THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION OF 1861

The Virginia Convention of 1861

The Virginia Convention of 1861

Introduction

The Secession Convention, also called the Virginia Convention (1861), was convened in 1861, at the beginning of American Civil War (1861-65). The convention was staged to consider the splitting of Virginia from the US. Around 151 delegates were elected on the request of General Assembly of Virginia; majority of delegates were Unionist. Various states were already leaving the Union due to the election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860. Virginia was hesitant as the debates went on for months. Secessionists lost a vote, on April 4th, but got prepared for potential war. Henry A. Wise, former governor of Virginia, was working outside the legal context, behind the scenes, to secure federal armory by military means at Harpers Ferry. This act resulted in a furious objection from John Baldwin, a unionist delegate of Staunton. After Lincoln's call for 75 thousand volunteers and fall of Fort Sumter in April 15th and April 13th respectively, the impetus turned in the direction of secession, and on April 17th, the convention decided to depart from the Union. The Virginians also agreed with the decision.

Virginia's National and Southern Importance

Virginia was an area of great military activity during the civil war. Located above Harpers Ferry, Virginia's northern frontier became a borderland following the secession of Virginia. The various fords and ferries, Potomac bridges made the area ideal for Confederate and Federal militaries to go into and out of Virginia. Similarly, some other location of the county, such as Blue Ridge Mountains that connected some important places, was of strategic importance during the civil war. There were several battles which took place in the county, including the Battle of Ball's Bluff.

The fertile valley of Loudoun, with its wealth of livestock and produce, was also of significant magnitude for the Confederacy and it was also ideal for the union army for providing forage. Moreover, the Virginians were very much divided over the decision of secession, with hostilities and tensions with neighboring states. During the election (November 1860), the county has voted in favor of John Bell who was a candidate for Constitutional Union.

Southeastern Slaveholders and Non-Slaveholders

The secessionists of Southern slave created the Confederate States of America and denied to stay in a society, where they were treated like second class citizens. The anti-slavery and abolitionists elements of the Republic party were viewed as the change agent. They used continuous injury and insult to assert them as degraded and humiliated.

Slaveholders have led the Supreme Court and the court ruled has favored its perpetuation. Some of the seceding states, including Texas, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina, issued declaration of causes, all of these identified threats to rights of slaveholders, as a main reason behind secession.

The role of Virginia Convention Assembly of House of Delegates

In 1860, John Letcher, the Governor of Virginia issued a public statement calling the General Assembly into particular conference on January 7th, 1861, so that the people representing commonwealth may consider public ...