The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-27

, The letter of our correspondent from Virginia
will attract attention. The writer is too just
and intelligent man, and too experienced and
disinterested an observer TO allow us TO douol
that he has presented true analysis OF The char
acter Of the recent elections in Virginia, and OF
, the state of parties and opinion there. We, at
least, have no right to call in question his con-
illusions lie is one of those who aim at the
union of the South, and believe such union is
attainable We are willing TO believe in it too,
and TO labor for affecting that contamination ;
and we only wish to see the means by which IT
may be accomplished, in order To adopt them as
our symbols. The separate secession of the
State is decided against but there must be some
measure, far short of downright submission, that
will yet be presented for the consideration Of
South Carolina; and for ourselves we are pre-
pared to sustain whatever tends to final liberation
from the control of hostile federal government
With this feeling, we contemplate with no slight
interest the prospect of Virginia politics as
presented by our respected correspondent
Correspondence Of the Mercury.
RICHMOND, Va
The results of the recent Congressional cleo
tons in this State, augur we'll for the future
maintenance of Southern rights. These cleo
tons, and not those for the State legislature,
furnish true Indications of public opinion on
this subject Nearly all of the late members of
Congress from Virginia voted against all the diff
ferent bills save one, which together made up
the compromise" One only, Raymond, from
the district bordering on Ohio, voted for all these
bil!s--and Notwithstanding his locality, he has
been routed, and an anti-compromse competitor
elected in his place. With but one exception,
every member who opposed all these Except
the fugitive slave bill, the only one offering any
thing to the South has been elected by an
Increased majority. In this Wing district, and
! in which this city has so powerful an influence
| against the South and where the cause OF South
ern rights was deemed almost desperate for the
present, Mr. Caskie, who, talented as he is, was
scarcely known to the public, is elected by near
ly 500 majority over the veteran Bolts, the idol
of his friends and the absolute dictator to his
enemies in his own party. In every contested
district, the Southern rights candidates were de-
nounced and opposed as disunlonlsts;" and
the still magical influence of, and veneration for
the word Union" were used to the fullest ex-
tent to bear them down.
| The value of these results can scarcely be
appreciated at your distance from the scene of
action. In South Carolina there prevails gen.
orally great mistake as to the true character
of the submit ,son" or "acquescent men in
this State, which my opportu mites for personal
inquiry aud examination have enabled me to
correct for myself The action Of the Virginia
legislature in the last Nhe submission) resolu-
tons adopted, might we'll induce the mistaken
views prevailing abroad. Far be it from me, to
defend or even excuse these degrading resolu
tions-which are altogether ndefensble and in
excusable. Still, they were not indications of
popular opinion-nor even OF the opinions of
most of the members, who voted for them,
merely because they were afraid, by voting
against them, to incir bringing on themselves
the mad-dog" cry of "dsunion." The two old
parties, Wing and Democratic, are nearly equal
in Virginia, though the latter is and always has
been the most numerous The then approach
ing change Of the State constitution with the
consequent accession of very large proportion
of new voters, offered favorable opportunity
for the Wings to attempt to gain the ascenden-
cy. For this purpose, they devised and offered
the first form of the submission resolutions,
which were made so Objectionable Gas the
schemers hoped) to the Democratic majority, as
would Induce the latter to reject them. But
i the Democrats were lot to be so entrapped
8 They referred the plan to committee, and
modified the language so far as to make it Demo
o. cratic property, and offered il TO the first nom
. inees; and the resolutions, which really were
Objectionable to nearly all passed both houses
4 with the consent of nearly every member OF
both parties The whole object of the Wings
was TO obtain a chance to charge the Democrats
with entertaining disunion sentiments-and Of
the Democrats to show that they were good
Unionists as the Wings. But even the fear:
entertained of popular influence were misplaced
i as has been clearly proved by the recent eec
I tons for Congress, where the supposed holding
of dsunion sentiments, and the avowed asser
n ton of the right of secession, were made the
| If oh and of trim of
q Southern rights candidate.
If But the main part Of the general mistake ex
isting as to Virginia, (and as | thence infer, o
the other Southern States,) is, in supposing tina
those who have submitted to, or aequiesced in
. the compromise measures, are therefore the az
4 provers and supporters Not so, in the least
g. 1t is true that nearly all of the Wing party
10 and many ALSO of the Democratic, so far, hav
acted differently from all avowed opinions il
u South Carolina, in expressing preference 70
submitting to the compromise, if maintained il
its integrity, to present dissolution of tn
7e Union. Veneration for the Union-justly place.
formerly, for the constitutional and equal Union
and superstitiously adhering to the name, afte
g the substance has been destroyed remain
Of and governs, not only the slavish in spirit, o
Northern in attachment and feeling, but ais
g. many thousands of men who are true Southern
d defenders Of the South, when they shall Raw
learned, as they assuredly will, that there is NJ
Justice to be obtained from the North, and NJ
IL union remaining except of Southern bondsmel
IN to Northern masters and oppressors. While
la ge majority of the people of Virginia, ar
$ thus still for clinging to the Union, so long a
there is hope for any thing like justice and equal
A ty for the South, nearly all of the majority vii
. change their attitude, Ohey have TO change no
. thing Of principle,) as soon as they find thei
IN hopes altogether vain. There is no party dp
prouing the compromise. | have yet to NEE
10 with the first individual who avows himself al
> approver. Mr.. Bolts may be an exception
a charged by some Of his opposers, but not to M
70 knowledge; and if so, he is the only exception
. known to me. There are, doubtless, in tn
towns, many of the Northern and foreign emf
grants, who are not only approvers of the com
- promise, but Of abolition. But, these few d
- not avow such odious opinions
"a Even the most strenuous Virginia adherent
- of union" take care to declare that they nsis
o, .bo Fodarol and the ruling Mort