Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-06-15

Thursday Morning, June Is, 1861. /
Convention met ct the U. s, Court Room
at 10 A. NJ, large number Of spectators
being present The session was opened
with prayer, after which several new dele
gates were sworn in.
Mr.. Carlile, from the Committee on Busi.
ness, reported the following Declaration:
A DECLARATION
OF the People Of RFgiaia r,prsssnisa in Con-
Uentioa al the CITY Of RhsciiEg, June l3,
1861.
The true purpose Of an governments is
to promote the welfare and provide for the
protection and security Of the governed,
aud when any form or organization Of gov.
ernment proves inadequate for, or subver-
sive Of this purpose, it is the right, it is the
duty Of the latter 10 alter or abolish it. The
Bill Of Rights Of Va, framed in I7T6 reaf-
frmed in 1880, and again in 1851, expressly
reserves this right to the majority Of her
people, and the existing constitution does not
oonferupon the GeneTalAsscmbly the power
TO call Convention to alter its provisions
or to change the relations Of tho Common
wealth, without the previously expressed
consent Of such majority. The act Of the
General Assembly, calling the Convention
which assembled at Richmond in February
last was therefore usurpation; and the
Convention thus called has not only abused
the powers nOminally entrusted to it. but
with the connivaRce and active aid of the
executive, has usurped and exercised other
powers, to the manifest injury OF the people,
which, if permitted, will inevitably subject
them to a military despotism.
The Convention, by It's pretended Ordinan-
ces, has required the people of Virginia 10
separate from and wage war against the
government Of the United States, and against
the citizens Of neighboring States, with
whom they have heretofore maintained
friendly, social and business relations:
1t has attempted to subvert the Union found
ed by Washington and his CO patriots, in
the purer days Of the republic, which mas
conferred unexampled prosperity upon every
class Of citizens, and upon every section Of
the country:
It has attempted to transfer the allegiance
of the people to an illegal coniederacy of re-
belIious States, and required their submission
TO its pretended edicts and DEGREES:
It has attempted to place the whole mili-
Commonwealth under the control and direc-
tion of such confederacy, for offensive as well
as defensive purposes.
1t has, in conjunction with the State execu-
tive, instituted wherever their usurped power
extends, reign of terror intended 10 sup
press the free expression Of the will of the
people, making elections a mOckery and a
fraud:
The same combination, even before the
passage of the pretended ordinance of Sc
cession, instituted war by the seizure and
appropriation of the property Of the Fed
ersl Government and by organizing and
mobOlizing armies, with the sVoWed pur-
pose Of capturing or destroying the Capt.
tai of the Union:
They have attempted TO bring the allegi-
ance Of the people Of the United States into
direct conflict with their Subordinate sllegi-
ance to the State, thereby making Obedi-
ence to their pretended Ordinances treason
against the former.
We, therefore, the delegates here assem-
bled in Convention to devise such measures
and take such action IS the safety and well
fare of the loyal citizens OF Virginia may de-
mand, having maturely considered the prem
ises, and viewing with great concern, the de-
plorable condition to which this once happy
Commonwealth must be reduced, unless some
regular adequate remedy is speedily adopted,
and appealing to the Supreme Ruler of the u
inverse for the rectitude of our intentions, dc
hereby in the name and on behalf of the good
people of Virginia solemnly declare, that the
preservation Of their dearest rights and lib
critics and their security in person and prop
erty, imperatively demand the Reorganization
Of the government of the Commonwealth
y and that all acts of said Convention and Ex-
ecutive, tending to separate this Common.
wealth from the United States, or 70 levy and
carry on war against them are without au-
thority and void; and that the offices of al
who adhere to the said Convention and Exec
utive, whether legislative, executive or judi
cial, are vacated.
Mr.. Van Winkle ofsWood moved Declara.
tion be made special order for tomorrow a
IL o'clock. Carried and document ordere'
printed.
Mr.. Paxon of Wheeling offered resolution
that the people of North Western Vir
ginia had long borne an unequal representa-
ton in the State Assembly, but that the las
reasonable acts CT the Richmond COnventio
had forced them to take decided ground an
to redress their wrongs.
Mr. Paxon spoke of the existence of civ
war in their midst. Every citizen was
party to the struggle, on one side or th
other. Either 'oyalist or a rebel. he a
serted that there is and can be no neutralit.
Armed neutrality was practically secession
Prompt action and organized resistance
traitors was demanded on the part of Il
people Of Northwestern Virginia. Sci
preservation demanded this. They wou
succeed in driving treason from their nlids
The resolution was referred to the con
mittee.
Mr.. Carlile, from the Committee on Blu
iness (which was this morning increase
in number from thirteen to seventeen
offered q resolution enjOining upon Il
people Of every loyal county in the stal
the importance of appointing delegates
soon as possible. Adopted.
Mr.. Frost, of Jackson county, offered
resolution requesting all persons in t
State, who are engaged in rebellious NOV
ments against the Federal Government,
desist from such movements and return
their allegiance, and that the COnventi
does peremptOrily demand that all reb,
iOus or seditious assemblages be dispense
at once. Referred to the Committee up
Business.
Mr.. Burdett, of Taylor, offered a mott
requesting the Committee of seventeen
= inquire into the ezpediency of organizing
military system for our better protection a
safety. Adopted.
One Mortimer johnson, Of Barbour cor
ty, who had been elected as delegate, havi
proved to be a secessiOnist, and fed bef