Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-03-20
RICHMOND WHIG.
TIE PETERSBURG "TESPEST IN A TEAPOT"
PgrERsRURG March l6.
VOLUME 65.

TIE PETERSBURG "TESPEST IN A TEAPOT"
PETERSBURG, March l6.
T, tIe Editor Of ths W1ig;
o. Monday night Less meeting Of our citizens was
held st Pbonix Hail, when C. p. Collier. Esq offered
s,riss OF resolutions construed % by those who
oppo,ed them 10 insici delegate, Mr.. Branch 10
yoe for iiaHssddte secession TINS was most emphat
cay denied But the opponents Of secession considering
hat the resolutions OF So Collier might b. construed by
soue as instructions TO Mr. Branch vote for immediate
sece>s on, Geo W Boiling, ESQ, moved as substitute
That having confidence in the intelligence, patriot
ism aud hrmuess OF delegate Ia the Convention for
the protection of southern rights and honor il Is mex
pe5ient % instruct him on any question now pending
before the Convent on, which resolution printed on
the tickets used by the voters in casting their votes
headed GAO. W. B0LLINGs SUBSTITUTE, and at the
bottom Of the ticket was printed "AgGinst g. +. Coz
Isr's Resolutions
The voting commenced on Wednesday morning and
continued three dlys and to Oby,te the objection urged
- the meeting that the resolutions We're intended TO III
srlct Mr. Branch 20 vote for mmeditie secession the
author presume of The resolutions bad printed AZ The
bottom Of the ticket used by The FOE g. T. Coz
LIsR's Resolutions The tOuOwiug;
The resolutions OF red at the meeting, and which
% be voted by the people DO not propose Instructions
g. Branch, any more than they propose 20 Instruct
tie Convention TO which Nr Branch IS requested 20 pre-,
sent them. The whole proceeding merely intended TO
b. as ONLY i expression ct opinion in pyu2ry
meeting Of the people. Tue whole tenor and purpor, ct
the resolutions are a denial Of the Black Republican
=
Constitution OF the United States
paid so l;te attention 20 what going on that I
dii not the tickets for the Collier resolutions until
Yesterday ev,uioc JUS. before the polls closed vo-ed
on the first day for BOliHgs substitute hayi0g u-der
stood the Collier resolutions 20 fayo- i edate secession
blt having discovered Yesterday evening that was ris
taken In my Interpretation Of them, regret now that
did not fov the resolutions and the substitute, bph
for might have been doae with perfect pToprety aud
consistency.
You will observe tina. Mr. Branch is no, instructed by
7inge individual in this city pursue any o;acr than
the course dictated by his Cwn unbiased Judgment IN
les persons interpreted aud express on she
b1.S Of the ticket, the resolutions differently from
thois author Some Of the voters did write the back
Of their tickets immediate secession; scme added
"uow and forever" "eternally and irrevocaby,' aud
such Ike expressions tore O6 the printed remarks
the bottom Of the ticket and voted for the Collier reso
luons, With their own Interpretation, aud on, &C.
Bat the Objec. Of this Communication Is 10 show the
absurdty Of the propOson that NJ Branch Instructed
20 for immediate secession, that the people OF
Petersburg have expressed their sentiment in favor Of It.
IL the iuterpr tatOa pduedin the ticket and given,
presume by the author Of hem, The true one then Mr.
Branch s Instructed tbsn she Convention Is b.
struc,,d To Use the language OF Nr Collier himself
"the whole proceeding is merely intended 10 be, IS u
oaig is expression OF opinion in primary meeting
OF the people The whole and purp0rt Of the
luous are dtnill of the Black Republican creed that
heroes I've would prefer the word slaves a. there
sous free negroes IN Nrguja) uOs property under
DO saw that but for the dG cnt construction placed on
the Collier resolutions fOm that rla,ej or il by himself
there were no; twenty men in Petersburg Who would
have voted against them.
Your correspondent never denied that slaves are prop
er;v under and by the Constitution Of the United States
consequently have hesitation in voting for the Col
Her resolutions understood hc understands them and
now regret that dI think Of i, IN time 20 sustain
the proposition that negroes l,vesl property under
aud by the Cousttu.ion OF the United States.
Rut some OF Us saw the ca; the mealtub, and nov,
siace the result as expected the precp;tatcrs claim
a. great triumph ard the tEo newspapers nave hers d.
el to the country that Petersburg has Instructed Mr.
Branch 20 vote fo- immediate Secession; and al this in
face Of the fact that the face OF the tcae. used Uy these
who voted for che Collier resolutions Furnishing positive
an1 coucus We evidence 20 the contrary.
Now suggest 10 the SecessoaiSts, II they want The
issue tried in Peersburg OF whether Virginia shall Sc
ceds from she Union Independent OF the Border slave
States OF confer with them the subject of thciT rea
ton 10 the other States now in the Union lei them come
square up 10 the issue and not word Of compliant
viii be written by me. u.