Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-10-29
The Opposition Convention.

Nothing could be more gratifying than TO witness t'
alaeiiy with which our friends Of the Opposition are re
spending, In the various counties, to the call OF their Cen
trail Committee, for a Convention in This city the l4th oi
December. The interest pervades all sections OF the
State. and. before the close OF November, we expect to
hsve e In our power TO chronicle the fact that meetings
have been held and delegations appointed in every coun,
~ aud city Of The Commonwealth Nor Is this interest
hy any means limited TO Virginia. Other States are
awaiting with anxiety and hope the action Of the Nirgi-
MIA Opposition. They are looking to our Convention 10
sound the keynote Of the coming canvass. Central In
position, conservative In tone, eldest and grandest in bis
tory, the most potential in Gchieying our liberties aud
Certifying them with the muniments of a Republican
Constitution, II be6ts Virginia, in every period OF P"ril
Ia our Institutions and to the Union, to take = front po-
-dion against the enemies of the country. and to lead tie
way TO safety and tranquility. We arrogate nothing To
tie mother-commonweal;h which Others will not CON
cede. That leading conservative journal, the Baltimore
Arasrica., expresses sentiments common 10 our 0pPoi-
lion brethren in every Stale, when it says:
1T Is but the statement Of fact to say that the organi-
zAiion Of the Wings effected under the auspices OF the
Virginia Convention OF February, and the gallant Guher-
material contest which ensuei, under the heroic leader
ship Of the Hon. VIM. L. Goggin, was virtually the re-
animation of n party whose extinction had long been a
theme of msSrimeai with their ancient enemies, the PR
sent ml>FiltT. OF 10 IehtsA foNtiHulcAA. u AS"N W
the contest for the Governorship Ess looked TO with any.
ions interest by the who,s country. Had q, s-Ssaigat5d
Lapply, a thorough revolution would hsve been wrought
t. the political relations Of the L aioR-the revival OF the
Wig party II al t. pristine strength and glory vog,i
have followed inevitably. Bat tie HirgiEil peJicyracv
we're too powerful t. b. ovesh4asa Tie Wig, wee
defeated. Yet TIN, dsfsz, - hr from -esSSErEE fle
ytcIOus, eAred ne csqcShsd The oppoSloa -z cl--
S,teS chssred ~ the re~Ils 81 the NlrEtza es,us-
a1i izazinE tie s7dli sbisA hKd tbs-s bee1 ts-lsyti
wsnt Aorth u the sEAs - -,oatof Aesu sai . high 81:
h5Ps, thai visions cc1i bzt fSToz vh-rs TIE, lei -as
s-Als OF for,uDe uss ;urzt5, - g vsre by 4 single rove
Esnt Of ths hl1f. tae constitution Of the Hou-e uas
the balance o. tie pozss EEzs over 10 IL
Wig, aad the els.;ioa Of Eiberiise 20 The SpSakfrh,p
p It almost beyond Rishsnce. TO st,iba;e resuits %
gratifying 70 every lover Of his country 70 the SaEscity
Aad vaior Of the Virgins Wings, is but mere Justice. since
q il apparent that If the election Of Leicher had beea
permitted 20 20 by default, IS at one time the Democrats
battered themselves would be the csse, tie subsequent
elections IL Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and
elsewhere, would have found the Opposition too disheart
saed 10 be capable Of making more than the pretence
az resistance.
Willingly acknowledging their Indebtedness TO the
Of February, the conservative men Of an
sections await with confidence the increased Obligations
~ N va ~ l""'NA - AA' AAtAlA ~ A@.
Convention Of December. That this body will be com
posed Of the representative mea of the thinking and in
haential cisses Of Virginia, that its proceedings will be
marked by every circumstance Of dignity, harmony and
CONSULTATION, that its resolutions will breathe the .pirit OF
the pures' patriotism, and that its final action win NEE:
the cordial approval OF the country, there can be 10
doubt. So troubled are the affairs Of the nation, 50 grave
te issue which ~impcnds in lsU0, so powerfully Is ts
current OF sectionalsm setting in, lIat not a man will at.
tend that Convention who does rot fee! that a terrible
responsibility rests upon him. Personal preferences. ia.
div.dual aspirations, viii be thrown utterly aside the
safety OF the country, the whole country, will he the
sole, tue absorbing, the paramount consideration. Tor
many, very many reasons, the people OF this Union will
watch the proceedings Of the Virgins Convention will,
intense interest Ia view Of a recent transaction that
interest will be quldfIpled. The outbreak at Harper
Ferry, though it was but 40 act Of madness perpetrltei
by a handful Of fIuatics, IL q God-ssnd to tue asitssors
Worth and South. Its effect, we fear, will be 10 rekindle
the sectional feeling which vas fast dying out 10 the si.-
seDce OF the Ean-ls excitement. What was bnt 1 feeble
spark 3 month ago, may be q towering hame a month or
Two hence. Tbs, the abolhionists on the one hand. ami
The hre-elters or the other, viii make all the capital th.y
can out Of the HsTpors Fery STAIR, cannot fora momeu.
he doubted. II will be not the icaS. Of the heavy task
which the Wings Of Virginia will have to encounter. 10
anticipate tue agitsiors, snd, by counssls wise ana calm.
addressed 10 The good sense Of the country, 10 tlnar
Them euectually.