Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-04-16
Virginia Convention.


olution was offered to suspend the execution OF
the order to 60 into COMMITTEES of the Whole,
for the purpose of taking up the unfinished bust
ness of Saturday.
Mr.. Jackson moved that the resolution be ia
bled. Lost.
The resolution to suspend the order was adopt
ed by a tie vote.
Mr.. Preston's resolution was then taken up, as
follows:
Whereas, in the opinion of this Convention,
the uncertainty which prevails in the public mind
as to the policy the Government intends to pur
sue towards the seeded States is extremely in
furious to the commercial and industrial interests
of the country, tends to keep up an excitement
which is unfavorable to an adjustment OF the
pending difficulties, and threatens disturbance
of the public peace: Therefore,
Be 1t resolved, That Committee of three del
egates be appointed to wait on the President OF
the United States, and respectfully ask him to
communicate to this Convention what course he
intends to pursue
A long debate ensued, during which Messrs.
Scott of Fauquier, and Treadway, Conservatives,
declared that if the Presidents response was I'M
favorable they would go for immediate secession.
They hoped, however, that the answer of the
President would be favorable to peace.
opposition, and declared that the object Of the
resolution was immediate secession.
The movements of the fleets were frequently
alluded to in the progress of the debate, and the
ground assumed was that Virginia having by
the vote on Thursday indicated her policy against
secession, she had the right to know what these
movements meant.
Mr.. Carlisle and all the straight-out Unionists
opposed the resolution, as did some of the Con-
servatives.
The preamble and resolution were then adopt
ed-yeas rs, nays 60.
Much to the surprise of every one Gov. Wise
voted in the negative.
The Convention then appointed Messrs. VIM.
Ballard Preston, Conservative Alexander ID.
II. Stuart, Unionist, and George W. Randolph,
Secessionist as Commissioners to wait on the
President.
The Convention then adjourned.
TUESDAY, April 9.-The Tenth resolution OF
the report of the Committee on Federal Relations
being under consideration, Mr. Wise proposed a
substitute which was adopted, yeas 1913, nays 20,
declaring that the people of Virginia give their
consent to the recognition of the separate indie
pendence Of the seeded States, and that the
proper laws shall be passed to effect their sepa-
ration. The eleventh resolution being under
consideration various amendments were pro-
posed, but the resolution was finally adopted
with slight amendment. Pending the conside-
ration Of the twelfth resolution the Convention
adjourned. A private despatch stating that
war steamer had been seen off Charleston harbOr
created considerable excitement in and out OF the
Convention.
WEDNESDAY, April 1O.-The 10Th resolution
on Federal Affairs being under consideration,
Mr. Carlile moved to strike out the latter por-
ton, which declared it az indispensable condi-
ton that pending the efforts of Virginia no at
tempt should be made to reinforce or recapture
the forts or arsenals, nor any measure resorted
to 'justly calculated to provoke hostile collis-
ion." The Convention refused to strike out,
ayes II, nays 104. Gov Wise moved to add a
clause declaring that all the forts in the limits
of the seeded States ought to be evacuated for
the purpose of pacifcation; lost, ayes 81, nays
81. The resolution was finally amended so as
to declare that all the forts, arsenals and maya
zines situated on the mainland or for the protect
ton of the harbors of the seeded States ought
to be evacuated by the United States for purpO-
ses of paci6cation, and adopted. The thirteenth
resolution was amended so as to declare that the
people of Virginia will regard any action OF the
Federal Government Tor the C0nyederated
States'' (the words quoted were not in the reso-
luton originally reported) tending to produce a
collision as unwise and injurious to tie Interests
of both, and that such action ION the part of Ell
Their" would leave them free to determine their
own policy. This amendment IL most important
as it applies the protest of Virginia to both par
ties, whilst the resolution originally only referred
to the Federal Government. Pending the con-
sideraton of the 14th and last OF the series of
resolutions, which provides for the calling of q
Southern Border State Conference, the Conven-
ton adjourned. Much excitement existed
throughout the day at Richmond.
THURSDAY, April 1.-THE Convention con-
sumed the whole of the day in debating the 14th
and last of the resolutions reported by the Com
mlttee On Federal Relations. Numel Gus amend
ments were offered but generally rejected. No
action was taken on the resolution. Less ex-
element existed than on the previous day. We
annex the resolution as reported by the Commit
tee:
IA. The peculiar relations of the States of
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas to
the other States, make it proper, in the judg
ment of this Convention, that the former States
should consult together and concert such meas
ures for their final action as the honor, the in
terests, and the safety of the people thereof may
demand, and for that purpose the proper author
tiles of those States are requested to appoint
Commissioners to meet Commissioners to be ap-
pointed by this Convention, on behalf of the
people of this State, at Frankfort, in the State OF
Kentucky, on the last Monday in May next.
FRIDAY, April 12.-The Convention adopted
the l4th and last of the series of resolutions re-
ported by the Committee on Federal Relations,
with Mr.. SCOTS amendment, providing for a
Congress of the Southern Border States in the
event of the Northern States not responding
within limited time to the propositions of Vir-
ginia. The amendments to the Constitution of
the United States, reported by the Committee
which are substantially the plan of the Peace
Conference, were then taken up. Ex-Governor
Wise's substitute for them was rejected, and the
Convention adjourned. The commencement OF
the fight at Charleston was made known to the
Convention and produced considerable sensation,
but there was no indication that the Union mem
bers would consent to secession without the co.
operation of the Border States.
SATURDAY, April 13.-The Convention adopt
ed the first four sections of the proposed amend
ments to the Constitution without material a.
mendment. The fifth section, prohibiting the
importation of slaves, was finally adopted, with
an amendment providing that it should not ap-
ply to States that have or may hereafter secede.
The debate turned exclusively upon events at
Charleston. Messrs. Carlile and Early con
demned the action of South Carolina in firing
upon Sumter, whilst the leading Secessionists
applanded the act and maintained that the PEG.
pie of Virginia would take the State out of the
Union, no matter what might be the action of
the Convention. 1t was openly stated in the
debate that the Southern army would march
through Virginia to attack the North. Mr.. Ear
~ said that would be invasion, which should be
reDellod. desnatch from Governor Pickans to