Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-20
THE PURPOSE OF THE SOUTH.

of argument, against what it terms 'he evil of the
day" meaning thereby the assumed spirit of dis
union amongst portion of the Southern people,
which we cannot but consider well calculated to
hazard seriously the grave national calamity which
1t is doubtless the object of the editors to avert
Taking it for granted that the project of the Nash
vile Convention, and the resolutions of the Legis-
latures of Southern States, which declare that re-
sstance will be made to certain measures if enact
ed by Congress, have been prompted by direct
desire to dissolve the Union, they seem unwilling
to contemplate the existence in the South of a SEN
fi'rent Of unqualified attachment to the Union as ii
no10 rs, but Of t1ed determination not 10 submit to
the measures q, question, though resistance be tan
taount to ds1riion and all its tremendous conse-
quences. We beg the Intelligencer and all who
have patriotic concern for the safety of the Union,
to suppose simply for the sake of carrying the d.
tuan to its necessary result, that this sentiment is
really the prevailing sentiment of the Southern
States. 1t will be conceded, that, in the case as.
sumed, only two modes of dealing with such SEN
timent are open to those who wish to promote the
integrity of the Union One of these modes is,
distinctly to condemn the purpose of the Southern
States to abandon the Union, if the measures OBJ
jected to should take the formoflaws of Congress,
and to attempt to show that these measures are
right in themselves, or at least not rightfu or suf-
fcent causes of separation from the North But
the National lntelligencer has carefully refraned
from any such positive espousal, as this would be,
of the Wmot Proviso abolition in the District of
Columbia, and prohibition of the internal slave
trade. If journal, possessing the confidence of
alarge political party throughout the Union, were
thus openly to advise the South that it ought to
submit to either or all Of these encroachments it
would be equally advising the North to proceed to
their perpetration The other conservative mode
of dealing with the sentiment of love for the
Union as it is, but determination to end it when
either ofthe aggressons referred to shall have been
committed, is, frankly to admit the existence and
prevalence of that sentiment, and plainly to warn
the Northern States that they hazard the existence
of the Union by attempting the Legislation upon
apprehension of which the sentiment depends
With this warning, might be most appropriately
and efficiently united, an exposition to the North.
ern people that the South is not only content but
sedulously anxious to remain in the Union, and
hopes never to be driven.
And now it's surely important to enquire whe-
Their the sentiment, whose existence we have as
sumed, is not real, earnest: prevalent, and worthy
to be seriously regarded. We might refer to the
resolutions of the Legislatures of Southern States,
and show that, in every case, formal, explicit, and
solemn avowas of desire to preserve the Union
as it is, and as it will be without the imposition of
new conditions by Congressional legislation, are
connected with declarations that those new con-
dtons will not be submitted to- Confninp our
selves, however, to the late resolutions of the Ge-
neral Assembly of Virginia, it is sufficient for our
purpose to cite the first of the series. which is as
follows
Be it reSolred by The General ASSEMBLY of Virgi-
ma, That upon the questions thus perseveringly and
reckessly forced upon the country Virginia has taken
her position, and that position will be maintained Her
loyalty to the Union is no matter of empty profession
1t stamped upon every page OF her history No State
has done as much to form the Uaion none is prepar-
ed to do more to perpeuate 1t the spirit in aphich
i acas formed and in ,Dhch alone can be preserved
But loyal as she 49, and always has been it IA
tai to suppose that Virginia will ever consent that
that Union to which she has looked source of hap
pness und honor shall be converted into an instrument
OF degradation and oppression.
This resolution was unanimously adopted by the
two Houses. We need scarcely remark, that it
bears out fully our proposition that the sentiment
of Virginia. as expressed by her Legislature, is
firm devotion to the Union as it is, and as firm
purpose to give up the Union when the Federal
Government is subverted from its legitimate aims
by the enactment of certain aggressive laws Is
not the unanimous vote for this resolution, Given,
it should be remembered, deliberately, and when
l,,;c; &c
tions) conclusive evidence of the sinceritu of its
declarations? If so, it surely behoves those who
would treat this momentous subject fairly. and
with AUST hope of benefting the country, to al
low the State of Virginia credit for saying what
she really means.
But the National Intelligencer finds secret
and reasonable purpose in the third resolution of
the series, which, with the second, is as follows
p Resolved That in the event Of the passape of the
Wmot provso or of any law aboishing slavery in The
District OF Columbia, or in any manner Interfering with
The nights OF shareholders therein abolshng slavery
or the slave trade between the States Virginia aDU be
prepared TO unite acith her sister sLarehodng States
an Convention OR OTHERWISE, in the adoption of any
measures that may be necessary 10 prouide for their
mutual defence, or to secure their common safetu
g. ReS0L0ed That in the opinion of this General AS
sembly SOUTHERN CONVENTION, in which the States
States, represented, should consist of delegates
selected by the people OF the several States in Conuen-
ton assembled who should carry with them all the au-
ttority deriUed from such appointment, and BE
PREPARED TO ACT for those DhOm they represent.
This resolution, the Intelligencer says, 'carries
on the ailegory,' of the following passage in the
address adopted by the Mississippi Convention:
beside and beyond popular Convention of the
Jog the course Of aggression and if not practicable,
then TO concentrate the South in will understanding,
the possible ultimate resort the cali b. The Legistatyes
Of the aSsaIed States Of still more solem1 Gonpen
tonSsuch as should be regularly elected by the peo-
all the sovereign poseer Of the people SbonIJ IN tb
result such Conventions be called and meet tSsn MAN.
tfaa 10 ne regularly constituted Convention of ali
the dsSailed States. to pr0uide, the last resort f
their SEPARATE WELFARE, BY THE FORMATION OF A Con-