Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-02-01
can Occasional Clean Of Lighi."

Under this head, the Enquirer audes TO some
manifestations of good sense in South Carolina,
and we shall be srdoned for thinking it quite as
appropriate to the following rational views of the
Enquirer itself:
The Convention to decide the mornentous question.
will not meet for twelve monihs-but there is very
great to fear that the candidates now elected
will 30 bind themselves by explicit pledges that the
events of the coming year, OF however satisfactory
character they may be- will fall as poweress to the
ground in addressing themselves to the delegates elect
as arrows shot at a brazen image" Were wise aud
prudent delegates to be elected now, unpledged 10
any and free to avail themselves of all
the lights OF observation and experience, and pursue
conservative course which, in their discretion, might
bes the interests OF South Carolina and the South
could not but entertain the most decided hopes that
in view OF the cooed-down excitement and the mode
rate and wise policy that will be pursued by all her
sister States OF the South the delegates the South
Carolina Convention, on coming together, would hes
tate 10 adopt the headlong AID rash policy which is
now indicated throughout that State-a policy which
would pull down the pillars OF the temple and bury
Samson beneath its ruins. As things seem to be
however, most OF the candidates rushing madly
| into the arena-and pedgng themselves 10 separate
State action, secession, dsunion There is great dam
ger then, that they will be committed an extreme
| utmatuu, that they may not be able to check their
fiery purpose, and. some calm morning, the telegraph
may announce to the startling intelligence tina,
South Carolina, single handed has taken the leap and
| withdrawn herself from the Uoon.
Before this awful catastrophe shall take place, how
ever, Virginia and the other Southern States doubt
not. will have employed all their mediation avert
| such I result The memory of the past and the hopes
of the future will be brought to bear upon the rash step
which too impeuous sister State is about to take
and, in times gone by the voice of Virginia, backed
by other States may not be without its influence ia
| dvertng her contemplated outbreak Should all this
fail, shall have still one hope left. If the federal
government shall show the proper prudence and wisdom
and allow South Carolina TO withdraw peaceaby and
to maintain her isolated position the of the COME
deracy may move on quietly, and all may yet be well
IN the Union, partially mutlated though it be- Should
force be resorted to fooshy TO subugate the seeding
State, the other Southern States must interpose her
defence, civil and bloodshed ensae and the Union
be snapped into Policy, and the highest inter-
OF the Union and Of humanity, should dictate TO the
central government the importance OF allowing the
errng sister TO depart in peaceand she may return to
restore the Lost Plead TO the constellation chasten-
ed and frightened by the severe ordeal. Should how
ever, different be pursued the very result now
longed for by the South Carolina disunoniss would
be produced-the Union would be divided a Southern
and indeed various conederaces would be formed civil
war all the time darkening the sad processinn of events
which will finally lead the disruption of the nobIest
coutederacy that graced the annals of History
The absoutists of the Old World, who are now feed
ing the hame OF abolition in this country will rejoice
over the downfall OF our confeder acy-they will point
soeerngly at the dmmed and scat tered stars on our
bannsr-a the signal failure OF sell. the
noekery OF free insttuons-aud the electric chain of
liberty helng broken asunder, they will more fercely
than ever gloat over oppression and cruelty inflicted
their people IN the name OF orier" and Liberty self
condemned"
Such was the gloomy picture which crossed ourvi
sion, when, 10 the U. S. Senate we heard Mr. Clay in
sting upon putting down by force seeding State.
The principle we believe to be wrong and in defiance
OF hs peculiar form OF our federal stem The effects
We could not but regard dangerous and fatal
We are therefore glad that wiser spirit is man.
Nesting Itself in Kentucky where the great orator has
30 long held the mastery. Both the Journal Ibiter
anti-seceesion Whigl and the Democrat of Louisville
n.y., agree 10 maintaining that if South Carolina choos-
es to go out OF the Union. she must go without any
forcloe effort OF the General Government to restrain
her The Washington correspondent OF the Charles
ton Is. c. Courier, vouehes Wing member Of Con.
srsss from Kentucky that those presses represent truly
the feelings OF his State. II is also asserted TO be the
general feeling in Washington. We trust that these
facts will not fall dead the OF President Fillmore
and the Northern maIority-and that, should South
Carolina determine push her destines outside of the
Unon, no attempt at coercion will be made but she
snail De allowed, uninterrupted and unaided to make
the best OF what she will find a bad bargain.
we have written the above, with the express under
SANDING that the North will do justice the South and
execute the laws made Tor the protection OF Southern
property Her dsoyalty TO the Constitution and lava
VIII hurry the events of which we have sketched an |
outline, and force Virginia and the whole South to re-
sort 70 the alternative OF Southern Confederacy for
reet from inoerable oppression Let the North but do
her duty, there will be endangered such moral iufu
encs that South Carolina herself will scarcely be able to
MAINTAIN her Isolated position. On the contrary let |
Norhern ianaueism continue its aggressions, and the
contederacy must be broken up and the flag OF the
MON sunk beneath the wave OF ingorious oblivion
Inc AorLh has IT in her power to save or destroy the
Unioa. Let her see to it