Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-05-06
VIRGINIA WING ADDRESSES.

The Wing members of the Legislature Of
Virginia have recently issued very appro-
pirate and able, national address. 1t argues
in favor of a tariff to def.ay the expenses Of
an economical administration of the govern +.
ment. and to provide for the Improvement Of
our barbors and rivers; in opposition to the
formation of geographical parties, as danger
Gus to our federal existence; and insists on
a strict enforcement of the Fugitive Slave
Law.
In relation to the position of South Caro-
lima, and the right ola State peaceably to
secede from the Union, the address speaks
in the following forcible manner, which we
publish, with the comments Of the Baltimore
American. Such sentiments cannot fail to
have their due effect wherever they may be
read:
eve mean to express no opinion on the contro-
verted question of right of State to secede from
the Confederacy, nor ofthe constitutional duties
of the Federal authorities in such an emergency.
We should certainly desire to see the soil Ct
our sister State pressed by the hostile tread of
Federal troops, her sons slaughtered in unnat-
ural war But we can give no assurance that the
other States viii find it compatible with their
safety to surrender the important port Of that
State, or to behold some European power establish
foothold there, and the very fortress erected
by revolutionary hands, pass--perhaps under CO.
orced treaties-into the possession of the naughty
foe against whose aggressions it was designed to
be defence.
"To Louisiana it would hardly be conceded that
she should secede with the mouth of the Missis-
sppi, or to Florida, that she should secede with
the command of the Gulf since either would, by
the act, convert into foreign, perhaps hostile
States territory paid for out Of theGommon treas
ury, and obtained for the high purpose of the ma
tional safety.
"And yet, if the act of successful secession be
once committed, it will be impossible after to
deny TO any dissatisfied member of the Confedera-
cy the right to follow the example. The inevita-
BILE consequence must be, that the Federal author
i,y will cease to be respected at home, and that
abroad dispositions will soon be manifested ito
take advantage Of its imbecility and to speculate
on its approaching DOWNFALL
Entertaining these opinions, and strongly i'm
pressed with the Importance of the impending cri-
sis, we considered it incumbent on the Legislature
of our State, to avail itself ofthe occasion furnished
by the communication of South Carolina for disa-
yowing the idea of Southern Congress, for ex-
pressing the acquiescense of our people in the
measures ofadjustment, for declaring their attach
ment to the Union, and respectfully but earnestly
demonstrating against the contemplated distur-
bance.D
The relations of unity which bind together the
different portions os our country are touched upon
in the foregoing extract in sensible and just
manner. The asserted right of State to secede
claimed as right of independent sovereignty, is
put at the very outset upon a ground which does
not exist If a State shall conclude that it is for
her separate and individual interest to leave the
Union, the other States may with reason conclude
thati is for their general and national interests
that she shall do no such thing. Once separated
she becomes alien and hostile If the territory
she occupies were already possessed by foreign
power it would have to become ours at the risk Of
war, lift could not be obtained by purchase. Thi.
would be eminently the case if the territory in
question commanded an important port, or or
available line Of sea-coast, or the mouth of grea
river, by means of which access could be had into
the interior and by which our internal trade NIGH
| be affected and controlled. National considera
require this; and still more imperative are thos,
acquisitions when taken in connection with terri
tory already forming part and parcel of our ma
tionality.
The idea Of peaceful secession therefore is alb
surd. A dismenberment of this Republic cannot
rack the springs of life and tear out the vitals oil
the body.
But if a separation Of the Union should be de.
manded by whole section--what then? Truly
that would be a fearful thing, to avert which nc
sacrifices would be too great no labors too arduous
1t is in that aspect, indeed that the danger as
sumes its most formidable shape. If the whole
South, for example, should find that the compacts
of the Constitution as embodied in laws will not
be enforced by the North if the fact should be
placed beyond doubt that ceaseless war ofexter-
mination is to go against the domestic institu-
tions of the South, and that parties to be Or
ganized upon that offensive ground--then crisi.
would come in which desperation might preside
the counsels Of the judicious, and the
suit would be something too fearful to contem-
plate, too revolving to imagine
There is no need, however, We trust to look for
ward to such an issue as a possible event. There
are no discontents at the South which the true
national conservatism at the North may not allay
by firm and faithful execution of the Constitu-
ton and its provisions as they stand. They may
thus disarm the advocates Of secession and rem
der them powerless. But to do this effectually
they must undertake the work in earnest and per-
form it thoroughly and at all hazards and that
can be done in no other way than by putting down
political abolitionsm in their own sections and by
showing themselves able to keep it down.
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RESIGNATION, APPOINTMENT, SC.
The resignation of Col. JoHN STRorHER,
Clerk, has been rendered and accepted, to