The situation, resources, and prestige of Virginia made her next to Maryland in importance among the doubtful States.  Her Unionists were numerically preponderant; and accordingly the convention, which assembled early in January, was opposed to secession by the overwhelming majority of 89 to 45.  But the Secessionists here as elsewhere in the South were propagandists, fiery with enthusiasm and energy, and they controlled the community although they were outnumbered by those who held, in a more quiet way, contrary opinions.  When the decisive conflict came it was short and sharp and carried with a rush.  By intrigue, by menace, by passionate appeals seasonably applied with sudden intensity of effort at the time of the assault upon Sumter, the convention was induced to pass an ordinance of secession.  Those who could not bring themselves to vote in the affirmative were told that they might “absent themselves or be hanged.”  On the other hand, there were almost no lines along which the President could project any influence into the State to encourage the Union sentiment.  He sought an interview with a political leader, but the gentleman only sent a substitute, and the colloquy amounted to nothing.  He fell in with the scheme of General Scott concerning Robert E. Lee, which might have saved Virginia; but this also miscarried.  General Lee has always been kindly spoken of at the North, whether deservedly or not is a matter not to be discussed here.  Only a few bare facts and dates can be given:  April 17, by a vote of 88 to 55, the dragooned convention passed an “ordinance to repeal the ratification of the Constitution of the United States,” but provided that this action should for the present be kept secret, and that it might be annulled by the people at a popular voting, which should be had upon it on the fourth Thursday in May.  The injunction of secrecy was immediately broken, and before the polls were to be opened for the balloting Virginia was held by the military forces of the Confederacy, so that the vote was a farce.  April 18 Mr. F.P.  Blair, Jr., had an interview in Washington with Lee, in which he intimated to Lee that the President and General Scott designed to place him in command of the army which had just been summoned.[138] Accounts of this conversation, otherwise inconsistent, all agree that Lee expressed himself as opposed to secession,[139] but as unwilling to occupy the position designed for him, because he “could take no part in an invasion of the Southern States.”  April 20 he tendered his resignation of his commission in the army, closing with the words, “Save in defense of my native State, I never desire again to draw my sword."[140] On April 22-23 he was appointed to, and accepted, the command of the state forces.  In so accepting he said:  “I devote myself to the service of my native State, in whose behalf alone will I ever again draw my sword."[141] April 24 a military league was formed between Virginia and the Confederate States, and her forces were placed