The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-22
SECESSION CONVENTION.
SOME "REMINISCENCES OF THAT DIS
TiNGUIsbEDBoDY OF yIGGINIANs.
The Great Names Connected with Our
History M That Important md
EvcBtful Period.

The Convention called TO face the war
cloud which decades of political discussion
had raised assembled in the hall OF the
House Of Delegates at the Capitol February
I3, 1861. By vote OF 20 10 81 John jan
ney, Of LoudOun, was elected president
over Valentine W. Southall, OF Albemarle.
sir. Janney represented those members
who were determined to exhaust every re-
source OF concliation before making move
looking TO separation. He said in his
speech Of acceptance: "Therc rs Il fag
which for nearly a century has been borne
in triumph through the battle and the
breeze. and which now floats over this
Capitol. on which there i a star represent
ing this ancient Commonwealth. and my
earnest PRAYER, in which | know every
member OF this body will cordially unite,
Is that il may remain there forever. pro-
vided always that its ustrc Is uniarnished."
Mr.. Janney was one OF the best OF men.
One who knew him well said yesterday
"Oh. he was good man. | can only COM
pare hun to DR.. Peterl;in." He served
with love and loyalty to his State through
out al the most important work OF the Con.
yention, but did not return after the sum-
mcr recess 0he Convention adjourned
from July LIST TO November 18th, and Hon.
Robert l.. Montague was chosen to succeed
him. Mr.. Janney has now been dead Il
good while.
Mr.. Montague lived TO render the State
valuable service in the reconstruction
period, and was subsequently member OF
the House for several terms, and died hold
ing the Office OF circuit Judge.
VALENTINE W. SOUTHALL.
Mr.. Southall, who was the nominee OF
those gentlemen who regarded delay as
dangerous. and who wished Virginia
promptly to step to the aid of her southern
sisters. was the father of Or. James G.
SouthaIl, Of the Central Presbyterian. lie
was gentleman OF great wealth and cul-
ture. He served several terms n Speaker
OF the Virginia House, and was a superior
parliamcntarian. an accomplishment where
in Mr.. Jannev admitted and deplorcd his
own deficiency. Mr.. Southall was an active
worker in the Convention till July. lie
died during the summer recess. November
18th his colleague. Mr.. Randolph, an
nounced his death TO the Convention, and
suitable resolutions were presented and
eulogieS delivered in cOmmemoraiiOn OF
his worth and ability.
THE CONTEST FOR THE sECRETARYsHIP.
The candidates for secretary OF the Con-
ventiou were :. ID. Whittle, Of Richmond
Green Pcyton. OF Albemarle; ;. I. Walk
er. OF Rockingham; Zeph. Turner, OF Rap
uahannock: :. BaSsett French, Of Chester
| field John Bell Bigger, Of Richmond; and
r. LINDSAY Walker, Of New Kent. After
several ballots Mr.. Eubank, now Of the
/ Warm Springs, was elected.
sERGEANT-AT-ARMS.
For this Office also there was a great
contest. The candidates were W. G.
Snead. OF Lunenburg; {. B. Cosby, oi
Washington; J. W. RiyeS, OF Barbour; Il,
IL. Vaughn. OF Elizabeth City; Mr. AZ
well, of Caroline; y. \. Thompson, oi
Hanover: j. G.. Moss, Of Richmond; A.J.
Parish, Of Albcmarle: j. +. Scruggs, OF
FauQuler; John II. Fuqua, CT Amherst
T. b. +. Ingram, Of Richmond: {. VI.
johnson. OF Fauquier; and }. B. Sener, oi
Fredericksburg.
Mr. y. \. Thompson was elected.
There was a like contest for first door
keeper and for second doorkeeper. show
Ing that in "the good old days" small
offices were as much in demand a. now.
Mr.. Wyatt VI. Elliott was made printer
/ 10 the Convention.
MECHANICS INSTITUTE.
The Convention. after its first days seS-
/ sion. Welded the Hall Of the House 10 the
body TO which ii belonged (then in session
and adjourned to the Mechanics Institute
where il sat so long rs by presence Of the
Legislature it could not occupy the Hall OF
the House.
| The Mcchanics'-InstituteI Hall was "A ere
| dit TO Richmond. 1t was heforerunner OF
modern industrial eXpositionS, with thi'
difference, that it not only provided fol
/ exhibitions OF the mechanic arts, but fOl
/ schools of instruction for aspiring me-
chnnic,. II was large, well.arranged
building OF brick, and stood on Nintl
street on the lot dei0lc the present Nirgiui;
OpCr House Cooks auction house,. IL
predecessor Oh that site was Laiayeit,
/ Hall, an cnginc-hOusc, a public hall ant
place OF meeting for the 'fayette Artillery
and other organizations.
The City Water-W orks' Office, previously
on the Bank-street front Of and with
i'm the Capitol Square Opposite Granger
saloon). occupied little office in the La
fayette-IIall yard-entrance to which wa
beneath an arch on Ninth street. Great
piles Of pipe lay in the back yard, whlcl
reached to Eighth street, where there wa
a wide gate for wagons.
In this same Mechanics Institute the Con
fedcrate Government later on established
its War Department. 1t was then cut M
into rooms TO suit the needs Of that ser
vice.
II fell a victim to the evacuation fire, anC
all the valuable papers that had not beer
removed with the Government upon it.
exit from the city were destroyed in il.
The hall fropted 60 feet and ran back lGl
feet towards Eighth street.
With other things burnt in the bmldin.
at the evacuation was some eight or teI
boxes OF agS-regimental, company. State
and United states llags-some OF beautiful
design, and very costly, with gold fringe
others full Of bullet and cannOn-ball holes
'others sprinkled with blood and drie,
brains-nags captured from United State
troops by Confederales in various action
north, south, east, and west, and on liant
and sea.
REPORTING TIE DEBATES.
Having provided itself with president
secretary, sergcant-al-arms. doorkeepers
&C., &C., the Convention considered th
matter OF ItpoIiluE ltH ucDults.
The Enquirer had been making ucrbdtin
reports OF the debates to the great deligh
of talkativc members, and on the 10th. aflc
some discussion, the Convention voted t
contract with that paper for continuanc
OF the work. They were to be paid S7.5
per column.
The shorthand men employed for thi
undertaking were Pat. kean, Esq, and. Nj
James W. Hayes. The latter gentlema
did not remain here long. lie went L
Washington, and became the AssOciatc'
Press reporter OF the House. His abilit
10 take down is extraordinary, but Is NOR
than equalled 10y his capacity TO condense
His House reports, which have been rea,
by millions OF people, have never been SUI