The Daily Dispatch: April 10, 1861., [Electronic resource]

Evening Session.

Mr. Baldwin moved to amend the resolution where it reads ‘"Virginia therefore requests the people of the several States, either by popular vote or in Conventions similar to her own, to respond,"’ &c., so as to make it read ‘"Virginia therefore desires that the people of the several States be called upon to respond either by popular vote or in Conventions similar to her own."’ Agreed to — ayes 45, noes 32.

Mr. Goode, of Bedford, moved to further amend the resolution by striking out the word ‘"satisfactory,"’ in the last sentence, and inserting the word ‘"affirmative."’ Mr. Goode briefly but forcibly advocated his amendment, alluding to the warlike news just received from the South, as a reason why Virginia should assume a position admitting of no doubt.

Mr. Johnson, of Richmond, opposed it, deeming the word ‘"satisfactory"’ more appropriate and comprehensive, because the voice of the people must decide as to what response from the people of the North would be factory.

Mr. Goode replied, arguing to show that his amendment was appropriate, if the Convention meant anything by its action, and was determined to take no other terms than those contained in the ultimatum.

The vote was then taken, and the amendment rejected, as follows:

Yeas.--Messrs. Ambler, Jas. Barbour, Blakey, Boissean, Borst, Bouldin, Bruce, Cabell, Cecil, Chambliss, Chapman, Conn, Richard H. Cox, Echols, Flournoy, Garland, Graham, Goggin, Jno. Goode, Jr., Thos. F. Goode, Hale, L. S. Hall, Harvie, Holcombe, Hunton, Kent, Lawson, Leake, Marr, Marye, Montague, Morris, Morton, Neblett, Richardson, Seawell, Sheffey, Speed, Strange, Sutherlin, Thornton, Tredway, Williams, and Wise.--44.

Nays.--Messrs. Aston, Baldwin, Alfred M. Barbour, Baylor, Berlin, Blow, Boggess, Branch, Brent, Brown, Bardett, Byrne, Campbell, Caperton, Carlile, Carter, Cottman, C. B. Conrad, Robert Y. Conrad, Couch, Critcher, Custis, Dent, Deskins, Dorman, Dulany, Early, French, Fugate, Gillespie, Gravely, Gray, Addison Hall, Ephraim B. Hall, Hammond, Haymond, Hoge, Hubbard, Hughes, Jackson, Janney, Marmaduke Johnson, Peter, C. Johnston, Lewis, McComas, McGrew, J. B. Mallory, Marshall, Masters, Moffett, Moore, Orrick, Osburn, Parks, Patrick, Pendleton, Porter, Price, Pugh, Rives, William C Scott, Sitlington, Slaughter, Spurtock, Staples, Chapman J. Stuart, Summers, Tarr, Tayloe, Waller, White, Wickham, Willey, and Wilson.--74.

Mr. Richardson, of Hanover, moved to further attend the resolution by striking out all from the word ‘"relations"’ in the third line to the word ‘"appended"’ inclusive, and to insert in lien thereof--‘"respectfully request the people of the Northern States as speedily as possible, by majority votes in all of their Congressional districts, to instruct their representatives in Congress to propose as soon as it can be assembled the amendments to the Constitution declared to be necessary by this Convention, to be ratified in one of the modes provided in the 5th article of the Constitution of the United States."’ Mr. Richardson explained and advocated his amendment, and Mr. Wise replied. Mr. Richardson's object was to obtain a response without delay, through the constitutional channel.

The amendment was rejected.

Mr. Early moved to strike out the whole of the 11th resolution, and to insert the following substitute:

11. This Convention is of opinion that the extraordinary condition of the country, resulting from our present national difficulties, renders it proper and necessary that amendments should be made to the Federal Constitution, and it is also of opinion that the proposed amendments to the said Constitution hereunto appended, if adopted, will be satisfactory to the people of Virginia, and ought to be to all the other slave States.

Mr. Early in advocating his substitute, said he was not to be affected by telegraphic dispatches. He held that the Convention had no authority to present an ultimatum to the North.

A division of the question was called for, and the Committee refused to strike out the 11th resolution, thus defeating the substitute.

Mr. Tarr, of Brooke, moved to amend by striking out the words ‘"feel compelled to resume the powers granted by her under the Constitution of the United States, and to throw herself upon her reserved rights,"’ and inserting ‘"take such action as she may deem necessary to the maintenance of her honor and the protection of her interests."’ Mr. Tarr advocated his amendment, which was rejected — yeas 39, nays 78.

Mr. Morton, of Orange, moved to strike out the words in the resolution ‘"at their earliest convenience,"’ and to insert the words ‘"by the 1st day of August,"’ but withdrew it.

The question recurring upon the adoption of the 11th resolution, as amended, the vote was taken and it was adopted, as follows:

Yeas.--Messrs. Ambler, Armstrong, Blakey, Blow, Jr., Borst, Bouldin, Branch, Brent, Bruce, Byrne, Cabell, Caperton, Cecil, Chambliss, Chapman, Coffman, Conn, Robert Y. Conrad, Richard H. Cox, Critcher, Custis, Deskins, Dorman, Dulany, Echols, Flournoy, French, Garland, Gillespie, Graham. Gregory, Goggin, John Goode, Jr, Thomas F. Goode, Hale, Addison Hall, Cyrus Hall, Hammond, Harvie, Hoge, Holcombe, Marmaduke Johnson, Peter C. Johnston, Kent, Lawson, Leake, Charles K. Mallory, James B. Mallory, Marshall, Marr, Marye, Moffett, Montague, Marris, Morton, Neblett, Nelson, Orrick, Parks, Pugh, Richardson, Rives, Robert E. Scott, Wm. C. Scott, Seawell, Sheffey, Slaughter, Speed, Spurlock, Staples, Sutherlin, Tayloe; Thornton, Tredway, Waller, White, Wickham, Williams; Wilson, and Wise.--81.

Nays.--Messrs. Aston, Baldwin, Alfred M. Barbour, James Barbour, Baylor, Berlin, Boggess, Beisseau, Brown, Burdett, Campbell, Carlile, Carter, C. B. Conrad, Couch, Dent, Early, Fugate, Gravely, Ephraim B. Hall, Haymond, Hubbard, Hughes, Hunton, Jackson, Janney, Lewis, McComas, McGrew, Masters, Moore, Osburn, Patrick, Pendleton, Porter, Price, Sitlington, C. J. Stuart, Strange, Summers, Tarr, and Willey.--41.

Mr. Goode, of Bedford, Mr. Richardson, of Hanover, and Mr. Cox, of King and Queen, explained, that in voting for the resolution they endorsed nothing but the latter clause.

Mr. Wickham, of Henrico, said, that in voting for the resolution he did not regard it as recognizing the right of secession.

The following is the resolution as amended and adopted:

‘ 11. This Convention, composed of delegates elected by the people in districts, for the purpose of considering the existing difficulties in our Federal Relations, represents the desire and earnest request of the people of Virginia, to meet as directly as possible the people of her sister States, and to them appeal for satisfactory adjustment — Virginia therefore desires that the people of the several States be called upon to respond, either by popular vote, or in Conventions similar to her own, at their earliest convenience, to the proposed amendments to the Constitution of the United States hereunto appeared. And in the event that this Commonwealth fails to obtain satisfactory responses to her requests, from the non-slaveholding States, she will feel compelled to resume the powers granted by her under the Constitution of the United States, and to throw herself upon her reserved rights.

’ The 12th resolution was then taken up, as follows:

12. The people of Virginia will await any reasonable time to obtain answers from the other States, to these propositions, aware of the embarrassments that may produce delay, but they will expect, as an indispensable condition, that a pacific policy shall be adopted towards the seceded States, and that no attempt be made to subject them to the Federal authority, nor to reinforce the forts now in possession of the military forces of the United States, or re- capture the forts, arsenals, or other property of the United States, within their limits, nor to exact the payment of imposts upon their commerce; nor any measure resorted to justly calculated to provoke hostile collision.

Mr. Critcher, of Westmoreland, moved to amend by inserting after the word ‘"propositions"’ (3d line) the words ‘"of amendment."’ Agreed to.

Mr. Carter, of Loudoun, moved to further amend the resolution by striking out all from the word ‘"nor"’ (8th line) to the word ‘"commerce"’ (13th line) inclusive.

Mr. Carter, in urging his amendment, drew a distinction between the forts, some of which, from their position, were necessary to the free navigation of the Gulf, and therefore Virginia should not declare her opposition to the reinforcement of such forts as a condition of adjustment.

Mr. Wise replied, showing the danger of the policy proposed by the mover of the amendment. If it should fail, he intended to move an addition to the resolution, declaring it the duty of the Government to evacuate the forts.

The amendment was rejected — yeas 34, noes 85.

At this point, Mr. Staples of Patrick, moved that the Committee rise, which was agreed to — ayes 65, noes 48.

The Committee then rose and reported progress.

In Convention.

On motion of Mr. Staples, the Convention adjourned.