the people of the Commonwealth, is desirous of employing every reasonable means to avert so dire a calamity, and determined to make a final effort to restore the Union and the Constitution in the spirit in which they were established by the fathers of the Republic. Therefore,

Resolved, That on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia, an invitation is hereby extended to all such States, whether slaveholding or nonslaveholding, as are willing to unite with Virginia in an earnest effort to adjust the present unhappy controversies in the spirit in which the Constitution was originally formed, and consistently with its principles, so as to afford to the people of the slaveholding States adequate guarantees for the security of their rights, to appoint commissioners to meet on the 4th day of February next, in the city of Washington, similar commissioners appointed by Virginia, to consider and if practicable agree upon some suitable adjustment.

Resolved, That ex-President John Tyler, William C. Rives, Judge John W. Brockenbrough, George W. Summers, and James A. Seddon are hereby appointed commissioners, whose duty it shall be to repair to the city of Washington, on the day designated in the foregoing resolution, to meet such commissioners as may be appointed by any of the said States in accordance with the foregoing resolution.

Resolved, That if said commissioners, after full and free conference, shall agree upon any plan of adjustment requiring amendments of the federal Constitution, for the further security of the rights of the people of the slaveholding States, they be requested to communicate the proposed amendments to Congress, for the purpose of having the same submitted by that body, according to the forms of the Constitution, to the several States for ratification.

Resolved, That if said commissioners cannot agree on such adjustment, or if, agreeing, Congress shall refuse to submit for ratification such amendments as may be proposed, then the commissioners of this State shall immediately communicate the result to the Executive of this Commonwealth, to be by him laid before the Convention of the people of Virginia and the General Assembly: Provided, that the said commissioners be subject at all times to the control of the General Assembly, or, if in session, to that of the State convention.

Resolved, That in the opinion of the General Assembly of Virginia, the propositions embraced in the resolutions presented to the Senate of the United States by the Hon. John J. Crittenden-so modified as that the first article proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States shall apply to all the territory of the United States now held, or hereafter acquired, south of latitude thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes, and provide that slavery of the African race shall be effectually protected as property therein, during the continuance of the territorial government, and the fourth article shall secure to the owners of slaves the right of transit with their slaves between and through the non-slaveholding States and Territoriesconstitute the basis of such an adjustment of the unhappy controversy which now divides the States of this confederacy, as would be accepted by the people of this Commonwealth.

Resolved, That Ex-President John Tyler is hereby appointed by the concurrent vote of each branch of the General Assembly a commissioner to

the President of the United States, and Judge John Robertson is hereby appointed by a like vote a commissioner to the State of South Carolina and the other States that have seceded, or shall secede, with instructions respectfully to request the President of the United States and the authorities of such States to agree to abstain, pending the proceedings contemplated by the action of this General Assembly, from any and all acts calculated to produce a collision of arms between the States and the government of the United States.

Resolved, That copies of the foregoing resolutions be forthwith telegraphed to the executives of the several States, and also to the President of the United States, and that the Governor be requested to inform, without delay, the commissioners of their appointment by the foregoing resolutions. A copy from the rolls.

WM. F. GORDON, JR.,

C. H. D. and K. R. of Virginia.

MY DEAR SIR:

FROM EX-PRESIDENT TYLER.1

BROWN'S HOTEL, Jany. 28th, 1861.

I leave the City to-morrow morning for the brief interval that elapses between this and the meeting of the [Peace] Commissioners on the 4th February. In making my adieus, which I would do in person but for engagements which prevent, I desire to express my pleasure at hearing your message read to-day in the Senate, and to tender to you my acknowledgments for the facilities you have afforded me of acquitting myself of the mission with which my State entrusted me. I feel but one regret in all that has occurred, and that is in the sailing of the Brooklyn under orders issued before my arrival in this City. I hope, however, that she sailed with such instructions as if followed will prevent any Collision. There is nothing that I more sincerely desire than that your administration may close amid the rejoicings of a great people at the consummation of the work of a renew'd and more harmonious Confederacy.

Will you pardon me for calling your attention to the rumor contained in the newspapers of the morning which state that active proceedings are in course of execution at Fortress Monroe, in planting Cannon upon the land side of the Fort, with their Muzzles turned landward and overlooking the Country. If this be so, Mr. President, is such proceeding either appropriate or well timed? I shall do no more than call your attention to the circumstance and leave it without comment, with this single remark: that when Virginia is making every possible effort to redeem and save the Union, it is seemingly ungracious to have Cannon levelled at her bosom.

'Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 467.

With my most cordial wish for your success in steering the Ship of State amid the critical relations of the Country, I am, my dear Sir,

I have received your note of this evening & am happy to learn that you were pleased at hearing my message read to-day in the Senate. It expresses my sincere & cordial sentiments. My best wishes attend you on your journey home & for your safe return to this City on the 4th February. I shall then hope to see more of you.

I shall make it a point to inquire to-morrow morning into the rumors in the Newspapers to which you refer, in relation to Fortress Monroe.

I forgot to talk to you about the Company from West Point. Will you come over for a few moments.

HON: MR. HOLT.

Your friend

JAMES BUCHANAN.

1

Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Buchanan, II. 467.

'Holt Papers, Library of Congress. but probably written on Jan. 29, reads:

Curtis's

Another letter to Mr. Holt, undated, "Please not to order the Company

from West Point until I see you. I believe this was understood yesterday,

and I write from abundant caution."

MY DEAR SIR :

TO MR. SLIDELL.1

WASHINGTON, January 29, 1861.

With every sentiment of personal friendship and regard, I am obliged to say, in answer to your note of Sunday, that I have full confidence in the Secretary of War; and his acts, in the line of his duty, are my own acts, for which I am responsible.

I have received the resolution of the Senate, of the 24th instant, requesting the return to that body of the convention between the United States and the Republic of Venezuela, on the subject of Aves Island. That instrument is, consequently, herewith returned. It was approved by the Senate on the 24th June last, with the following amendment:

Article III: Strike out this article, in the following words:

In consideration of the above agreement and indemnification, the Government of the United States, and the individuals in whose behalf they have been made, agree to desist from all further reclamation respecting the island of Aves, abandoning to the Republic of Venezuela whatever rights might pertain to them.

'Curtis's Buchanan, II. 445. Mr. Slidell's letter, to which this is a reply, was dated at Washington, Jan. 27. It reads: "I have seen in the Star, and heard from other parties that Major Beauregard, who had been ordered to West Point as Superintendent of the Military Academy, and had entered on the discharge of his duties there, had been relieved from his command. May I take the liberty of asking you if this has been done with your approbation?"

2 Senate Executive Journal, XI. 256.

The amendment does not seem necessary to secure any right either of the United States or of any American citizen claiming under them. Neither the Government nor the citizens in whose behalf the convention has been concluded have any further claims upon the island of Aves. Nor is it known or believed that there are any claims against the Government of Venezuela having any connection with that island other than those provided for in this convention. I therefore recommend the reconsideration of the subject.

No steps have yet been taken towards making known to the Venezuelan Government the conditional approval of the convention by the Senate. This might have been necessary if the instrument had stipulated for a ratification in the usual form and it had been ratified accordingly. Inasmuch, however, as the convention contains no such stipulation, and as some of the instalments had been paid according to its terms, it has been deemed preferable to suspend further proceedings in regard to it, especially as it was not deemed improbable that the Senate might request it to be returned. This anticipation has been realized.

WASHINGTON, January 30, 1861.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

MY DEAR SIR/

TO MR. HOLT.'

WASHINGTON 30 January 1861.

It is time we should have decided whether it is practicable with the means in our power, considering the obstacles interposed in the harbor of Charleston, to reinforce Major Anderson at Fort Sumter, should the action of the authorities of South Carolina or his request render this necessary. The high military attainments & just reputation of General Scott render his advice on this subject of the greatest importance. Should reinforcements be deemed practicable, then in consultation with him a plan

1 Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 474.