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

severally formed. If, in addition, proper spirit
of iberality be displayed in the appointment of the
four delegates at large, so as to secure the move
ment from any infusion of party politics, much
will be accomplished to make it acceptable.
tits worthy of remark.that the plan of holding a
Southern Convention in June next, without regard
to the intermediate action of Congress, is some
what different from the course contemplated by
| the resolutions of our Legislature, the slmuta-
neous reaffirmation of which is proposed. The
resolutions of l847-S, adopted again in l84S-9,
declared, indeed, that the passage OF the Wilmot
Proviso would make it ''the duty of every slave
holding State and of all the citizens thereof, as
they value their dearest privileges, their sovereign
ty, their independence their rights of property, to
take firm, united and concerted action in this emer-
gency" The original resolutions, however, did
not prescribe any specific mode of taking that ac-
ton, and this omission was supplied in the follow
ing additional resolution, adopted at the session of
| 1889:
3. RESOLVED, That in the event OF the passage by
Congress of the Wilmot Proviso, any law aboshng
slavery or the slave trade in the District OF Columbia,
the Governor OF this Commonwealth is requested I'M
shall have adjourned to consider OF the mode and nea-
| sure OF redress.
| This resolution undertook that the General As
senbly should, upon the passage of the Wilmot
Proviso, abolition of slavery the District of Co
umbia, determine in what manner Virginia would
maintain her declaration ofresistance, and obvious
ly did not contemplate any preceding measure like
that of Southern Convention. We remember
that in our eyes, it was cause of objection to the
resolutions that they did thus omit all provision
for ensuring the cooperation Of other States. If,
as we have before remarked, the Convention
movement should be discreetly managed we think
it might supply what was an important defect in
the original projet. But, at present advised,
we hesitate to giveitan unconditional assent, await
rg better proofs than we we now have of its con-
| sentative tendencies.
1t isnot without interest, in connection withthis
subject, to be reminded, that a Convention of
Southern States was looked forward to, by the ad-
vocates of the Virginia resolutions, to accomplish
very different purpose from that now assigned to
| it. The reader will see, by the following para
graphs, which we extract from the Richmond En-
quirer of December 29th lS48, that it was not
designed that Convention should be held before,
but after, the passage of the obnoxious laws by
Congress- that its function was to be TO persuade the
North TO repeolthem, and, finally, thatfit refused a
future Legislature was to determine the mode and
measure of redress:
"The resolutions reported by Mr. Floyd have been
objected to as threatening dsunion and civil war in case
the Wilmo Proviso should become a law. These are
dire alternatives, which the mind shrnks from contem
plating with horror. We acknowledge that the grave
issue may be presented and is which we fear the
people OF this State may be called upon 10 decide,
should the free States Of the North persist in their mad
designs For ourselves are free present views
| to whatever weight they may be entitled, to the
course which we think the South ought to pursue,
case the attempt at oppressive legislation by Congress
on the subject OF slavery shall be successful frankly,
fully, explicitly. After such mature and deliberate
Election the importance OF the subject demands, we
have to the conclusion that there certain laws,
to which, if they should be enacted by Congress- the
South, under circumstances ought permanently to
submit We enumerate them as follows
l. law in any manner interfering with the institu-
ton OF slavery in the States.
| 2. A law prohibiting the slave trade between the
States.
g. law abolishng slavery or the slave trade in the
District OF Columbia.
4. A law prohibiting slavery in the territories
owe are not the adcocates OF immediate dislnon
upon the passage Of any Of these Objectionable laws-
We yield to no one in ardent attachment and devotion
votion until the Union shall become a curse in
stead of blessing We should bish therefore, to see
euery imaginable means resafled to in order to apert
so dreadful catdstrophe I'VE should be IN faror of
general convention Of the South, and of Tie slape-
holdins States. Let such convention try what can be
effected by expostulaton, remonstrance, atorewarnng
OF the ieafiu consequences OF such oppressive egsla
ton. Let them remind our Northern brethren OF the
difficulties which this subject OF slavery presented to the
iiusrous trainers of the constitution; OF the compro
misses then solenny entered into let them remind them
hn
blood of the stakeholder mingled with theirs against
common foe Of the past gories of the Union of the
fidelity OF the constitution and attachment to the Union
always manifested by the South; and, hnaly, let them
tell them in language which cannot be misunderstood
that the South submit TO injustice oppression
and dishonor and that the severance of the Union will
be inevitable unless immediate eparaton shall be made
by repeal ofthe law complained Of
"Should these and similar means fail in healing the
| breach-whaever others may thnk-however much
we may be denounced disunionsts, we say, in the
strong and emphatic language of Mr. Sanards resoll-
ton, Virginia have difficulty in choosing be-
tween the only alternative that vii then remaino alb
ject submission to aggression and outrage the one
hand, determined resistance the other, at all
HAZARDS, and to the last extremity
Every few il any, Southern men would be willing to
submit to the three rst forms OF interference by Con-
gress with the institution OF slavery enumerated by
We are aware that there many who think that a
quiet admission TO the Wilmot Proviso far preferable
to dissolution OF the Union. If such be the general
sentiment of the people of the South far be from
endeavour to change that sentiment those who are
better capable Judging of her interests than ourselves
particularly those who have the management Of affairs
think that she can retreat with honor and with safety
from the position which she has so solemnly TAKEN we
will be the last to nterpose any objection"
And, again, in an article of the following day,
the Enquirer said:
"We do not understand Mr.. Floyds resolutions as
positively declaring that Virginia aoM dissope the
Union resort to ciuH oar, the Vilnot Pro-
measure Of redress left to future Legislature
be specially called for that purpose to determine. The
Legislature merely undertake to speak what they be-
lieve to be the sentiment Of the people Of Virginia"
Mr.. Venable'S RecuSancy.
We insert in another column, card from Mr..
Venable, of North Carolina, who seems to be held
principally responsible for the election of Wing