Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-05-18
THE VIRGINIA UNION CONVENTION.
Important Proceedings.
Especial Report for the Star

Afternoon SessiOn.-The Con yention reassam
bled at 81 o'clock yesterday. when the commit
tee 10 report on the legal status of the present
state government was appointed as follows
Messrs. Beck, of Frederick: Mckenzie, of Al
exandria; Lewis, of Rockingham; WardweII,
OF Rchmond: Clements, of Portsmouth: Gill
mer, of Rockingham. and MInsen, of Fairfax
Mr.. Troth, OF Fairfax. moved the appoint
ment OF special committee of five TO consider
the proprlety OF naming the Union party in the
State the Republican Union party, which was
| adopted. and Messrs. Troth, Andrews, Stew
| art. Mckinney and Gibbons Were appointed.
and subsequently they reported that the Union
party in future should be called the National
Republican Union party, which was adopted;
but afterwards motion was made to change
the name 10 the Republican Union party.
which was agreed to, and the name thus
stands.
SECOND DAY
lie Convention assembled this morning at
ten o'clock, Hon. John Minor Bolts In the
chair, and was opened with prayer by Rev
Mr.. Wheeler, of the NJ. +. Church.
Mr.. Hill offered the following:
ResOtred, That. accepting as the settled policy
OF this Convention the resolutions and reports
agreed upon. we organize ourselves into per-
maBent political organization. to be known As
the Union Republican party of Virginia.
ReSttred, hat State committee, consisting
OF nine members, be appointed by this Con VEN
ton, 10 act until the meeting of the next annual
Convention of this party.
ReSOired, That the State Central Committee
be authorized TO proceed, as soon as IN their
judgment ii may be deemed advisable, ia form
ing county central committees in each county
OF the State-the members of each county com.
mittee TO be appointed for the first year by the
State Central Committee, and afterwards by
the county convention.
Resolved, That the State Central Committee
be invested exclusively with the power to Gall
State Conventions OF the party. and that the
| County Central Committee be invested ex.
cluslyely with the power TO call County Con-
| ventions of the party.
After some little debate the resolutions Were
| adopted.
| The following were reported from the Com.
| mittee on Resolutions:
| Resolred, That we rejoice that both the execu-
tive and legislative branches Of the National
Government desire the establishment of the
| great principle OF equality Of civil and politi-
cal rights, we regret that they differ In opinion
as TO the legitimate mode of gaining the same
| end, and we whose interests are so much
| affected by this question deem it our duty not
l TO remain silent
sentation in Congress to take part in the ma
| tlonal councils. we will do all we can to bring
about the mutual wish of the President and
4 congress by initiating State action in favor Of
| impartial qualified suffrage, which in our
opinion Is one ef the requisites of Republican
| form Of Government.
| legislative and executive branches Of the gov
| eminent of a State to the whole people is the
| only safe Ruard against the enactng of d artiaI
| and unjust laws, ana the only sure p election
| against tyranny and oppression in the execu-
| ton of all laws, SO thar il any comfortable
| portion OF the community is denied voice in
/ Tue cicctlons, tuat portion OIL the people will
be denied such perfect protection as ought TO
exist In rights of person and property.
Resolred, That the doctrine Of the right of
secession was the principal issue OF the late
| civil war, and that no policy OF reconstruction
| Is safe which does not provide against the pos.
| sibllify OF that issue arising again.
| Resolred That while the late rebels affect to
| accept the situation, they not only hold the
same opinions still in regard to thar issue, but
openly advocate their views In that respect
as the basis OF party action in the future, as we
orNfa
votes what they have failed to accomplish with
tayonets.
Resolred. That the chairman OF this conyen.
ton be authorized to appoint a committee of
five or eight persons, whose duty it shall be to
VISIT the President TO ascertain his feelings
with reference to the objects aud action of this
quesied to get from the President and Con-
gress their endorsement OF our action
Resotred, That the Union Republican party
OF virginia believing that as knowledge is
power" and that an enlightened and virtuous
people can never be enslaved, and that the
maintenance and perpetuation of republican
institutions depend materially upon the edu-
cation OF the masses Of the people, therefore
we are in favor Of a system of free schools
whereby universal education may be dissent.
mated.
The report is signed by George Thicker. of
alexandria: u +. King, of Frederick; J. H.
Clements, of POI tsmouth; p. Dudley, of Hem
rico; w. r. Smith, of Frederick; ]. w Beemer,
OF Clark G.. w. billiard, Of Albemarle; John
HauXhurst, of Fairfax.
Mr.. J. H. Clements. of Portsmouth, stated
that there was considerable debate in the COM
nlttee before any conclusion was arrived ar
They had come to the conclusion that the mol
ley of the Union men in the South should be
10 avail themselves OF the negro element. The
committee intended, by using the words ssoual-
flied impartial suffrage" TO convey the idea
That the two races. as 10 suffrage. should be on
the same footing. He could not endorse Pres.
ideht 'Jonnson's party, for he had seen its
workings, but he could endorse his policy. IA
he hao expounded ii. II he had not seen its
Workings While the majority Of the commit.
lee stood by the acrion of Congress, they had
deemed IL proper that they should not pin Their
!altn TO The coat tails Of any set Of men He
mad seen men who had driven Union men
from their homes passing resolutions endors-
ing The President, and one of them he had
heard say that Lincoln was a usurper and
met his dues, and that Booth. when the people
obtained their rights, would be revered as a
patriot .. 80
Mr.. billiard, of Albemarle, objected to the
resolutions, and asked if they had come rs
sheep 10 the slaughter. Had they come to
make laws for the South, and Were they to
attempt To force upon the South what she does
not wantG He had come for the purpose OF
aiding in building mp strong Republican
party. II they adopted the resolutions, they
would open the door TO innumerable evils.
Are you prepared again to shoulder your
muskefs7 Are you prepared for mone blood.
shed than they had yet seen he would ad-
monish the Con yention TO attend TO the bust.
ness for which they had come together and
not take measures towards giving the right of
franchise 10 a people the votes Of whom could
be secured at any time by the use of two bar
rels of liquor. He moved that the first resolu.
ton, relating to suffrage, be lard on the table:
lost. -. tsH7E f.a -. Ii =. -
Mr.. Gibbons off red the following substitute
for the first resolution: 80 . ! - - /
Resoired, That we endorse the action of the
Congress Of the United States in renderinp
treason odious and traitors infamous so far as
II has gone; that il is the sense Of this conyen.
ton that no person should hereafter be cana.
hle Of holding any Office, legislative, executive
or judicial under the Federal or State Gov.
erDmeTts who was over the age of 81 years ON
the 18th OF April. 1861, without taking the fol-
lowing oath in addition to the one now REQ ujred
by laval, A. b., do soiemnly swear that /
now and have ever been an enemy to the So /
called Southern Confectionery, or TO any rebel
lion or pretended government unfrieudIy To
the government OF the United States"