Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-16
THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.


to reafirm the resolutions which were solemnly
adopted, on the Goth of January, lS49, declaring
the determination of Virginia, in the event Of the
enactment by Congress Of aggressive laws, in re-
lation to slavery in the Territories the District
OF Columbia, to resist their execution sat all
hazards and to the last extremity" Having
questioned the expediency of making these legis
lative declarations, when they were under discus
sion last winter, on the ground that we believed
they would be interpreted by the North to convey
an unmeaning threat, Gan opinion which subse-
quent events have unhappily not proved to be un-
founded) we trust that we may now appeal,
with some effect, in behalf of their re-adoption, to
those who have entertained similar views to our
own.
1t must be recollected that these resolutions
were entered upon the journals of the General AS
sembly as the deliberate act of the State. They
affirmed, in effect the momentous proposition that
Virginia would withdraw from the Union, if GER
tain obnoxious measures should assume the form
of laws of the Federal Government The truth
of that single proposition, Invested of any state
ment of the considerations which sustained it, and
concerning which different minds might naturally
differ, will scarcely be controvered. Mr. Shef1ey,
of Augusta unquestionably uttered the sentiments
of the most moderate men of the State, when he
declared that although he had formerly opposed
the resolutions not asserting to all the principles
they asserted, he and his constituents would stand
by their declaration that Virginia will not count the
of of
upon Southern institutions. What remains, then,
to give 10 the announcement of our purpose that
weight which will impress its reality upon the
North? 1t is now too late to take the objection
that the resolutions may still be regarded as a
threat. IT it was a just view, in the beginning,
that it is unwise to anticipate violations of the con-
stitution, and to proclaim what course we should
adopt in case of their preparation, all the evil
suits Of that policy have already been experienced
1t remains to US only to dispel the incredulty with
which the manifestation of our intentions has been
received. And how can this be effected so surely
as by uNAN1MITY 5? fit be impossible for some
to affirm the abstract principles of constitutional
law, upon which the large ma ority are agreed,
there is no diversity of sentiment to the injustice
and insulting offensveness of the measures to
which VIC object /and the voice of Virginia may
at least be spoken, without solitary negative, in
nence of the Union will depend on its forbearance
10 press those measures upon us.
The language held by Southern Representatives
in Congress has undoubtedly produced a strong
impression in the Northern States, as is manifest
from the altered tone of some prominent journals
It's a-important that the bold stand they have as
sumed should be thoroughly sustained by the
South ITSELF in every form in which public opinion
can be manifested. Let the North once be con.
WINGED that, if it shall use its numerical majority
to pass laws which the South deems contrary to
the compromises of the constitution, the South will
feel itself constrained to put an end to the Confe-
deracy, and we cannot doubt that the hand of ag-
erosion will be stayed. We have never yielded
to those prejudices which too often lead Southern
men to indulge in indscriminate invectives against
the Northern people. We believe that it is the
accidental influence of a comparatively small band
of agators, standing between two nicely balanced
political parties, that has caused so much appa-
rent unanimty in the Northern States, with re-
gard to the Wilmot Provso and kindred measures.
When the South shall deliberately present to the
people of those States the issueef dissolution, as
the certain consequence ef~fhe acts, upon enforc
ing which they noW seem to be bent, we will moi
doubt that theywill prefer to live with us together
in amlty. And if they do not, we shall at least
have re consolation of knowing that our stand
was taken in time to save not only our honour but
(he safety of our fresdes. "
We come now to speak of the second PROPOSE
lion of the special committee of the House Of
Delegates, viz: that the State appoint nineteen
delegates to the Nashville Convention four to be
elected by the Legislature, and fifteen by the peo-
pie of the severalC Congressional districts.
In the outset, we must confess that we have
felt much difficulty in forming an opinion as te
this measure. On the one hand, we can readily
see that it might, if unwsely ordered, work in
finite injury; and, OH the other, we are persuaded
that, with proper guards against indiscretion, il
might be productive of much good. If the Con-
vention is merely to be an arena on which the most
fiery spirits OF the South may vent their EXTREMIST
declarations; if it is designed, in any degree, to
depart from the single object of securing a calm
conference between the Wisest intellects of the
South, as to the course which it behoves us tc
adopt in existing emergencies if above all, it in
wolves, however remotely, the idea of furnishing
a nucleus for the organization of Southern Con-
federacy then we utterly oppose it. But it is not
impracticable for Virginia to lead the way in pre-
scribing such safeguards against its possible evil
consequences, as will deprived of the elements of
danger. 1t was well remarked, by prominent
member of the prevailing party (hir. Ferguson)
in the House of Delegates on Saturday last, that
the proposition for Southern Convention, being a
new and important one, should not be decided upon
In haste and it was worthy of consideration whe-