The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-23

That we may not do injustice 10 our conlen-
porary on this subject, we copy so much OF his
leading article in Fridays paper as is sufficient
TO establish our allegation
"We will proceed to state how far we concur
with him. before we touch the only point on which
we respectfully dissent. We agree with him that
il is highly necessary and expedient that the Lee
gislature of Virginia should take this subject Of
agitation upon the rights OF slavery into consd-
Grafton; that measures should be devised to check
this agitation in the North, and to bring about, if
practicable union and harmony of action among
all the States Of the Republic TO this end; that the
action of Vermont is alarming and most retracto
ry and calls for prompt and etfectual reputation
on the part of every other State in the Confedera
CIV; and that the Legislature of Virginia ought to
unite i'll an earnest appeal to all the Southern
States wait patiently the further progress of at
fairs, and, whatever ID resolved on, to let the
Southern States march firmly and tremendously
together in the path that duty to themselves and
10 the Union constrains them to adopt; if that
path lead to acquiescence, to tread it hand in
hand; if TO resistance, to march shoulder TO shout
der into the breach. Thus far we agreeE-thus far
we happily pursue the same road together.
awe come now to the point from which we dis
sent. That points the recommendation for a call
of National Convention, to meet early-perhaps
as early as in May next. We cordially approve
the plan of holding Convention OF all the States,
if any such Convention be deemed necessary
Sectional Conventions, in the present crisis OF the
country, are partial and Intellectual remedies
They produce little il any good. Whatever
is done should be radical and effective.
"The chief grounds on which we object to a Ma
tonal Convention at SO early day are these: |.
The time is too short TO organize the movement,
some time being essential even for Virginia to
prepare the proposition to be submitted &c &c.
Now, on all these points we differ from the
Union We think that there has been aglta-
ton enough on the subject of slavery, and that
Virginia will do much better by turning her
attention To her internal improvements, and
other interests, than by pow-wowlng over
slavery.
As for devising measures TO ''check this agl-
tation' in the North, it is pretty well that
politician, who has been frightening the little
children of Virginia into fits for the last fifty
years by his horrid bugbear OF JOHN ApAMs's
s.Sediton Law" should encourage the adop-
ton of any such measure in the year 1880, to
stop peoples mouths on the subject of slavery,
or any other subject.
As for the action of VERMONT being 50 alarm
ing and most refractory" is not this the very
madness of the moon? Her own constables
will keep VERMONT in order, and our venerable
contemporary need not be in the least alarmed.
AS for the action of VERMONT calling for
prompt reputation" from every Siate-this
is all rank nonsense. The question raised by
nullifiers in Vermont is precisely that raised by
nulifers in South Carolina-lt is between Yer
mont and the General Government. The other
States have nothing To do with 1t as States,
though we all at liberty TO laugh at legisa
tors who have put Vermont into a humiliatng
and ludlcrous position.
As for the 9 earnest appeal of Virginia TO all
the Southern States to wait PATIENTLY we can
not but regard 1t as quite unnecessary. They
are waiting patiently already, saving only our
sister South Carolina They require no ex-
hortation from Virginia to this end; but, on the
contrary can turn round to the Old Dominion
and beg her not to be in such hurry.
Whatever is resolved OF" says the Union,
"let the Southern States march firmly and
tremendously togetherW Whatever is re-
solved on, say we, let the Northern, and West
ern. and Southern, and Atlantic, and Pacific
States march firmly and tremendously to
gether! To attain this result, let good, and
wise, and patriotic men of all parties rally upon
the ground which President FILLMORE exhorts
his countrymen to rally upon and maintain las
the best if not the only means of restoring peace
and quiet 10 the country, and maintaining in
violate the integrity Of the Union" If on
this basis the peace and unity Of the nation
cannot be preserved, it is in vain to hope for
their salvation from the action Of sectional or
national conventions.
New htimatlmls, new conditions, new me
naces, new discussions, new conventions, are
mere devices to Prolong and perpetuate agita-
ton.