Friday, March 8, 1861.
The Convention was called to order at 12 o'clock.
Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Moore, of the Presbyterian Church.
Personal Explanation.
Mr. Early (by permission of the gentleman from Alexandria, who was entitled to the floor, arose to a personal explanation.
He alluded to the remarks made in connection with the remarks of Mr. Goode, of Bedford, day before yesterday.
Since that time a correspondence had passed between them, which he would ask, with the assent of the member from Bedford, to have read before the Convention.
The letters were then read by the Secretary, showing that nothing personally offensive as intended by either party.
Mr. Early added that the former personal relations between himself and the member from Bedford were perfectly restored.
Ordinance of Separation.
Mr. Wysor, of Pulaski, asked and obtained leave to submit a proposition in the form of an Ordinance, to be referred to the Committee on Federal Re
The "Smartest" men in the Convention.
--Some of us, who don't often get counted in among the privileged listeners to the fossilogy of the State Convention, have to depend mainly upon outside discussions for the means of forming a judgment of the mental calibre of its members.
But unfortunately, in this respect, public opinion differs widely.
One party will swear by Ex-Gov. Wise and Mr. Goode, of Bedford, another by Messrs. Goggin and Flournoy, and another still by Messrs. Clemens, Willey and Carlile; while the boys, who, in these days, are not bad judges of smartness, go in for Mr. Branch, of Petersburg, "because he makes them laugh." With such a contrariety of opinion, we, as outsiders, find ourselves at sea on this most important question; so we may have to take a practical view of it. The interminable debates, which have lasted nearly three weeks, without effecting any purpose beyond stirring up the passions of the multitude, show plainly enough that the Commonwealth lays a
The Convention.
Mr. Wysor, of Pulaski, yesterday submitted a proposition in the form of an ordinance, for dissolving all political relations between Virginia and the other States.
Referred to the Committee on Federal Relations.
Mr. Early, of Franklin, made a personal explanation, and produced copies of letters which had passed between himself and Mr. Goode, of Bedford, resulting in an amicable settlement of their little misunderstanding.
Mr. Brent, of Alexandria, made a speech on the Union side of the question.
He opposed the policy of secession, but admitted the right; his view being that Virginia would be much better taken care of under the Federal Government than in the Southern Confederacy.
He did not fully endorse Lincoln's Inaugural, for he opposed coercion; but did not look upon it as a warlike document.
He goes for a Border State Conference. Mr. Ambler commenced a speech on the Southern side, and will conclude to-day.
solutions, alluded to the change of feeling among the Union men of his county, as one of the cheering signs that the popular tide was setting in the right direction.
The resolutions were referred to the Committee on Federal Relations.
Mr. Goode, of Mecklenburg, presented a series of resolutions adopted by the citizens of that county, repudiating the result of the Peace Conference, and declaring it the duty of Virginia at once to withdraw from the Union, and place herself by the side of her Southern sisters.
Mr. Goode endorsed the high character of the citizens he represented, and paid a tribute to their gallantry.
The resolutions were referred.
Mr. Wysor, of Polaski, presented a series of resolutions from that county, declaring that Virginia had already done all that her henor required to preserve the Union, and that all further overtures must come from the North; opposing coercion, declaring that the first attempt in that direction ought to be resisted by Vi
ople of the West demanded a change now. If they could do no better, they would be compelled to wait until 1865.
Mr. Haymond closed his remarks; after which, Mr. Goode, of Mecklenburg, moved that the resolutions be laid upon the table.
On this motion, Mr. Hall, of Marion, called for the yeas and nays.
Mr. Willey, of Monongahela, appealed to Mr. Goode to withdraw his motion.
He asked if the gag law was to be applied.
Mr. Goode said that as the gentleman was the author of the resolutions, he would withdraw the motion if he wished to take the floor, on condition that he would renew it.
Mr. Willey said he did not feel authorized to make Mr. Goode said that as the gentleman was the author of the resolutions, he would withdraw the motion if he wished to take the floor, on condition that he would renew it.
Mr. Willey said he did not feel authorized to make any such bargain.
At this stage of the proceedings, on motion of Mr. Burdett,
The Convention adjourned.
Equality of Taxation.
The President said the pending question, at the adjournment yesterday, was on the motion of Mr. Goode, of Mecklenburg, to lay on the table the resolutions offered on Monday last, by Mr. Willey, of Monongalia.
Mr. Slaughter, of Lynchburg, appealed to Mr. Goode to withdraw his motion, in order that he might make an appeal to the Western members to postpone the discussion of the question until the Convention meets in the fall.
Mr. Goode consented to withdraw Mr. Goode consented to withdraw the motion.
He had no desire to cut off debate, but considered the present a most inopportune time for the discussion of the question.
It was like a firebrand thrown in here, to inflame excitement, and distract the counsels of the Convention.
hoped the call for the yeas and nays would be withdrawn, and that the subject would be passed by for the present.
Mr. Goode said the motion to lay on the table was withdrawn.
Mr. Brown, of Preston, proposed to offer the following, with th
The Convention.
Mr. Boyd, of Botetourt, yesterday offered a substitute for the first section of the proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution, making some essential changes therein, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole.
The resolutions in respect to an ad calorem. tax upon negroes were up again, Mr. Goode having withdrawn his motion to lay on the table.
No action was taken in Committee of the Whole. Mr. Holcombe finished his speech, which produced an "irrepressible" display of enthusiasm in the Hall and an order to "clear the gallery" was very near being carried into effect.
The "floor," however, happened to be more culpable than the gallery this time.
Mr. Baldwin, one of the most eloquent speakers in the body, on the Union side, commenced a speech, which he will continue to-day.
Mr. Carlile offered the Peace conference plan of adjustment, as a substitute for the report of the Committee on General Relations, supporting it in a brief speech.
He takes groun
s purpose of speaking "at length" upon the effect of the Northern tariff upon Southern industry.
It would be necessary for him to go deeply into details, and he had no doubt it would prove vastly interesting to the Committee.
[Laughter.]
Mr. Goode, of Mecklenburg, asked the gentleman to yield the floor, to give him an opportunity to make a motion.
Mr. Hall consented, and Mr. Goode moved that the Committee rise, demanding the yeas and nays upon the motion.
The roll being again calleMr. Goode moved that the Committee rise, demanding the yeas and nays upon the motion.
The roll being again called, the vote resulted — yeas 12, nays 56--no quorum voting.
The fact was reported, (Mr. Sheffey in the Chair,) and Mr. Jackson, of Wood, moved a call of the House.
Mr. Macfarland moved an adjournment, and it was decided that this motion took precedence over every other question.
Mr. Jackson demanded the yeas and nays upon the motion to adjourn.
The roll was called and the vote resulted — yeas 26, nays 54.
So the Convention refused to adjourn.
Mr. Early.--Mr. Chairman, I
at flashed over the telegraphic wires, looking to the preservation of peace, seemed to disappoint the precipitators.
At that time, the gentlemen who are now for waiting were the most urgent for precipitate action.
The gentleman from Bedford, (Mr. Goode,) who is now for waiting, was then among the most ardent advocates of haste.
Mr. Goode desired to remind the gentleman that the 4th of March had come and gone.
Mr. Tredway said he regretted that he had not also said that it had provedMr. Goode desired to remind the gentleman that the 4th of March had come and gone.
Mr. Tredway said he regretted that he had not also said that it had proved him to be a very bad prophet.
He then went on to demonstrate that the moderation of Virginia thus far had saved the country from the horrors of civil war; and though he had been pointed at as a submissionist, he would ever be proud that he was one of those who had stood by this glorious old Commonwealth in her efforts as a peace-maker.
He acknowledged the fact that the Union was broken up; seven States had gone and established a government Mr. de facto, and it ought to be recognized.
Had th
. Tredway resumed his remarks, proceeding first to correct any misapprehension which might have existed in reference to his reply to the gentleman from Bedford, (Mr. Goode,) this morning.
The position which he occupied was not that "nobody had been hurt" by the success of the Black Republican party, but that the prophesied evils hand untenable, he submitted a motion that the Committee rise.
The motion was agreed to, and the Committee rose and reported progress.
In Convention.
Mr. Goode, of Bedford, said that in obedience to the request of a portion of his constituents, he would present the proceedings of two public meetings in his county.
One,ressed.
The resolutions (which favor immediate secession and protest against any change in the system of taxation at this time, &c.) were, at the request of Mr. Goode, laid on the table.
Mr. Harvie, of Amelia, presented a series of resolutions adopted by a large meeting of the citizens of that county — the largest he ever
