Richmond semi-weekly times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 184?-1853, 1851-02-04
can Occasional CLEAN of Liuhi,"

AH OtCuStOHuG SIRum " Lt6W
Under this head, the Enquirer alludes TO some
manifestations of good sense in South Carolina,
and we shall be psrdoned for thinking it quite as
appropriate to the following rational views of the
Enquirer itself
The Convention, to decide the momentous question,
will not meet for twelve months-bnt there is very
great to fear that the candidates now elected
will so bind themselves by explicit pledges that the
events OF the coming year. OF however satisfactory
character they may be- will tall powerless to the
ground, in addressing themselves the delegates elect
as "arrows shot at a brazen image" Were wise and
prudent delegates to be elected now, unpedged TO
any extreme and free to avail themselves of all
the lights of observation and experience, and pursue
nservative 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 cooled down excitement and the mode
rate and wise policy that will be pursued by all her
sister States of the South, the delegates to the South
Carolina Convention, on coming together would hest
tate to adopt the headlong aid rash policy which is
now indicated throughout that Slate-a policy which
would pull down the pillars of the temple and bury
Samson beneath its ruins As things now seem to he,
however, most OF the candidates are rushing madly
into the arena-and pledging themselves to separate
State action secession, disunon. There is great dam
ger then, that they will be committed to an extreme
umatum, that they may not be able to check their
fiery purpose, and, some calm morning. the telegraph
may to the startling intelligence that
South Carolina, single-handed has taken the leap, and
withdrawn herself from the Union.
Before this awful catastrophe shall take place. how
ever, Virginia and the other Southern States we doubt
not, will have employed all their mediation to avert
such a result The memory Of the pa st. and the hopes
Of the future will be broueh, bear upon the rash step
which too impetuous 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 in
dverting her contemplated outbreak. Should all this
fall we shall have still one hope lett. 1t the federal
government shall show the proper prudence and WISDOM
and allow South Carolina TO withdraw peaceaby and
irta fnd okDf,n
deracy may move on quietly, and all may yet be well
in the Union, partially mutlated though it be- Should
force be resorted to toolshy to subugate the seeding
State the other Southern States nerpose in her
Defence civil and boodshed ensue, and the Union
be snapped into POLICY, and the highest inter-
ests of the Union and of humanity should dictate the
| central government the Importance of allowing the
erring sister to depart in peaceand she may return to
restore tho Lost Peiad TO the constellation, chasten
ed and frightened by the severe ordeal. Should, how
ever different course be pursued the very result
longed for by the South Carolina dsun onists, would
be produced-the Union would he divided, Southern
and indeed various conederaces would be formed, civil
ali the time darkenng the sad processnn of events
which will finally lead to the disruption OF the nobes
eontederacy that graced the annals of History
The absolutss ofthe Old World who are now feed
ing the flame OF abolition in this country will rejoice
over the downfall of our conederacy-they will point
sneering at the dimmed and scattered on our
banner-at the signal failure OF self governmental the
mockery OF free institutions the electric chain of
liberty being broken asunder, they will more ercey
than goat over oppression and cruelty inflicted
their people In the name OF "orjer" and Liberty self
condemned"
Such was the gloomy picture which crossed ourvi
sion when. in the U. S. Senate heard Mr.. Clay in
sting upon putting down by force seeding State.
The principle we believe TO be wrong and in defiance
OF The peculiar form of our federal system. The effects
we could not but regard most dangerous and fatal
We are therefore, glad to see that wiser spirit
esting itself in Kentucky, where the great orator has
so long held the mastery. Both the Journal [bhter
anti-secesson Whigl and the Democrat, of Louisville,
KY, agree in main tanning that South Carolina choos
es to 90 out OF the Union she must 80 without any
her. The Washington correspondent of the Charles
ton IS. c. Courier, vouches Wing member of Con-
from Kentucky that those presses represent truly
the feelings OF his State. 1t is also asserted be the
general feeling in Washington. We trust that these
facts will not fall dead on the OF President Fillmore
and the Northern ma oriy-and that, should South
Carolina determine to push her destnies outside Of the
Union, no attempt at coercion will be made, but she
shall be lowed, uninterrupted and unaided, to make
the best of what she will find bad bargain.
We have written the above with the express under
standing that the North will do justice the South and
execute the laws made for the protection of Southern
property. Her dsloyalty to the Constitution and laws
will hurry the of which we have sketched an
outline and force Virginia and the whole South to re-
sort to the alternative of Southern Conederacy, for
reei from mtoerabe oppression Let the North but do
her duty there will be endangered such moral utfu-
ence that South Carolina herself will scarcely be able to
maintain her isolated position. On the contrary LEI
Northern fanatcism continue its aggressons and the
contederacy must be broken up and the flag OF the
Union sunk beneath the wave of nglorious oblivion.
The North has ii in her power or destroy the
Union. Let her see to