The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-16

20 wait on the President OF the Northern
states, presented the following report
The Committee. appointed on the sth inst by
President Of the United States aud pres ent L. h!n
he preamble aud resolution adopted that day,
b"g leave 10 report. Ia the fulhllment or their
duty They lsfi the city of Riohmond on the
morsing Of the 9th instant, for Washington city
they were however, prevented, by Injuries sus-
talned ny the railroad from a violent and pro.
Gsc'ed storm, from reaching Washington until II
. ciock on Friday, the i2th inst. At / o'clockaou
That day they called the President and Ia rrfn
ed him hat they had been appointed a Committees
by The CoEvcntON OF Virginia then In session I
o. make 4 nmu6Ication to MIN from thatbotv =,
sud requested him to designate an hour al which
u would hc agreeable to him 10 receiye ms Hs:
TePhed That b. would be happy to receive us at;a2
O'Clock the HsSt morning. W, accordingly.at..:.
Tended him At that hour, when we presented ihs+
mission. ho then read to Us paper which, he
s'ated he had "st prepared, AS she answer ih.:.
hs had seen "a tuc Erw9pSF,rs the proceedings
OF Tue U.uI Iention ana the character of.
rIoL. W. htrCwith co.nH4unicats tn, Presidents
irpiY to the preamble aud resolution Of the Con".
"''V" XIsxi MS BH4LIfNsIP II 4 sTP.sI:'< PP.s1r'.'<
GAo;.W kANBoLph.
The reply of President Lincoln was then,
Ietd' IL vas pu9..shed IN this paper yestGf-
81, lr, HoIs@ase, Of AIbcmarI;' oiier:dr ID ris iS
foilo"ins resolutions .-:s
y. 1'red, That The standing order for re',l rTnt.
,nsne8dsJ og1yJn''oh into commtc: Of the Whoiy.
Rcrplred. That IN Convention will i,o,ood;sta ta,,
go INTO secret session, IN order consider the re
pou Il the Committee appointed to.yisit Wasbiu:t.
Mr.. SCorr, of Fduquier, took the floor Ia
tht course of las remarks he said that so Iomgis
the iihiculty was confined to.the Administra-
Noh ana the Confederate States, touching tie
possession OF the forts, he could see no ne
cessity for undue haste but. the proclama .
ton OF the President, published this morn
Ing, could have no other construction than
ctNil war. The Convention had already de-
ln 81
people of this State to be made parties TO an
unnatural war against their bre ethren of the
South. Ihis had been declared in terms so
explicit nS not to be mis- understood. The
qnes snon was now presented whether wa
should make that declaration good whet ther,
so lar ms lay in our power, We will adopt
meas ures necessary to prevent us from be-
coming involved in this war. SO far as he
was concerned, he meant to make good the
declaratio
MT ScoTr was here interrupted by a sugges-
hon OF the necessity of passing Mr. Hol-
comhe's first resolution, as the hour was
close at hand for going into Commit zee Of the
whole. A division OF the question was called
Tor.
Mr.. BALDWIN, of Augusta, was opposed to
Golng INTO secret session, on the ground that
he Convention had not yet sufficient infor-
iuation 10 take the measures necessary to be |
pursued. He presumed, if the was upon |
us, there would not be two opinions upon the |
part lrginia would act but there were MANY |
EraNe circumstances TO be taken into conside- |
l..
GINA and the voice Of the South WAS one but |
until the subject was laid before the Conven- |
ton in an official shape, he could see no rea-
son why the Convention should wish to de-
hberate in secret.
The first resolution was put to vote and |
adopted-yeas so, aays 43.
Mr.. HoLcoABE then offered the second reso-
luton, To go at once into secret session
Mr.. ScOrT resumed his remarks reviewing
hls position that the body had declared that
under no circums tances ought Virginia to be
inade a party to the impending war If the
oclamation be true, the Administration is
about 10 inaugurate Il general war. There is
but one course for Virginia in such an event
except to disconnect herself from the Federal
Government, In what way this shall be
done, Is "A question for grave deIibera ton -
1he law under which the Convent ton is as
sembled, req lures us to submit our action to
the people. so, as secession will at last have |
tC be determined on by the people It the polls
l cannot see, said Mr.. Scott, why we should |
resolve ourselves into secret session. He then
al uded TO The diversity of opinion in the Con
being for cooperation with
the Border States and some for separate State
aC ton. He remained Of the opinion that we
onsht 10 have consultation with the Border
States. The division which characterized this
body, also charac terized the people of the
State.
Mr. WISE rose TO point OF order He sub
mi ted that a motion to go in to sec ret session |
d'4 not permit debate upon the whole ques-
ton at issue.
Mr.. ScoTT claimed that he had strictly con-
lined himself TO the quest tion under considera-
The President was of opinion that it wa.
competent for the gentleman from Fauquier
to proceed.
Mr.. WISE held that the debate would then
disclose the whole object of going into secret
session.
Mr.. SCoTT went with his remarks. He
thought the alternative propositions of sepa-
rate state action or cooperation might be
submitted for the decision of the people -
his, IN his opinion, was the proper course
Tor the Convention now 10 pursue.
Mr.. PRESTON, of Montgomery said he studi-
ously abstained from expressing any view of
the question involved, when he presented the !
report this morning. He thought the course
of Virginia was plain, and he hoped that God
would nerve MN Tor the conflict. That war
was upon us, was an established ftct. With
regard to the question OF a secret session he
bowed with Difference the opinions of
others. There We're prudential reasons WHY
snch a course should be pursued not because
our minds We're not unalterably made up
MIR. CONRAD, of Frederick was in favor of
going into secret session. IL might be impor-
tant to preserve secrecy for the time as to the
course which Virginia would pursue. II was
all important that there should be unanimity
The effect OF this proposition would be that
members would have an opportunity for a
Iree comparison OF views. He appealed to
Messrs. Scott and Baldwin to withdraw their
objec tions.
Mr. MAcfARLeND, of Richmond, opposed the
motion TO 20 into secret session. 1t would be
tn innovation upon the established usages of
he State, and unless there We're some better
'eason than had been advanced, he should
persist in his oblectI The eXaggera ted re-
,orts which would leak out would tend TO ! :
Increase the public anxiety, which it should
~ our purpose to allay. BY the events of the |
lay, we were reduced to the necessity of
standing upon our rights, or OF giving up ey-
.rythlng. He was therefore in favor of Civ
NJ immediate publicity TO the proceedings of : :
his body, that the public mind mig h not be :
Iept i'll suspense as to the course to be pursued :
- hODpl ths. IN
influence OF the Convention w ould be exerted
Ipon the powers at Washing ton, 10 restrain (
hem from further pursuing their present =
policy.
MIR. CAPERroS, of Monroe, said that doubts :
lad been expressed as TO the authenticity of
he proclamation which had given rise to this
discussion. lie thought il might be proper :
therefore,, TO have more time. His own mind :
vas made up; bnt with IA view TO the reno :
al Of all doubt, he moved that the Conven- =
ion do now adjourn. !,
MIR. HoLcoaBE requested him 10 withdraw L
for moment, and he would renew it A
his having been done, Mr.. HoLcoNBE ex- S
iained the motive which prompted him 10 II
lake Il motion TO go into secret session. He
you'd have Virginia 20 into the battle with a I,
hout, and IL was therefore with no desire OF /
ecrecy that he had proposed the measure =
Le had understood, however that gentlemen Il
tho differed from him in opinion desired TO d
ain information, and with the hope of gain I,
" entire unanimity, he would frankly sus- b
lin THE proposition for a secret session Mr.. i
oLcoaBR renewed the motion 10 adjourn, In
that he should vote against il. b
Mr.. BKAScH, of Petersburg, obtained "A with OF
rawal Of the motion; took the floor and ad- 81
oca ted the proposition for a secret session. B
e had something TO present which he did not Is
ish 10 have spread upon the wings OF the CO
ind. With regard to the question of seces-
on, late events had fired his heart with Il
We OF country, and II necessary he would XII
ickle ON his armor TO fight in defence OF the IN
,nta; lie was not now acting under IN ol
r far ftA.. ala tnt