Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-20
FIND Al CROMWELL.
THE'o5JEcT or THE. APRIL 10, 1891,
CONVENTION m RICHMOND.
To Turn "That BAreBOnes Parliament Out
Of the Capitol 1.-The Metropolitan
Hall Convention.

fcorespondsncs OF tho Richmond Dispatch
PowHATAs CoURTHoUaE. February 1s.-
One Of your correspondents some days
since having found among some old papers
an address signed By some Of the most
prominent men Of the State requesting
the person to whom 1t was addressed TO
come forthwith to Richmond 10 attend a
convention on the 18th of April. 1861, and
bring with him some true and reliable men,
without stating any definite object. has IN
quired through your columns what con-
vention this was and the history Of 1t, II
any. | have waited for some time, hoping
that some one knowing more OF " than 4
do would supply this wanting link In the
history Of our State during those trouolous
times, but seeing no reply VIII give my own
recollection of it.
TIE SINGULAR INVITATION.
Ireceived this paper containing this sim
Rular invitation, and meeting next DAY az
church my neighbor, General z. st, George
Cooke, who had been a candidate from the
counties Of Cumberland and Powhatan Tor
the State Convention, which was then IN
session celebrating upon the question OF
secession. General Cooke, who. was tor
ntIhlRuL-OuL Secec6lOuf uhl bOo. -,
feated by only three votes by Colonel VII
liam G. Scott, who was not in favor OF so
immediate action. told General Cooke
that had received this paper, and he re,
piled that he had also, and when ] asked
him what it mSss.at he said with great en-
phasis il was to find Cromwell to turn
that Barebones parliament out OF the Capt.
toll and put the State out Of the Union.
He alluded to the State Convention, then
In session celebrating upon Llncolns
proclamation for troops to be sent MIN
from Virginia
DEVOTED TO THE CAUSE OF TIE SOUTH.
We both agreed to 90. On the evening
of the 18th, having taken with me one
whom / knew TO be brave and determined
and devoted to the cause OF the south. L
arrived in Richmond and found the city m
a state of great excitement. The hotels
were thropged with representative men
from all parts Of the State, and the untver-
sal topic was what will the convention
dor" That body was then in secret SEES
sion, considering Lincoln's proclamation,
and various opinions were expressed what
their action would be. When we remem-
Der that in this body. based upon the
white basis of the House Of Delegates,
consisting of about $50 members, only
thirty-three straight-out secessionlsts were
elected and the rest were mostly against
accession until after every possible means
had been taken to avert 1t and some OPP
posed to it under any and all clroum-
stances there was considerable room for
doubt as 10 what their action would be.
ORGANIZED AND Modified.
Rumors we're being circulated through
the city that armed bodies of our military
were being organized and modified for
some unknown purpose, and that one nun
bred men had petitiOned Governor Letcher
to permit them to take and occupy Fort
ress Monroe, which was entirely practlca-
BILE with the small garrison then holding
it, and that the Coy ernOr declined giving
such permission while the State was yet in
the Union.
A SAFE MAJORITY.
II was rumored late at hight when the
con vention adjourned after long and, II
was said, stormy session that there could
be counted safe majority for the passage
of an ordinance of secession during the
next few days, as changes we're constantly
being made among the members.
TO RISK ALL FOR VIRGINIA,
On the next day, in the old Metropolitan
Hall, the conventional which we had been
invited assembled. il was moderately
filed but by the best element in the Com
monwealth, no very young men, but
men. who evidently had much
to lose ana nothing to gain, but who were
20 risk all for Virginia, and be
satisfied with the result if after
any contest that might ensue only
her honor survived. IL was or
ganized by the election OF MIR. Chalmers
of Halifax, fine example of representa-
tive Virginia gentlemen and a fair repre-
,A,A 90 ha nf hers
convention.
NO LONGER MATTER OF INTEREST.
It was soon apparent that the original
object of the cali of this convention was
no longer a matter of interest. The con-
wing. The State Convention had occu-
pied the Capitol and were at the time In
secret session.
STARTLING ANNOUNCEMENTS.
The convention was suddenly electrified
by the excited appearance of Colonel John
i. Scruggs, of Fauquier, who announced
that the Virginia volunteers had taken
Harper's Ferry. Another shortly after, be-
fore the applause had subsidized, proclaim
ed that the Stars and Bars and the Virginia
flag were floating from the Gosport navy
ward. In the course of the excitement that
followed these announcements 1t was ru-
mored that the convention had passed the
ordinance of secession.
RESUME HER SOVEREIGNTY.
After the announcement was made and
il was definitely known that the formal
passage of the ordinance was TO be made
known next day, the 18th, on which day II
would be signed by the members approving,
the Hon. Willoughby Newton (Honest
Willoughby. as Hampton Peasants called
HIM, arose and thanked his God that he
had permitted his eyes 10 see Virginia
break the cursed bond and resume her
sovereignty again.
AN EARNEST PATRIOT.
Before the ordinance was passed, and on
the first evening after / arrived in Rich
mond. | met with q member Of the con-
yention from one of the eastern counties
of the State whom had long known. AL
though his lips were closed as to what was
then occurring in the convention he could
not avoid speaking of what might be, and
OF which his soul was full. He was an ell
derby man, elected as a friend OF the
Union. sincere and earnest patriot. lie
had sons whom he knew if there was war
for Virginia would leap into the contest
and perhaps never return. l never saw
man suffer more mentally than he did, but
on the floor OF the convention ne adVo-
Gated and signed the ordinance of separa-
ton.
TWO CIRCUIT JUDGES.
Among the most violent and extreme
men, excited beyond all the intense fire
heat in the air all around, l met with two
at the Spotswood Hotel my first night in
town. Both have been circuit judges
since the war. One held to his faith and
his convictions; the other took the IRON ron
clad oath soon after Lees surrender. The
next time / was in Richmond was IN a
cavalry company, which, after a long ride,
was in line on Bank street, fronting the
Capitol, and we were inspected by John b;
Baldwin and mustered into service: All
asked who was that specialized, military
looking man, who in citizens clothes
was walking before us with Colonel Bald
win. The answer was: 1t is Colonel Robert
L. Lee; Just arrived from Washington and
IL l. 3 nj