The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-30

questions which have unhappily divided the
country The noble and patriotic sentiments which
1t contains will receive hearty response from his
fellow-countrymen, who, we are proud TO say, have
already endorsed, by large majority, his views
upon the value Of the Union, and the dangerous
character of the convention proposed to be held at
Nashville.
In times of great peril to institutions, when
the very existence Of the Union is threatened, every
lover of that Union should contribute his part to-
wards its preservation, and rejoice that Mr..
Rives has stepped forward to take counsel with his
countrymen upon the momentous issues OF the day.
Although banshed for time from his country, he
feels the less interest in her prosperity and
welfare, but, the contrary, his sympathies in
every thing relating to her are quickened by resi-
dence in a foreign land. We know that Mr.. Rives
will rejoice to learn that since the date of his let
ter, better counsels have prevailed in Congress, and
that serious danger to the Union is no longer to be
apprehended.
Paris, March 81, 1880
MY DEAR Sin II cannot describe to you the deep
modification and chagrin with which ! read the ac
counts brought by successive steamers, of the frat
ricidal contests now openly waged in our legisla
tive halls between brethren and representatives of
common country, and the levity with which that
word of evil omen, disunion, is now echoed from
mouth to mouth. Many Of us, indeed, foresaw and
predicted that intestine controversies Of most an
cry character would grow out of the war with
Mexico, if that war should terminate, as seemed
most probable, in any large acquisition Of territory
from our feeble neighbor. But had Certainly not
expected to witness soon the melancholy specta-
Gle which is now presented of the national legisa-
ture, as we'll the public authorities of many Of
the States cooly celebrating upon the dissolution
Of the Union which was sealed with the blood of
our fathers, and which was destined, as they be-
eved, and it has hitherto proved, to be the
of unnumbered blessings to their posterity.
AS to the immediate occasion Of this painful and
unnatural exhibition, will say TO you, without
serve, that nobody rcprobates more heartily than
do the conduct Of the agitators Of the Hilmot pro-
viso and of the whole political movement which is
The measure which they propose is in my humble
Judgment, under the circumstances in which it is
presented impressed with the worst features OF fac
tious origin s intnsicaly opposed to the just and
equal spirit of institutions, and is moreover,
without warrant in any sound Interpretation of the
text Of the Constitution. Let 1T, therefore, be re-
sisted with all the energy of patriotism and by all
rightfu means which the Constitution itself sane
tons and supplies These means are all-sufficient
to defeat, and, if pursued in constitutional and
loyal spirit will infalbly defeat it. The position
which the slaveholding States should occupy is an
impregnabc one, by its simplicity as well as self
evident justice. absolute Intervention on the
part of Congress should be motto-no W'ilmot
roUis0, Liquidation phateper by Congress, either to
prohibit TO introduce slavery in the new Terrific
ries. Leave them to the natural and spontaneous
course of things, and TO the people who may settle
the-country, the unimpaired liberty, when the time
arrives to establish permanent government for
themselves, to exclude or to permit slavery, as to
them may seem good, and as 1t will then be their
upQucstionable right freely to decide If we go be-
You'd this. and demand of Congress any action
whatever in aid of the establishment of slavery in
any portion of the Territories in question, aban
don the great principle Of non Intervention, which
alone constitutes our safety and the lnvinclbe JUS
tice of our cause.
have seen, with infinite regret that measures
have been proposed in our own beloved common
wealth looking TO an eventual dissolution of the
Union, and that some have made the bold expert
ment Of attempting TO Halter her pride with the idea
of being the pioneer and leader in this inglorious
work! Surely this is a role which does not belong
to Virginia. The State, which Of all others was
most instrumental, under Providence, in calling
the Union into existence, should least OF all, II we
consider historical propriety alone. be expected to
lead the way in its destruction. But beyond this,
and supposing it possible, for moment, that Vir-
ginians could ever forget the sacred allegiance
which their fathers swore to the Union as the ark
of our common safety, and which has descended
upon us with redoubed obligations since we have
lived 10 sec the wonderful and unparalleled career
OF national greatness which it has opened to the
whole country any one be 80 blind as not To see
the especial and uitai interest which Virginia has
in the maintenance and preservation Of the Union!
She is geographically, as she long was and may
again be politically, the centre of the federal sys-
tern. The liberal and enlightened policy Of her
Legislators has, Of late years, been rapidly making
her what nature designed her TO be, the thorough
fare and rendezvous OF our great and united sister
hood Of States Her great lines of railway, from
north to south and from east 70 west, already com
pleted or In progress under the noble and munih-
cent provision recently made by the Legislature,
we're Intended 10 be the avenues Of a great CONT
mental intercourse, both OF travel and OF commerce.
between the remotest extremes Of an empire ex-
theI tot lfofM
from the Atlantic TO the Pacific ocean. Into what
ridiculous but costly and ruinous abortions would
they dwindle If Virginia. instead of being the tho
roughfare, and, in some sort, the entrepot Of the
continent, enriched by the currents Of free and
unshackled intercourse passing through her bosom,
IL 10 become a border State, standing on the edge
of divided confcdcracy. and looking out on the
contiguous territory OF foreign, and possibly hostile
States, both 10 the North and the West-for hold
II to be absolutely certain that neither Maryland
Kentucky can ever be drawn into any scheme
of disunon.
In exchange for these and the other precious
advantages OF her position as the central State Of
the Union, what has Virginia 10 gain by joining a
southern confederacyi Will she have any more
security for the legal rights Of property connected
with the institution OF slavery, when the whole
North and northwest will be thrown open to fugi.
tive slaves without any obligation whatever, and
certainly without any disposition TO restore them
than she now has while those States are bound
by constitutional stipulation for their surrender
In regard 10 commerce., what trade have We, OF
we have, with the South 10 be compared 10 our
growing and valuable trade with the North, oui
future prolific trade with the West, when grca
lines OF railway communication completed u
the Ohio and Mississippi, and the free and unre
stricted trade now secured 10 US by the Constitu.
ton with the whole Union, the South itself in
cluded. II IL easy 10 foresec If the Union should
ever be dissolved, (the suppositon itself lie spe.
cies Of sacrilege,) and a southern oonfederacy be
formed out Of its ruins, that the production and
commerce Of cotton would be the great maferia
interest the memorable Juggernaui, 70 which every
thing else would be sacrificed in the new confed
eracy. The planters and farmers Of Virginia bcs
know how far they would be likely 10 profit by an
exclusive policy Of that sort.
We have sometimes been told Of the advanta.
geous treaties Of commerce winch the South,
separate confederacy, would he able 10 form with
foreign powers-particulsrly England. Let Vir-
ginia beware. We can well conceive why Eng
land should grant free admission 10 cotton, ID,
raw material OF, by far the largest branch Of hei
manufactures, and might even hold out, in proc
pcctvc, the deceptive lure Of general free trad,
with a southern confederacy, a means Of divid
ing the American Union and OF securing the exclu
sve possession Of the markets Of southern States for
the consumption Of her manufactures. The Unifec