The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-09
By ). COLEMAN ANDERSON,

.
w. stevens, OF the Chesapeake ana
Ohio hallway company.) /.
The beginning.
South Carolina seeded Dcccmbcr
20 1860
Alississippi seeded January 2? 1861
Florida seeded January 10, 1861. n
Alabama seeded January H. 1861
Georgia seeded January 49, 1851
Louisiana seeded January -. 1861.
Texas seeded February !. 1851
Virginia seeded Aprl II 1861
Arkansas seeded May 6, 1861
Tennessee seeded May g. 1861
North Carolina seeded May 81 1861
Virginia and Texas submitted the
ordinance OF secession to the vote OF
the people.
Nireinin
November 10. Governor Iohi.
Lctciier Issued proclamation converting
the General Assembly OF Virginia in
extra session
January :, iS6l--Gcncral Assembly
met in extra session In Richmond.
January II iSGl-Gcncral Assembly,
passed an act providing for a convcn-
ton Of tho Ieoplc Of Virginia
February ). lSsl-De!egatcs elected
to convention.
February il. INSTRUMENTATION az
semblcd in the OLD capitol at Ricl.
mond
ZAprli - 1851 Convention adopted
ordinance oc secession
May %, ls6l--pcople voted on or,li-
nance Of secession. Adopted by i'm
mcnsc mai or!ty.
Sessions OF Convention.
February 18th. 1861. first ropu,a !.
session began. ana ended MavIlst. 1ssI1
June 18th, 1851 first adjourned sas
session hogan; end ended July Is, 1861.
November l3th 1861 second al.
1onrned session began. ana adjourr ~,
never 10 meet again. December 9Th,
Tins viii ever bo known "a INA
secession Convention az V!rginIa.'' 1t
WAS composed or the abicst hodv ~
statesmen who had ever assembled IN
the CAPITOL Of tho OLD Dominion !.
large majority were elderly men. Who
had occupied many positions OF honor
ana trust III the council pf their State
ana natl"n, ana had retired In the
Iuiet shades OF their loved homes.
never expecting TO lie called again into
publlc service. they loved the Union,
thelr fathers fouEhtito crcutc and now
their sons had me, together for tho
last time to light TO pcrpctuate that
Union they loved so we'll sevcn SOUTH
crn states had alrculy. seredcd Wiz
GINA stood for tho Union ikea stone
""li AGAINST strong pressure Of
those states and Inc yotin:, hot hiood
element Of the Conventions She atcadi
~ maintained hcr large majority
against seeding Three different com
hilttecS siad been sent 10 Washington
\ 10 INVOKE the aid OF President Lincoln
The Climax.
Nothing definite was accomplished
Until after many anxious weeks, when.
on April 18th, 1861. the President heed !.
cd NirEintns carncs, appeal ana COM
inissoncd General Campbell 10 20 TO
lichmond as authority TO negotiate
with tho Convention III its effort TO
iold the state IN tho Union He had
assured that Virginia would not With
draw from the Union IL he would agree
not 20 call on her for troops to aid In
coercins her sister seeding states
tha, ever memorable Friday night
General Campbell mel the Committee
on fehoral relations In the east par
Tor of the old Ballard House OF tho
Exchange ballard Hotel. II, was com
posed of nine OF The most prominent
and patriotic members who were on
posed 10 secession Gensral Campbcil
stated the object OF his mission and
ahowed his authority from Mr.. Lincoln
TO treat with tho Convention. He
promised that If Virginia would stand
firm and not sccedc she would not be
rallied upon TO furnish aid iii coercinr
me states which had done So" When
Inns announcement was made, It's eject
was electrical. Old, gray headed, care
worn statesmen who loved their co,n-
lrS as devotedlN S any men North or
south, na6raccd each other and went
for Joy that the Union had been pre-
served. THIS touching scene was re-
lated TO me not only by cX-Govcrnol,
samuel Price. of Lcwisburg. West Vir-
gina, who was distinguished mem :
Der Of the committee but also By his
eldest daughter and the daughter Of
tnJ In tiat, 10
noted hosiery, who sat In tho ad :
Joining west parlor and witnessed the
whole proceeding through the parting
portieres between the two parlors.
1t was agreed at the same time that
Virginia would also use every honor
able means to kxing back tho scced :
Ing States, and thus have the effect OF
preventing others from leaving the
Union
General Campbell returned TO Wash
ington on Saturday, April H. ana made
his report that afternoon TO Mr.. Lin
coin lie afterwards stated that 1.-THE
President seemed greatly pleased at
tho success. OF his mission" His Sec
rotary of state, Mr.. William II. Seward,
mud one other prominent member Of his
Cabinet, heard that same evening what
had been done. They Immediately call :
cd at the White House and violently
opposed the concession which had been
made or any other They sat up late
that night and eventually induced the
President to disregard tic agreement
which had been made and on Sunday
morning, April 18th. lie issued that
never 10 be forgotten order calling for
$4,000 volunteers not only to march
across Virginia. to make war on her
sister states, but demanded that sho
should furnish her full quota OF troops
TO hclp-do it. This declaration Of Civil
War struck Richmond like n elan oi
thunder out OF q clear sky.
Nj tho powers OF earth could not
resist that unexpected death blow.
pandemonium rcigned Throughout Vir-
Einia and tho entire South Thus the
Mother OF States and statesmen was
forced TO withdraw from that Union
which she had aided II establishing
with tho blood of hcr patriots This
occurred on Monday, April the 18th. at
4 :lh o'CIocN I, NJ. Tho ciYilizcd world