Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-04-12
virginia Convention.

suoh policy to suspense.
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Virginia Convention.
RICHMOND, April 8.
The Virginia State Convention rs-assem.
bled this morning.
Secession resolutions from the people Of
Charlotte and Norfolk counties were pro-
sented.
Mr.. Holiday said that the signers to the
latter constituted but small minority of the
people of the county.
Mr.. johnson presented petition for
secession signed by 1900 people of Richmond.
He said the siguers constituted but about
one-third of the voters of the city, though it
had been weeks in preparation.
The ninth resolution was taken up in
committee of the whole, and the amendments
offered yesterday were defeated.
Mr.. Baldwin moved to strike out the
whole resolution and insert substitute
embodying a declaration that the separate
independence of the seeded ~tates ought to
be acknowledged without further delay and
sach arrangements mado and such laws
passed as the separation may make neces.
sary and proper. The committee refused to
strike out, by yeas GO, nays II.
Other amendments were rejected, and the
ninth resolution adopted 90 to 81.
The committee then referred back to the
eighth resolution, recognizing the right of
secession for just causes.
Mr.. Carlisle moved to strike out the reso-
luton and insert Il substitute embodying
Madison's language, justifying secession only
| in the event of the failure OF every Consti.
tutional resort The committee refused to
strike out, by ayes %, nays ia. This vote
indicated the strength OF the ultra Unionists
| Other amendments were then proposed
and rejected.
Pending the recess, several firm conserva-
tives changed their votes and voted for Mr..
Baldwin substitute for the ninth resolution.
The eighth resolution, on re-assembling,
was taken up in committee.
| On motion of Mr. Somers, the words "they
concede," in the third line, were stricken
out, and the resolution was then adopted and
the committee rose.
In the Convention, Mr.. Preston, conserv-
alive, offered a resolution, supposed to have
eeen occasioned by the late war movement,
declaring that the Government has no power
to subjugate Southern State, protesting
against any such coercive policy, and au-
thorizing the appointment Of delegates to
wait on the President and present to him
these resolutions, and respectfully ask him
to communicate to the Convention the rolicy
the Government intends to pursue. The
resolution was modified on the suggestion of
Mr.. Baldwin and accepted by Mr.. Preston,
as follows:
WHEREAS, In the opinion of this Conven-
| ton, the uncertainty which prevails in the
publ, mind as to the policy the Government
intends pursuing towards the seeded States
is extremely injurious to the commercial and
industrial interests of the country, and tends
to keep up an excitement which is snfavora-
BILE to an adjustment of the pending difficult
ties, and threatens the disturbance of the
public peace, therefore,
Resolued, That committee of three del
egates be appointed to wait on the President.
Mr.. Carlisle offered an amendment to
include desire to know the policy of the
seeded States towards the General Govern
ment. Rejected.
Mr.. Preston's resolution was then adopted.
as modified.
Mr.. Jackson moved reconsideration.
The Convention agreed to take . vote
again.
Mr.. Jackson made a vehement speech
against the proposition, declaring that bis
constituents would never consent to Join
South Carolina.
Lieut. Governor Montague made spirited
speech in reply to MI. Jackson.
Considerable feeling was manifested on
all sides. Some of the Unionists considered
that the adoption of MIR. Preston's resolution
will annihilate all hope of an adjustment.
Without taking final vote, the Conven-
ton agreed to adjourn, hoping for q more
calm session on Monday.
RICHMOND, April 9.
The Convention, during recess, received
private advices that steamer had been seen
Fort Sumter would be reinforced at all haz-
ards, which produced decided sensation.
On re-assembling, the eleventh resolution !
was adopted.
The Twelfth resolution then came up. |
Various amendments were proposed. With
out taking any action, the Convention
adjourned.
Ex-Gov. Wise offered the following: "That
the people of Virginia consent to the recog-
milton of the independence of the seeded
States; that they be treated as an indie
dendent power, and that proper laws be
passed to effect the separation" Adopted
1873 to 20.
....----..... RICHMOND, April 8.
The Unionists, and some Conservatives,
opposed the adoption of Preston's resolution.
The preamble and resolution were adopted
SO to Is. Ex-Gov. Wise voted ''No"
Com. Botard Preston, Conservative, Alex.
q. Stuart, Union, and George w. Rudolph.
were appointed commissioners
o wait on the President, and will leave to-
morrow morning.