If he had remained in the national army until the people of Virginia voted on the ordinance of secession, the strength of the Union cause in his State would have been greater.
If he had chosen, as a citizen of Virginia, to stand by the Union until his State decided against him, secession might have been defeated.

It is fair that his action should be clearly understood, and that his name should bear the just responsibility.
THE SECESSION OF VIRGINIA.
All pretense of a fair submission of the question to popular vote was finally abandoned, and the abandonment practically proclaimed in a letter of Senator James M.Mason, which was published on the 16th of May, some ten days in advance of the election.

"If it be asked," wrote Mr.Mason, "what those shall do who cannot in conscience vote to separate Virginia from the United States, the answer is simple and plain.

Honor and duty alike require that they should not vote on the question, and if they retain such opinions they must leave the State." Mr.Mason thus accurately defined what the South understood by the submission of secession ordinances to popular vote.

It meant that a man might vote for an ordinance but not against it; if he desired to vote against it, and persisted in the desire, he should leave the State.