Tyler proposed a peace conference to be held in Washington, D.C., that could work out a way to avoid a civil war. The Virginia legislature approved his idea and Tyler went to Washington to meet with President Buchanan. In February 1861, the peace commission met and elected Tyler as their president. However, the commission could not stem the tide, as several Southern states seceded from the Union. Tyler grew dissatisfied with the commission’s progress and later voted against the proposal from the peace commission. Tyler eventually supported Virginia’s move to secede from the Union.