Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-15
VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION.
iSECRET SESSION.
TUESDAY, ArHlL Ii, lSGl.

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TUESDAY, ArElL H. lSGl.
JIkST PAY.
The Convention went into secret session al
n few minntcs past @ O'clock. y. Nj and,
after few uuimpurtan, urcl,nr'nmirS. ;rr io!'
lowing rcsolution, offered ny Mr.. T. !. Cox
RAD. OF Frederick. ana ;:tucnied ',y Mir %ISoR,
Of Pulaski, was adopted:
Resolved, THAT u committee ol three hr APP
pointed to inform the ti2vrTnnr o: tic toni-
moaweath that this Convention - ;'"w in
secret session, and 10 rcGucS: :,;'N II ;"laiNt-
nicate to il, from time 10 'n swca: :i'ioFliatIcl!
as may be, IL las ";';':!o:!, Important tor II u
have
The following committee Vas appointed uG-
der that resolution: McSSTS. Il. \. t">RAH,
Benz. +. WrsoK ard WV. Ii. MAcgAKLA*p.
MIR. FuRBEs, OF Buckiugham.-l beg lca"c
| to offer the following resolution, hoping that
it will lead 10 10 discussion:
Resolved. That the presid:u: Of this C";i-
vention be directed 10 i,iviic and earnestly 70
quest the at:endancr ot the Governors 0i ;i'e
border SLAVE Sta!c-, 10 wit: North E-rr...,l,
Maryland, Delaware, TennesS"c, kcaiuck!y.
Missouri and Arkansas, al this plac", ~ i:"''
earliest convenience, Cor the purpose ot coo
ference and consultation in regard 10 the pre-
sent condition of the country.
Mr.. FoRgBS--I desire 10 say that u!i'tr that
resolution with q briicf that tins Convention
will, to-day or to.IIorrrw, or IN som" st:ri:
time, pass an ordinance Of secession. ;;',E[
it is highly important that ~e s:,"ull have thi!;
consultation with these gentlemen.
Mr.. PRIcE, Of Grccnbrler.lt will take soIna
time to get these gentlemen here. ! Go rot
want to wait until they get here, and there.
fore move TO lay the resolution on The tablc.
The motion was agreed 10.
Mr.. TYLER, nf Charlie: City beg leave tn
offer the following resolution:
Resolved, That tha Governor Of ike Com.
m0nwc<lI he requested to communicate Ia
this body any official dispatches which i.c Ina
nave received ir,:u Washington, ealing ;ip,r:
Firg,niu fO- any quota III troops, it!.tu,' tbs
Presidents receat proclamation.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. CuAMELIss, Of GrcencSvjlie. viii ak
what disposition mas been made Of the reports
Of the Commissioners to Washington
Tue PREsIbENT.-Nu disposition has bt.E
made of them
Mr. CHAABLr<s--L move thai they be n ~
taken up and considered
Agreed to.
lnaslnuCh as the report Of he committee
appointed some days ago, 10 1;ait on the Pres.
dent Of the United States, is frequently re:::r
red to in the course of the Subsequent !iel,a!e
it is deemed advisable to publSa it at tbs
stage.
1t reads as follows
The Committee appointed on the Sih inst
by this Convention, with direction TO wall
upon the President of the United States, anc
present 10 hn Tie preamble ami !cio!uto:
adopted on that day, beg leave to report -
That in the !ulimcnt Of GU: duty We left ii.
city of Richmond on the morning of the 9tf
instant, for Washington City; we were, hog
ever, prevented by Injuries sustained By ,nc
railroad, from violent and protracsed storm
from reaching Washington until II oclack or
| Friday the 18th inst At l O'clock on tina;
day we called on the President, and informed
him that we had been appointed CoiEliIt!tr
by the Convention Of Virginia. then in session,
to make a communication To hi!n fiu.n ti.;.l
| body, aud requested h!:u 81 designate III hon:
at which it would be agreeable 10 :linl to rtcui".
US. He replied tha. he would be hai'py te
receive US ut 8 o'cluck ;nc next morning. WC
accordingly attended him Al that hoac. pre-
sented hun the resolution Of the Canvenion
aud explained to him u,tr mission. tic ,hcl
read to US paI'er "i':ch inc stated he ha'
Just prepared, RS :hr ans"c: to tn" comunn
cation from tue Convention, declaring that h
had seen in the newspapers tho proceedings o
the Convention, and the character Ut our mis-
sion. We herewith communicate tho Pres
dents reply to tue preamble an,l Resolutions o
the Convention.
W'M BALLARD Preston,
ALEX II. II SrraRT,
George w. Ra SDIlrH
Hon. Wa. 3 PnRs7oN, Hon 4, H. II. SrrAEr
and GEo. W. RASpoL'h, Esq, Commltise
Gentlemen AS couilui:tec Of the Nlrsl
mia Convention, now III SESSION, you pres,:'';
me preamble and resolution, III these words
"Whereas, In the opinion al TINS CoaTen
ton, the uncertainty which prevails in thc
public mind as to the policy which tho fede
raj Executive intvnGlS to pllrs:Ic tGwaru tnt
seeded States is extremely ininrions ~ Tho
industrial and Commercial! interests Of thr
country; tends 10 keep up an exciiclu"nt
which is uniayorabic ii the adjustment oi
pending difficulties, and Threatens disturb
ance Of the public peace Therefore,
"Rcsolved, That committee Of three dele
gates be appointed by this Convention To wRIt
upon the President Of the United States, rr--
sent to him this preamble aud resolutions, and
respectfully ask OF him TO communicate to this
Convention the policy which the Federal Ez-
ecutivc intends to pursue in regard to the Con
fedcrate States"
In answer | have 10 say that having, At The
beginning Of my official term. expressed ny
intended policy as plaialy as was able, ii is
With deep regret and some snnrti!ic:tAon nov
learn that there is great and EjurioG; ancer-
tain,y in the public mind as 10 "t'al that poll
CIV IS, and .shat course intend TO pnrsuC.-
Nut having ,.S yet seen occasion 10 change. !:
is uow my purpose to pursue the course mark
ed out in the inaugural address. c.';nlncnd
a careful consideration Of thr whole 'lGcu!neai
rs the bcs; expression can give OF ny pur
noses. AS lheu and tnGrcir said nr" re-
peat:
The power ccnfded 10 ula viii DC used TO
hold, occupy and possess The property AMI
places belonging to the Government, a6d t1
| collect the duties and impGSts; ont beyond
what is necessary for these objects, there
| will be no invasion-no using Of iorce agalrSi
or among the people anywhere.
, b. the words property and places be-
longing to the Government" chiefly ailuoe
to the military pusts and property "h'co
were in the possession of the Government
when it came to Ipy hands. But il, as now
appears to be true, in pursuit OF 4 purpose