New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-15

But the love of the masses Of che people or the Union
is not based upon this. They would resst any dIssou
ton Of the Uuion, even though Slavery would be
thereby swept from tie face Of the earth. And inc
late Secession party not by any means, made up
of slaveholders or led by the slave interest. This
interest practically ignored in the party arrange
mens as are all party politics in the North In tne
present grand rally for the support OF the Government
Very many Of the lOudest Secess Joni IL were men VINO
never owned slave, and never will; while many Oh
the largest Shareholders were the most ultra Union
men.
TIE RICHMOND CONVENTION.
The common impression abroad that majority Of the
Richmond so-esled sovereign Convention were elected
al unconditional Union men, is IN error Whlie ~ Is
true that but very few elected as Seees lons's
pr 80 it is also true that very few even here IN the
North West, were elected as unqualified Union men,
The naked question of the Union as 49, against Sc
cession not before the people at that February
election The day of patchwork Union saving had not
then passed. and it supposed here that some pana-
cea or other would come ont VI that Convention or the
Washington "P ace Congress for tie heshDg OF tho
nation. The candidates for Conventional honors at
that election were therefore, mostly Union men, ~'h
an u. Everybody was for saving the Union by COM
Omise but very few were 10 bold as to Ia Oh saving
1t without compromise. When, however,, by we ad-
ournment Of Congress without any sort OF Legislative
Union-saving, TIE question became narrowed down 10
Union or rebellion, the Western members, with very
few EXCEPTIONS took their position on the se OF tne
Constitution, without an if. But upon the fall OF onm-
ter by intimidation, sensation dispatches and DINER
not yet come to light, sufficient number were
induced go over carry the Secession ordinance
THE LEADERS.
Immediately upon the passage OF the ordinance,
most of the Union members from the northwest came
home to prepare tor reslsance-a few remaining 10 see
the "last OF the elephant"
George w. Summers has been much overrated as
champion Of Western Virginia. lie was called the
mas,er-spirit Of that Convention His great speech
OILY in vindiea'ion OF the actlon OF the reace
Congress- :" of which he was a menberi showing that
virginia and the South ought to have been saiIied
with the measures proposed by that body, aud not
that they ought TO be satisfied with tie Union as
IL IL, and ought not TO secede Ana ne nae BOT taken
any action al home beyond opposing the ordinance at
the polls.
In the movement looking TO a resistance and repudi-
alton of the ordinance, without regard 70 the yote ~
it, favor the Hon. John ). Calile OF HARRISON county
ranks foremost. He Ia now pretty wen KNOWN
throughout the country. In ability, probably there Is
no man superior to him in the State.
Next in order, comes Francis IL. Perpont, esq, OF
Marion County. Though he has been Tor many years
an active politici ,n-formerly Wing, last year for
Bell md Eyerett-he has been in public life and
j. not an asprant lawyer by profession, OF high
order of talent, good degree OF elIquence hdonaDie
perseverance,, ana aa iron Constitution, lie emihenuy
lifted for popular leacer. Having gwen himself mp
entirely to the work. he has acquired the sobrquet oil
the "war-horse Of tie mountains"
John \. Burdett Of Taylor T.. b. Hall Of Marion,
NJ. NJ Dent of Monongais, N. II. Taft and Spencer
DAYTON of Barbour G.. ID. Hubbard Of Ohio, james
Buiey OF Marshall' Campbell Tarr of Brooke, George
McPorter Of Hancock, DI. Mos Of Wood c. j. Stew
art Of Doddridge and Cyrus Hall OF Peasants, are
active working leaders In their respective COUNTIES
Ga the other side we have had leaders 10 contend
with equal if not superior TO ours, both in numbers
and in talent, among whom are Charley Russell, who
led Virginia out Of the Baltimore Convention year
ago; Judge peterborough late OF the United Stses
Court Judge Camden, Hsymonds aud hidwei OF
81 fIaNfl III. ~
Barbour and any quantity of lesser lights Ia every
County There are the men who have brought q
sprnkling of the into Western Virginia. Indeed,
might ray they are the men who have made Virginia
the battle-ground for without their aid In the shape
OF onpide pressure the Ordnance could not have been
passed IN Conyeution and without confident hope OF
tie ultimate cooperation Of the Northwest, the Rich
mond spirstors would scarcely have venured upon
the gigantic enterprise. And these men represented
20 their Eastern maste that the passage OF the Ord-
nance grand coup d'otot, and moderate mil tary
coercion here, would bring us into line.
OPENING or THE CAMPAIGN.
In view of it's accessibility by railroad and other.
WISE Grafton may, perhaps not upJusty, be regarded
IA the center Of the Northwestern Union movement;
and il was made the headquarters Of the Confederate
military denomination for the northwest, and 10 now
the headquarters Of the Government military opera
tions Tor the suppression of the re6e lion in this part
of the State. II il purely railroad town Of 200
Inhabitants; situated At the Junction Of tho North
Western Virginia Ralroad with the Baltimore and
Ohio Rail cad, half "A mile from the Northwestern
Turnpike road the Gygart's Valley River, at the
mouth of Three Fork Creek 100 miles from Wheeling,
and I04 iom Parkersburg; and is ust years old IL
contains extensive railroad chops and some very good
public houses and private residences.
The Governor commenced the execution OF his mDt-
tary Programme by issuing his Proclamation calling
for volunteers, and designating Grafton and sundry
other places in the Northwest places Of rendez-
vous for the defer OF the State, or rather for the
defense of people agains,-theuselyes and to CO.
cree them into the against the Government OF their
choice. But Grafton is the only place where active
operations were commenced; and nearly all the big
and little leaders in there parts who had not been 9TH
erwse provided for received commissions in the grand
Provisional Army" that was TO lie. Aftersome weeks
drumming four five companies were raised and
organized in the Counties about here but fearing for
their own safety among the people whom their oseDsi-
bic mission WAS protect they dared not 10 march 10
Grafon-though not man was he q in arms-without
protection for themselves. So on the pretense that
Northern Aboionists and negroes were III this coun-
try numbering men, women, and children force OF
about thousand men was induced to come here from
distant counties southwark IL is not TO be doubted
that such representations were made by the Conieder-
ate leaders here ~ those distant compsnies for many
honest Union among them were free to avow 1t TO
our citizens and to express their chagrin and mor-
cation finding the position in which they were
placed.
Grafton being thus occupied by force Of 400
men, under command of Col. Porterfed, citizens beng
ordered from their houses, loud threats being made OF
impressing all the Union men into service, and Of ar
resting Union leaders, citizens almost nasse
fled from thei- homes in terror; thousand uDoundeG
rumors flew the wings Of the wind; and on Sat
urday, Sunday and MONDAY, the 18Th GOTH and 9th
of May, the whole country was in blaze OF the Wild
est ex, itement.
Meantime the Union Convention at Wheeling was
held, on the l3th lith and 18th of May, by whom a
Central Committee was appointed TO attend TO all
matters pertaining to the defense OF the Northwest
against the Secession ordinance. This COMMITTEES went
into nmed ate session. and put themselves into
munication with the Federal authorizes the result Of
which il, n regiment Of Virgnians has been mustered