The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-14
me Act Of secession-The Truth OF
History.


An editorial in late number of YOU
excellent paper contains the following para
graph in reference to the position of Vir
ginia upon tho question of secession il
1851:
"A majority Of the convention sitting in
this city in 1861, was opposed to the seces.
sion corollary, and nothing but violent
demonstration made by the 'strict con.
structionist,' coming up from all parts OIL
the Southern Confederacy, so.called, and
demanding an ordinance of secession, Sc
cured it. It was the work of intimidation
in this state, not the honest sentiments oil
the people,
THE JOURNAL, | have observed, is
generally very fair and correct in the state
ment Of its facts and the expression of its
sentiments upon men and events, but am
confident it has erred in portion at leased
Of the above statement. 1t is certainly
true that in 1860 very large majority Of
the people Of Virginia was opposed to
secession, and it is historical fact that the
convention of 1851 numbered originally
sirty foe majority against secession. But
| think you are entirely mistaken when
you attribute the act Of secession to the
outside pressure and intimidation of
southern extremists. Indeed, l go SO far
as to express the confident opinion that
neither the secession of the cotton states
nor any influence which those people
could probably have brought to bear upon
the sentiments of Virginia could ever have
induced our state to join the Confederacy
but for the immediate action of the Federal
government in attempting to coerce the
states then out Of the Union.
In support of this view of the question,
submit the following facts: The leader
of the secession party in the convention of
1861 was Lewis E. Harvey, osq., a man of
fine talents, decided opinions and extra
ordinary force of character. He was the
first to move an act of secession in March,
l think, and it was pressed with great
power and ability by its friends. Early in
April it was put to vote of the conven-
ton and was defeated by the very decided
majority of fo,ty.fre, Unfortunately,
when this act was done some of the over
jealous and violent ,anti-secessionists, or
"submissionists," as they were then
termed, rushed hastily on to Washington
to display their unionism, and by represen-
tations produced false impression upon
President Lincoln, which led directly and
hastily to his famous proclamation calling
for troops to coerce South Carolina and the
other seeding states. Among those
who did this impolitic act were John s.
Garlic and one or two other leading
unionists Of West Virginia, whose
names l cannot now call to mind;
and it was also said and believed that by
letter, or otherwise, and force of character
the Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, of Virginia,
contributed much to mislead the President
upon this important question, and made
him believe that under no circumstances
could Virginia ever be induced to secede
and Join her erring sisters" At all
events, be these facts as they may, such
false impression was produced upon the
mind of the President by the decided defeat
of Mr.. Harvey's bill and the false repre-
sensations of Its enemies, aud they hasten
ed his action for it is my recollection
that in his first annual message thereafter,
the President distinctly intmated, if he
did not expressly assert, such to have been
the fact.
think it fair, therefore, to assume as a
fact which must eventually go down in i'm
partial history, that the secession of Vir-
GINA was not produced by the original
secession proclivities of her people, or rev.
dictionary intentions, or by outside
pressure and intimidation" from extreme
southern men as charged by THE
JOURNAL, but was Immediately supern-
duced by the proclamation of President
Lincoln calling upon Virginia for large
quota of troops with which to coerce the
states already claimed to be in rebellion.
That proclamation fell like a bombshell
upon the ears of the convention
and the people and produced the
most intense and bitter feeling of indig.
nation. 1t could not have done otherwise
in the very nature Of things. To remain
in the Union and obey its laws was one
thing, but to arm thousands of our people
and send them forth to engage in fratricide
war with our brethren of the south was
very different thing. 1t was simply inn
possible. The very moment, therefore,
that the proclamation was announced, the
convention assembled with closed DOORS
the feelings and sentiments of the convention
and Of the people were radically changed,
and in few hours the act of secession was
passed. Many Of those who had previous
ly voted nay, soon changed to yea, and the
die was cast. The tide Of revolution rolled
on with resistless velocity--the tocsin Of
war resounded through every valley, and
from peak to peak, and crag and to crag,
flashed the live lightning of resistance.
This was the real secret of the original
act Of Virginia's secession, and am conf
dent in the belief that no other cHcum-
stance or influence then existing could have
produced that result-at least at that time.
Ii is the habit of old-line Wings. whose no.