The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-12-24
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.

! WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.
| have been here for a few days a locker on, in
teresed in the and events in the Capitol of
| the Union. [ have conversed with members and
others, and have been a spectator in the House
of Representatives, and have come to the calm
conclusion that, in spirit in heart and sentiment
the Union IS already deaG You who are away from
the scene can but poorly appreciate that distinct
line of separation which has been drawn between
the Black Republican party and the men who re-
present the South To outward appearances there
is only the coolest civility between a few of one
side and few of the other The House is fairly
divided between them: the Black Republicans sit
on the left, and the Southerners and Democrats on
the right. The intercourse between the two sides
is as restricted though a law interdicted any
Interchange between them. The members of the
left have shut their mouths; Mr. Hickman, the
renegade Democrat, who voted for Sherman, | be-
lieve, having fired the last shot from that side
Mr. Sherman, their nominee for Speaker, has shut
his mouth as is intmated, under instructions
from his party and will answer no more questions
The benches on the right still continue to fire hot
shot into the dumb, who, unfortunately for them
Selves not deaf for they have heard that which
Is enough to make them turn in their graves, were
they dead and buried Thus goes on the daily
proceedings of the body-the one side preserving
silence and the other studied speech making,
and both nursing hate cordial ever burned
in the hear of men. And thus is the Union,
morally speaking broken. Mr. Hickman tainted
us with the great length and crushing power of
the monster-and assured the whole South that
escape from him and his destructive embrace
utterly HOPELESS. But his boast of his eighteen
millions of freemen who to subdue the South
struck no terror to the heart of any Southern
Every son of the South who heard him, but scorn-
ed him and the power he boasted of the more
Yet Mr. Hickman had hardly made his boast
before gallant son of the Northwest, Mr. Vallan-
digham, Democrat, from Ohio, came forward and
threw a hot-shot among him and his confed-
crates of the left, which blew him and his
strous power into the air Mr. Nallandigham said
he did not respect Southern rights merely because
they were Southern rights; but as far as was i'll his
power he meant that they should be respected--the
fugitive slave law, equal rights in the territories,
and whatever and all else the Constitution guaran-
tees to the South. These ri ghts, he said,
the Sonths, and to her representatives he said:
"Protect them boldly, tearlessly, like men, here
aud everywhere, with all the means in your power,
rs | know you will, as | know you can. and then [
say that power earth can suhdue YOU lie
declared that the determination of the West was
to preserve the balance Of power and keep down
the aggressive policy Of the North. That power"
he said, has been arrogant domineering, incon-
sistent, fierce, denying the Constitution and laws
made for it. But, gentlemen Of the North did it
ever occur to you that when this momentous event
dissolution of the Union) shall be brought about,
the West-thc Great West-may choose, in the
exercise Of her sovereign power, to set up for
herself? Did you never dream of Western con-
tcdcracy?
Mr. Iarrabee of Wisconsin, on Saturday, re-
echoed the opinions of Mr. VaandiSham He de-
clared his belief that there would be at least three
confcderacies in case of dissolution ofthe Union.
The West would certainly set up one; for there
very little in common between New England
and the Northwest
In the meantime, the feeling of bitterness is not
at all ged, and such is its intensity that re-
peat it would seem that the Union of the States
is dead. The forms only remain. Nothing can
restore the Union to quiet and harmony but the
humiliation of the Black Republican party, and
reinsurance to the South that its rights will be
respected by action of the States and the Federal
Government-by the repeal Of hostile State laws,
and the enforcement, efficiently and in good faith,
of those for the protection Of her rights Thsis the
unanimous sentiment of the Southern members of
Congress- 1t is the unanimous sentiment Of the
people of the South.