Virginia State Convention.
Nineteenth day.
Thursday, March 7, 1861.
The Convention was called to order at the usual hour, and opened with prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Moore, of the 1st Presbyterian Church.
Finance and taxation.
Mr. Brown, of
Preston, offered a resolution for the appointment of a committee of --members, to be styled the Committee of Finance, whose duty it shall be to take into consideration all subjects referred to it, including State and county taxation.
Mr. Brown urged the expediency of the passage of such a resolution, to meet possible contingencies in the event of a war. If the necessity should arise, every dollar that he had was at the service of the
State, to arm, equip, and feed the brave men in the field. --He proceeded to contradict the allegation made in a local newspaper, that a bargain exisited between Western and Eastern men on the question of taxation: he at least knew nothing of such a bargain, and he hoped if other Western members did, they would let the
Convention know it.
Mr. Echols, of
Monroe, moved that the resolution be laid upon the table, and on that motion
Mr. Brown called for the yeas and nays.
The roll was then called, and the vote resulted — yeas 69, nays 43.
So the motion to lay on the table was carried in the affirmative.
Personal Explanation.
Mr. Early, of
Franklin, (
Mr. Carlile having yielded the floor for that purpose,) proceeded to correct some portion of his remarks, on yesterday, as reported in the official organ of the
Convention, the Richmond
Enquirer.
Report of a Committee.
Mr. Haughs, of
Randolph, asked and obtained leave to present a report from the special committee upon the subject of printing the debates on a separate sheet.
On his motion it was laid on the table.
Coercion.
Mr. Nelson, of
Clark, asked and obtained leave to offer a resolution, as follows:
‘
Resolved, by the Convention of Virginia, That
Virginia entirely disapproves of and earnestly protests against, any attempt on the part of the
Federal Government to repossess itself of the property and places belonging to the
Government, and to collect the duties on imports within the limits of the seceding States.
’
Referred to the
Committee on Federal Relations.
Order of the day.
The President stated that the question pending before the
Convention was on the amendment offered by
Mr. Harvie to the amendment of
Mr. Leake to the resolution of instructions offered on Tuesday by
Mr. Cox, of
Chesterfield.
Mr. Carlile, of
Harrison, being entitled to the floor, proceeded with his remarks.
The crisis was one requiring the patriotic efforts of every member.
The resolution, if adopted, would have an effect to place
Virginia in a hostile attitude to the
Federal Government, which at present was
Virginia's Government.
The secession movement thus far had been exactly in conformity with the programme laid down by the editors of the Richmond
Enquirer.
He proceeded to pay his respects to the editors of that paper, reading copious extracts from its columns by way of illustration.
He had no doubt they understood their programme well, but they would never be able to succeed.
He believed these resolutions were prepared before
Lincoln's Inaugural made its appearance, and maintained that
Virginia should not be thus committed without consulting with the people-- that she should not be plunged into the horrors of civil war by a mere act of this advisory power.
The speaker then read from
Gov. Wise's speech to the New York Seventh Regiment, when they brought hither the remains of
Monroe--two years ago — declaratory of his faith in the
Union as the work of God Almighty; also, from another address, delivered by the
Governor in this city, in May, 1859, closing with a toast to the "Union and the
Constitution, as they are."
Yet we were called to pledge ourselves to a support of rebellious States against our native land or to participate in a foreign alliance against that land.
He declared he was agreeably disappointed in the pacific tone which breathes throughout the whole of
Lincoln's Inaugural Address.
It was well that the people could read it, and judge for themselves, without taking newspaper comments for their guide in forming a judgment.
He went on to read from
Buchanan's special message in December last, to show that they stood alike upon the
Constitution.
And yet because
Lincoln had expressed his constitutional views of the action of States which he (
Mr. C.) believed were in open rebellion against the
Government,
Virginia was also to be dragged into rebellion and civil war. He was not here as an apologist for
Mr. Lincoln, but believed that he would not have dared to acknowledge the right of the secession of States.
He next alluded to
Mr. Goggin as a member of the Whig Convention which adopted a platform for the preservation of the
Union and the
Constitution — and he believed the gentleman from
Halifax (
Mr. Flournoy) stood there also.
They backed up
Mr. Fillmore, as he did, in enforcing the laws in
Boston; but now when they were to be enforced on this side of the line, it was a very different thing.
His people were a law-abiding people; devoted to the institution of slavery, because it was, as they and as he believed, the bulwark of Republican liberty.
Yet they were not to be driven from the
Union because one had been elevated to the Presidency, through our divisions, who was objectionable to them.--They had yet the
Constitution to protect them.
The Government had never yet brought us anything but good, and no act had been placed there upon the subject of slavery which the
Southern States did not assent to. We were called upon to destroy a Government that protects us against the consequences of our own mistake.
We had the right to increase the number of slave States since 1845, but had now only fifteen; and yet we wanted expansion!
Slavery was governed by soil, by climate, by interests; and where those were adverse, it would not go.
South Carolina spurned the causes which were alleged here for a dissolution of the
Union.
The present secession movement was initiated in
South Carolina, where they never lost a slave.
South Carolina tells you frankly it is because of the "irrepressible conflict" between free and slave labor.
The doctrine of the right of a State to secede originated in
Massachusetts, the hot-bed of all the "isms," in 1807, because of the embargo.
In 1808 the electors met in this city to east their votes for
Madison as
President, and one of the regular toasts at the electoral dinner was, "The Union of the States--the majority must govern--'tis treason to secede. " But the doctrine of secession was still agitated in the
New England States, and the Richmond
Enquirer held that it was treason to all intents and purposes. --
Madison's letters were referred to as putting his heel upon the poisonous doctrine of secession.
He alluded to the doctrines of the leading secessionists in this body. --The people of
Virginia were a moral and a law-abiding people, and before they would endorse the doctrine they must be convinced of the morality and the legality of the act.
Mr. Calhoun never held to such a right — he said in the Senate that its exercise would be a breach of the compact — a violation of faith.
The Supreme Court of
South Carolina had also denied the legality and constitutionality of the right in the case of
McCrady.
The Legislature of South Carolina in 1828, in a provision said to have been written by
Mr. Calhoun, also held the same doctrine.
The Constitution itself, which provides a method for its own amendment, plainly shows the absurdity of the right of secession.
Virginia was called upon to say to the
Government-- you must not enforce your laws in this or that State, but you must enforce them in others; that you must collect your revenues in New York, but must not collect them in
South Carolina.
He then read from the writings of
Henry Clay, to show that he looked upon secession as treason.
Secession was a Yankee notion.
South Carolina had given the true definition — it was the doctrine of the irrepressible conflict.--
Seward had abandoned it, and the
Black Republicans were afraid to enforce it; but the
South had taken it up.
Virginia was far behind the times in supposing the contest was between anything but the two systems of society.
In connection with this he read from
Mr. Spratt's speech in the
Congress at
Montgomery, and from
Mr. Preston's speech before this Convention.
That was the feast to which the people of
Virginia were invited.
South Carolina initiated this movement, and would control it, if a government should ever be permanently formed, which he hoped in God never would be. He was a slaveholder, and had always taken the ground that slavery was right in itself, even when the people of the
South refused to take that position.--He now believed, that in case of a separation, slavery would not have a foothold in
Virginia five years hence, and nowhere in twenty years. You would have not only the
North to prevent it, but
England and
France also.
Nothing but our own separation and dissolution, on the other hand, could prevent the ultimate annexation of
Cuba to the
United States.
He went on to dilate upon the mighty progress of the
American nation.
Yet this was to be destroyed — not from any act of its own — not from any act of oppression; but because a portion of the people were hostile to the institution of slavery. -- He thought we should wait, and see if this hostility had not culminated.
In non-slave-holding communities men are now found to get append maintain that the institution of slavery is right, which no man would have dared to do even here, twenty-five years ago. Gentlemen were mistaken when they asserted that the sentiment of hostility to slavery is growing in the
Northern States; and in support of this he reviewed the history of the free soil party.
He believed that the trial which we were now going through was a punishment for a violation of our plighted faith to the rude savage, but he believed also that we would be carried safely through.
The efforts to forestal public opinion by telegraphic dispatches in
Tennessee were repudiated by the result of the election there, as were similar efforts in
Virginia, through the manifesto of a majority of her Congressional delegation.
That document only convinced the people of what they thought before — that they were not suitable representatives of popular sentiment.
All the power in this country is in the people.
It has for a time been usnrped; but as sure as the sun shines in yonder sky, that power will yet rebuke the effort to overthrow and destroy the best fabric of free government that ever existed upon earth.
He commended to his hearers a perusal of the 39th number of the
Federalist; and went on to allude to the efforts of
Patrick Henry,
George Mason,
Luther Martin, and other patriots, to lay the foundation of a Government for a free people.
It is amazing that with so many sources from whence we can derive the purposes of the
Federal Government, gentlemen will get up and contend for a principle for which they can find no argument.
No man contends for the power of coercion. --Why, then, continue to build cob-houses, that a breath can knock down?
Is there anything in the Inaugural to justify the assertion that it breathes a sentiment of civil war?
It tells you that no war will be made — no force will be used upon you. It pleads with you to wait, until your rights can be guaranteed under the
Constitution.
But it tells you that the
President must execute his oath.
Is it not his duty to possess and hold the property of the
United States?
Is it your duty as good citizens to connive at an act of bad faith on the part of a portion of the people, and to say to the
Government if you do not give up your property we will make war upon you?
He (
Mr. C.) would say, not only let them have what they have taken, but let them take what they can, if they desire it. He believed that in a year or two the people would rise above those that have usurped the power, and raise the stars and stripes far above the
Palmetto and the
Rattlesnake.
He closed by drawing a picture of the condition to which
Virginia would be reduced, " hitched on to the tail of a Southern Confederacy;" contending that, in the present condition of things, there is no inequality, and that gentlemen upon the other side had mistaken the acts of party for the acts of the
General Government.
If the
Union were dissolved, a military despotism would be erected in its stead.
He protested against and denounced the "wicked attempt" to commit
Virginia to an overthrow of the best Government on earth.
Mr. Carlile spoke over two hours, and we have given but an outline of his remarks.
Mr. Cox, of
Chesterfield, desired that a vote should be taken on the question to-day, and would not now detain the
Convention with any remarks but for the extraordinary speech of the gentleman from
Harrison.
That gentleman had said this resolution was prepared in advance of the appearance of
Lincoln's Inaugural.
Mr. Carlile disclaimed any reference to
Mr. Cox's original resolution; he had alluded solely to the amendments.
He further disclaimed anything of a personal character towards any member of the
Convention.
Mr. Cox went on to say that the gentleman from
Harrison had uttered sentiments which he had not supposed were entertained by any member of this body.
So far from desiring to precipitate the
State into civil war, he had offered his resolution in the hope of preventing that calamity.
The moment coercion is attempted, the
Union will be broken up. He did not intend to discuss the question of coercion.
It was ably discussed by the gentleman from
Halifax, (
Mr. Flournoy,) every word of whose speech he endorsed.
His resolution proposed to call a conference of the border States, in order that
Virginia might consult with them as to what ought to be done.
If the gentleman from
Harrison was a Union man he would go for such a conference.
The Peace Conference, inaugurated by
Virginia, had proved an abortion, and she can now do nothing by herself; but in concert with the
Border States, much might be done.
Tennessee and
North Carolina had voted against Conventions of their people;
Kentucky and
Maryland had taken no action, and there was no indication of a movement in
Missouri.
It was due to them and to
Virginia that there should be a conference.
He condemned the hasty action of
South Carolina and would condemn it in
Virginia.
But the people were in a state of feverish excitement, and wanted action on the subject of coercion.
He called for a vote on the resolutions.
Mr. Brent, of
Alexandria, moved that the
Convention adjourn; and on that motion
Mr. Cox, of
Chesterfield, called for the yeas and nays, but withdrew it.
The Convention then adjourned.
