The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-05-11
Unpublished History
About the Civil War

whole proceeding through the parting
portieres between the two parlors.
IL was agreed at the same time that
Virginia would also use every honor.
able means to bring back the seced.
ing States. and thus have the effect OF
preventing others from leaving the
Union.
General Campbell returned to Wash.
ington on Saturday, April Is, and made
his report that afternoon to Mr.. Lin
coin. He afterwards stated that "the
President seemed greatly pleased at
the success OF his mission" His Sec.
rotary OF State, Mr.. William II. Sew.
ard. and one other prominent mem.
Der OF his cabinet heard that same
evening what had been done. They
Immediately called at the White
House and violently opposed the con.
cession which had been made, 81 any
other. They sat up late that night,
and eventually induced the President
to disregard the agreement which had
been made. and on Sunday morning.
April 10th. he issued that never-to-be
forgotten order calling for $4,000 vol.
unteers. not only to march across Vir.
ginia to make war on her sister
States. but demanded that she should
furnish her full quota OF troops 10
help do IL. This declaration OF civil
war struck Richmond like a clap OF
thunder out of clear sky.
All the powers OF earth could not
resist that unexpected death blow.
Pandemonium reigned throughout Vir-
ginia and the entire South. Thus the
Mother of States and statesmen was
forced to withdraw from that Union
which she had aided in establishing
with the blood OF her patriots. This
occurred on Monday. April the 18th.
at Ais o'clock p. m. The civilized
world knows and has felt the result
These same hoary-headed statesmen
who only three days fore wept for
Joy at the assurance that the Union
would be saved. now wept bitter tears
OF disappointment II has been stated
that at the time the vote was taken
there was not n dry eye in the con-
vention.
States rights was bred in the bone
of all Southerners. They believed
they had the right to peaceably with
draw from the Union when the FEEDER
al government refused to protect their
person and property. Even Mr. Lin
coin endorsed this doctrine IN his
speech in Congress in 1S4S. The New
England States had adopted seces-
sional resolutions in two conventions
for much less cause. One on account
OF the Louisiana purchase and the
other when Texas was admitted into
the Union. Simply for the reason
that additional territory would be ad-
ded TO the South and she would con-
tinue TO control the general govern
ment as she had done up TO the cleo
ton OF Mr.. Lincoln in 1860.
Hon. George W. SINNERS. Justly
called The Daniel Webster Of West
Virginia" and who had been rendered
by Mr.. Lincoln a seat on the Supreme
Bench OF the United States. was an
able member OF the Committee on
Federal Relations in that secession
convention. He said in his speech
delivered il Wheeling in 1863 that lit
was not the firing on Fort Sumter
that carried Virginia out OF the
Union" We wenh on steadily and
firmly voting in mat convention uu-
der the constant announcement OF its
bombardment. its success and final
triumph. No man gave way. Our
large majority was maintained on ey-
cry resolution.
The Union men. those elected as
Union men las most OF them were).
who ultimately gave way. did not give
way upon the ground that Fort sum
ter had been attacked. The pretext.
cause for the secession. was the proc
lamatiOn Of President Lincoln calling
Tor 10000 troops 10 march across the
sacred soil OF Virginia TO make war
on her Southern sister States. which
they twel chose 10 announce and act
upon ss declaration Of war"
That convention was composed Of
1872 members. said TO be the abiest
body of men that ever assembled in
Virginia. On the final ballot. April
18th. 1861, eighty-nine voted for Sc
cession. ffty-nve voted against H.. and
eight did not vote. All OF them have
crossed over the river" Hon. J. G..
McGraw. 81 KingwoOd. West Virginia,
was the last one. He died Novem-
Der is. 1910 % years old.
10 IA worthy Of note that the I'M
fortunate assassination Of President
Lincoln occurred on April 14th. Just
four years after. and about the same
hour that General Campbell and tho
Committee on Federal Relations
signed the agreement referred 10
above.
The End.
arrived in Lewisburg West Wiz.
cinia. on April 18Th. from the surren-
der OF General Lee. About O'Clock
D. m. the following day I was con
versing with Governor Prices family
on his front veranda. we noticed "a
man on horseback coming rapidly up
The street He halted at tho front
gate. and al 81 us. much excited. ran
out iO learn what no. wanted. BE
asked ST. Governor Price lived there.
When informed that Doc DID. DE said
Doc had an important document for the
governor from the president OF The
United states. ] said Governor Price
was out at biz Hlchlands farm. four
miles from town. As DIS horse ap.
poared very tired and I bad 90 fresh
one ln The stable and could take "a
short cut through the open country. .
would be pleased t0 deliver the d0cu.
uouf
De hcsltafcd. saying ha was ordered
fo deliver Do f0 hlm in person. but
whom assured by tho governors Fam.
Iy chat Do would bo perfectly safe.
and ! could deliver DO much sooner
than Do could. Doc handed mo- "a iargo
Official envelope went as fast al
my horse could carry mo. found
The governor 40 bis barn rfrarIur