Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-12-03

oh peace over bloodshed and fire. Their defeat is
the knell OF the Union tor it the fanatics OF the North
into the halls oil congress with power 70 control
the action Of few years only will eapse, before they
will throw aside every appearance OF restraint and
abolish slavery in the states. With the alternative
presented US, of submission to this action or DIS
solution OF the Union there would not be one voice
raised in favor OF that Union for which there are now
so many thousands who would shed their blood.
Surely, after the sacrifices the South has made It IS
asking little when she demands OF congress to be ialt-
tul to the pledges it has given, and OF the non-saVe
holding states to abide by the constitution OF the coun-
try, and the laws made declaratory OF its obgations
If, however, consideration of prudence or patrl-
otism can restrain the majority from the non-slave.
holding states their headlong career OF usurpation
and wrong; and should they repeal or essentially mo-
dfy the fugitive slave law the most prompt and deci-
sive action will be required at your hands In eluler
event | would earnestly recommend, that conven-
ton OF the people be called at once TO take INTO cons
Iteration the mode and measure ofredress, aswel as
the means OF providing tor our future security and
peace.
Virginia. in this event. will have nothing to reproach
herself with, however much she may have to regret
She has advocated the principles OF tree and constu-
tIonal government with unwayerlng irmness Neither
the menaces nor the arms OF Great Britain could ex-
tnguish the love of liberty in her bosom; and hen the
federal government usurped an authority, which threat
ened our independence, she stood the champion OF
popular supremacy and saved the constitution Let not
the advocates of freedom fear that Virginia will
fater in her support of the great cardinal principles OF
repubcanism liberty and equality these she will main
the earth The time she may select, and The manner
she may adopt, will be marked by cautious circum-
specton not the less resoute firm because the
deliberate. Virginia feels especial interest in the
Union of these states; upon the brightest pages Gifts
history her name is written in letters that never
fade We know its greatness, and feel that eulo-
gst is needed to proclaim its glory.
From the frozen SUBMITS OF N orway to the crowded
plains Of China the denzens OF that vast region come
ockng to our shores; and from Old Point Comfort to
the Bay OF San Francisco they are welcomed to the
fraternity of countless population, happy, prosperous
and free 1t is hallowed in its associations; for Wash
ngton stood godfather for it at the baptsma font of
the nation, whilst the sisterhood of states around
still clad in the habiments ofmournng for their chill
den, who had died sacrifice for the blessed BOOM
All that is ennobng in the bosom of men, all that is
pure and elevated in the character OF patriot, all that
is cherished and dear to the affections OF the citizen,
plead for the preservation OF that constitution and that
Union which the sacrilegous hands Of fanatca abo-
tonism are attempting to level with the dust. Should
these attempts succeed in destroying the equilibrium
established, the fabric itsefmust fall PROSTATE to
the earth. 1t will longer be the agis ofour Defence
but the spear for our destruction.
Nothing, however venerable from its antiquity or
hallowed by the sacred remembrances of the past can
commend itself to the support of any people, when in
stead OF benefits it brings along with it, injustice oppres
sion and wrong.
That Union which Washington invoked his country
men to preserve, there is no true patriot who would
not die to defend. The w ion which anatcism would
establish in its stead there is no true that should
not die to overthrow.
December I'd, 1850. JOHN B. FLOYD.