Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-01-14
THE PRESENT CRISIS.

! To the Editor Of the wing:
can scarcely find terms in which to express my al
miration of the manlness and ability with which yoI
are defending the rights and safety of the South lie
me entrea YOU to take step backwards but in spite
the timd counses of the socaed conservatives and tn,
selfish and ambitious views of asprants to federal offices
press onward and onward until the only possible remedy
for our wrongs think, and as all will ere long think
! a Southern Confederacy Is attained
"Peace be still =" say friends in the North, pub
lie sentiment is undergoing change, and that will ult
mately correct all political evils" What evidence have
we orths change? Is it found in the persstant effort
to elect to the Chair of the House of Representatives
! eudorser of Helpers infamous book? Would the Rep
resentaves of the North dare TO outrage public decen
cy by voting for Sherman if they not sustained by
| their constituents?
Do we find evidence of this change of sentiment in the
declarations of Everett Lincoln, Fillmore, Ingerso and
others who have denounced IN a becoming spirit the
murderous furay of Brown Not at ALL So far from it,
they declare with the utmost candor their opposition to
slavery and doubtless entertain the hope and belief that
at no distant day it will be eNtingused Mr. Fillmore
tells in plain terms that in the North I'VE are all anti
slavery" They will abide by the Constitution and fol-
III its obligations But how long will it be- before the
theoretical opinions which they entertain the subject
of slavery may become practical Shout violation of
any Constitutional obligations? The census OF 1870 will
probably give the North the power to amend the Con
st;ution; what will restrain the dfidverg party from
then performing what in their hearts they feel 10 be their
highest duty.
Mr George Tucker formerly of the University of Vr-
gnia now of Philadelphia, has volunteered adviser
of the South He tells Us that there not more than
two hundred AbOtonsts in Philadelphia -, ust the num-
her OF conycts i'll the peneniary He, doubtless, does
not include himself in this number though know no
avowed AbOltOnist who has done much TO weaken
the slavery institutions of the South this dreamy phi
oSopher. In his Progress OF the United States which
is a standard authority with all Northern patriotic men,
aud sometimes quoted with appreciation in the South, he
u tt t',f patitt pt
slavery aud in very unfair and unphosophical man
ner contrasts the rapid progress OF the North with the
supposed decline of the South lie did not contemplate
the destruction OF slavery by violence as did that more
practical philosopher, John Brown, but he seemed to
have satisfaction in predicting its easy death It's eHt0-
alsia he called itby natural causes In eighty years
he said slavery would die natural death-the price OF
a slave would in that time become negative quantity in
the market and Of course they would no longer be he'd
in bondage Slaves are now worth four times as much
as when be wrote, and about oneourth OF his time Is
out leave him to calculate by the rule Of three the val
ne of slaves the end OF his period have not copy
of Mr. fuckers book and have not seen for yearbu
is unphilOSOphical not TO say unfair deductions, so
strangely impressed me when read It, that am sure
mistaken in its character IL Is 10 be found in the
public library, aud members OF the Legislature, who
would like to know what counsels they advised to fol
low would DO well to examine it. / am not aware that
Mr. Tucker has ever rccanted these opinions and he is
probably anxiOusly looking for the ultlmen OF his
prophecy with thousands OF his dcluded disciples in the
North who under the false teaching of his philosophy
have served to swell the advancing columns Of ant-sl
very If such be sympathizers IN the North how
ever amiabe and excellent in character and pacific in
purpose, may we not eXcllim, Save from our
friends"
In the circumstances that surround US what sense is
there 10 this cry the Union must be preserved =? Pre-
served for what? defy any Southern man to say for
what Declaimers may descantuutl they hoarse
the suierugs Of our ancestors, the American eagle this
glOrious republic the memory OF Washington and all
those things of which clapfap orators are so prone
avail themselves n order influence the passions Of their
hearers but sensible men, when they calmly survey past
events and those in progress cannot fail TO perceive
that the internal peace Of the Republic is gone and with
it its glory and TO believe that if Washington was again
among us he would not be true TO the instincts that i'm
PEELED him to take up arms in the reyouon if he not
20 declam in his words, "that experience has dem
onstated the impactcaby ofthe Union, aud be among
the fgst TO strike for independence.
Can George Tucker or any other political economist
give q reason why should remain IN the Union? lie
saws the expenses of government Oud be greater Per-
hlps So The same argument should induce all the States
Of Europe to become one consolidated empire Is it not
demonstrable that Southern Coniederacy would not
only the peace of border against murderous
torays but be the of securing 10 the South most
extensive and profitable foreign commerce and flourish
ing manufactures which have never had, and
can hare in the Union. In word, it would develop at
once moral intellectual and material resources and
exhibit To the world in very few years one Of the hap
pest richest and of the most powerful nations IL
yallug in all the Of peace and Of war; If need be-
the most renowned Of ancient OF modern times.
Now is the time effect this object peaceably. few
wears hence il nav have to be done through fire and
blood Seward Is right in his philosophy In the Union
there an "rreprcssbe confid between freedom aud
slavery Our only security is Of the Union In the
North the sentiment is universal that slavery is great
evil and ought be abolished In the South believe
il blessing ordained of God ald know that its
tuued existence is absolutely necessary the Southern
States as civilized communities When the North shall
have the political power enforce its views how IS this
conflict of sentiment TO be setted except by tame sub
mission and consequent ruin ol the part OF the South OF
by the conflict of arms
But took up my pen merely to thank you for your
bold and manly defence of our rights, and | find myself
running uto an essay God speed YOU in your good
work The Young men, thank God, coming TO the
rescue la their generous natures may confde. But
charge YOU, put not your rlst IN princes or in those
desiring to be princes; matter TO what party they may
belong, they will surely be found wanting. For myself
have as much at stake rs most men, and AIN willing 10
risk it all in the present canvas. BORDER MAN.
EacIrSG MURDER TRIAL--Sn NEGROES CoSylcrED OF
NANsLAUGHrER-A very exciting murder trial has jsst
been disposed Of at Waynesburg Green county Pa. In
August last, difficulty occurred between the coored
residents of Dotysburg Waynesburg, and portion
Of the white population which Tesultedn in the latter
seems TO have had its origin a belief the part of
the whites that the presence Of the negroes in the neigh
borhood tended to lower the price of labor extend
ed to Waynesburg and the Jotysburg men threatened
to rid that place of its black population too; the latter
procured arms and made preparations for resisting any
attack that might be made upon them On the 25th of
August party of whites visited Waynesburg and while
there one of them named Sealy Zimmerman knocked
down negro the street While the whole rather
abusive in their remarks abou the coored people Of the
place. On their return home they attacked by h
teen or twenty armed negroes and some twelve four
teen shots discharged upon them.
The whites ran away leaving Zimmerman dead on the
field while the blacks satisfied with the result of the
conflict returned to their homes. Another of the whites
named Harrington, received ball in the arm but the
balance in the darkness, escaped. Eight negroes
arrested for the murder next day. and tried in Greene
county last week The trial lasted several days
the evidence in of the local papers extending
seventeen columns-and resulted in a verdict OF man
slaughter against six of the defendants The other two
acquitted The prisoners got five years each in the
penitentiary
HouE SPUN SocIErY.-The citizens of Dnwiddie coun-
ty are agating the expedeucy of forming Society at
l;a mia ,bo