Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-12-12
duty OF Southern Opposition Members I'm the
Organization or she House.

Duty OF southern Opposition Mem bers In the
Organization OF she House.
We maintain that the Southern Opposition members
OF Congress- in voting for OF their number for
Speaker pursuing the only course consistent under
the circumstances with selfrespect and duty their
constituents they elected not as Democrats and
not Republicans but stern and unyeldng opponents
of both of these parties Why them should they be
pected by any rational person to unite with either of
these parties parties in the organization of the House.
or in any other mattcrS Such an expectation-such
demands unquai6edly silly aud absurd.
AT time like the present, deeply regret the strictly
partisan course which the Democratic members of Con.
gress have fit adopt. Instead of calling party
caucus and nominating party candidate why IL
they really desired they prolessed do to effect an
organization of the House upon conservative and ua.
tonal basis did they not afford fair and honorable OPP
portuny conservatives of all shades Of opinion to CO
operate with themy Why rcpe, by their pal,ry and
miserable party action, the Southern Opposition mem.
bers who every whit true and devoted to South
rights and interests themselves? Because party
is smal-few Ia numbers that a reason whv it should
gnominiousy surrender TO stronger aud more formi.
dable partyg According &c notions, It belongs
invariably to the stronger party to exhibit magnanimy
least fairness and justice in acton-aud
require expect the smaller conform to all its
whims demands When, as We are told the honor
and salvation of the South is at stake WHY indulge in
petty psrtiIanism, the Democratic members of Con.
gress have DONE and thereby exclude the possibility Of
Southern Opposition members cooperating with thenis
We had fondy hoped that ia troubous and squav time,
like the present, there would have been an utter aud
unanimous ignoring of party idess projects preudce
aud passions in all matters pertaining the right, AID
honor Of Virginia and the South. We had hoped
that Democratic members of Congress would have
remembered to forget all about party caucus.
es and party nominations, and would have len
vide the door for harmonious consultation and
cooperation the part of al other members Of
Congress- of whatever name or designation Who are dis
posed uphold and defend the rights and interests Of
the Southern States But have been totally dissp-
pointed in expectation. The Democratic member,
instead Of lifting themselves the broad high level of
patriots and statesmen still stand the narrow iser
BILE ground of groyeng partisans and trieksters And
standing there they have the impudence to call upon
Southern Opposition members take their stand beside
them for the sake Of the South forsooh Such trick
Is too transparent TO deceive any but an ncorrgibe
fool 1t is for the sake of party-or the sake Of
the Democratic partyand for the sake of the South
that Democratic members Of Congress aud Democratic
presses are invoking the cooperation Of Southern Oppo
ston members-but their invocatOns will be in vain -
The Southern Opposition members and the Southern OPP
position masses willing and eager-allrays willing
and eager-to cooperate with men of all nartes not a.
members of particular parties but as feowctzens and
patriots in any and all matters pertaining to the safety
and welfare Of the South But they can neither be coax
ed driven into cooperation with any party ~ par
~, for even that object, high and solemn as it Is If
Virginia and the South can't be saved without being
DemOcratieaiiy saved they both may be damned, and
damned to all eternity, far as we and the Southern
Opposition generally concerned If in the effort TO
and Virginia and the South, we canuo, CO.
operate with the Democracy except upon terms huma
ting and disgraceful, then shall join in no effort to
save either and we shall countenance no proposition or
suggestion 10 cooperate with the Democracy.
Suppose that in the present Virginia Legislature on
the grave subjects of State defense that will come before
t-subjects in no wise connected with party and in
which all the people of all parties equally interested
the Democratic members should call party caucus
and party, propose for State benefit sug
gested by recent occurrences excluding by such marty
action all consultation and conference with the VIII,
members what would be thought of their course bv the
citizens Of Virginia and the whole South We are glad
to believe and know that such teness Of party spirit
actuates not single member of the Virginia Legislature
We glad to believe aud know that the Democratic
members without solitary exception so far, have man
ifested just liberal patriotic and honorable spirit and
have no wish or thought TO mir mp party considerations
in the discharge Of the grave duties that devoye upop
them in the present crisis In appointing the Committees
the Speaker Of the House of Delegates with manIiness
and patriotism worthy Of all admiration distinctly and
publicly declared that he had appointed those commit
ices without the slightest reference to mere ary cop
sderatons His elevated action on this subject l. cre5
table alike to his head aud heart and honorable to the
pride and patriotism Of this glorious old Commonwealth
In short have witnessed with the highest pleasure NO
evidence Of any purpose wish on the part of av mem
Der Of the Legislature ofeither party TO dwarf themselves
and degrade the State by talking about party in con-
neKon with tbs grave duty preparations for the defense
aud protection Of the Commonwealth against the a..
sauits, open covert, Of Northern enemies One
mind and one heart aumaes and eeyates them all and
makes them fit representatives Of an intelligent free
proud, an unconquerable people.
Why, then, should partisan ideas be allowed to con.
troll the action Of Democratic members Of Congress at
theiprssent time? What should prevent them from nut
ting themselves Ia such position enable their Do
htca opponents to cooperate with them in the election
OF Speaker, without personal and political humiliation
30 far a. tho rights aud interests Of the South are con
cerned, there IL in substance entire aud perfect agree
ent between the Southern Democratic and the South
Opposition members-on all other subjects ther AZ,
a. wide apart the polls and probably always will be-
On the simple naked Southern question they can
aud should uniteon Others they cannot and should NOT
NOV" the southern question is the o1iy question u
VOWED In the election. where is the necessity or the do
cency Of an exclusive party caucus-of au exclusive
party nominauonof exclusive party actiony II the Oh
ieet. a. ~ have said be the South Dsao-,af
caiv aud only Dsmorraheaiiy. then the Southern On
position and will have part nor lot iu project 80
narrow, 90 paltry, contemplate
We repeat in conclusion therefore that the gouterf
Opposition members maintaining their selfrespec aud
dsehargug their duty to their constituents To- standing
soof, under existing cscumstances from both the De.
mOcratc aud the Republican candidate for speaker-in
preserving aIed, ARMED neutrality" between them -
Let them desp-iug the base insinuaton made by the
Democrats Of saording "aid and comfort" 70 the Black
Republicans adhere 20 thet present position though
the Heavens fan A Independent representatives snd
men Of honor IL is their only alternative snd let them
yield never an inch'
Vindicatiny ones ser Respect.
The New York Rrprsss justly sayst there are some
reasons for The National mon meeting, nov in progress