The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-14
A Talk with John Janney, President
of the Virginia Convention-The
Attitude of an Old Virginian.
Correspondence New York Times
LEEsBURG, VA, Nov. l, 1862.

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Nothing and nobody in all Leesburg
interested me but one white haired old
Virginia gentleman, of whom history will
have a word to say. | mean John jan
ney, the President Of the Virginia Con-
vention at Richmond that voted the State
out of the Union, and whose home is in
this town. In the Convention he con-
stantly and persistently voted against
every measure looking in any way what
ever toward secession, though, as its
President, he had TO afIix his name to a
document which he considered the death
warrant and suicide of the State. Know
ing that when he afterward returned
home, and the time for the popular vote
came, he voted for secession, was curious
to know what influences hid worked this
interior change in high and pure souled
nature.
Calling at his residence, was received
with cordiality by the tall, spare figure
with-a noble white cheUeluTe, whose every
lineament and the high, cOurtly, old time
manners, plainly showed the fine old
Virginia gentleman. Mr.. Janney is now
| auOub SlAJy ~HNty anu HAS Decn Oh l4tc
months in feeble health. twas not diff
ficult, presently to carry the conversation
from present affairs and give il histori-
cal turn. II did not need his avowal to
inform me, that he had been all along an
Old Line Henry Clay Wing, and that he
had long kept himself aloof from practi-
cal politics; ii was easy TO see that, such
as they have been North and South, they
must have offended his honest temper. 1t
was little remarkable, therefore, thathe
should have been chosen the presiding Of
ficer of the Convention on the question of
secession, and the choice of so conserva-
tive, UniOn-l loving a man, showed there
was some moderation and virtue in
the body. The Convention met you
will remember in the middle of Feb
ruary '61; and he laid great stress
on the thoroughly Union sentiment that
pervaded it during it's earlier sessions.
If vote on the question had been taken
any time during the month preceding the
attack on Fort Sumter, three fourths, at
least, OF all the voices would have been
against the ordinance. When that event
took place, the secession mercury on the
instant leaped up in the barometer. "Was
the attack purposely timed 10 effect the
deliberations of the body ?-was the fuse
cut at the right length to carry the shell
where wanted P' "There is too much
reason to fear il was" The Union party
in the Convention, however, still strug-
gled on They sent delegates to Wash
ington--begging, imploring some assur-
ing word, some basis of hope, some pro-
mise which they could present TO their
people, "And Mr.. S., am bound to tell
you we got encouragement rather than
encouragement" Unable thus to get any
rallying point, the Union party was over
slaughed by the disunionists, and the Sc
cession was voted by large majority
Mr.. Janney, with some others, holding
out TO the last The Convention diss0iV-
ed the members went home, the popular
vote, without whose ratification the ac-
ton Of the body was "voice and nothing
more" was about TO come on; but before
the day arrived Mr.. Lincoln bound
Virginia with the blockade, and invaded
her soil by marching troops into Alex
andria. When the time for the popular
vote came John Janney gave his voice for
secession. The invasion, State Rights
and the old time traditions had done their
work. "Sir, am, in word, Virginian
IA citizen Of Commonwea th that had
existed as a sovereign organized Govern
ment for two hundred years before the
United States had a name" Such, in a
sentence, in the hosiery Of the lapse of
thousands Of the best and purest men of
| Virginia-men who are now the main
stay Of the rebellion in the council and
in the field. And certainly there could
have been no condition of mind more
favorable TO the purposes Of the plotters
Of disunion than they found in tie prin-
ciples, prejudces and traditions Of Yir-
ginians
] thought however, that could de.
tect dawning consciousness in the mind
Of Mr.. Janney'of how he and conserya'
tiye-minded men like him, had been
used by the South Carolina iire-eaters.