Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-06-22
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.

BY RITCHlE, DUNNAvANT, TYLER WISE
TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 20, 1883.
"yIRGINlA AND THE SOUTH.
"A paragraph in the Enquirer" 10 the effect M that
in the event of dissolution of the Union, Virginia
might pause to consider with which section to unite
her fortunes, has been made the of some very
uust imputatioDs the popular feeling oil The State
We speak the sentiment OF an overwhelming MAORI
ty OF the citizens OF this Commonwealth when we
affirm that Virginia would not hesitate moment in
such an emergency She is attached to the South as
we'll by bond Of affection by an identity of inte-
rest. and under no circumstances will she betray the
common cause. If necessity should ever separate
her from the South she would stand alone rather than
Join q Black Republican COnfederscy.
1--WE make this statement TO silence the suspicious
suggestions Of q few individuals in the South who
avail themselves Of every opportunity TO impeaoh the
fidelity of Virginia.
1--WE have only seen extracts from the article in the
Enquirer" which provoked these attacks upon the
State. Very likely the force of single sentence is
modified by some qualification in the context AT any
rate if our cotemporary has venured the opinion at
tributed to II, it does not represent the
sentiment Of the Virginia people"
Our attention has been called to the above extract
from the South" Our neighbor need not suspend
decision to whether have faithfully represent
ed the sentiment of Virginia Our reference to sup
We do say, that il the Gulf States shall be induced to
secede from the Union, for the sole purpose Of re.
opening the African slave trade, Virginia may
we'll hesitate before entering into Southern Confede
ration under such condition. The suppression of
that infamous traffic is part Of the governmental
policy, to which the people Of Virginia have consist.
emily adhered snce the formation of the Union.-
When Mr.. John Y. Mason, our present able represen
tstive at the Court of France, placed his name, TO-
gehsr With the names Of James Buchanan and Pierre
Soue, to the solemn protest against the slave trade,
he gave faithful exposition of Virginia sentiment
1t the sot of true Virginia statesman, not Iess
than of an astute dplomatst acting in the OF the
whole Confederation.
If, then, remuneration of policy and principle is
to be made the condition of Southern Confedera.
tion We repeat that We may we'll hesitate before We
give sanction TO revolution of domestic nstitu
tions-and on the other hand, if the Northern States
of the Union should offsr-not a Black Republican
Confederation but terms of confederation on the
basis Of State equality, guaranteeing to US the inde
pendent control Of our own institutions, and thus
enabling preserve in tact the Institution OF slave
ry az it now exists in mdst-such an offer, made
In good faith, would undoubtedly be entitled to q
mature and deliberate consideration and would be
accepted rejected purely for the sake Of the best
interests Of Virginia, and without reference to Sec
| tons prejudices.
This indisputable view of the matter we found lit
necessary to express, in order to administer fitting
rebuke to few individuals in the South, who affect
to regard Virginis as mere colonial dependency Of
king Coton;" and the people of Virginia, as bound
soul and body, in obedience to any line Of conduct
which may be dictated by our more Southern asso
ciatss however destructive suoh course may be to
our interests or however repugnan to our long cher
ished sentiments. We are hsppy to see that our
nsghbor "The South, has, at length, found occasion
to turn Its own batteries against the iusuffsrabe
| arrogance Of this superoilious clique.
The alternate coaxng, gasconading and open
abuse to which Virginia and Virginians are subjected
by these gentlemen, evidently arises from petty
jealousy. They are impatient OF the great leading
part which Virginia plays in national politics. A
stern adherence 10 the doctrines Of State Rights and
State equality an ardent devotion to the Uuion,
large territory central position. the equal encour.
agement extended to free labor and slave labor, a
general sentiment which vindcates the dignity Of Ia
Dor, and succession of great statesmen such as NJ
other age country has ever produced have given
to Virginia political preponde.ancs far outstripping
the relative extent of her population, but legtmatey
exercised by virtue Of moral health and intsllectua
greatness.
North and South, the men whose heads and hearts
enable them to play great part in the history OF the
Republic, offer willing homage to the example and
influence of Virginia. But
"Folly loyes the martyrdom Of fame"
And from the hour which gave birth the conedera
/ ton,
''The foe the fool, the jealous and the vain"
Hsve been constantly occupied in unavailing efforts
to deroeate from the glory Of the Old Dominion.
By precedent and position, the course of this Com
monwsslth is definitely mapped out. She will ad
here to the Union With unfalteriDg loyalty. The
bon of affection which binds her to the South, binds
her also 10 the North. In the reciprocity OF common
benefits and socis Connections che owes duty alike
to Penusy lvana and Louisiana. Neither the simlar
ty of domestic institutions, the community of re-
volutionsry memories the one part the other
will be allowed to impair this bond of equal brother
hood. Whenever irreparable wrong shall sever
this bond, aust resentment against the wrong doar,
heartfelt sympstby with the injured party, and due
regard 10 her great moral and material interests
will determine the ultimate course of Virginia What
ever new connection she may then form. by virtue Of
her position sa independent State, party and no
section can rgbtfully tax her with the "beraya Of
common cause" She has assumed the position
of sectional partisan. When che makes common
cause with the North or With the South it is purely
for the sake of justice and equaty and the cause is
slwsys ended, whenever these ends are attained.
Ths Ia fair EXPRESSION C the sentiment of the peO.
| pie of Virginia,