Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/390

352 New Orleans, from which dates the rise of the United States to political ascendancy. The number five is named because on the will of no greater number the same compromise had been crucified in the Senate committee of thirteen.

But notwithstanding the threatening aspect now presented by both sides, the legislature of Virginia adopted resolutions January 19th, 1861, inviting all States to appoint commissioners to meet in Washington February 4th, to consider and if practicable agree upon some suitable adjustment of the existing unhappy controversies in the spirit in which the Constitution was originally formed. As evidence of its earnestness the legislature appointed from among its most eminent and conservative citizens ex-President John Tyler, William C. Rives, Judge Brockenbrough, George W. Summers, and James A. Seddon to act as commissioners; and in addition selected ex-President Tyler as special commissioner to the President of the United States, and Judge John Robertson to the seceded States. The resolutions were promptly laid before Congress by President Buchanan, accompanied by a message of cordial approval in which he advised Congress to abstain from passing any law calculated to produce a collision of arms pending the contemplated proceedings. But the discussions in Congress were not peace preservative. Mr. Mason expressed his pride in the honorable office which his State had undertaken, but he warned the Senate that collisions of arms would end all negotiations, and declared that no seceded State had withdrawn nor assumed possession of any forts with war like intent. Mr. Seward on presenting a memorial from citizens of New York praying for Congress to adopt some adjustment, made remarks which excited warm replies. He defined his position in four propositions, which he had recommended to his people as the means for restoring the breaches made in the Union. First, to speak for the Union; next, vote for the Union; third, give money