Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-11
Gloucester the First TO Declare for Scces-
sion.
To tie Editors Of Me Enquirer:

To the Editors OF TIE enquirer:
GLOUCESTER CoUxTY, January lst, 1861.
Gentlemen A correspondent in your last
country issue, claims that the county Of Orange
has been the first il not the only county in fir-
einia to declare for the secession Of the State
from the Federal Union.
All honor is certainly due to the county OF
Orange, for the declaration she has made, albeit,
it was in no organized meeting, and was some
wha: conditional upon the action Of the Cotton
States. But Justice demands that the superior
claim OF the county Of Gloucester to the honor
able distinction Of first speaking out boldly and
uncolnrromiSinGly upon the question should be
vindica;ed.
When the Orange resolutions were adopted
docs not distinctly appear, as no date is men
toned or even appended to the communication
itself, bu; from the date OF the publication, 18th,
the presumption is. that they were passed some
time about the middle Of December.
Now the history Of the secession sentiment
ard movement in this county is this During
the Presidential canvass, the Democratic party
q may say unanimously and the Opposition
party 10 their honor be it spokcn) to 4 consid-
cradle extent, proclaimed that the election Of
the Black Republican candidate, from it's signiii-
canoe. would be 4 sufficient cause for o dissolu-
ton Of the Union, and accordingly rs early af-
ter the election as the 18th Of November, a
meeting Of prominent citizens Of both the old
parties passed Il resolution, which the secretary
was directed 20 forward TO the Governor Of
South Carolina. as well as to publish in our
newspapers, which declared that in the opinion
Of our people the slaveholG!ng States were alb
solved from all obligation to tho Federal Govern
ment, and that they should SO declare by con-
s~cntipns Of their people.
This meeting. however, fearing that it might
be accused Of disappearing the sentiment OF
the people Of the county, determined to call an
other meeting, after long and general notice
placarded through the county, on some subSe.
qucnt day, when the question could be fully ex.
planned 70 and acted upon by the masses of our
people.
Ga the day fixed upon, the sth December,
The largest and most fully representative meet.
ing Of our citizens | have ever seen, distin.
guished for its intelligence and conservatism
and without the slightest regard to party, as
sembled at the Court House, and after reject
in. a resolution which pointed towards coop
Grafton and another which hoped for Union
saving, passed, unanimously, the following
resolution:
Resolved, That in our opinion the interest
and the honor Of Virginia require that she
should dissolve the Union between herself and
the other States, holding herself free to re-
new her political connection with the other
States or such OF them as shall be willing to
associate themselves with her upon terms con.
sistent with the present and future welfare of
her people.
Now, Mcssrs. Editors, these arc certainly the
most distinct, decided, unconditional, and | will
say, States Rights declarations, which have rs
yet e'nanatcd from Any meeting Of the people
Of Virginia, ard they ale as certainly the first
in point of time; and I think the facts will prove
that this county, which in 1916 stood as one
man against arbitrary executive power, when
such q step was uncoubtcd treason, and pro-
tected and defended the rebel Bacon whose
bones now repose beneath her sod. and acain, one
hundred years later, in ITS. drove from her
shores, after tho battle Of Gwyn's Island, the last
Of the Colonial FiceroyS, and in the last yreat
revolutionary struggle had her soil con>ecrated
to independence at Gloucester Puint-has not
she set the example to the other counties Of our
State, first OF all, Of declaring for separation
from this oppressive Federal Government, and
for individual State secession and resistance :?
Heaven grant the path she points out may
soon be followed by them all!
A CITIZEN OF GLoucEsTEI.