The republic., 1851-04-14
From ~ NssD Orleans Piosyuns. 1wl 2.
Vinw1nfa and the Cosnproulae.

| virBlnia and the Compromlss.
The Houss Of Delegates Of the Legislature of
Virginia has spoken out with remarkabie unanim-
ity on the subject of the Compromiss and the
schemes Of resistance projected in other States
The reference to q committee Of the resolutions de-
scribed in yesterdays Picayune, resulted in the
unanimous adoption Of new series, to be reported
to the House, which were passed there the next
day without debate, and without opposition, worth
mentioning. There was but single vote against
the declaration that the "peoplc Of Virginia are
unwilling to take any action lin reference to the
Compromise) which is calculated to destroy the
integrity of this Union" There were only three
votes against resolution that it ia "unwise in the
present condition of the country to send delegates
to the proposed Southern Congress-" and but one
vote against an affectionate appeal to South Caro-.
lima "to desist from her meditated secession"
resolution was passed unanimously declaring
the "bclief that the Constitution of the United
States, faithfully administered, provides adequate
protection to the rights of all the States Of the
Confederacy, and that they still leok to that in
strument for defence within the Union"
This is clear renuncinton of the demand of
the Mississippi and Alabama secessionists for new
guarantees . new constitution. i
Ia regard to the Compromise measures them.
selves, the resolutions look only to the future Ad.
mittng the diversity ofopinion to their abstract
merits they are declared to be received "as an ad
justment of the exciting questions to which they
relate" and 'in the hope that, if fairly executed
they will restore the country to that harmony and
confidence which have Of late been 80 unhapply
| disturbed"
The whole ofthe series is published in another
place in this mornings paper. We select the
points we have enumerated as the most important
and significant because they determine the delibe-
rate position of the Old Dominion in the present
controversies. Her great power in the Union, az
the largest and the frontier State in the South her
| renown and the wide influence of her known mode
| ration and dignity of character, will give to the
| declaration of her opinions and wishes great
| weight everywhere, and produce an especially be-
| ne6cent influence on the counses and conduct of
| the southern States.
1t is a solemn declaration by all parties in the
State that they will accept the Compromise as nal
if II be SO established that they will make no op-
position or agitation against it will demand no.
thing now or additional in the way of condition az
| sine qua non for acquiescence; will discounte-
nance secession, southern congresses or conven-
tions and all forms of agitation account of the
questions which the Compromise settled, and make
the faithful execution of its terms the grounds of
| their hope for the restoration of harmony to the
| country.
The voice Of Virginia, expressed with this unan-
unity in her councils cannot fail to be listened to
| and needed. II is n voice of earnest warning to
| those OF the South who are running into excesses
Of feeling and action, and proposing schemes of
immediate or prospective resistance, and look to
secession and disunion as remedies for the wrongs
perpetratcd in the establishment of the Compro-
mise-that she will have nothing to do with such
schemcs-but will, for the sake of peace and union
give her own support to that Compromise, faith
fully observed. Between undivided Virginia and
the projects OF South Carolina the secession clubs
of Alabama, and the conventionists of Mississippi,
there is this wide difference of policy clearly es.
tabshed; and it has become obvious that q perse-
verance in these schemes, continual agitation by
a minority against the settled opinions of 80 pre-
ponderating majority Of the States, and of the
people Of the States Of the South, can only have a
mschievous effect. tending, the Virginia rcsolu-
ions say, to the destruction of the Union and the
loss to all the States of the benefits that spring from
it''
The appeal which Virginia makes to South Car
oina, to desst from her violent purposes ought to
be received with courtesy, and needed as the re-
monstrance of a sincere friend. 1t is not the Ian
guage OF menace, against which pride and courage
would arm themselves in resentment nor even OF
expostulation, at which high susceptibility might
the common anxiety for quiet in public affairs and
anxious to avert political catastrophes at whatever
cost, 30 that they do not disturb the current of
business. 1t is the language of a State which sym
pathizes in the feeling which South Carolina
evinces; which has the same interests TO be af.
fected by the wrongs of which she complains
which is even more exposed by geographical posi-
ton than South Carolina to aggressions or forays
upon slave property; and which, by instinct in
terest, in pride and community of feeling and of
danger, and by intelligence and courage is MS like
ly to judge truly she be; and at least as much
entitled to be heard in the common councils of the
southern States as any State possibly can be- This
State afectionately" entrcats South Carolina not
to disregard the sentiments, feelings and convic-
tions of very large majority of the people of the
South, and Of all the other southern States, by
dragging them into a vortex of revolution, in which
they will have such dreadful alternatives presented
to them that ruin would threaten them whichsoever
way they might choose. 1t is to be ervently hoped
that these considerations, enforced by the kind but
urgent appeal of the State Of Virginia, may have
the effect of bringing the excited people of South
Carolina to cooler and better view of their true
condition within the Union. and more generous
appreciation of what they to the deliberate sem
timent and chosen policy of the great body of the
southern people and States.
And if they should, nevertheless, prove inscnsi-
BILE to these brotherly appeals and persist in iso-
lating themselves from their kindred Statcs, the
cause of the Union will lose nothing by the sincere
though fruitless effort. Such stubborn and i'm.
practicable spirit will have been evinced-so re-
gardlcss of tho rights, feelings, and interests of
others-so arrogant in ts tone, and regardless of
consequences, that much of the sympathy which
might have attracted partsans to defend and emu
late the conduct of South Carolina will be neutral
lied.
We hail this action of Virginia, therefore, as
auspicious for the tranqulizing of southern feel
ings upon the only possible basis nova frank ac-
quiescence in the Compromise measures, as the
platform upon which the South, reprcssing her own
internal dissensions, may give united and vigor.
GUS support to the patriotic and masses in the
North who are struggling with various fortune,