey, Wilson, Woods, and Wysor.--73.

Committee of the whole.

The Chairman took occasion to say that he had, during the confusion which prevailed yesterday evening, entertained a motion from the gentleman from Bedford, (Mr. Goggin,) to insert a substitute for the substitute offered for the 6th resolution by Mr. Harvie. He was now satisfied that he ought not to have entertained the motion.

Mr. Critcser, of Westmoreland, offered an amendment to the 6th resolution: to strike: the words ‘"cast off obedience to"’ and insert the words‘"dissolve their connection with, "’ so that the resolution would read--‘"Deeply deploring the present distracted condition of the country, and lamenting the wrongs that have impelled some of the States to dissolve their connection with the Federal Government,"’ &c.

Mr. Wysor, of Pulaski, moved to amend the amendment by striking out the whole resolution; but the Chairman ruled it out of order at this point.

Mr. Critcher's amendment was agreed to.

Mr. Moore, of Rockbridge, moved to further amend the sixth resolution by striking out the word‘"wrongs,"’ in the second line, and inserting the word‘"causes."’

Mr. Wise asked the mover of the amendment if he meant to say there were no wrongs which had impelled the Southern States to withdraw.

Mr. Moore said there had been great wrongs, but he did not believe that the Southern States seceded for any such cause.

Mr. Harvie demanded the yeas and nays, and the roll being called, the amendment was defeated by the following vote:

Yeas.--Messrs. Berlin, Boggess, Brown, Burdett, Burley, Carlile, Clemens. C. B. Conrad, Dent, Early, Hubbard, Hughes, Jackson, Peter C. Johnston, Lewis, McCrew, Masters, Moore, Patrick, Porter, William C. Scott, Sharp, Tarr, White, Willey, and Wilson,--26.

Nays.--Messrs. Ambler, Armstrong, Aston. Alfred M. Barbour, James Barbour, Baylor, Blakey, Blow, Boissean. Borst, Bouldin, Boyd, Branch, Brent, Bruce, Byrne. Campbell, Carter, Chambliss, Chapman, Coffman, Coun, R. Y Conrad. Couch, R. H. Cox, Critcher, Custis, Deskins, Echos, Fisher. Flournoy, French, Fugate, Garland, Gillespie, Graham, Gravely, Gray, Goggin, John Goode, Jr., Hate, Addison Hall, Ephraim B. Hall, L. S. Hall, Hammond, Harvie, Haymond, Hoge, Holcombe, Hull, Hunton, Isbell, Janney, Marmaduke Johnson, Kent, Kilby. Lawson, Leake, McComas, McNeil, Macfarland, Charles K. Mallory, James B. Mallory, Marshall, Marr, Marye, Moffett Montague, Morris. Morton. Neblett, Nelson, Orrick, Osburn, Parks, Pendleton, Preston, Price, Pugh, Randolph, Robert E. Scott. Seawell, Sheffey, Sitlington, Slaughter, Southall, Speed, Spurlock, Staples, A. H. H. Stuart, C. J. Stuart, Strange, Summers, Sutherlin, Tayloe, Thornton, Tredway, R. H. Turner, F. P. Turner, Tyler, Waller, Whitffeld, Wickham, Williams, Wise, Woods, and Wysor--107.

Mr. Sutherlin, of Pittsylvania, moved to further amend the resolution by inserting after the word ‘"hope"’ in the 6th line, the words ‘"provided the authorities at Washington shall maintain peaceful relations with the seceded States."’

‘ Mr.Sutherlin said he offered this amendment, because he had no hope of the preservation or reconstruction of the Union unless the Federal Government maintained peaceful relations to the seceded States. This was the position he assumed when a candidate for the Convention: that if the Federal Government should fail or refuse to give us peace pending our efforts to settle the difficulties, he should feel bound to vote to relieve the citizens of Virginia from all authority on the part of the Federal Government, and co-operate with the Southern States.

’ Mr. Speed, of Campbell, asked if it would be in order at this point to offer an amendment to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Pittsylvania?

The Chair ruled it to be in order, and an informal debate took place on Parliamentary law, between Messrs, Wise, Conrad, and Clemens.

Mr. Speed then offered his amendment to the amendment, by adding after the word ‘"States,"’ the words ‘"and not seek to accumulate within the limits of any Southern State an amount of troops or munitions of war, not required for purposes of external defence."’

Mr. Dorman, of Rockbridge, said he would vote against both amendments. The amendment of the gentleman from Pittsylvania was provided for in the 12th resolution.

Mr. Sutherlin, in reply to Mr. Dorman, and the 12th resolution was not yet adopted, and in any event it could do no harm to re-assert the principle. It had been said that the vote yesterday, against secession, would encourage the General Government to reinforce the Southern forts; and though he had voted against Mr. Harvie's substitute yesterday, he did not mean to countenance anything like the use of force against the seceded States.

The vote was first taken on Mr. Speed's amendment to the amendment, and it was rejected, by the following vote:

Yeas--Messrs. Ambler, James Barbour, Blakey, Boissean, Borst, Bouldin, Cecil, Chambliss, Chapman, Coffman, Conn, Richard H. Cox, Echols, Fisher, Garland, Graham, Goggin, John Goode, Jr. Hale, Cyrus Hall, L. S. Hall. Hammond, Harris, Holcombe, Hunton, Isbell, Kent, Kindred, Lawson, Leake, McNeil, Charles R. Mallory, James B. Mallory, Marr, Marye, Montague, Morris, Morton, Neblett, Orrick, Parke, Randolph, Richardson, Wm. C. Scott, Seawell, Sheffey, Slaughter, Southall, Speed, Spurlock, Strange, Sutherlin, Thornton, Tredway, Robert H. Turner, Franklin P. Turner, Tyler, Williams, Wise, Woods, and Wysor--61.

Nats.--Messrs. Armstrong, Aston, Alf'd. M. Barbour, Baylor, Berlin, Blow, Boggess, Boyd, Branch, Brent, Brown, Bruce, Burdett, Burley, Byrne, Campbell, Carlite, Carter, Clemens, C. B. Conrad, Robert Y. Conrad, Couch, Critcher, Custis, Dent, Deskins, Dorman, Early, Flournoy, French, Fugate, Gillespie, Gravely, Gray, Addison Hall, Ephraim B. Hall, Haymond, Hoge, Hubbard, Hughes, Jackson, Janney, Marmaduke Johnson, Peter C. Johnston, Kilby, Lewis, McComas, McGrew, Macfarland, Marshall, Masters, Moffett, Moore, Nelson, Osburn, Patrick, Pendleton, Porter, Preston, Price, Pugh, Robert R. Scott, Sharp, Sitlington, Staples, Alex. H. H. Stuart, Chapman J. Stuart, Summers, Tarr, Tayloe, Waller, White, Wickham, Willey, and Wilson.--75

The question recurring on Mr. Sutherlin's amendment, it was opposed by Mr. Scott, of Fauquier, on the ground that it was already provided for.

The vote was then taken, and the amendment rejected.

Mr. Johnston, of Lee, offered to amend the 6th resolution, by striking out the word‘"the"’ before the word‘"Union"’ in the 4th line.--The word having been put there by mistake, it was stricken out by general consent.

Mr. Carlile offered an amendment to the resolution, viz; to strike out from the second and third lines ‘"lamenting the wrongs that have impelled some of the States to dissolve their connection with,"’ and insert‘"caused by some of the States having cast off their obedience to."’

Voted down by a large majority.

Mr. Bouldin, of Charlotte, moved to amend the resolution by striking out from the 6th line the words ‘"Indulge the hope,"’ and inserting in lieu thereof the words ‘"earnestly desire."’

Mr. Bouldin briefly advocated his amendment, expressing his hopelessness of an adjustment of present difficulties.

Mr. Scott, of Fauquier, replied, declaring his confident hope that through some of the measures proposed the country would eventually be restored to its proud position. He was in favor of the amendment, and demanded the yeas and nays.

The amendment was agreed to — yeas 133, nays 5--Messrs. Ambler, Berlin, Boggess, Harvie and Neblett voting in the negative.

Mr. Speed, of Campbell, moved to further amend the resolution in the 7th line by striking out the word‘"preserved,"’ and insert in lien thereof the word ‘"re-established."’

Mr. Scott, of Fauquier, favored the amendment, which was agreed to.

Mr. Wise then moved to strike out the whole resolution, with a view to change the language in such a manner as to make it acceptable, and offered the following substitute.

Deeply affected by the present distracted condition of the country, and resisting the wrongs that have impelled some of the States to dissolve their connection with the Federal Government, but sensible of the blessings of the Union in its integrity, and impressed with the importance to the peace, prosperity and progress of the people, of observing its faith, we indulge the earnest desire that an adjustment may be reached by which the Union and peace, prosperity and fraternal feelings throughout the land, may be restored. And Virginia should not offer or adopt any terms of adjustment which ought not to be acceptable to the seceded States, and restore them to the Union.

Mr. Carlile called for a division of the question, taking the vote first on the motion to strike out; and it having been announced by the Chair that a refusal to strike out would defeat the substitute, Mr. Wise availed himself of the opportunity to urge its adoption. Mr. Conrad, of Frederick, opposed it.

Mr. Wise replied to Mr. Conrad, incorporating with his remarks a telegraphic dispatch just received from Charleston, to show the necessity of preparation to meet impending war, and to resist the wrongs of which the South complained. The difference between the gentleman from Frederick and himself was, that he would remain in a Union without the Southern States, while he (Mr. Wise) would not.

Mr. Brown, of Preston, called for the yeas and nays; and the roll being called, the Committed refused to strike out by the following vote:

Yeas.--Messrs. Ambler, Jas. Barbour, Blakey, Boisseau, Borst, Bouldin, Branch, Bruce, Carlile Cecil, Chambliss, Chapman, Coffman, Conn, Richard H. Cox, Fisher, Flournoy, Garland, Graham, Goggin, John Goode, Jr., Hale, Cyrus Hall, L. S. Hall, Harvie, Holcombe. Hunton, Isbell, Kent Kindied, Leake, Chis K. Mallory, Jas. B. Mallory, Marr, Marye, Montague, Morris, Morton, Neblett, Randolph, Richardson, Seawell, Sheffey, Slaughter, Speed, Strange, Sutherlin. Thornton, Tredway. Robt. H. Turner, Franklin P. Turner, Tyler, Williams, Wilson, Wise, Woods, and Wysor.--57.

Nays.--Messrs. Armstrong, Aston, Alfred M. Barbour, Baylor, Berlin. Blow, Boggess, Boyd, Brent, Brown, Burdett, Burley, Byrne, Campbell, Caperton, Carter, Clemens, C. B. Conrad, Robert Y. Conrad, Couch, Critcher, Custis, Dent, Deskins, Dorman, Early, Echols, French, Fugate. Gilles pie, Gravely, Gray, Addison Hall, Eph B. Hall, Hammond, Haymond, Hoge, Holladay, Hubbard, Hughes, Jackson, Janney, Marmaduke Johnson, Pet. C. Johnston, Kilby, Lawson, Lewis, McComas, McGrew, McNeil, Macfarland, Marshall, Maslin, Masters, Moffett, Moore, Nelson, Orrick, Osburn, Parks, Patrick, Pendleton, Porter, Preston, Price, Pugh, Robt. E. Scott, Wm. C. Scott, Sharp, Sitlington. Southall, Spurlock, Staples, Alex. H. H. Stuart, Chapman J. Stuart, Summers. Tarr, Tayloe, Waller, White, Whitfield, Wickham, and Willey. --

This vote having defeated the substitute, Mr. Wise moved to amend the sixth resolution by adding there to the following: ‘"But Virginia should not offer or adopt any terms of adjustment which ought not to be acceptable to the seceded States and restore them to the Union."’

The amendment was rejected — yeas 64, nays 74.

The question was then taken taken on the 6th resolution as amended, and it was adopted by the following vote:

Yeas.--Messrs. Armstrong, Alfred M. Barbour, Baylor, Berlin, Blow, Boggess, Bouldin, Boyd, Branch, Brent, Brown, Burdett, Burley, Byrne, Campbell, Caperton, Carter, Clemens, Coffman, C. B. Conrad, Robert Y. Conrad, Couch, Critcher, Custis, Dent, Deskins, Early, Echos, Flournoy, French, Fugate, Garland, Gillespie, Gravely, Gray, Goggin, Addison Hall, Cyrus Hall, Ephraim B. Hall, Hammond, Haymond, Hoge, Holladay, Hubbard, Hughes, Jackson, Janney, Marmaduke Johnson, Peter C. Johnston, Kilby, Lewis, McComas, McGrew, McNell, Macfarland, Charles K. Mallory, James B. Mallory, Marshall, Marr, Marye, Maslin, masters, Moffett, Moore, Nelson, Orrick, Osburn, Parks, Patrick, Pendleton, Porter, Preston, Price, Pugh, Randolph, Richardson, Robert E. Scott, William C. Scott, Sharp, Sheffey, Sitlington, Slaughter, Southall, Speed, Spurlock, Staples, Alex. H. H. Stuart, Chapman J. Stuart, Summers, Sutherlin, Tarr, Tayloe, Thornton, Tredway, Robert H. Turner, Franklin P. Turner, Tyler, Waller, White, Whitfield, Wickham, Willey, Wilson, and Woods.--104.

Nays.--Messrs. Ambler, Jas. Barbour, Blakey, Boisseau, Borst, Bruce, Carlile, Cecil, Chambliss, Chapman, Conn, Richard H. Cox. Fisher, Graham, John Goode, Jr., Hale, Holcombe, Hunton, Isbell, Kent, Kindred, Lawson, Leake, Montague, Morris, Morton, Neblett, Seawell, Strange, Williams, and Wise--31.

The resolution, as adopted, reads:

Deeply deploring the present distracted condition of the country, and lamenting the wrongs that have impelled some of the States to dissolve their connection with the Federal Government, but sensible of the blessings of Union, and imposed with its importance to the peace, prosperity and progress of the people, we earnestly desire that an adjustment may be reached by which the Union may be re-established in its integrity, and peace, prosperity and fraternal feelings, be restored throughout the land.

The seventh resolution was then read by the Secretary, as follows:

‘ 7. To remove the existing causes of complaint, much may be accomplished by the Federal and State Governments; the laws for the rendition of fugitives from labor, and of fugitives from justice, may be made more effectual; the expenditures of the Government may be reduced within more moderate limits, and the abuses that have entered into the administrative departments reformed. The State authorities may repeal their unfriendly and unconstitutional legislation, and substitute in its stead such as becomes the comity, and is due to the rights of the States of the same Union. But to restore the Union, and preserve confidence, the Federal Constitution should be amended in those particulars wherein experience has exhibited defects and discovered approaches dangerous to the institutions of some of the States.

’ Mr. Wise moved to amend the resolution by striking out all after the word‘"governments"’ (3rd line) down to the word ‘"but,"’ (12th line,) so that it would read, ‘"To remove existing causes of complaint, much may be accomplished by the Federal and State Governments; but to restore,"’ &c.

The amendment was advocated by the mover.

Mr. Wilson, of Harrison, moved to amend the amendment by striking out the word ‘"may"’ from the fifth line of the resolution, (as printed above) and insertingthe word ‘"should,"’

The amendments were briefly debated by Mr. Scott, of Fauquier, and Mr. Wise; after which, Mr. Wilson's amendment was voted down.

Mr. Wise then demanded the yeas and nays upon his amendment, and the roll being called, it was agreed to by the following vote:

Yeas.--Messrs. Ambler, Armstrong, Blakey, Blow, Botssiou, Borst, Bouldin, Boyd, Branch, Brent, Bruce, Cecil, Chambliss, Chapman, Coffman, Conn, Rich'dH. Cox, Echois, Fisher, Flournoy Garland, Graham, Gravely, Goggin, John Goode, Jr., Hale, C. Hall, L. S. Hall, Harvie, Holcombe, Hunton, Isabel, Kent, Kilby. Kindred, Lawson, Leake, McNeil, Macfarland, Charles K. Mallory, James B. Mallory, Marr, Marye, Montague, Morris, Morton, Neblett, Orrick, Parks, Randolph, Richardson, Sheffey, Slaughter, Southall, Speed, Strange, Tayloe, Thoraton. R. H. Turner, F. P.Turner, Tyler, Waller, Whitfield, Williams, Wilson, Wise, Woods, and Wysor.--68.

Nays.--Messrs. Aston, A. M. Barbour, Baylor, Berlin, Boggess, Brown, Burdett, Burley, Byrne, Campbell. Caperton, Carlile, Carter, Clemens, C. B. Conrad, Robt. Y. Conrad, Couch, Critcher, Custis, Dent, Deskins, Dorman, Early, French, Fugate, Gillespie, Addison Hall, E. B. Hall, Hammond,Haymond, Hoge, Holiday, Hubbard, Hughes, Jackson, Janney, M. Johnson, Peter C. Johnston, McComas, McGrew, Marshall, Maslin, Masters, Moffett, Moore, Nelson, Osburn, Patrick, Pendleton, Porter, Preston, Price, Pugh, Robert E. Scott, Wm. C. Scott, Sharp, Sitlington, Spurlock, Staples, A. H. H. Stuart, C. J. Stuart, Summers, Sutherlin, Tarr, White, Wickham, and Willey.--67.

Mr. Early moved to amend by striking out the word ‘" restore"’in the last sentence, and inserting the word‘"preserve,"’ Rejected.

Mr. Leake, of Goochland, moved to further amend the resolution by adding thereto the following: ‘"And the people of the non-slaveholding States must abstain from all interference with the institution of slavery as it exists in any of the States, or in any of the common territory; and there must be an entire abandonment of all political organizations based upon the principle of hostility to Southern institutions."’

Pending the consideration of this amendment the hour for recess arrived.