Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-19
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION


VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.
MONDAY, Feb. Is, 1861.
The Convention met at IL o'clock, pursuant to ad
journment.
PRAYER by Rev. Dr. Reid, of the Presbyterian Church
THE SOUTHERN COMMISSIONERS.
On motion of Mr.. PRESTON, the Convention proceed
ed with the order of the day. viz the reception of thu
Co nmissoners from the States OF South Carolina, Geor
gia. and Mississippi.
The PRESIDENT then introduced the Hon. FULTo,
ANDERSON Commissioner from the State OF Mississippi
who proceeded to address the Convention presenting thu
reasons which induced Mississippi to invite the coopera
ton of Virginia in the formation OF Southern Coniede
racy.
At the conclusion of his address, the PRESIDENT in
troduced Hon. HENRY l.. BENNISG, Commissioner from
the State OF Georgia. who addressed the Convention by
presenting review of the which had impeleC
Georgl TO secede from the Union and adducing series
of arguments to show that the interests OF Virginia
would be promoted by uniting with the Southern Con
federacy.
Mr.. B. concluded by presenting copy of the "ordi
nance dssoving the union between the State OF Georges
and the other States OF the Coniederacy known as he
United States of America
On motion of Mr. PRESTON the further execution Of
the Joint order was postponed un il tomorrow at Il
o'clock, when Hon Mr. PRESTON, Commissioner from
Scu-h Carolina will address the Convention.
o. motion of Mr.. EARLY,
tickets admsson this day, be renewed for tomorrow
On motion of Mr. STAPLES, the Convention adjourned
NOTR We omit an abstract OF the addresses oil the
Commissioners as presume that they will be request
ed by the Convention to write them out in full for pub
LEGATION.
The Convention Hall was crowded Yesterday, by mem
bers of the Legislature and citizens Who had succeeded
ia obtaining tickets of admission. The ladies' gallery
was crowded as early as ten O'Clock and hundreds who
arrived afterwards we're compelled to retire, not being
able 10 obtain admi.,ance.
The following personal explanation by Mr. STUART OF
Augusta should have appeared IL the report oil the Ooh
vento proceedings of Monday last
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr. PREsIDEST-l rise foe personal explanation
when the gentleman from Princess Anne yesterday read
the letter addressed by Messrs Hartman and lmboden to
the Senator from King William did not, find, entirely
comprehend its full scope and import Since the adjourn
ment of the Convention l have had an opportunity OF
reading the letter in the Richmond Enquirer, and now
desire to make qualification of what then said.
Upon the frs; reading of the letter in the House, un-
derstood representing me TO have sGd that was 10
possession of specific information In regard TO the ex-
suce of the supposed purpose or plot to evct the pres
ept Governor from office and 20 ubtute the member
ON Piiucess Anne in his stead. stated that this was
mistake had protessed 10 have, any lnior'
nation that subject
Upon reading the letter. find that it refers to two sub
sentive matters first the existence OF the supposed plot
and second the fact that ar Wise had been elegraphed
to come on to Richmond. think readily perceive
how the error has arisen. reco.ect distinctly telling
Mr. Hartman and Mr.. Iuboden that was 10 possession
OF information which they had not access but that IN
formation referred to the despatch and not to the plot
itse't
The facts of the case in regard TO this branch of the
subject were these Being in my room in company with
Mr. Armstrong the Senator from Hampshire, and MI
Wickham, member Of this body from Henrico, gen.
tlenan came in and said he had telegram 10 Gov
I. 1 - k- Hapalv
thew we're seeking to obtain other signatures. The ele
gram was said to be in these words near as can re-
member them, "Your friends think your presence here
important Come on"
This was the information 70 which referred IN my
conversation with Mr.. Hartman and Mr. lmboden and
this was the ONLY specific information had the cub
iect And can readily understand how they GIT have
construed nv remark having reference TO the pot m
stead Of the telegram. had no purpose to Impute TO
either of them disposition to mIsrepresent the facts
On the contrary, doubt not that they innocenty mis-
conceived my meaning have voluntarily made this eX
PLANTATION as an act of Justice both 10 M,ssrs. Harman
and ImbOdeu and TO myself.
As Mr. WlcKHAM is in his seat ask him to state how
far his recollection Of the facts in regard TO the telegram
accord with mine.
Mr.. WICKHAM then rose, aud stated, that he was
present on the occasion referred to by Mr. STUART and
that his recollection OF what trsnspred agreed entirely
with Nr STUART and added, tina. he had been on the
most Intimate terms with Mr. s. aud in habits OF conf
dental intercourse with him daily. That they had con-
versed on several occasions in regard to the rumored
eviction of Governor Lecher and that be had never
any OCCASION heard him impIcate or connect the name
OF Mr.WIsE with the enterprise.
REMARKS OF Mr. MOORE, OF RocEBRrDGE
As our outline of the debate in the Convention on Sat
urday was uravodaby meagre, we annex the following
fuller report Of dispositions taken by Mr.. MOORE, OF
Rockbridge:
the resolution Of
red BIZ the gentleman from Greene aud Orange, Mr..
Morton He wished distinctly understood that he did
not intend 10 be handed bound hand and foot to the
Cotton States He did not intend TO be precpated into
decision whether he would stay Ia the Union or go out
of IT, He did not expect go either North South but
10 stand firm here aud maintain the honor aud assert the
rights of Virginia If compelled 10 90 anywhere, he was
determined to know first where he w8s going who he
was 90 with and what TO be our condition after
We cid 20.
He was ready to resist any attempt to send troops
through Virginia to attack the seeding States but if
they thought proper attack any United States fort,
they would have 10 abide the consequences They had
no right to expect aid from Virginia in that event. as
they bad not thought proper to ask Virginia what they
should do He was resolved that they should see that
taey could not drag Virginia into any conncxon with
them, and no such connection would eser be formed
without Vireinia's free and full cOcsent
There never could be any conneKion formed between
Virginia and the Cotton States without provision in the
10 sututlon prohoNltg Tue african ela'e hue, ahu oue
10 provide that the of the Federal Government
s. ST. under all ordinary circumstances be derived eIclu
ively rom duties foreign importations He would, at
proper time undertake show that there was conflict
of interest between Virginia and the Cotton States
Near the conclusion Of Mr. Wises speech in reply he
approached very near TO Mr. NJ gesicuatng very
esty when Mr. N. said be would request the favor OF
Mr. W. not TO bring his closed hand nearly in contact
with his (Mg MS head. Mr.. W. promptly disc'aimed
any Intention Of giving offence, aud spoke OF the long
friendship which had Gsted between Mr. and himself,
both on the floor of the House of Representatives and
siuce To which Mr. ~ replied, that he cheeriuly ao'
knowledged the friendly relations which had existed be-
tween Mr. W. aud himself ard said be sure no Of
fence intended, but many persons were looking
on who might suppose from his (Ar. Wise manner, that
offence was intended he had deemed it proper TO make
the reques: he had done.
NO ".
To TIE DFIPG kTFS OE THE VIRGINIA