Tyler's Signature
Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War,
by Benson John Lossing, 1875, Page 383
Signatures of the Commissioners1
{Alexander H.} Stephens, as we have observed, was in Richmond for the purpose of negotiating a treaty for the admission of Virginia into the “Southern Confederacy.” The Convention appointed Ex-President John Tyler, William Ballard Preston, S. McD. Moore, James P. Holcombe, James C. Bruce, and Lewis E. Harvie, Commissioners to treat with him. They entered upon the business at once, and on the 24th of April agreed to and signed a “Convention between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Confederate States of America,” which provided that, until the union of Virginia with the league should be perfected, “the whole military force and military operations, offensive and defensive, of said Commonwealth, in the impending conflict with the United States,” should be under the chief control and direction of Jefferson Davis. So eager were the Virginia conspirators to “perfect the Union,” that on the following day, {April 25, 1860} a the Convention, appealing to the Searcher of all hearts for the rectitude of their conduct, passed an ordinance ratifying the treaty, and adopting and ratifying the Provisional Constitution of the Montgomery League.2 They proceeded to appoint delegates to the “Confederate Congress ” that was to assemble on the 29th {of April}; authorized the banks of the State to suspend specie payments; made provision for the establishment of a navy for Virginia, and for enlistments for the State army, and adopted other measures preparatory for war. They also invited Jefferson Davis and his confederates to make Richmond their headquarters. The so-called annexation of the Commonwealth to the “Confederacy” was officially proclaimed by Governor Letcher; and the “Mother of States,” the “Mother of Presidents,” and equally the Mother of Disunion, was forced into the position of an important member of the league against the Republic. Eastern and Northern Virginia soon became the theater of great battles, fought by immense armies, at various times during the war that ensued.
- These were copied from the original parchment upon which the convention or treaty was engrossed and signed.
- John Tyler, who was a chief manager among the conspirators of the Virginia Convention, telegraphed as follows to Governor Pickens, at three o clock that afternoon “We are fellow-citizens once more. By an ordinance passed this day, Virginia has adopted the Provisional Government of the Confederate States.”
Read the Text of the Convention, here.