He was the main-spring of the movement in favor of lawless separation; for the furtive, restless, unscrupulous man had a talent for intrigue which rendered him dangerous at a crisis of such a kind.

In his absence the feeling cooled.

The convention met in September, 1787, and acted with order and propriety, passing an act which provided for statehood upon the terms and conditions laid down by Virginia.

The act went through by a nearly unanimous vote, only two members dissenting, while three or four refused to vote either way.

Both Virginia and the Continental Congress were notified of the action taken.
The only adverse comment that could be made on the proceedings was that in the address to Congress there was expressed a doubt, which was almost equivalent to a threat, as to what the district would do if it was not given full life as a state.