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A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention: For Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, Held at Washington, D.C., in February, A.D. 1861 — John Shaqi

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A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention: For Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, Held at Washington, D.C., in February, A.D. 1861

Name: A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention: For Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, Held at Washington, D.C., in February, A.D. 1861
Author: Chittenden, L. E. (Lucius Eugene)

Chittenden, L. E. (Lucius Eugene)

Conference Convention (1861 : Washington, D.C.); United States -- Politics and government -- 1857-1861

WILLARD'S HOTEL,                        }
     WASHINGTON CITY, _February 13th, 1861._ }

     _Hon._ JOHN TYLER, _President of Conference Convention._

     DEAR SIR:--I grieve to communicate to you the fact, that the
     delegate from Ohio to this Conference Convention, the Hon.
     JOHN C. WRIGHT, departed this life this day, the 13th
     February, at half-past one o'clock.

     Judge WRIGHT came to this Convention with a heart filled
     with fear for the safety of the Union. Though at an advanced
     age and nearly blind, he was filled with an earnest desire
     to add his efforts to that of others of the Convention
     called by the State of Virginia, and seek to agree on some
     measures honorable to each and all, to effect the object.
     Since the arrival of my father in Washington, he has been
     constant in his efforts to effect the end in view, and he
     has had his heart cheered with the belief that the object
     would be accomplished. Almost the last words that he uttered
     were, that he believed the Union would be preserved. He
     desired me to say, if the Union were preserved, he would die
     content. He called me to read to him, at 12 o'clock, the
     sections in the Constitution in regard to counting the
     votes, and this request, and this reading, terminated his
     knowledge on earth. In this desire of my father to do what
     he could, he pressed me to accompany him on account of his
     blindness. Since the Convention honored me with the
     appointment of Secretary, he required of me a promise that I
     would not leave the position. When I read the section of the
     Constitution to him, he required me then to leave him for
     the Convention. Whatever my personal feelings may be, I deem
     the pledge made sacred. I therefore ask that I may have
     leave of absence, until I carry the remains home to Ohio,
     and return to my duty.

     Respectfully,

     CRAFTS J. WRIGHT.

     P.S.--J. HENRY PULESTON will act for me in my absence.

The PRESIDENT informed the Convention that the request of the
Secretary had been complied with. The PRESIDENT asked what action the
Convention proposed to take on the subject for which they had been
specially assembled.

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A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention: For Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, Held at Washington, D.C., in February, A.D. 1861

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