Convention between the Commonwealth of Virginia
and the Confederate States of America.

The Commonwealth of Virginia, looking to a speedy union of said Commonwealth and the other slave States with the Confederate States of America, according to the provisions of the Constitution for the Provisional Government of said States, enters into the following temporary convention and agreement with said States, for the purpose of meeting pressing exigencies affecting the common rights, interests and safety of said Commonwealth and said Confederacy.

1st. Until the Union of said Commonwealth with said Confederacy shall be perfected, and said Commonwealth shall become a member of said Confederacy, according to the Constitutions of both powers, the whole military force and military operations, offensive and defensive, of said Commonwealth, in the impending conflict with the United States, shall be under the chief control and direction of the President of said Confederate States, upon the same principles, basis and footing as if said Commonwealth were now, and during the interval, a member of said Confederacy.

2d. The Commonwealth of Virginia will, after the consummation of the Union contemplated in this Convention, and her adoption of the Constitution for a permanent Government of the said Confederate States, and she shall become a member of said Confederacy under said permanent Constitution, if the same occur, turn over to the said Confederate States all the public property, naval stores, and munitions of war, &c, she may then be in possession of, acquired from the United States, on the same terms and in like manner as the other States of said Confederacy have done in like cases.

3d. Whatever expenditures of money, if any said Commonwealth of Virginia shall make before the Union, under the Provisional Government as above contemplated, shall be consummated, shall be met and provided for by said Confederate States.

This Convention entered into and agreed to, in the city of Richmond, Virginia, on the twenty-fourth day of April, 1861, by Alexander H. Stephens, the duly authorized Commissioner to act in the matter for the said Confederate States, and John Tyler, Wm. Ballard Preston, Samuel McD.Moore, James P. Holcombe, James C. Bruce, and Lewis E. Harvie, parties duly authorized to act in like manner for said Commonwealth of Virginia — the whole subject to the approval and ratification of the proper authorities of both Governments respectively.

In testimony whereof, the parties aforesaid have hereto set their hands and seals, the day and year aforesaid, and at the place aforesaid — in duplicate originals.

Alex'r. H. Stephens, [Seal.]

Commissioner for Confederate States.

* John Tyler, [Seal,] Commissioners for Virginia.
* Wm.Ballard Preston, [Seal,] Commissioners for Virginia.
* S. McD. Moore [Seal,] Commissioners for Virginia.
* James P. Holcombe, [Seal,] Commissioners for Virginia.
* James C. Bruce, [Seal,] Commissioners for Virginia.
* Lewis E. Harvie, [Seal,] Commissioners for Virginia.

Approved and ratified by the Convention of Virginia, on the 25th of April, 1861.

John Janney, President.
John L. Eubank, Sec'y.