Squatter sovereign., 1855-09-18
From the New York Natio.., n..
Virgins in Self. f.DssenSa

| e In oeif-0efense.
a vast deal Of supercilious co,,r.
appeared Of late IN the Northern - En- Is
Know Nothing and Abolition journal. s ''l
on an article in The Richmond EDa4: p
urging on the people Of Virginia tbs
ability of further aggression and ;a~' sS
from the Northern section of the r.
(for We are always in "section" now
upon the Legislature Of ,hat State Ii. - : :
priety of seeing to the organization ois T.
militia, and the completion of railr.'
and other means of military defense
We read The Enqaires's article -
out surprise. and with full recogni6os
the feelings which prompted it. Con-
alton, persuasion, appeals to COM
patriotism. common nationality, ~
mon blood, are at an end; and the G,
only awaits the result Of she next D..
dental struggle to learn whether the NJ
will indeed force secession and d;s,.
upon 1t, or whether the counsels of g
ness and mutual interest will be pernip.s
once more, and at the last monent ,o =
umph over the demond of ianatc;sn -,
domestic treason.
The article itself was serious. -.
sonable, a regretful one. 1t said to :.
people of Virginia ''the time for arsn.-
is past Fanatics do not reason; and
naticism is dominant at the North. n.
fend yourselves
Strange, sad, desperate is the hour :,
our nations history, when such words nesa
be uttered by the sentinels who keep watrs
upon the out posts of any portion Of Our
people. We are not yet eighty years
from the date Of our national Independencs;
and are we already playing the part of ID.
Grecian States ct the bidding of new Ma.
edonian intriguers2 Is it possible n,
the ruling party. and the chief popular O. |
gans of the Oldest and most patriotic q
States-of that honored member of On,
National Confederation which ensbrns,
the ashes Of a Washington and a Jefer.
son-see no longer hope in the ,olera.
tion, the sense of justice, the obligations Of
common honor Of sister Statesa Are VI.
in fact upon the brink not only Of ofdisunio,
but of civil war?
Those who comment superciliouslv upO,
The Enquirer's warning article, sneer At
such supposition. The New York Eve.
ming Post Van Buren and Marcy thinks
it 'absard and childish twaddle;' Th.
New York Times (Sewardite) ''ridiculous
gabble" and arrogant menace :" and TIE
New York Herald Hin5oo Know NOh
lng) IS quite as contemptuous in tone sni
manner Yet we eanno, dismiss such 50.
Der and real expressions with such hsh
| and insulting remarks. The fact remains.
Here is the eldest and most Influential
journal in the Southern Atlantic States
organ of successful party-wi,h no II
mediate partisan object toaccomplish-wa
no inducements 10 exaggerate danger Or
ignore ameliorating circumstances-which
sees in the future so dangerous a conpl.
cation Of national affairs as to call for az.
mements and preparations, for military
roads and militia organizations and which
turns away from all other resources to seek
safety alone in the ultima ratio cirifatunl.
Is this thing to sneer or mock at7
1t were well for the agitaiors of the
North to pause. The game OF partisan.
ship and demagoguism has been played far
enough. Those who do not intend 10
cause blood to flow and States to sever,
have made all that can be made, with clesl
consciences, out of the farce they have beeE
acting. Men who are prepared to go fur.
ther should beware how they cross the line
which separates demagoguism from trea'
son. The Southern States are the attack.
ed party. They are assailed, iusulted, o.
Tended wickedly and causelessly. Those
in the North who seek to quarrel with tht
South are temporarily in the ascendancy
Under these circumstances, it is right tha
the South should arm. 1t isright i, shoul
exercise double vigilance against its s.
sailants. The best method of preservin:
peace-in their case, as in all Others
to prepare for war. The miserable plac'
hunters and politicians who depend upOI
Northern excitemenis and agitations to ge
office whereal, should be driven to the al
tentative of arrning in their turn, or sink
ing away like the cowardly aggressos theJ
are. The Enquirer. whose course we do
not always approve, is for once right
Waste no talk, no reasoning, no persuasiOi
on these fellows. Prepare to resist thsl
aggressions as the best and surest mothOt
of avoiding them. And should the nc
ment come when the blow must be strucl
when this noble fabric OF our Union mus
crumble in the dust-when one sectior
.b, b,,rI ;tcaIf ~, ,x-r. Il, f,,f an