They were not adopted by the Conference, but in lieu thereof, after much discussion, and the consideration of many proposed amendments, the article with seven sections, intended as an amendment to the Constitution, was adopted by sections (not under the rules, being voted on as a whole), and by a vote of the Conference (not taken by States), was directed to be submitted to Congress, with the request that it should be recommended to the States for ratification, which was accordingly done by the President of the Conference.
The undersigned regret that the Journal showing the proceedings and votes in the Conference has not yet been published or furnished them, and that consequently they are not able to present it with this report. As soon as received it will be communicated to your Excellency.
In the absence of that record it is deemed appropriate to state that on the final adoption of the first section, two of the States, Indiana and Missouri, did not vote, and New York was divided, and that the votes by States was, ayes 9, nays 8—Virginia, by a majority of her Commissioners, voting in the negative.
The other sections were adopted by ranging majorities (not precisely recollected), and on the fifth and seventh sections the vote of Virginia was in the negative. The plan, when submitted to Congress, failed to receive its recommendation, and as that body, having adjourned, can take no further cognizance of it, the undersigned feel the contingency has arrived on which they are required to report, as they herein do, the result of their action.
Respectfully,
JOHN TYLER,
G.W. SUMMERS,
W.C. RIVES,
JAS. A. SEDDON.
The above report having been read and ordered to be printed, Mr. Summers stated that the reason it was not signed by Judge Brockenbrough, the other Virginia Commissioner, was because that gentleman was not in Richmond. Mr. Summers presented a communication in which Judge Brockenbrough stated his views at length on the propositions adopted by the Convention, and it was printed, by vote of the Legislature, in connection with the report.
After reviewing the different sections of the propositions adopted by the Peace Conference, Judge Brockenbrough, in his letter, states that the said propositions, as an entirety, would have received his vote, and therefore the vote of Virginia, in the Peace Conference, if it had been submitted to a vote in that form.