The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-05-11
BY ,. COLEMAN ANDERSON,
Of Charleston, W. Va.
The BedlnnIno

SfafhGoAoNg va
The Beginning.
South Carolina seceded December
20. 1860.
Mississippi seeded January 9. 1861.
Florida seeded January 10. 1881.
Alabama seeded January IL. 1861.
Georgia seeded January 10. 1851.
louisiana seeded January 20, 1861.
Texas seeded February /, 1861.
Virginia seeded April II, 1861.
Arkansas seeded May s, 1861.
Tennessee seeded May s, 1861.
North Carolina seeded May 2I.
1861.
Virginia and Texas submitted the
ordinance OF secession TO the vote OF
the people.
Virginia.
November 10. 1SeO-Governor John
Letcher Issued proclamation conven-
Ing the general assembly OF Virginia
In extra session.
January Z, 1S61-General assembly
met in extra session In Richmond.
January II. 1S6k-General assembly
passed an act providing for a CON
vention OF the people OF Virginia.
February {, 1S61-Delegates elected
TO convention.
February 10. 1S61-Convention as
sembled in the old capitol at Rich
mond
April II. 1S61-Convention adopted
ordinance of secession.
May %. 1S61-People voted oA-ordf-
nance OF secession. Adopted By i'm
mense majority.
Sessions Of Convention.
February 18th. 1861. first regular
session began. and ended May LIST.
1861.
June 18th. 1861. first adjourned ses-
sion began. and ended July LIST. 1861.
November 18th. 1851. second ad-
journed session began. and adjourned
never 10 meet again. December 9Th.
1861.
This will ever be known as the
Secession Convention Of Virginia"
IL was composed OF the ablest body
OF statesmen who had ever assembled
IN the capitol OF the Old Dominion.
A large majority were elderly men
VINO had occupied many positions OF
honor and trust in the council OF
their state and nation. and had re-
tired TO the quiet shades OF their
loved homes. never expecting TO be
called again into public service. They
loved the Union their FATHERS fought
10 create. and now their sons had met
together for the last time to fight to
perpetuate that Union they loved so
well. Seven southern states had al
ready seeded. Virginia stosd for the
Union like a stone wall against
strong pressure OF those states. and
the young hot blood element OF the
convention. She steadily maintained
her large majority against seeding
Three different committees had been
sent to 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 Presi-
dent needed Nirginia's earnest appeal
and commissioned General Campbell
TO go 10 Richmond as authority to
negotiate with the convention in its
EFFORT TO hold the state I'm the Union.
He had assured that Virginia would
not withdraw from the Union. II he
would agree not TO call on her for
troops TO aid in coercing her sister
seeding states
That ever memorable Friday night
General Campbell met the committee
on federal relations in the east par
Tor OF the old Ballard house OF the
Ballard hotel. II was com
posed of nine OF the most prominent
and patriotic members who were CD
posed to secession. General Camp
bell stated the object % his mission
and showed his authority from Mr.
Lincoln TO treat with the convention.
He promised that II Virginia would
stand firm and not secede she would
not be called upon 70 furnish aid in
coercing the states which had done
So When this announcement
was made. its effect was cleo
trical Old. gray headed. care
worn statesmen. who loved their coun-
try as devOtedly as any men North or
South. embraced each other and went
for Joy that the Union had been pre-
served. This touching scene was re-
lated 10 me not only by Ex-Governor
Samuel Price. Of Lewish1rg. West Vlr.
ginia. who was a distinguished mem
her OF the committee. hat also bv HIS
eldest daughter and the daughter OF
Mr Darlington. the proprietor Of that
noted hostelry. who sat IN the ad-