The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-12
Three moro 0roans for the Virgin Ia Reso
buttons.

SAIUhDAI, AEhlAL IL, looi-
Three moro 0roans for the Virgin Ia Rose
buttons.
The responses to the Virginia resolutions re-
turned by those of her Southern sisters, hitherto
bound most closely to her, such MS to bring the
blush of mingled shame and indignation TO The
cheek of every true hearted son of the Old Do
minion--shame, that the proud crest of his ole
mother should have been lowered in the dust
indignation. that tho few partizan leaders in the
legislature, unauthorized, should have dared to
assume such responsibility
We have already given extracts from the lead
ing presses of Georgia. South Carolina, and even
from her own, which prove how bitter is the
notification how profound the regret and as.
tonishment, which the present position of vir-
gina has excited-while those who censure,
can credit the fact, that Virginia, recreant
to her own emblem of State sovereignty and its
stern motto, " Sic Semper Iyrannis"--sbould
counsel her sisters to sUBMIT-wthout even a
remonstrance against the wrongs and insults
which she had threatened 80 often to resist at
all hazards and to the last extremity The re-
ception in Alabama of these tidings, among the
true hearted there, may be judged by the tone
of the following editorial from the Mobile
Herald d Tribune print second to none in
that State in influence and ability. More in
sorrow than in anger, thus sternly and solemnly
comes this voice from Alabama to Virginia
sitting like Job in sack-cloth and ashes by her
own hearth-stone. Bitter as are the taunts, and
the parallels its adduces, they are rendered more
soby their truthfulness-f they visit upon their
theme that
Self-contempt
Bitterer to drink than b.ood.'
Well may the State referred to in the closing
paragraph, feel proud of the confidence which is
still reposed in her unflinching heroism, while
one by one others finch and fater, and shrink
away from her side in the struggle which they
were the first to provoke.
We lay before our readers the resolutions
adopted in the House of Delegates of the State
of Virginia, upon the subject of its relations
with the federal government and the remaining
States Of the South. The resolutions tell the
parent, " that diversity Of opinion exists among
the people of that commonwealth in regard to
the wisdom, justice, and constitutionaity of the
measures of the late Congress of the United
States, known as the compromise measures"
In this, and the further fact that the elections Of
Virginia are approaching, and that neither party
seems willing to introduce new capital into the
party cOntest-are We to read the riddle of
these unintelligible and unmeaning resolutions.
Virginia "sympathiscs with South Carolina"
and, we suppose, the remaining Southern States
ain the feelings excited by the unwarrantable
interference of the non slaveholding States, with
their common institutions" but will have no
counsel, cooperation, nor communication with
them on the subject Of a remedy "She cher
ishes the hope" which all men beside have aban-
doned, that these measures of compromise will
be the end and termination of the anti-savery
agitation. Under this fallacous, and at this
hour, fatuons anticipation, the old commonwealth
no, not the old commonwealth, but aboutone
hundred of her poitcians-send earth and water
to the federal monarch, and advise South Caro-
lima to go and do likewise
The House of Delegates in unfit to act. Its
energies are palsied by division and its spirit
bowed down under the malign influence of
party divisions. Virginia, following its lead.
maintained and so cheerfully conceded. She
abandons her head hip of the Southern States,
and even seeks TO reduce their spirit to the low
level OF submission to acknowledged injustice,
and OF seeking security in the delusive dreams
that they now are involved in no danger
This view of her position will be fraught with
mschief-ncurable mischief-to the Union and
to the South :
The Southern States would all have con.
Cured in result which would have afforded full
complete and adequate securities for the future
A union of the South, under the guidance OF
Virginia, in the adoption of proud, heightened
and magnanmous policy, compromising a full
view of the past and the future, mght-for
even this Is doubtful-have ensured the stabil-
ity OF the confederation. Her present proceed
ings denote selfdesertion. They will be re.
garded in South Carolina and throughout the
South as marked BY pusianimity-an indifier-
ence to and forgetfulness of the high honor and
noble principles of Jefferson, Madison TAYLOR
of Caroline, Tazewell, Randolph, and their
compeers.
We have characterized this vote as an act of
submission--as the sending of earth and water
by Virginia to the imperial department of this
government as tokens of submission
One cannot but advert to the condition of
Greece and of Athens, at the time of the Per
sian invasian, when we consider the position of
the South and of South Carolina Our insti-
buttons are the subject of incessant and unwar
rantable attacks through the Northern States.
Virginia is not afraid to say that-They are
attacked from abroad, and thus beleapnered.
what is our condition! We are afraid TO know
or speak to one another?
The first preparation of the Persians, says the
historian, did not produce the effect which
might have been anticipated in the Grecian
States. Far from uniting against the common
foe, they still cherished frivolous and unrea-
soning jealousy of each other. Several readilv
sent the symbols (earth and water) Of their al
legiance to the Persians, including the whole
OF Bdetia, except only the Thespians and Pla-
tGons. The more timorous States imagined
themselves safe from the vengeance of the bar.
barians the more resolute were overwhelmed
with dismay. The renown Of the Median arm,
was universally acknowledged Even united
the whole navy Of Greece seemed nsufficjen