Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-05-04
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
ON THE LATE AGITATION IN THE SOUTH.


We heartily commend to perusal by every we'll
wisher to his country, and by every friend to the
Government of the United States as ii Is, the fol-
lowing patriotic letter from Mr.. RIvEs, our Minis
ter to France, which we find in the last number
of the Charlottesville (Va.) Advocate:
PARIS, MARCH 81, 1850.
MY Dean SIR cannot describe to you the deep mortl
caiOn and chagn with which read the accounts brought
by the successive Of the atcidal contests now
openly wsged Legislative halls between brethren and
representatives Of common country, and the levty with
which that word Of evil omen, disuon is echoed from
mouth to mouth. Many Of indeed, foresaw and predicted
that intestine controversies Of most angry character would
grow out OF the with Mexico, if that should terml-
nate as seemed probable in any large acquisition Of
territory from our feeble neghbor But had cert inly not
expected witness the melancholy spectacle which
is now presented of the National Legislature well as the
public authorities of many of the States cooy celebrating
upon the dissolution of the Unon which sealed with the
blood Of our fathers and which Destined they believed
and it has hitherto proved be the Of unnumbeed
blessings to their poseriy.
As to the immediate occasion of this painful and
exhibition, will say to you without reserve tna hooouy
reprobates heartily than do the conduct OF the asaos
of the Wot prouso and of the whole political movement
which disguised under the specous name OF treesohsm
The which they propose s in my humble Judgment
under the circumstances in which il is presented impressed
with the features Of faeous origin is nrlnslcay OPP
posed to the Just and equal spirit of institutions and is
moreover without any sound Interpretation Of the
text Of the constitution Let it. therefore, be resisted with
all the energy Of patiosm and by all ghtfu which
the constitution itself sanctions and supplies These means
are a-sufcen defeat and, if pursued in constitutional
and loyal spirit will infalbly defeat it. The position which
the slavehodng States should occupy mpregnabe one
by its simplicity well sefevdent justice Absolute non
inerueion the part Of Congress should be our motoo
Wot propiso no legislation ,uatep by Congress, either
to prohibit or introduce slavery in the new Terrific
RES Leave them the natural and spontaneous course Of
things and the people who settle the country the I'M
impaired liberty, when the time arrives to establish pema
nent Government for themselves, exclude to permit
slavery, them may seem good, and as it will then be
their unquesionabe right freely decide If go beyond
this and demand of Congress any acton whatever in aid Of
the shment Of slavery any portion of the Territories
in question: abandon the great principle of nonnterue-
o which alone constitutes safety and the invincble
justice Of our
have seen with infinite regret that have been
proposed in beloved Commonwealth looking to an
eventual dissolution Of the Unon and that have made
the bold experiment Of attempting to atter her pride with the
idea of being the pioneer and leader in this ngorous work
Surely this aro which does not belong to Virginia The
State which, Of all others, most instrumental, under
Providence calling the Union into existence should least
of ALL if consider historical propey aone be expected
to lead the way in its destruction But beyond this, and sup
posing possible, for moment, that Vrgnians could ever
forget sacred allegiance which their fathers to the
Union the ark of safety and which has de.
scended upon with redoubed obligations since have
lived to the wonderful and unparalleled of national
greatness which has opened to the whole country any
be blind to the especial and vtal interest
which Virginia has in the maintenance and preservation of
the Union
She is geographically, she long and may again be
politically the centre of the federal system The liberal and
enlightened policy of her Legislators has of late years. been
rapidly making her, what Nature designed her to be, the
thoroughe and rendezvous Of great and united sister
hood Of States Her great lines of railway from north to
south and from to west already completed in pro.
gress under the noble and muncen provision recently made
by the Legislature intended be the Of
great continental intercourse both of travel and of commerce.
between the Of empire extending from
the Lakes the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Into what ridiculous but costly and ruin
aborons would they dwnde, if Virginia. instead Of be-
ing the horoughe and in sort the entrepot OF the
continent enriched by the currents of free and Nnhacked
intercourse passing through her BOSOM to become border
State standing the edge of divided Confederacy, and
looking the contiguous territory of foreign and posi-
bly, hostile States both 10 the north and the West-Iof nou
be absolutely certain that neither Maryland Kentucky
can ever be drawn into any scheme Of disunion.
In exchange these and the other precious advantages OF
her position central State Of the Unon what has V
gina to gain by joining Southern Confederacy Will she
have any security for the legal rights Of property con-
nected with institution Of slavery when the whole North
and be thrown open fugitive slaves without any
obligation whatever and certainly without any disposition to
them than she has while those States are bound
by constitutional stipulation for their surrender ln regard
to commerce. what trade have we have, with the
South, to be compared to growing and valuable trade
with the North future prolific trade with the est
when great lines railway communication are completed
to the Ohio and Mississippi and the free and unrestricted
trade secured by the constitution with the whole
Unon the South itself included 1t to foresee, if the
species Of sacrege and Southern Confederacy be formed
Of It's ruins that the production and commerce Of cotton
would be the great material interest," the memorable Jger
maui which every thing else would be sacrificed in the
confederacy. The planters and farmers Of Virginia
best know how far they would be likely profit by
elusive policy Of that sort.
We have sometimes been told Of the advantageous treaties
of commerce which the South, separate Condeacy
would be able form with foreign Powers particularly Eng
land. Let Virginia beware! We well conceive why
England should grant free admission 10 cotton, the
tera Of by far the largest branch of her manufactures and
might hold out in prospecveI the deceptive lure of
general free trade with Southern Confederacy as means Of