Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-04-02
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.

holding important political intelligence re-
ceived by him from Mr.. Writ, of Westmore-
land. He said that i'll compliance with MI.
Wirt's request, lie consulted with his friends
in the Convention, and at their suggestion
sent the letter to Mr. Seward, with, the dis
tinct assurance On our part, that il the
policy there indicated and attributed To
Mr. Chase were adopted and carried into
practice, that they and | would sign an
ordinance OF secession within ten days after
that policy should be inaugurated." This
was the extent Of his correspondence with
W. II. Seward. lie would disdain to notice
the frivolous and malicious charges that
have been made against him, il the public
mind were more calm and serene.
Mr.. Mallory, Of Brunswick, presented the
proceedings OF meeting held at Lawrence
vile, in snid county, in favor of secession.
Mr. NJ. said that he would yield obedience TO
the wishes of his constituents.
Pending the consideration of Mr.. Uonrad's
resolution IL terminate the debate Ill Com
mittec of the Whole. on Thursday next
The Convention, in pursuance OF the order
Of the day. resolved itself into IL Committee
Of the Whole, aud
Mr.. Flournoy, being entitled to the floor,
presented his views. He urged the adoption
of AN uiiimutun To be submitted to the North
crn Statesmen by Il Border State Conference,
to which he was opposcd-but by this Con-
venton. This action, said Mr. T., will be
felt in the South: it will be felt in the Bor-
der: it will be felt in the North. When you
adopt your Mtjmutum, send it BY Commits
sioners 10 your sister Border Slave States,
and toll them why Virginia adopted ii with
out further conference with them. Ask them
III the spirit of fraternity and patriotism and
Justice TO endorse this action of lirglna-tO
send it forth as their mfimufnm, too, and to
let one voice reach the North saying i'll the
name Of the SuuLh-'iiere is our last propo-
sitDn. Take it. in the name of the Union,
in the name of the Constitution, III the name
of Liberty. II you accept it, all will be well;
but, il you rcject it, the damning sin will
rest upon you through time and eternity of
having destroyed the Constitution of your
land and given fatal stab Ia the liberties
| Of the people We, of the South, have deter
mined upon that course. lfyou do not agree
to it, we will form our own government, and
take care OF ourselves, as best we call looking
| TO the God of men and Of nations tn guide us
| i'll the course in which our fathers led us in
defence of their liberties which every Nir-
ginian loves 50 dearly, that think, now, |
can hear echoed and rerrhOed the Ian guage
of the immortal Henry, Give me Liberty, or
give me Death"
Mr.. Barbour of Cul pepper, next addressed
| the Committee. He referred IL his upprs-
| ton III the Legislature to the Southern Con-
| ference proposed by South Carolina, and 10
| his cooperation in the movement which led
tn the Peace Congress" ut " ashington, rs
| evidences of his attachment To the Union aS
it existed. lie said that all were agreed that
Virginia should not remain under this gov
eminent as il iS-~hat there must be satis!.c-
tor amendments to the Constitution AS the
condition Of her continuance under the Fedc-
raj Government. He regarded the Peace
Conference asa HHui ellurt un the part Of IT.
! GINA to restore the Union rs it once existed
and argued tlat ii ma Iority Of the people ct
the State concurrug with him, We're now in
favor Of uniting Virginia with the Southern
Coniederacy.
Before concluding his remarks, he yielded
the ilonr from physical exhaustion, and,
MIR. Goggin proceeded to address the Com
mitiee. He declared that the Union is now
| dissolved by the withdrawal OF seven States,
ana that wiliin h. would re dice to see the
| ag ri the Mon again waving over the
States. when the question was presented 10
him whether he would 90 with the North or
the South, he would sav here now that his
destiny is with the South. lie preferred
however, that Virginia Stiould st,tnd alone,
not going either with the North or the South
| c.. ia -.
ded lie continued ut sumo length, to ;.dru-
cate the policy set forth in the Ordinance re-
Gently presented by him, until , o'cIpcll whcn
the Committee took the usual recess.
fine Committee re;lssrmhled at 4 o'clock.
Mr.. Goggln resumed and concluded his
argument i'll support I'll the position inlic,t-
ted by him ut The mcrniny session.
On motion Of jlr Barbour, ol Jefferson.
the c.mEIitre rose. lie stated that te sub.
mtte4 the mutIon in order tha3 he might hy
securing the tioor, transfer it on Monday to
his brother, who was prevented from ente-
Element, from being present, 70 resume hls
speech commenced this morning.
The resolution limiting debate WAS then
taken up, ~ the unfinished business, and
modified TO read as follows:
Resolved, That on Thursday, tic lth day
Of April next, Ut twe ive o'clnck noon, ill de-
bate in the Committee oi the Whole upon
the reports from Jhe Committee ON Federal
l:elatons shall terminate aud the Committee
shall ct ONCE proceed to rnIe upcn the pro-
POSITIONS Goiorn /. giving ten minutes To
the member Offering II, for explanation, and
ten minutes for replication.
> That hereafter ~, member in the Cont
mi;Ice q! tie Whole shall be ailnwe, to speak
more than on,,' on the >!iiae proposition.
The resolution wa4 advocated by Mr.
Stuart Of DotIridge, and opposed 10y MesSrs
Wise, Blakey, Speed Montague, and Tur-
ner. Of jackson. 1t WAS then adopted.
AR Conrad, Of Frederick, from lie com
n1;tiec OF Federal Relations, to whom Mr..
Speeds resolution vas referred, directing
inquiry into the cxp=diency pi reporting
t"o Ordinances, etc, presented resolution.
declaring it premature and mex pc,l,rnt to
act upon said sal ice! until the Convention
shall have decided upon the former report ri
the Gom!utttce.
On motion of NJ" ConraG The resolution
was laid on the table.
Mr.. Scott, Of fauquer, presented IN a.
mendmcnt to be submitted by him in Com
mittec III the Whole to the last Resolution
Of the report OF the Committee on Federal
Relations, which reads:
II. The peculiar relations of the States of
Delaware MARYLAND VIRGINIA Eor;h r,r,