This day the Spontaneous People's Convention met and
organized in Metropolitan Hall. The door-keeper stood with a drawn sword in his
hand. But the scene was orderly. The assembly was full, nearly every county
being represented, and the members were the representatives of the most ancient
and respectable families in the State. David Chalmers, of Halifax County, I
believe, was the President, and Willoughby Newton, a life-long Whig, among the
Vice-Presidents. P. H. Aylett, a grandson of Patrick Henry, was the first
speaker. And his eloquence indicated that the spirit of his ancestor survived
in him. But he was for moderation and delay, still hoping that the other
Convention would yield to the pressure of public sentiment, and place the State
in the attitude now manifestly desired by an overwhelming majority of the
people. He was answered by the gallant Capt. Wise, who thrilled every breast
with his intrepid bearing and electric bursts of oratory. He advocated action,
without reference to the other Convention, as the best means of bringing the
Unionists to their senses. And the so-called Demosthenean Seddon, and G. W.
Randolph (grandson of Thomas Jefferson), Lieut.-Gov. Montague, James Lyons,
Judge Robertson, etc., were there. Never, never did I hear more exalted and
effective bursts of oratory. And it was apparent that messages were constantly
received from the other Convention. What they were, I did not learn at the
moment; but it was evident that the Unionists were shaking in their shoes, and
they certainly begged one — just one — day's delay, which was accorded them. The
People's Convention agreed to adjourn till 10 o'clock A.M. the next day. But
before we separated a commotion was observed on the stage, and the next moment a
Mr. P., from Gov. Wise's old district, rushed forward and announced that he had
just arrived from Norfolk, where, under instructions, and with the
acquiescence of Gov. Letcher, he had succeeded in blocking the channel of the
river; and this would either secure to us, or render useless to the United
States, certain ships of the navy, stores, armament, etc., of the value of millions
of dollars. This announcement was received with the wildest shouts of joy.
Young men threw up their hats, and old men buttoned their coats and clapped
their hands most vigorously. It was next hinted by some one who seemed to know
something of the matter, that before another day elapsed, Harper's Ferry would
fall into the hands of the secessionists.
At night the enthusiasm increases in intensity, and no
further opposition is to be apprehended from the influence of Tim Rives,
Baldwin, Clemens, etc. etc. It was quite apparent, indeed, that if an ordinance
of secession were passed by the new Convention, its validity would be
recognized and acted upon by the majority of the people. But this would be a complication
of the civil war, now the decree of fate.
Perhaps the occurrence which has attracted most attention is
the raising of the Southern flag on the capitol. It was hailed with the most
deafening shouts of applause. But at a quiet hour of the night, the governor
had it taken down, for the Convention had not yet passed the ordinance of secession.
Yet the stars and stripes did not float in its stead; it was replaced by the
flag of Virginia
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 20-1
