The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-09
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.
FORTY SIXTH DAY.
MONDAY. April $, 1891 =.

hh iFNuNPnItOM
.,a House Of Delegates, and was called to or
S~r sf 10 o'clock. No clergyman in attend
ance. - .,>,, .,,r ,or,nxor
RI. PRESIDENT laid before the Convention
's,nspnicstion from the Governor of the
",,,,, A., wealth enclosing a communication
,,r, ,hp President of the State convention OF
arksnsas, intended for the consideration OF
tha General Assembly but that body having
a4;,nrned the Governor deemed III ms duty
eva II this direction, The communication
60, Arkansas asks information as 10 what
srt,ou Virginia has taken, or proposes TO take
~ reference 10 the proposition to hold Border
st.xa State Conference, at Fran kfort, ny, or
a'xeyyherp during the coming spring or sum
~er This information is sought with view
=, roi5e ihe action OF the Commissioners or
delegates elected by the convention OF AT
teosas TO said Conference, should one he held.
Tbe communication also encloses series of
r.snIn lions and an ordinance adopted by the
i',nyentlon OF Arkansas.
Laid or the table and ordered 10 be printed.
rSFISIsHxp BUsINEss.
Mr. SPEED. of Campbell, offered resolu-
.ion 20 suspend the order for going into Com
,,Ittee of The Whole at halt-past 10 O'Clock,
,or this day, with a view TO dispose of the un-
fgished business Of Saturday last.
MIR. JACKSON, Of Wood, moved TO lay the
rasoluiion upon the table, and on that motion
demand the yeas and nays.
Mr. ScoTr. OF Powhatan, raised a point of
order in regard to the reception OF MIR. Speeds
rpsolutiou, W hich was oyerruled by the Chair.
Mr. WILSON OF Harrison, asked the gen tie
man from Wood TO withdraw his motion, in
order that he might offer an amendment
,,hieh he thought would be acceptable TO all
Wr. Jackson declined 10 withdraw his mo-
lion he preferred TO look straight ahead.
The roll was called, and the Convention re-
fused 10 lay the resolution uron the table
yeas 81 nSys 6i--a tie vote. .
The question recurring on the adoption OF
the resolu tion, the vote was taken, and result
-d-yeas 81, nays 6i.
50 the Convention agreed TO suspend the
execution OF the order of the day.
On motion of Mr. WISE, the Door keeper
was authorized to admit to the lobbies suf-
fiCfent number of orderly persons 10 MI them,
and no ulore-yeas 80. nays IL.
The Conyeu tIun then proceeded to the con-
sderation of the following preamble and reso-
luton, offered on Saturday by Mr. PRESTON
TFherea, in the opinion OF this Convention, the
uncertainty which prevails in The public mind a
10 the policy which the Federal Executive in
tends 10 pursue towards the secedsd states il eN-
tremely Injurious TO the Industrial and CONNER
ciai interests o the country, tends to Keep up an
Syritenlaat which is uniavorab!e TO the adjust
ment Of pending difficulties, aud threatens dis
farbance Of the public peace Therefore,
Ef.olrei That committee of three delegates be
sppetntei by this Convention TO wait upon the
Prn.iisst Of the United States present 10 him
I'M. preamble aud resolution. and respectfully
ask Of him TO commu cite 10 this Convention the
policy which the authorities of the Federal Gov
erullent intend TO pursue IN regard to the Con
fedorste States.
Mr.. SruARr, of Augusta, approved of the
patriotic motive OF the mover OF the
;reamble and resolution, but opposed
their adoption in their present form
as calculated 10 do harm. He read q
proposition which he intended 10 submit as :
substitute for the pending question, which hi
thought would meet the object in view. Hay'
ing asked Mr.. Tyler, as one who had filled the
chief executive chair, to give his opinion of the
manner of the reception by the President Of
such q communication,
Mr.. TYLER explained the course proper TO bs
pursued in such matters, and said that in or
3Inary affairs the President was shielded from
making public any information that WAS ne
cessarY TO be kept secret; but in this emer-
geucy he thought the public good required
full and unreseryed disclosure, and il the re-
uuest was respectfully made, a respectful an
swer would be returned lie had no idea
however, of debating to the President of tn,
United States the policy that he ought to pur
Mr. CONRAD, of Frederick, intended to vote
for the resolutions III some form. He did no
believe that the Administration con temp teC
eny cOerciye policy oWaTds the secedad States
but thought the Wer would be suth I,
produce soothing effect upon the country -
H differed with The mover OF the resolution
In respect to the method of addressing III,
President. and read a substitute which he
OR. Conradl proposed TO offer.
Mr. ScorT, OF Fang quier, heartily concurrec
in the object which the gentleman from Mont
gornerv Mr. Preston) had in view He coulC
not believe that the President would hesitate
il approached respectfully. to give full ane
frank response 10 tnt lnIeTrOSdtOTieS. Bu
whether he did or not, DIR >. was in favor o
the application, with / view TO the govern
ment Of his own action as member of hi
BODY. he was free TO say that the moment il
was disclosed 10 him that the President in
tended TO pursue an aggressive policy towards
The seeded States, he would go for an ordi
nance OF secession. Suppressed applause
The PREsfDEsT.--The lobbies will be cleare,
the moment that applaus Is repeated.
Nj S1APLHs.-1he applause came from tn
floor.
The ePKEsfDRxr.-From the lobbies and foo
both.
Mr.. ScorT went on to declare his belief tina
tie President contemplated peace policy
lie did not think the res oiutions were at al
disrespee tfu1 he would even be willing t
make use of stronger language-to let tn
President know that upon his response de
pended the action of this Convention.
Mr.. RANDOLPH, OF Richmond City, argue,
thSt we had right TO know whether III
military ex xpedi ton, now fitting out at New
York, was intended 10 operate against tn
SpanlaTds or against the seeded States. Wiz
ginia treasure con tributed 10 the support o
the Federal forces, and some of her most gal
lsnt sons were among those forces. She ha.
therefore right to make a res pectful deInant
upon the President for this informa tion. w
know that there are numerous natives of Vir
gnla III all branches of the service, and the
Are now ordered, without the means of get
tin9 off, upon expedition which might hay
f0T it's object the sublugatton OF the Sou theri
States. He hoped the committee would no
only request plain declaration OF the Presi
dents policy, but also that all Eirginian
might be relieved from service against an
Southern State during the pendency 81 effort
III adjustment.
Mr. WISE favored the proposition; he con
tended that the country ought not 10 be KEEP
IN this state of suspense. He concnrred il
every sentiment expressed by the gentleman
from tauquier, (Mr. ScottD but the question
arises what is TO be considered aggressiv
policy? lie asked. why would the Presiden
eyacuate Fort Sumter, for instance, and oc
cupy the Tortugas and Fort Pickensf Ii thi
question were asked him. he would say, per
haps, that one was an inland fort, while III
others were necessary to the free navigation
OF the Gulf and the Mississippi river, an
we're therefore as national. In what relatio
does that put Virginia She stands, with he
Fortress Monroe. in the same position tina
Florida stands towards the Tortugas. w
were directly involved III this question. II
hoped that any resolution here passed Woul
not only express the desire that the Presi
dent policy should be pacific, but also in
sttu,e such inquiries as might enable Viz
sn.s 70 judge tor herself OF the nature of hi
policy
Mr. RIvEs of Prince George, opposed an
proposition which contemplated the seudin
Of Commissioners 10 Washington. Gentleme
had predicted what was going to happen, be
lore the President was inaugurated, and noy
hey tell ns that they don't know what
going 10 happen, and propose to send messeii
gers W Washington 10 find out. He oppose
tAe movement, as another effort TO fire IN
nouthern heart. The course OF events thu
lar had been as the harpoon driven in IN
flLals of the whale, and ii was natural tina
me oieod should spout and the waters be DIS
eoiored but If the Union men stood firm, tn
whale would soon show the white of HE bel
V Laughter He did not want 10 go hom
ana tell his eonsiituen is that he got SO fright
sned that he had 10 send men right OF Il
Washington rs hard as they could rip, TO Sc
"AAt Mr.. LtDcoln was going 10 do. He op
pVsen secession, opposed coercion, and beiiev
90 mat the course of Virginia, thus far. has