The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-01

country, and to those who to succeed you to do
faithfully. :
In the same kind and conservative spirit which
dictated your letter, | have replied to it. The
question discussed is of great interest and i'm
portance at this time, and is attracting much of
public attention In the earnest hope that the dis
cussion may result in some practical good, have
concluded to publish your letter and my reply.
With respect, am truly,
our obedent servant,
JOHN LETCHER.
To LEWIS d. VAIL, Esq, Philadelphia, Pa
The same paper (Enquirer) of yesterday. states
that of its editors recently addressed letters to
many prominent Virginia politicians, and furnishes
the replies of only two of them who have yet re-
sponded, namely, Senator Mason and the Hon.
Henry L. Hopkins. Says the Enquirer:
| The letters we published to-day-the one from
| the Breckenridge wing and the other from the
Douglas wing-are both for State Convention
and show that difference exists in the Democrat
ic party as to the necessity for State Convention
The promptness and manness of the replies to-
day published are very gratifying to US, and will
be read with great interest throughout the coun.
try. We are much pleased that Mr.. Hopkins from
whom we recently differed, agrees with us in the
necessity Tor State Convention called by law with
delegates regularly elected by the people. No 9th
er Convention was ever contemplated by us, GER
tanly not such the Democratic Convention
of February last the like of which we hope never
to see in Virginia again.
The following is the most important part of Sen
| ator Masons letter which takes strong ground il
favor of the Convention:
| The disruption of the Federal Union, thus immi
nent, or i should more properly say, actual, is 6
| great and pregnant event; and in considering
| therefore, how it may become the Convention 0
Virginia to act we must lock to that event as ma
terial if not a controlling element in its deibera-
| tions. In the first place. it NAV, and most probably
| will, force upon the Federal Government the set
| Element between it and the several States of the
question of the right of secession If that right is
denied, new and paramount issue will be made
| between the States and the Federal power which
will be presented to the Virginia Convention ir
itmine. One thing is very clear Virginia mo more
| than any other Southern State) will not be passive
should any attempt be made, by force to reduce
| such seeding State or States to subsection.
In the next place, it is to my mind equally clear
| should one of the States separate from the Union
on this slavery question, the disruption will neces
sariy carry with it the like separation of all those
slaveholding States whose destiny it is to continue
| such; unless, under returning sense of right and
justice in the Northern mind, all may remain on
such securities for the future will establish this
great social interest in the exclusive charge OF
those to whom it pertains.
| have ventured thus, though with unfit gned
diilidence, to look forward to what Virginia NAV
be called on to consider and determine, in regard
to the great issues forced upon her counsels by
events in progress The magnitude of the occa
sion, may be well estimated by the magnitude of
those events. State follows State into Convention.
to deliberate the necessity of breaking m a GOV
eminent which they believe has levied war against
the essential interest and dearest rights of their
people. The Southern States, happen what NAV,
have never been the aggressOrs, in this strange
unnatural contest. In what they have DONE or
what may yet remain for them to do, they are pre-
pared to meet all the consequences. There can be
no doubt or hestancy, therefore, in my mind as to
the course of Virginia. a Convention is the only
authority competent to the occasion, and it should
be assembled at the earliest day practicable.
Mr.. Hopkins, (Douglas) quotes the words of
Washington against dsunion, and thinks that the
same spirit is now at work which drove our first
parents out of Paradise, and which has been the
potent that which has heretofore DESTROYED the
best human institutions. He concludes:
Such is human nature! No form of government
no power of man correct the evil, or eradi.
cate the vice. We must deal with men as they are,
not as they ought to be. Our present troubles in
my Judgment, spring from these impertectons and
vices of our nature, and fear they beyond all
remedy. They commenced in the North, by the
exercise of an ofcious and intermeddng spirit with
what did not concern them. They passed Legisla-
tive acts to nullify the fugitive slave law. They
a1gitated-continuay agitated-the subject Of
and irritation, for nearly thirty years.
say, then, the South has a just cause to COM
plain Not only to complain and demonstrate, but
firmly and sternly, to demand cessation of these
done-not in fretful impulse and haste-but with
all the elaboration and dignity of sovereign
States, resolved to maintain their rights, "peace-
ably, if they can, forcibly, if they must" But it
behooves us, think, by every consideration of en-
lightened policy, of real interest and of patriotic
duty, to exhaust our remedies within the Union,
for redress of our grievances, before we plunge
into the dark abyss of knoion and unnoUn ills that
lie beyond dissolution of it. While the cotton
States are busily preparing to take the awful step
of secession, merely because of the loss of Presiden
tial election, under and according to the forms of
the Constitution, would appeal to them, friends
and brethren, to wait yet little longer-especially
as both houses of Congress, the Federal Judiciary
and million of Northern voters are with us: and
then would ask Virginia, sngl handed and alone
ifother States would not join her in her mission of
peace, to send Commissioners to all those States in
the North, whose Legislatures have passed acts to
nulify or obstruct the fugitive slave law of Con-
gress, in fagrant violation of the Constitution and
our rights under it, to repeal those obnoxious acts
the only means of saving the Union from de-
struction.
IT their Legislatures or Conventions called to
consider the propositions, should reject it, prefer
ring their unconstitutional and hostile legislation,
to the preservation of the Union, then the whole
South would 60 out together, and the act of seces-
sion, founded, not on the legal and constitutional
election of President, but upon their hostile
legislation against us, thus solemnly re-qfirmed,
would be justified in the sight of God and man.
The remedy, under existing circumstances would
L think, be sufficient and effectual
GU request my views the subject of a Con-
vention to consider the necessity of our position"
am decidedly against any Convention of delegates
appointed by the primary meetings of the people -
Our experience in the last two Democratic State
Conventions, must convince us that they are no
places for calm deliberation and enlightened decis-
ion, such as the necessities of position" now
demand. But think it would be wise for the Leg
isture TO call such Convention, and provide Jy
lao, for the election of its members without DELAY
Very truly, yours, DC.
I