Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-05

Ic,r%TISrrb fsoX. FIRST PAGE j D.
ut, p.~.,nrsT announced the lid Sssing
comr;,tse under that resolution Ne ss:a J.
D tinrcovnr Of Albemsrle, J. n. STkEs OF
csmnbell: Woop BouIpN Of. Charlotte, j: u
HolIApAr OF Norfolk county and K j. o"S-
Rad Of Frederick. 49,. ,t.;,,
ca,rrsl Lee is now In tho Capitol, sod VIII:
resent himself whenever it shall DO the pleas.
IRE uf the Convention to receive him.
NJ. MosroN.-l would inquire 'shcther ap'
nronr;s.te seats have been assigned for the ice
presidea. Il the Confederate States ana TIC
other invited guests? ..
The PsEslpssr.-Yes, sir. Tho Chair would
suggest tina, tho invited guests bs nrst intro'
dpced ialo the Hall and assigned their seats
before Msj>, General Lee Is invited INTO 'nc
Hail. o.nr,o.
ity with the suggestions OF gentlemen a,1una
me, that the Convention ought to receive ""J''
General LIE standing. o.,r
The PEEsIDENr.-Ihe Chair would mercy
ask the attention Of the Convention 70 ~ GUS
sestion. .o.a 1,,acs Allen
~ CprTcusR next introduced Colonel
s,,,h n tne Virginia Military, Institute
Wr MoSr:s.-I would suggest whether 1t
ro,.li mt be proper to receive the Vice Presi.
49,, If tho Confederate States standing.
The pgrs1psNr.-lt will be SO understood
BY the Convention.
At this. stage Of the proceedings, the Hon.
4 n Stephens, Vice President Of the Coined.
erare States, entered the Hall, accompanied by
,he Governor, and was introduced to the
-. NJ IapNcroN q mNm her OF Inc
committee appointed to invite ano cosuuc' 'nA'
gentleman TO the ball.
NJ, NORTH introduced Capt NJ. F. Maury,
late Of the United States navy, who, with Col.
Smith. constitute the other members OF the
Advisory Council. 49,.
Eyery delegate was on his feet during this
ceremony.
The Governor and Mr. Stephens were assign.
ed seats on the right OF the PRESIDENT, ana
tho three members OF the Advisory Council on
n eft.
At this time, Major General Lea entered,
,eaninr on the arm of Mr.. JOHNSON, of Rich
,nond chairman Of the committee appointed
to caa5uct the distinguished military chief to
the Hall. IS they reached the main aisle, Mr.
JouSsoN said: Mr.. President I have the honor
% rrrsept 10 YOU and to the Convention, Ma
lor General Lee.
Tne PnEs1DESr.-Majo: General Lee: In the
naue Of the people Of your nauTe STATE ncIe
REPRESENTED, [ old you o cordial and heartfelt
s,lcome 20 this Hall, in which We may almost
vet hear the echo of the voices OF the statesmen,
The soldiers and sages o! by gone days. who
have borne your name, and whose blood now
avs n your Teins.
Va MT in the month Of February last,
charged with the solemn duty Of protecting the
fights, the honor ard the interests OF the peo-
p|, Of this Commonwealth. We differed for q
time as 10 tho best means Of accomplishing that
oti2c;; but there never was, ut any moment, a
sh ,de OF d f:rcnce amongst us as to the great
object itself; and now, Virginia having taken
her position, rs far as the power of this Con
~ye7tion extends, we stand animated BY "ne I'M
pulse, governed by orc desire and one deter
nios,oa. and that ia that she shall1c defended;
and that no roct Of her soil shall be polluted by
rio feet Of an Invader.
Wien the necessity became apparent Of
having 3 icador for our forces, all hearts and
all ewes, By the impulse of an instinct which
Is G surer guide than reason ITSELF turned to
the old cocuty Of Westmoreland. We knew
now prolific she had been, in other days, OF
heroes aud statesmen. Weknew she bad given
birth to tho Father Of his Country; to Richard
Henry Lee, to Monroe, and last, though not
least, to your own gallant father, and We knew
vel, 5y your own deeds, that her productive
power was not yet exhausted
S,r. va haze, by this unanimous vote, ex-
pressed our convictions that you are, at this
Gay, anong the living ~citizons Of Virginia,
"GIst in ws.." We pray to God most fer.
vently that you may 80 conduct the operations
committed to your charge, that it will soon
be said Of you. that you are first in peace"
and VIXEN ,hat time comoS you will have earn.
ed the still preuder distinction Of being first
10 tho hearts Of your co~untrJmen.'
Will case with one more remark.
Wien the Father of his Country made his
last vii! eai testament he gave bis swords to
bis G3vorite Dephsws, with an Injunction that
they should never be drawn from their scab-
bards except ia SELF defence or in defence OF
tho rights and liberties Of their country, and,
thai il dawn for the latter purpose, they should
fall with them IN their hands, rather than re-
laouish teen.
SIR, We watched with the most profound
and intense interest the triumphant march of
the army led BY General Scott, to which you
were attached, from Vera Cruz to tue Capital
of MEXICO; We read of the sanguinary conflicts
and The blood stained fields, in all Of which
vic,ory perched upon Our own banners; We
knew OF the unsading lustre that was shed
Upon the American arms by that campaign;
h:.d We know, also, what your modesty has
always disclsined, that no small share of the
glory oi those achievements was due TO your
Fslor aud your military genius.
Sir, one Of the nroudest recoilections of my
lie sill be the honor that | yesterday had of
submitting to this body the confirmation of
the nomination made by the Governor of this
State, of you as Commander-in, Chief of the mil
itary and naval forces of this Commonwealth. !
rose to pu. The QUESTION, and when | asked if this
oodJ you'd advise and consent to that appoint
nent, .hs.s rushed from the hearts to the
tongues OF ali the members, an affirmative re:
Spouse that told, with an emphasis that could
leave no doubt, Of the feeling WHENCE isema-
dated. I put the negative of the question tor
forms sake, but there was an unbroken silence.
Yesterday, your mother, Virginia, placed
her sword IL yeur hand, upon the implied con-
tilion that we know you illkeep to the letter
and in spirit that you will draw it only in her
defence, and that you will fall with it 10 your
hand rather than the object for which it was
placed there shall fail. (Applause.)
Msior General Lee responded as follows:
81. President end Gentlemen of the Conren.
ton: Profoundly impressed with the solemn
t. CT the occasion, for which, must say Twas
not prepared, / accept the position assigned me
BY your partially. would have much pre-
ferred hal your choics fallen on an ADLER man.
Trusting in Almighty God, an approving con.
science. and tie aid Of my fellow-citizens, |
devote myself to the service Of my native
State, in whose behalf alone will | ever again
draw my sword. (Applause)
The chair was then vacated, and somo time
was spent in tbs introduction OF delegates to
Maj ,r General Lee, and the tender to him Of
congratulations by the members.
The PRESIDENT having sgain resumed the
Chair said:
Gentlemen of the Conventional have tho
honor TO introduce the Hon. ALEXANDER II.