Richmond Enquirer
April 20, 1861
The eighteenth of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty one, will be noted as the most eventful day in Virginia history. On that day Virginia, through her sovereign Convention, dissolved the political bands by which she has been connected with the United States Government from its formation, seventy four years ago.
The announcement of the withdrawal of the glorious old State from the abolitionized Government of the once United States, will be celebrated with bonfires and illuminations by her true hearted sons from the Chesapeake to the Ohio, and from her Northern to her Southern borders. The friends of free Government throughout the world will give one thousand cheers for old Virginia, the mother of States and of Statesmen.
The Convention still sits with closed doors and the injunctions of secrecy have not been removed from its proceedings, except as to the simple fact announced above. Yesterday morning the flag of the Southern Confederacy with eight stars was displayed over the Capitol in which the Convention sits, and it still there. The understanding is that a straight-out Ordinance of Secession has been passed with but few dissenting voices. Its submission to the people will be a matter of form and not of contest.