The foregoing extracts give some fairly accurate idea of the position of
those members of the Convention, who, though looked upon as Union men,
yet, when the final test came after President Lincoln called for troops,
voted for secession. How close in sympathy with this element were many
of the Union men will appear from the following extract from a speech of
George W. Summers, who upon the final ballot still voted against
secession:
"Where would be the wisdom of passing an ordinance of secession in the
face of the known sentiment of a Virginia constituency? The people do
not mean to adopt such an ordinance until every available measure of
adjustment has been exhausted. Come on then with your plans; and when
all fail, the people of the commonwealth will be united from one end
to the other.... No enlightened statesmanship can compare the
secession of states by conventional authority with insurrectionary
movements in former times. It is a new and unlooked for condition of
things. I am in favor of letting the seceded states alone. The last
news gives encouragement to the hope that the troops will soon be
withdrawn from Fort Sumter, and time will bring back the states into
the common family. It is the duty of Virginia to stand by the Union
until the performance of that duty becomes impossible."[375]
-----
Footnote 370:
See _Richmond Enquirer_, February 28th, 1861.
Footnote 371:
See _Richmond Enquirer_, March 2d, 1861.
Footnote 372:
See _Richmond Enquirer_, March 7th, 1861.
Footnote 373:
See _Richmond Enquirer_, March 7th, 1861.
Footnote 374:
See _Richmond Enquirer_, March 9th, 1861.
Footnote 375:
_Richmond Dispatch_, March 13th, 1861.