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

contamination OF all tnat HlaglndOe
OF human delusion and folly-the Legislature OF VIR-
GINA has borne the standard of open hostility to the
Union lar in advance of any other State. MISSISSIPPI
mas only suggested the ultimate resort as possible
The VIRGINIA Legislature has at once adopted 1t mas
not waited for the occasion to arise, which Mississippi
deemed only possible, but has jumped to the eoncu
sion, and anticipated the necessity by providing before
hand her share OF the machinery for the dissolution OF
the Union, to the oil the same pay and mlleaSe
members of the Legislature which is to make IL
work according to the wish OF its projectors"
We have rarely known extraordinary per-
version of language as is here exhibited The
Virginia resolutions expressly declare that, in three
yell defined contingencies, Virginia will unite with
the other save-holdng States, in Convention or
otherwise, Sin any measures that may be neces-
sary to provide for their mutual defence or to Sc
cure their common safety and the establishment
of Southern Confederacy was undoubtedly one
of the measures in the contemplation of the Le-
gislature, when it adopted this language. But
can it, with any justice be said, that the avowal
of readiness to form Southern Confede-
racy, when measures declared to be cause
of dissolution shall actually have been enact
ed, is an avowal of "open hostility to the
Union?" Suppose the measure declared to
be cause of dissolution were the abolition OF
slavery in the States, and Virginia were to say
Gas she has now sa d of the Wilmot Proviso, &C.
that, in case of the enactment of that measure she
would be ready for Southern Confederacy, would
the Intelligencer undertake to affirm that such an
announcement would be "open hostility to the
Unon?" We venture to say it would make no
such assertion. The only difference between the
cases is in the cause for which the State of Vir-
ginia would be prepared to dissolve the Union
The Intelligencer has not yet contended that the
three laws referred to in our resolutions ought to
be tamely submitted to. AND whatever the editors
may think on that subject, it is time they should be
assured that Virginia will not ANONYMOUSLY re-
treat from her position which she has thrice taken
The best preservatve of the Union will be to con-
vince the North that this is so. The National
Intelligencers arguments proceed upon the fatal
delusion that all the Southern States have re-
solved, is mere empty talk; and this too at the
untimey moment when prominent Northern
statesmen, urged bya conviction of the reality of
the crisis, are devisng and proposing measures to
conduct the government safely through it.
ERUPTION OF vEsUvIUS.
An eruption of the celebrated volcano Ves,lvus, has
ever been regarded epoch in history The steamer
Canada brings intelligence OF of these remark
able events letter frow Naples of the 9th Februa
ny, represents that the eruption had ust occurred"
and was " one OF the most magnificent ever seem" The
London correspondent of the National Intelligencer
says
"The eruption of Vesuvus has effected that which
nothing else has been able to eectthe removal of the
Pope from Napleshe is now living at the palace at
Capodi Monto where he can enjoy the magnificent
spectacle OF Vesuvius, without trembling at the dread
full roaring of the volcano fearing to be overwhelm
ed by the lava. The eruption said to be the most
splendid which has occurred for many years. The
ashes have been carried considerably more than twenty
miles. The lava has extended TO unusual distance
and large stones thrown to places which have hitherto
been Tree from their dangerous descent young Anne
rcan officer has been badly wounded and his life ia
despaired Of A young Pole has been killed, and ma
ny other casualties have taken place."
The return of His Holiness to Rome, is still however
matter of much doubt.
Another occurrence of extraordinary nature, hap
pened at Naples, day or two before the eruption
letter from Naples Of the 9th states that an event
stoned immense damage. The cellars of the Darsena
closed port, extend from the waters edge to con-
siderable distance under the principal buildings of this
city, including the magnificent palaces ofthe Princes of
Salerno and Capua, and the Kings palace In these
cellars warehoused 277,000 cantara of coal, and
on the morning of the I'd an explosion of fire damn
took place underneath the palaces of the Princes of Sa
lerno and Capua, which threw down large portions
OF the walls and was with difficulty that the nhabi-
tants escaped with their lives. Laborers we've imm d.
aey set to work to clear the cellars but on the morn
ing OF the 9th it was ascertained that the coal had ig-
nted and that there reason to fear that the
Kings palace and the church St Francesca de Paula
would be destroyed.