Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-22
state Convention.

of Virginia:
Whereas, The State of Virginia has made every
honorable effort to restore the friendly relations
which should exist between the General Govern
ment and the several States OF the Union, upon
terms perfectly iust TO all, but deeming it unneces
ssrv to refer tc tho causes of complaint which
hare existed fer series of years, still more a2gra
vated as these causes now are by the declared pur
poses of mere sectional majority, and as all the
efforts so made have proved unavailing, witkou,
recitihg the differences OF opinion which exist Il
regard to the powers of the State Government OF
those OF the Government of the 9nited States, al
derived from the reserved rights of the one, tht
constitutional authority OF the other, or the inf g.
rent rights of the people constituting Govern
ment which seeks to protect the persons and prop
ertx of thos, who compose and who have ordained
and established it, Against the alb, SEP of such Gov
eminent itself, or which ar,se from its connection
vita the Government Of other States, or tn Of
an association Of States, the people of Virginia. il
t:enventiore assembled deem it proper now 10 do
clare that the time has arrived when ii become.
them to assume, IS they do, their position - tn.
people of sovereign independent State.
Il. Be IL therefore ordained, BIZ tie people of Is-
nina, and they do hereby declare, That the sale
:tate is NO longer OF the Union of States known
is the United States of America, and that the peo
pie of the said State owe no allegiance OF duty to
AM other Government whatsoever.
a. Be 1t further ordained, 1t IS hereby declor
ed That the people Of the said State do resume al
the rights of property, or the thereof, which
have been granted by the sao State to the Govern
ment CT TIE United States, or which have III any
wise acqrted to the same BY reason OF the connec
ton IF tie said State with the said Government
bv tie assent Of the said State, given with view
to the protection Of her own people, and the PEG
pie OF all the ether States comp osing Union form
ed under an agreement that it should establish
ius.ice-insure domestic tranquility-provide ion
the common dsfehce-promste the general welfare
ana secure the blessings of liberty to themselves
and their posterity that agreement having beer
violated and the objects Of the Ution perverted Sc
AZ to defeat the purposes OF Jusiee-to destroy tfs
very foundations Of domestic tranquitv-to lessen
the means of common defence, as to disregard
the objects Of the general welfare OF one entire
ton OF tie Union and thereby to entail, in that
section, injury and oppression upon the people
thereof and tpoE their postsrity forever.
3. Ard withedt dete: mining this time wfeth-
err the State of Virginia will unite herself with any
other State association of States in any common
this Convention doth respectfully and
earnestly request that the States OF North CARROLL
ma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Miss ,uri,
A rkansas and Delaware will, as possible.
appoint Commissioners to meet Commissioners, to
be appointed hy this Convention, in the city of
lexington, III TIE State OF kertucky, on the last
w ednesday in Nay next, to confer together and
to PROPOSE plan of Constructing Government to
be formed by the said States, Virginia inclusive.
and the Confederate States of America. Such
plan Of Government, however. to have no binding
authority till the shall BE adopted and rati-
led by this Ccnsentan And for the better &C
.ompii.b ment of the objects iotsnded, the said
" requested TO send three Commissicrerg to the
Conferefca herein proposed-who shall be invited,
at such time ts may be agreeable TO them, to sd-
dress the same That each If the States hereinDe-
fore ma med shall be entitled to as many votes as it
had Representatives and Senators in the last Con-
sress. in the Conference herein proposed That
the Con- nissionnrs to be appointed by this CDnven-
ton shall make re ,ort to the Governor OF this
Commonwealth, speedily possible, Of the re.
suit Of their delibei atons-w hereupon he shall
make known the ss,te by proclamation, That o.,
the 18th day tftcr the date Of such proclamation,
(uhlees the same be Sunday, then on the next
day. ths Convention, shall reasonable in the city
of Richmond. at such place as the Cover, or shall
deslgnste in said procla 1ation. and shall then and
.here consider the reporg OF ths said Commission
err, and all ether matters which at this time are
or may then be, proper subjects for elaboration
tcuchlnG the future relations Of the State of Fir
ginia to any Other Government or State.
4. And il s.. hsreJy ordained and declared ty H.
people Of Virginia. That they do recognize ane
acknowledge the independence and nationality o
they will extend to the said States any aid which
they 1.-THE said people of Virginia. can command
or whic may e netessary to enable the said State
to msiata;n their independence, or against an. &C
ercive measures which may be adopted by the au
thoritie: of the United States.
s. Re ffjarther declared, That the pecpe of Vir-
gin;s have ever cherished an ardent attachnen
for the Union and the Constitution OF the Unitet
States while it was the bond Of peace ard tratcr
nitr s..d that it can now only be restored upol
the original ba sis by amendment OF the Cousti
tuition through the primary agency OF the non
sis vei,olding States themselves proposing suitab
and sure guarantees. and by tuil and uneondi
tions, plain ana positive recognition OF the rights
of property in slsTes held under the laws Of thu
states co as slso to o6tsu satisfactory aasarance
aud guarantees for the future, to slavery ia TIL
District OF Columbia ; to the powers of the Fed
era. Governme over African sla~cry and the Elm
puyment of Stare labor IN the fcrts, arsenas, dock
ysrts, and 81 places ceded by the States for Fed
eral user Is to prots cton against excessive direc
taxes on slaves G. to the rendition of fugitiv
slayea as to tie transit with slaves through any
the Stetec, by land water, and OF the right o
transportation, or the high seas, ofssves from n
State to another STATE OF Territory rs to the pro
lection ofhlare opersy in the com ron territorie
Of the United States, as IT, the bstter security G
lie independence of the judiciary, AM! tor protec
ton against unjust taxation in the form ofexcessiT
lmposts laid upon foreign impoltaticns.
g. BE it further declored Tia. the people Of T;r
GINA though they have taken their position, hay
an anxious desire to preserve the peace and uouit
therefore, regard any action of the Federal Gov
eminent tending to produce collision. pendin:
neg 0tatons for the adjustment OF existing dificui
ties, az aggressive and injurious to the lntsre 81
knd offensive to the honor of ttis State; and the
svould regard any action On tie part Of the Cen
tederate States nf America, tending to produce
lie collision, az hurtiui and untriendly, and Il
leaving the people Of Virginia free to determin
their future policy. >.
I. Be It elso Jur:he~ declared, That the Prosi
den, If ftiis Convention slsl Immediately csus
copies Of this ordinance to be Forwarded to the Gov
orrors Of ca oh pf the Cuited States, as thu sam
existed on the first day Of December 1850, to the
President Of the Confederate States OF America
and TO the President OF the United States. hpt
10 -. f,S ~. w.;
proceed at once to the appointment, uipa poce, o
fifteen Commissioners to attend on behalf OF thl
State, the Conference here proposed to be 'loiden
and it is provided. .lSns taat If Commissioners shs
fail to attend the same Conference. from the otte
States named in the third clause of this ordinance
go that the said Conference shall rot be bold en-
then the said Commissioners ire'n this State shall
in like manner, report the fact to the Governor
mh~ shall make proclamation thereof, when sls'
this Convention shall rcassemble at The time here
in provided fer.
s. Bat this Convention, anxious as it Il to tax
no step to disturb existing relations only 80 far
is necessary, bat seeking to avoid any collision
doth suspend the operation of the second clause 9
this ordinance till such time SO it may deem prop
err tc- enforce the same, md with view to an I'D
iustment Of the pending difficulties, through tn
agency of the Conference herein provided ioE, an
BY sreturnlng sense OF justice am5nS tbs people Q
al sections.
The administration having come to de
cision upon the claims otapplieants, the fol
lowing gentlemen have been appointed t
represent the nation abroad:
Charles Francis Adams, Minister to Eng
land
VIZ L Dayton Minister to Franee.
N. p Judd, Minister to Prussia.
George P. Marsh, Minister to Sardinia.
E~.n sc, W too., AHaih kYi1Aiahnr IA PM