Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-05-01
HOW THE SECESSION ORDINANCE
WAS FORCED THROUGH THE
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.

n dcnhonu correspondent OF the Me-
York Tribune, writing on the 18th, give
the following interesting account of tn
progress and final triumph of the secessio
movement in the Virginia Convention:
The programme of the Enquirer CLIQUE
has thus far been carried out to the YER
letter, and in most efficient manner so faI
as the objects in view are concerned. Pre-
vious to the prospOsed evacaatiou of Fort
Sumter, the Secessionists were gradually
gaining strength, but the concession made
for peace by the Government, as shown b,
the proposed retirement from that fort. gay,
animation to the Unionists, and proper
tiOnably interfered with the measures o.
the precipitatOrs. As day after day came
however, and no evacuation took place, the
confidence Of the Secession party in the
Convention arose. and finally coHp'd etat
was concluded upon.
The leaders of the party held a secret
caucus. and agreed upon calling States
Rights" convention, which should meet in
Richmond on fixed day in April. Cir.
culars were issued and distributed through
out the State, calling for the election of
delegates, and a prompt response in other
respects on the part of all thOes who favor
ed the plan Of joining the Cotton States
The object of this convention was first to
awe the State convention into obedience to
the wishes of the minority of that body;
and, secondly, if that move fail, at once to
inagurate revolution, by overt acts of war
against the Federal Government, such as
by taking possession of the United States
buildings and property in Virginia.
On the l4th inst, delegates to this revo-
lutiOnary convention began to arrive in
Richmond, and on the evening of the 18th
the preliminary meeting was held at the
Metropolitan Hall-that same hall where,
but a short time before, the friends Of the
Union, the Constitution, and the enforce
ment Of the laws" under the leadership of
Messrs. Bolts. johnson and McF Farland, who
addressed large assemblage of the people
there the night before the election of dele
gates to the State Convention: and of these
three gentlemen, Mr. Bolts is the only one
that is now true to the Union. In this
hall, on the 18th inst. about hundred
delegates and thsir friends-forty odd of
the former having been delegated from this
eity-Were assembled, and assure you it
was pretty unanimous collection Of the
most rabid Secessiouists. fellows who were
as utterly regardless of any interests but
those affecting their own immediate aggran-
dizement None were admitted to the
hall but those who had procured tickets
from committee appointed to examine the
credentials of all applicants. as it would not
DO to have their action spead to the world
before the objects they had in view had
besn accomplished. But as traitors must
expect to be treacherously dealt
with by their own party. the information Of
their doines got wind in quarter little
ireamt Of, and certain members of that
revolutionary body are as marked men as
ever Cain was; and, depend upon it, unlike
Arnold and Burr, they will not escape q
-raitor's doom.
About ten days since = test vote was had
~ TIC OSAbC OOuhSulAOu a. A4CCudulC nall
and, to the surprise of the Secessiouists, it
proved that the Union party had deci-
led majority. Another consultation Of the
was had, and the result was,
he delegation of certain powers and trust
% some prominent men of the party, who
departed for CharlestoWn and
Montgomery. and shortly afterward the
,oup fetat was accomplished; the develop
nents Of the occurrences of the past week
giving to the world the result Roger A.
Pryor's mission to JEFF Davis led to the
demand on Sumter, and the bombardment
orced what had been the majority of the
Convention on the ID Of April, to succumb
% the Secessionists on the 10th. for on
hat day another test vote was had, the
,esult being the passage of an ordinance of
the day following.
Thus was carried out in full the pro
yramme of the Virginia precipitatOrs, and
IOon will they have to foot the bill as ex-
,enses incurred in carrying it out Iques-
ion, however, whether anything short of
he sacrifice of their lives will fully pay
or it.