The national Republican., 1861-04-16
THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION.

political party in armed rebellion against the
laws of the land"
THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
On the lOth Mr. Rives brother Of VIM. C.)
moved to amend the pending resolution against
the reinforcement of the U. s. forts within the
the seeded States, so as to approve the supply
ing of the forts ,cih prorisions." In support
of this motion, Mr.. Rives said:
off war has commenced, it has commenced |
because the General Government has attempt |
ed to furnish Major Anderson with provisions
has dared to send meat and bread to a perish
ing garrison. He would suffer thunderbolt |
from Heaven to strike him before he would suf
fer Major A. to perish for want of bread to eat
The chivalry Of South Carolina should give him
bread instead of pouring shot into him. l
avow it here, before God and man, that if that
is the cause of this war, you may set me down
as ready for the rope, for l would hand him
bread il he was within my reach. Ask Major
Anderson how long he has served his country
ask him what service he has done his country,
that he is now to perish, that he is now to bare
his bosom, and have hot shot poured into him.
He would say to you, Let me fall like man
but III the name of God, do not starve me to
death "
Mr.. Rivess motion was lost, but by what
vote is not stated in the Richmond papers.
On the same day, the thirteenth resolution
ofthe series reported by the Committee on Fed
era Relations, was considered.
As reported by the committee, the resolution
read as follows:
"In the opinion of this Convention, the peo-
pie of Virginia would regard any action Of the
Federal Government, tending to produce o
collision of forces pending negotiations for the
adjustment Of existing difficulties, as aggressive
and injurious to the interests and offensive to
the honor of this Commonwealth; and they
would regard any such action on the part Of the
seeded or Confederate States as hurttul and
unfriendly, and as leaving the people Of Vir-
ginia free to determine their future policy.
Mr. Wise moved to strike out the last clause
of this resolution, being all after the word
" Commonwealth" so as to give the Confede.
rates." q carte blanche, to make war when and
where they pleased, and only censuring acts
tending to collision when doue by the United
States. This motion of Mr.. Wise to take sides
openly with the "Confederates," and against
the United States, was decisively lost-yeas 80,
nays 7s-and the resolution was passed as re.
ported, except q verbal change not affecting the
substance of it.
The motion of Mr.. Wise was opposed by Mr..
Baldwin, who, in the course of his remarks,
said:
"The question is whether we are to invite
assault upon the flag of the United States from
any quarter. Sir, whenever the time comes
that am willing TO go against that flag, will
take the necessary preliminary at the start, TO
declare q revolution against the Government.
But so long as / recognise Virginia as part
of the United States, so long as l recognise
myself as citizen of Virginia and the United
States, l will never extend my sympathy to any
assault upon the flag of the United States, come
from what quarter it will. l will endeavor to
see, as far as my influence can go, that that flag
will float only where it has o legitimate right
to float; that it is not carried anywhere that it
has not right to 60 but carry it where you
will, let it float where you will, as long as it is
my flag, representing my country, will sym.
pathize with it against oil creaton and will
never consent, in any way whatever, to express
O wish, hope, desire, or consent, that it shall 90
down before mortal force. Never! never /!
The motto by which ] act is, my country, may
it always be right; but right or wrong, my
country and as long as | call the stars and
stripes my flag, l will sympathise with those
who bear it, and against those who assal it,"
Mr.. Baldwin had voted for, and indeed had
proposed, a clause in the preceding resolution,
recommending, as a matter of policy, that the
United States should evacuate the forts On the
main land, or within the harbors of the seeded
States. But although holding that erroneous
opinion as to matter of expediency, he re.
PEELED, with patriotic Indignation, the idea Of
permitting an assault" upon the stripes and
stars anywhere.
This vote upon Mr.. Wise's motion, shows
where Virginia will be in the actual predica.
ment of affairs. Whatever vague and abstract
opposition may be expressed to "coercion,'
which is a general term, understood in many
different ways, nobody in Virginia except trai.
tor, per Sc will sympathise with the Confed,
crates" in their wanton and unprovoied attack
upon Fort Sumter 1t is now known that all
which the National Government proposed to do,
was to supply the garrison with provisions and
that if this had been permitted to be peaceably
done, there would have been no collision at
Charleston. The war has commenced because
the "Confederates " were determined to starve
Major Anderson into surrender, and it has been
begun by the Confederates themselves. II
is they who have commenced hostilities, and
attempted "cOercion."
The great masses Of the people of Virginia