Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-03-15
-.~. A Convention in Virginia.
The Richmond Sentinel Of the 4th saws !:

"The proposition looking to the calling Of State
Convention died in the House of Delegates on yes
terday, under the explanations of its advocates
Unwse in ITSELF the exposition of the motives and
objects which originated it. has suficed to make it
in the last degree inadmissible and odious.
If convention would be unsafe at the best, it is
especially to be avoided when it is desired for mis-.
chievous purposes. The call for conventions in
North Carolina and Georgia is the form in which
the openly dsloyal men Of those States are making
opposition to the Confederacy and exhibiting their
TREASON. 1t would be urss9Is5 and improper to give
encouragement and support to sinister movement
there by even an innocent movement here"
1t is strange that a movement for Convention
in Georgia and North. Carolina should be treasona
bic, and a movement for the same thing in Virginia
should be " innocent" and only unwise and impoli-
tic We can tell the Sentinel what it will never
admit, and perhaps never learn until this war is
over, that North Carolina has been the most patri
otc, the most patient and the most self sacrificing
of all the States of the Confederacy. But it is
useless to reason with the Sentinel 1t can see
nothing to commend in North Carolina outside .
! certain party and certain class of public men,
| The great body of our people, in the estimation
of that journal, are dscontented and disloya, and
| require to be watched and lectured, and even CO.
creed if the occasion should seem remotely to
Justify it. But Virgnia-Virginia may contem-
plate and may do what North. Carolina only pro-
poses, and she is innocent and only indiscreet
and unwise.
The Richmond Examiner of the I'd has the fol.
lowing article on the subject of Convention,
in which that paper has gone quite as far as ever
we have gone:
"The Virginia Legislature adjourns by constitu-
| tiona requirement on the sixth instant 1t is i'm
peratively necessary that it should be Immediately
re. convoked by the Governor. For some time to
| come there should be no instant in which CON-
plete State government should not be in existence.
More still is necessary. The supreme powers of the
Commonwealth cannot be left in allegiance at such
crisis as the present with any prudence or safety.
Prompt measures should be taken for organizing
them and bringing them into action The speed
lest and most convenient method Of accomplishing
this purpose would be by investing the Legislature
| soon to be elected with sovereign powers. Bnt,
whatever means may be chosen, the ultimate pre-
negatives of the State cannot be allowed to slumber
| longer in abeyance without infinite detrimsnt to
! the interests Of this Commonwealth. ',
Throughout this war, up to the present period,
the authorities of Virginia have been looking after
general interests to the utter neglect of her own
| special and vital concerns. Nobody has seemed to
feel any socitude for the welfare Of this Common
yealth. which has been used and abused to an ex-
tent most painful to contemplate With self.
sacrificing spirit never before witnessed Virginia
has allowed her interests to 60 into deporable
dilapidation, without murmur and has offered
upon the common altar, with recklessness and
nrofusion which she could by no means afford,
every sacrifice that could be turned to the general
advantage. Her condition now is extremely criti-
cal We have but to look around on every hand to
ssa the traces of her sacrifices and sutferings
= There are always tinid and short sighted people
who in critical emergencies afraid or incapable
~ looking possible danger full in the face, and of
taking timely measures for meeting an impending
emereency. 1t is to be hoped that the present
General Assembly are rot thus stricken with judi
ci.i blindness. Threatening dangers cannot be
sverted by closing the eyes firmly upon them
Children may drive away ghosts by this helpless
exnedient but the duty of responsible men, charged
;lh great public interests threatened with danger,
cannot be discharged thus cheaply Or summary.
Il is high time that something were doing 70 pro-
v;de for the protection and preservation Of the n
terests and institutions Of Virginia against dangers
Sh;ch seem to threaten them This can only oe
done ,e0nlar]v. authorItatyely and effectuaily by
o.il;no ;nto action the supreme powers OF the Com.
mon vealth Nearly all the States to the South OF
no are adopting this measure, and there IS no one
of them which is under SO imperative necessity
for doing SO as Virginia. 1t is certain thath sne
h,s.M M Does not take care of her interests, they
Will not be looked after by any other gnarolan anu
tha question is whether the welfare Of the Virginia
naonis Il to he provided for by her governn ent
rrh;Ia onnortunity remains, or finally sacrncea
| 18th The s.me c.ilous indifference with when Il
i r-.- III