The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-22

hi. l.
wisdom and patriotism monuments Win
have eteTnized their name You nav" VI
fore you. gentlemg n, TASK elsais
grand, equally sublime, quite as run OF
glory and OF Immortality: you nave 70
snatch from ruin a grand ana glorious
confederation 70 preserve the govern
ment. and ia renew and inNigorate the
Constitution. II you reach ths n lshe OF
this great occasion. your Children cnli-
dren will rise up and call you blessed
WITHOUT AVAIL
The deliberations OF the Peace Con
gress availed nothing to stem the tido OF
disunion. which seemed TO flow in from
both sections II Is almost pathetic 70
read the speeches Of some OF TIE partill-
pants in that great conference. as evil
dencing their warnings for reconciliation
between the sections, and 10 avert the
threatened calamity Of civil war. over
against this sentiment was counter
spirit which foreboded no good for the
peace OF the country. As an example Of
the arst let me quote a few sentences
from a soeech Of william G. Riyes, one
Of the Virginia delegates
"Mr. President, the position OF Virginia
must be understood and appreciated.
She is lust now the neutral ground be-
tween TWO enbattied legions-between
two angry. excited aud hostile portions
OF the Union. Something must he done
to save the country 10 allav these APP
prehenslons. to restore broken conf
dence. Virginia steps IN TO arrest the
progress Of the country on its way 10
ruin. She steps in to save the country
SIR, l have had some exreri nco
i'm revolutions in another hemisphere
i'm revolutions produced by the same
causes that are now operating among
us What causes led to the rcvo-
luton in France?
zone | saw myself. where interest wa
arrayed against interest. fri nj against
friend. brother against brother. | have
seen the pavements of Paris covered, and
her cutters running. with fraternal blood
God forbid ] should see this horrid pic
ture repeated I'm my own country. and
yet Il will be- sir. n we listen 10 the coun-
sells urged here"
THE OPPOSITION.
From these appeals and warnings OF
this DISTINGUISHED son Of Virginia, [ turn
to the characteristic utterance Of one Of
the leaders I'm the opposing element. The
Peace Conference had been from the first
opposed by faction. and under the IN
fuence Of their leadership several Of the
Northern States had refused TO send dele
gates. As the patriotic character Of the
Congress. however. and Of the great mis-
sion which It had In hand. Impressed f.
self more and more upon the thought aud
conscience Of the country. other States
sent forward their representatives. Then
fearing that the friends Of reconciliation
would dominant IN the Congress. this
ultra element sought to secure the APP
pointment of delegates from the States
not representa-. who would combat this
continent and defeat the accomplishment
of any practical results II was In this
spirit that Zachari1h Chandler. then a
Senator from Michigan. write the follow
ing letter TO the Governor Of that State:
Washington, Feb. II, 1851.
Ny Dear Governor:
Governor Bingham and myself tele-
graphed you on Saturday. az the Request
Of Massachusetts and New York, to send
delegates to the Peace, or Compromise.
Congress They admit that we were
right. and that they were wrong: that no
Republican State should have sent dele
gates: but they are here and can not get
away. Ohio Indiana. Rhode Island are
cavlng in. and there Is danger Of Illinois:
and now they beg MS for Gods sake TO
come 10 their rescue and save the Re
publican party from rupture. The whole
thing was gotten up against my judgment
and advice, and will end i'm think smoke.
Still. | hope as a matter Of court sy 10
some of our erring brethren that you Will
send the delegates.
Truly your friend,
H. W. CHANDLER.
His Excellency.
Aus in Blair.
p. S.-Some Of the manufacturing states
think that fight would be awful. with
out little blood-iettiug this Union viii
not, I'm my estimation. be worth a, rush "
LEES DEDCLARATION.
II may not be amiss 10 quote at this
point from the declarations Of Robert f.
Lee, made in January. 1861. as the senti-
mcnt of the leading Nlrgnian of his
time. Referring TO Washinfton he wrote.
How his spirit would be grieved, could
bee see the wreck Of his mighty labOrs. ]
viii not. however. permit myself 10 be-
lcye until all ground for hope has gone.
nat the fruit OF his noble deeds will be
destroyed and that his precious advice
and virtuCus example will be so soon for
gotten by his countrymen. As far as
can Judge fro mthe papers we are be-
tween a state Of anarchy and civil war.
May God avert both of these evils from
US"
In the same month he again wrote: 81
shall mourn for my country. and for the
welfare and progress OF mankind n The
Union is dissolved and the government
disrupted. ] shall return TO my native
State and share the mlseries Of my peO-
pie, and save in defence will draw my
sword on none
Thus at this momentous crisis Virginia
furnished the neutral ground betwe
tho emhattled leg!ons'-and declared in
he words OF her great son. save In de-
! fence will draw my sword on none"
VIRGINIA CONVENTION or 1s61
The same Legislature which called the
Peace Congress passed an act providing
popular convention OF the people 10 con-
slider what should be the course Of Vir-
einia I'm the crisis with which she was con-
! fr-nted. BY the terms Of the act the u.0-
! pie were not only to select delegates 90
a convention. but they We're % declare
by n separate vote whether the action
OF that convention should be referred
! back 10 the people for ratification or
| whether its action should be binding upon
| the Commonwealth Tho result of tho
! popular vote not only overwhelmingly
committed the convention TO submit it's
findings TO the people for ratification or
rejection. but sent 90 tho q. invention
majority Of delegates opposed 10 the se-
cessien OF Virginia from the Union.
JANNEY'S WORDS
The dominant element in the convention
elected as its president the venerable
! John Janney, and the spirit and purpose
OF tho body may be gathered from his
address in accepting the position lie
said.
1T is now almost seventy-three years
since convention Of the people Of Vir-
| einia was assembled in this hau To ratify
! the Constitution Of the United States. one
OF The chief objects of which was 70 con-