Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-25
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.
SArrRpAY. Feb. 23d. 1861.

Wheeling Ipteliigencer?
Mr.. HALL. You understood me to say this
Mr.. CLEMENS. l desire categorical answer.
Mr. HALL. The editor of the Ineiiigencer laid dowI
the platform and advocated 1.-THE platform upoI
which you run.
Nc. CLEMENS again demanded answer to his in
qury
Mr.. HALL. That's all you will get from me. laugh
The PRESIDENT here inerposed, and ruled out Of or
der any remarks about the consistency OF gentlemen be
fore they came here.
Mr.. HALL said that he had been denounced mis-
representing in his remarks OF Thursday the sentiment
of the Northwest His reply that he feared those
wro thus denounced him, represented but too faithfully
the sentiments OF their constituents That was what he
complained o-not that the delegates had done anything
wrong Ii was important that the convention should
know the TRUTH He would tell the members that Ora
CONS teeth beicg sowed and Virginia should take
certain position By the act Of this Convention, there
would in all probability, be civil war in some portions Of
the Commonwealth
Nv r, Quest of Sr H., the Clerk then read a copy Of
tel graphic despatch the Wheeling Intsiligsncsr
rrascrg upon the member from Wetzel, for "m'srepre
sentug" he sentiment of the Northwest.
Mr. HALL then read extracts from private letter from
@ w Russell Lsq of Wheeling, in which the necesSt
tv for new guarantees for the protection Of Southern
rights advocated.
Mr. H. said that if he understood Mr.. WILEY, or
Thursday be declared in effect that he would never, un
der circumstances eeSeSSiOA
give up the Union.
The PRysIDESr again interposed, and reminded the
gentleman that he wgs going beyond the limits OF per-
,onal xp'anation.
Mr. CLEMENS said that insinuations had been pri-
yately and publicly made against him. intended to create
the immersion that he dsoYa to the institutions OF
Virginia he regarded with ineApeessipie contempt,
come from hat source may attempt TO impugn bis
LOYALTY 10 this Commonwealth De challenged any man
~ take hs record in Congress and show from it any vote
or speech indicating such ds9ystY lie did not desire
o say anything unknd TO tue gentleman from "e'"ei
He could afford 10 be magnanimous, but when he Mr.
H.Il saws that he (Mr C) stood upon platform die
t,ed by the editor Of the Wheeling lntellisencer, he
xoud not presum that he made the charge maciousy,
out that he lacked information most mseraoy:
Mr. @ proceeded TO vndicate himself, and declared
that he could not so grade himself as 10 give up one
sentiment Of LOYALTY and allegiance to Virgins.
Mr. UUBBARD read an extract from an address pub
hed by him prior bis election As lar as the reporter
could hear seemed to contain strong Union sentiments
Mr. IL sal he came TO this Convention as Nrgnian IN
tbe broad sense of the word-as VirginAn from the
Chesapeake to tie Chic and as Ergnian on both sides
of James River.
NEGROES FOR THE soDTH.
On motion of Mr.. MONTAGUE, the following resolu'
Psd That the several railroad companie, In this state be
uss OF ne.ross ods route for any south
ern States, wihlu the yea 1855 to 1851 laensiye.
On motion of Mr. TREDWAY, tie following resolu-
ton, offer, By him few days since, was taken up for
consideration:
glss that select Committee OF five be appointed with In
ions Ia enquire and report speedily practicable, whe b.
m ny movement has been made by the General
fort arsenal In or oorisri' upon 'gn
tneic ,iinr a pre- u ston for At Ack or coercion
Mr. BARBOUR OF Jefferson, Who Is the Slperinten-
dent of the United States Armory at Harter Ferty)
aid thai lie YVES this body OF Virginia g nttm Il
would recognize the decscy OF bis position lie thank
ed them for postponng ecion on the resolution curing
his absence but the time he regretted that the
resolution was passed. for it met his cordial appro6e
lion He wanted all the truth TO Gene out instead Of
juniors IN sensation papers from sensation writers AT
n proper time he pledged himself that he would show
hat every piece cf ordinance sent TO Hapers Ferry was
ent there at his own suggestion under the Lghet COL
tar,t ons o! public duty Virginia well as 10 the
FEDERAL Government aud il viii be matter oil congratua-
ron 10 him il he Iesct oil the Investigation now pro.
posed does 10 prove 10 be subject OF regret.
M BOESg OF Page, advo ,altd the adoption Of tie
r,sriutisu The people ought to be informed oil q 2
f,ets He believed chat il the investigation was made,
l. would be ascerained that the forts had een reinforced
for the purpose of aging OF nt!md4ting Nlrgnia or
p,ciug the Federal Government IN position Tor the &C.
.. ION Of Virginia il this Convention should pass an Or
nee 81 ,ession The Greeks resortCd TO Stratagem
>, an due Troy and the ioStS cud arsenas within our
borders nav prove TO Virginia what the Giec-n hoFse
d TO Troy His people were opposed TO COERCION ans
n the reinforcement Of the forts With armed scidery-
They were 10 favor Of union OF eqnhty and IN favor
o. such government tGcir fathers established Ihey
yo nd never defend sny other uLIon OF government.
AZ HARBOUR of Jefferson, said At virginia gentle
men Who talk about going out Of the Union are afraid oil
6v blue coated Gien, they had better stay H. lie want
"A Virginia 10 remain in the Union so long as we can do
% with hono and then appeal to the God OF oatts-
II he (R vent out they would have to cut his h' al Oh
h.for. they could get him back He wss slogether OPP
NO 81 10 lodging Vi,giniai in and out OF the Union.
Mr. EAR,,. diverted TO certain remarks by the gen
man from Lluenuurg Mr. Nt"LET) on THURSDAY, re-
meeting the increased vigil nce tic, - .O;tress Mon
roe and then proceeded to show that the same vigilance
h,J svs heen exercised aud hat the armament OF the
for, had never oen completed but that at every session
Of Congress an appropriation had been made tor that
| purpose.
Mr. Z said that justice to an old comrade required
III. ne should say som thing in defence OF Col Roi err
Andsrcn &c Erst knew hun as instructor; they had
waied together through TIP swamps Of Florida, and
asspd ether with Captain nov Col DyeT the pres NJ
eormapdant at Fortress Monroe. The first time he sr
| 6 became acquainted with that stern Old soldier
,chsry TAYLOR was in th campaign when the GENERA
dined at their mess in ompnent 70 aa,or Anderson
Since ,l.. time one was elevated TO the Presidency
thu United States .uSher had command OF Fort Sumter
another of Fortress Monroe, and Ge tee yonngesi oil ht
four. was here defending the two other Survivors.
The PRESIDENT suggested that these remarks were II
I-!eyaut 10 the question before the ConVenuon where
upon, mot0c o. Mr. Nun iAuOf Z, iea'e was Sraue'
| TO Mr.. EARLY TO proceed.
| Mr. EARLY thea went on 10 shog thai Hs, or Andei
son WA blood connection o. several lrglna families
As to the charss tina be Lag pointed the guns OF ror
Sumter towards Charleston and was prepared 10 saugh
t,r the women and children IN that citS, he knew hin
we'll enough TO say that if no calamity brought upoI
Hose women and children until Robert Anderson coca
stoned L. they were far beyond the reach OF HARM
he is ever compelled to direct gun against his country
men every shot will wing his own heart but he will d.
| his dlty 70 tie lss.
Mr. BARBOUR, OF Cdp.pe., gaid that he happened t.
he in Washington at the time the Superintendent mao
the communication TO the President tbat resulted ~ 'n
movement of troops to Harper's Ferry. The action
1 be Superintendent was approved OF by member 0
Congress yarn friend, and as bitter Seces,ionlst
anv in the State M p. told the Superintendent that
he was censured for his action he SoFd bear share
the censure.
| Mr.. YREOwAY said he had forgotten when he o.
fered MS resolution that the gentleman from Jti rso
(nr BARsou ri was Superintendent at the Harpers Fer
" Arsenal He bad reason 10 be gsatksd that he reso
lu,ion had enabled that gentleman TO place himself
where he never doubted be would be placed in a posi-
ton of LOYALTY to Virginia The facts stated by the gen
tleman from Franklin Or EARLY respecting the com
andnts at Fortress Monroe and Fort Sumter were con
orng aud would warrant the inference that these gen
tlemen would act fairly.
Mr. JACKSON said that the propeT channel for the in
formation sought for by the resolution, oompnca
on from this Convention to the Executive OF the Unite
States He was etterly opposed TO the committee. Th
ADOPTION of the resolution woad look ike imputato
| upon the Governor.
ME-. BARBOUR, Of Jefferson, said it was due 10 hiFi
self that the inquiry should be made. He asked tn
Convention TO pass the resolution.
| Mr. CARLIIE said that if il a matter that b.
could reconcile TO his sense of duty he would wiing
obi-e his friend from Jefferson but Virginia is still
part of the Federal Government and while this relation
continues he would opseTye tie constitutional mode
submitting sny inquiry he desired to make. II the re