Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-04-05
yI2GIEIA STATE CONVENTION.

In the Convention on Wednesday, the res.
buttons submitted by Nh. Wiley, on the
10th ult, were taken up, and,
Mr.. Stuart, OF Doddridge, being entitled
to the floor, addressed the Convention IN vim
dicn:iou Ut the people of the West from i'm
pu,ations of unsoundness in advocacy o!
IN I'D c0lorcm tax upon negroes, and IN OPP
position to Ii dissolution at the Union. lie
WAS proceeding to show that his people we're
not 'Sabmissionists," when the Presidents
gayel descended, and the hour for executing
the order Of the day announced.
The Convention then reaol7ed-ltsel' into
II Committee Of the Whole on The subject OF
Federal Relations. and
Mr.. Scott, OF Fauquier, proceeded to pre-
sent his views. After expatiating at some
length upon the diversity of interests, eli
mate, aud soil, between the Eastern aud
" estern portions of the State, and that pOr-
ton bordering upon the Potomac, he declared
that in any measure which the Convention
should adopt, it is their duty to consult the
interests Of the entire Stale, and to endeavor
30 to shape the action that may be determin-
ed upon as TO promote the interest Of al
sections az far as possible. TIE reason they
he found in thu. diyersities of interests to
which he had alluded.
We have been Told that we have reached Il
point when we must decide between an adj
herence 70 st Northern Cuniederacy, or q
union with the Southern Confederacy. Ii
this be true he had no hesitation in saying
that his choice was already made His sym
pathies and Instincts attach him 70 the South,
but he did not believe that we were reduced
To that narrow alternative.
Commenting upon the report Of thu Com
mttee on Federal Relations, Mr.. s. said that
the proposition tn amend the Constitution
comedies the necessity Of amendment, and
the Necessity Of amendment comedies the fur
ther fact that IL is unsafe Tor the border
States to continue their association with the
North without such amendments, otherwise
these propositions Of the Cummittee would
be the idlest OF farces, declaring in effect,
that if these demands are rejected, we will
remain quiet and remain hjcct to the dom
nation Of the North.
Mr.. Scott then spoke of the necessity Of uni
ted action on the part Of al the border slave
States, and proceeded to advocate, ct consid-
erabie length, . plan of corporation, which
uc DciicP GU HUNll lC'iIl w 'GoilSIl uCliVu
Of the Union. lie continued to present his
argument until o'clock, when the Commit
tee took a recess.
The Convention re-assembled at 4 o'clock.
Mr.. Scott arose and stated that he declined
to proceed with his argument in consequence
of tie hoarseness Of bis voice
Mr.. Richardson OF Hanover, then took the
floor, and presented his views upon the ques-
tons before the Convention. He advocated
| the immediate secession ct Virginia as the
only true policy in the present crisis. Be-
fore concluding his remarks, he moved that
the Committee rise, which was agreed to.
On motion, the Convention adjourned.
----a--1Hs- s>---
FRESH WATER SPRINGS AT SEA-Mr. "
a Booth, the coast pilot Of the revenue cut
ter Harriet Lane, reports the discovery Of u
boiling fresh water spring at sea, off the coast
twelve miles, north by east, from st. Angus
tine, tiorida, and eight miles Of shore. 1t
bols up with great force, and can be describ
ed ut Il distance Of two miles. When first
seen it has the appearance OF Il breaker, and is
generally avoided, but there is 40 danger in
the vicinity, as there is five fathon,s of water
between it and the shore. Ten fathoms Of
water are found to the seaward, butn0 bottom
can be reached with the deep sea lead and
thirty fathoms Of line at the spring itself
The water i'll the spring is fresh, and is by
no means unpalatable. One peculiarly
about this phenomenon is, that when the ST.
Johns river is high, ii boiis up FROM six to
| eight feet above the level Of the sea, and pre-
SCENTS rather a tprhddinr anpearnGce. This
spring has doubtless deceived hundreds, who
have hastily put about from, as they thought
imminent danger. and reported seeing a
rock with water breaking over it." The
Harriet Lane has passed through it several
times and water has been drawn from it by
bucket thrown over the side and when
drank no unpleasant taste " smell has been
| found. It's position and harmless character
have been long unknown, but now the sup
| posed danger has become. as it were, - wei!
| Of water in q barren land
TT Al II 4 4 ntpy,