Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-30
TO Nat. TYLER, Esq. Edit"r W' M Rich
m0nd Enquirer:

W0HQ EHQaHtf'
PETERSBURG, Nov. 22d, 1860.
Dear Sir:-The subject Of your letter i'll.
wolves considerations, too delirate md danger-
ous-too cast and momentoRs, 10 us, and TO
the world, to be referred for advice TO All hu'n.
Die c~apacity like mine. When George Wash.
inrton transmitted the Constitution to the
Congress Of the United States, on the 18th OF
September, 1851, he said:
"[n all our deliberations Oh the subject, THE
difference among the several States us 10 Their
situation, extent, habits and particular inter
csts.) we kept steadily in our view that
which appears to us the greatest interest OF
every true American-the consolidation Of our
Union-in which is involved our prosperity,
felicity. safety, perhaps our national existence.
This important consideration, seriously and
deeply impressed on our minds, led each State
in tho Convention TO BIO less rigid OIL points Of
inferior magnitude, than might have been other
wise expected; and thus the Constitution,
which VIC now present, Is the result OF a spirit
Of nmity and Of that mntaot deJerencs and
concession which the peculiarly Of our poiltI-
cal situation rendered indispensable.
Thus speaks, the fearless statesman, warrior
and patriot, as to the spirit by which the Con-
s~titution was formed, and by which 1t can
alone be preserved and perpetuatef. That Con
s~titution formed n Union Of Sovereign STATES,
in reference to which, in his Farewell Nd.
dress he said:
1.-THE unity Of government which constitutes
you one people, is also dear to ynn. 1t is just.
" so; for It is n main pillar in The cditice Of
Your real independence; the support Of y"ur
tranquility ut home, Your peace abroad, Of your
safety, Of your prosperity, Of ilai very liberty
which you so highly prize. Bot as ii IS easyto
~foresee that, from different causes add from d'i-
ferent quarters, much pains will be taken, many
articles employed, to weaken, in your minds,
the conviction Of this truth; as this Is tiie point
in your political fortress, against which the bat
teries of internal and external enemies will be
most constantly and actively (though often CO.
verify aud insidiouSiy) directed it Is Of infinite
moment, that you should properly estiInat the
immense value of your National Union TO your
collective and individual happiness; that you
should cherish a cordial, habitual ard immora.
| ble attachment. TO it; accuStoming yourselves
to think and speak of it as Of the palladium Of
your political safety and prosperity; watching
for its preservation with jealous anxiety; dis.
countenancing whatever may suggest even 4
suspicion that it can, in any event, be abandon.
ed; and Indignantly frowning upon the first
dawning OF every attempt to ALLEVIATE any ror-
ton Of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble
the sacred ties which now link together the vari.
GUS parts"
These are the sentiments and doctrines OF I
patriot and a sage, who had .rtN oppression,
md. therefore, appreciated the incs,iinable
blessings ofcivil and religious Liberty; ofa con.
quering Hero, who had led the army, and
| directed the battles Of his country through q
bloody war of more than seven years duration,
to win the blessings Of Freedom that he thus
dedicated and commended to US. In his day
and generation, NE nas .Frst in peace. first IN
uar, and first in the hearts This coHatrynen. !"
Then, his words were words Of truth, and his
%counsels, were the ~counsels Of risiom. But
now, his doctrines have become 50 trite and
antiquatc1, that they are spurned and re.
pudiated by the ,oiser men Of tliis progressive
age, and every tyro in politics seems ambitious
to win the Immortality ofdestroyirg the Cons!i'