Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-02-26
State Convention.

commissioner from the State of Mississippi, and
HoD. t. L. Benning, Commission from the State
of Georgia.
ON TUESDAY, the 10Th, the Convention was
addressed by John s. Preston, Commissioner
from the State of South Carolina.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20th-In the Convention
To-Day, Mr. clemens made a personal explana-
tlon, defending himself against the charge OF
sendlng puohc documents to parties unauthorized
70 receive tnem. A large number of resolutions
bearing on Federal Relations were offered and
referred 10 the committee on that subject. A
resolution ior the appointment of select Com
mittee 10 inquire and report as to whether the
oenerai government had, by any recent action
within the limits of the State. indicated an in
cinnamon 10 coerce the people, was laid on the
table. The Governor was reonested to inform
the Convention as to the number of enrolled mi
lltla and arms in the State. A resolution offer
ed oy MI. Montague, calling upon the Virginia
commissioners in Washington to state whether,
Ia tneir opinion, any result acceptable to this
state may be expected from the deliberations OF
me Feace Conference, was tabled by vote OF
90 10 ~. Mr.. johnson, of Richmond, offered a
resolution, calling for the appointment of COM
intIee 10 ascertain what cOmpensatiOns the OIL
GERS OF the Convention shall receive, which was
adopted
oN THURSDAY, the 2lst, Mr.. Woods, of Bar
ooor, submitted the following resolutions:
hesot0ed, lst.-That the allegiance which the
citizens OF Virginia owe to the Federal Govern
ment OF the United States of America, is subor-
dinate to that due to Virginia, and may, there
fore, be lawfully withdrawn by her whenever
she may deem it her duty to do so.
End. That in case the State of Virginia should
exercise this authority, her citizens would be in
duty bound to render allegiance and obedience
to her alone.
3rd, That Virginia recognizes no authority
In any Government, State, or Federal to coerce
her or any of her citizens TO render allegiance to
the Government of the United States after she
may, in the exercise of her sovereign power, have
withdrawn from it.; and that she will regard
any attempt at coercion, as equivalent to a de-
claratiOn of war, against her, to be resisted al
'severy hazard and to the last extremity
4th, That the States of South Carolina. Geor.
gia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
and Texas, having severally formally withdrawn
the allegiance OF their respective people from the
United States of America, it is faithful, earnest
desire to avert civil war; and the sound con-
sentative sentiment of the whole country. alike
indicate to the Government of the United States
the necessity and policy of acknowledging their
Independence.
Mr.. Woods submitted a few remarks in SUD-
port of the propositions embraced in his resolu-
tons.
Mr.. Wise expressed his thanks to the gentle
man from Barbour for declaring these sentiments,
and referred to them as afording justification
for the course which he had pursued in the Con-
vention Of 1860, when, with four others from
the East, he contended for equal taxation and
equal represention for the West and the East.
Mr.. Hall, of Wetzel, said that some OF the
people of the Northwest are not as sound as the
gentleman from Princess Anne (Mr. Wise) thinks.
They pronounced him (HalD Disunionist per
Sc, because he approved of and advocated the
Crittenden Compromise. The gentleman from
this state of things by his declaration for tight
ing in the Union" The people took hold OF the
idea, and consequently condemned any move
ment that might lead to dissolution.
Mr.. Wise again took the floor, and explained
his meaning by fighting in the Union" He
said that he stands now where he had always
stood, in reference to the Constitution and the
Union. If the Union is ever dissolved, it will
have to be dissolved by war! He then read an
extract from the Federal Constitution to show
that State was authorized to put itself in q
condition of defence if the danger be so immi
nent as not to admit of delay" A State has the
power to engage in war herself. Is it policy to
ask people to give up their nationality, their
treasures and domain, and surrender them te
people unworthy of them? Mr.. Wise said be
would have the States if be could win them by
the battle. He would fight for the Union as
long as he could. 1t war must come, let it come
We would then have the publication of fire and
blood-the great purifier of the Almighty, from
| the cross down. If the people of Northwestern
mr. Sfa forb iS fOy
him, who stood for their rights he would bear
his breast to their spears, and let them strike
but he would fight on! fight onl
Mr.. Wiley next took the floor, and proceeded
to vinaicate the people of the Northwest from
intimations and insinuations prejudicial to the
loyalty of the people of that section. There ex-
lists nowhere, he said, within the broad limits Of
this great State, people who are more loyal to
all the institutions of Virginia. But this is the
age of distrust Why should new guarantees OF
evidences of loyalty be askeda In what have
they been derelict or faitLless2 They have q
record written in blood. In the war of 1912 the
crack of Western rifles was heard in Eastern
Virginia, defending the cherished institutions OF
this section. The soil is consecrated in the
hearts of the Northwest, for mingled with it are
the remains of many of her sons who fell in de
fence of the rights of their brethren of the East.
But it seems they love the Union too WE'LL
If it be treason to love the Union they learned it
from the great men OF the East, from the illus
trious statesmen of the past and present, and
from the greatest of Virgina's sons, the Father
of his Country"
Mr.. Wiley said that as he gazed upon the
staue of Washington in the Square, a few days
since, he could almost hear the admOnitiOn OF
his farewell address, bidding Us beware of geo.
graphical or sectional parties, and to look upon
the Union as the palladium of our liberties
Passing on, he saw the statue of Clay, and it
seemed to repeat the declaration of that great
statesman, at Frankfort, in 1850: II may be
asked, as | have often been asked, when would
consent to dissolution OF the Union. My an
swer would be, never never! neYer!"
Mr.. Wiley assured the gentleman from Prin-
cess Anne that the Northwest would rally to bis
support in due time for the redress of any just
grievance. When the last resort has come, that
portion of the State will send ten thousand men
into the field, and will fight for their common
rights, if they cannot be maintained peaceably.
The resolutions offered by Mr.. Woods, were
referred to the Committee on Federal Relations.
On FRIDAY, the 22nd, the Convention was
not in session.
The Convention on Saturday, tie 23rd, adopt
&c the resolution previously adopted, appointing
a committee to inquire whether any movement
of arms or men had been made by Government
into any fort or arsenal in or bordering upon
Virginia, indicating preparations for attacking
or coercing any State. The Union members be-
lieve the inquiry will show the gronndlessness OF
the suspicion.
No idea of Coming Back.
The idea of going ont of the Union for the