Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-03
Richmond, Thursday, Jan. 3.
COURSE OF VIRGINIA.


upon her duties and her measures. The interes
she excites is very intense.
Some of the Federal papers TO the North charg,
her with arrogance. Some accuse her of an atemp
to play the Umpire. But she has never assumed
this office. Others charge her even with presume
ton, in wishing to mediate between the contendins
parties. Mr. Walsh draws hair-breadth distinctions
ON the occasion and AYERS that, 'strctly speaking
Virginia cannot mediate; that she only inter
cede, INTERFERE interpose intern,edde." This il
trifiing refinement 1t is well understood i'm villa
light she places herself-not as guaranteeing"-
not as assuming an ultimate responsibility"
SIMPLY as throwing herself between the conteudina
parties-and trying TO produce a pause, and make
peace between them. True other States may dc
the same. Virginia does not deny their rights
but why should not she act Are there not indeed
peculiar reasons why she should do so "Vir
ginia (says correspondent has alcays been fore
most IN the great struggle for the Rights of the
States. She is one among the aggrieved. She holds
by her commanding position i'm the centre of the
Sea-line of the Union, an influence upon her RICH
hand and upon her left. Like France in the centre
Oh inc great European powers, she is destined (said
the sagacious Able Correa) by her very position al.
ways TO have great weight among her sister States
she stands as bold promontory between two
contending oceans; and L trust she will success
iully stay the silent encroachments of the one and
Inc disturbed and restless movements of the other
Let her act as becomes herewith moderation but
with hrmness. Let her not countenance the un-
worthy ndrection of the doctrines of Modification
that mule remedy which is neither one thing nor
totler, or rather that masked MeduSa which speaks
peace when 1t means not peace;-but let her seek
Also to press upon her sister States in General Con-
vention such amendments as will present success
iu Duwarks for the Rights of the States, and secure
u minority from the tyrannous domination of infer
estcd maJorities and from the expressions and ex-
actions of selfish legislation"
but there are other reasons which apply with still
peculiar and irresistible force to her situation Her To-
caly gives her every inducement to preserve this
chr
Sate--the battles ground perhaps of three new con-
Iederacies-worse even than the Northumber-
land OF old England. She finds in this relative 81
tuatlon the strongest reason, and with all liberal
men, the best apology for our intermediation Let
us make peace, then, and save the Union Our own
interests combine with those of all America to call
upon us for this patriotic effort
In what shape this effort will be made it is inn
possible for us to say. 1t would require the spirit
oil Dvination itself to predict what course our L.
gislature will pursue There are so many proieis
before them--so many clashing views-such di-
versity of political interests. We had hoped that
the course was marked out before us by pencil of
hght-that we should have protested in the strong-
est terms against the Tarff-and instructed our Sc
majors, &c. to urge its immediate reduction-that
we should have reprobated in the most decided
manner the remedy of Notification, and respect
fully requested South Carolina to suspend her
Ordinance, and await the result of another combin-
cd effort for removing the evil of which the whole
South complains-That should re-assert i'm the
most emphatic terms our Resolutions of '99-pro-
testing most firmly and distinctly against so much
OF the Proclamation, clashes with the 3D. Resolu-
ton OF 99, respecting the origin of the Federal COM
pact aud the right ofhe States Judge and pterpose
for arresting the withdrawing at the same time.
That the South Carolina doctrine is illegtrnate
and dangerous inference from this resolution. We
might make this disclaimer in the most friendly
manner towards the President-and not even our
gratitude or respect for the man. or the confidence
we repose i'll his patriotism, ought to seal our lips up
an this great subject. We ought never to let il 20
out to the General Government that we can acol-
esce either in the Tariff, in this erroneous doc
trlne OF the Northumberland we ought TO extin-
gush Tor ever, all hopes which the Nuiers of S.
carolina may entertain, that we will counlenance
Tor one moment their heresy or their precipation
We should have hoped, that nothing could induce
Virginia to abandon fail to maintain these several
positions, with the frankness which belongs to her
character. She might do it without breathing any
thing offensive to either party-to the President of
our choice, or TO one of the sisters of this Republic
There is too much truth in the following sketch.
drawn OF our situation, in a letter from Washington
OF 29ih December, published in the Baltimore Ga
zette y
Every thing will depend upon tho stand which is "a
Ken by that State, (Vgina) Her attitude present
that OF mediator though partial and prciudiccd one
M 70 be regretted that some OF the doctrines advanced
IN the Presidents Proclamation have given states
men oil Virginia difficult part play But probable
that their attempts at mediation will be in such
manner by the Nuifers, induce them finally 10 pur
sue an Independent aud impartial course In no state of
the Union IS there more patriotism, political inel
gence' or more regard TO political principle, than in the
Old Dominon and it proper Difference Is paid her as
the head OF the Southern States aud a" the mother of the
Gracchn" the country may yet be safe
Heaven grant il may he so!-and if we mediate
in proper spirit we have every hope that The coun
try may get be sdued
But whilst such are own views-vews which
we express with all the Difference which becomes us
but which at this time we il TO our fellow ct-
zensfrankly to expressive have no idea Tint thew
VIII perfectly agree with the opinions of any
We can scarcely hope from the vast variety of views
we have heard expressed that they can square with
the opinions of majority of the Legslature--an
IN fact we should deceive our readers, if we nj
tempted to form any antcipations of the course
which will be ultimately adopted Time alone can
solve the problem.
GEORGIA,
The Mules in he Legislature towards the close of