Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-12-27
letter nom Hon. VIM. q. Riye..
ClsrLK HILL, Dec. :, 1880.


M DgAS Sra observe that YOU have made /
proposition In your House Tor holding a sol. :
cum family council. consisting Of n member Tor 1
each state. upon the present distracted aud EN-
lnently critical condition II the COnfrdsracy.---
ihis night and proper. The great work of
our tAihsrs. which has preserSs ~ as IN peace and
hspP'ne-s for near thr~equartsr. Of = century.
ana gwen rise 10 n spectacle Of national growth
and development without any. the remotest par
alieI in the history OF the world ought not 90 be
abandoned without the most earnest efforts for
ITS preservation But viii these or any efforts
avail Unless n very different spirit from that
which seems thus far 10 have animated both OF
the extreme parties b. successfully inyok-
81, the prospect would be gloomy indeed.
~ - useless no~ 10 inquire into the causes
Nh'eh have led ~ the prese at condition Of things
The recent triumph Of powerful sectional par
~ IN an election for the two highest Offices of
the 1overnment--vith its candidates taken
elusively from its own section, voted for excu-
si'rly by ITS own section, and with political
creed aNovedly Sntagonistc To the interests and
iqshiuuons Of the other great division OF the
COniederacy-is an event which necessarily
NV Z. sens both anxiety and resentment ia thu OPP
Posite section and, according To the nnust ordi.
nary maNIms OF human prudence and selfre-
sPect. calls sor an attitude Of vigilance Grmness
and. II need be, Of inflexibls RESISTANCE
IL - the hrst time IA our political annals that
| such thing has been attempted or ventured up
ON and argues, 10 say the least an extraordi-
nary degree Of temerity and hecdlsssnes- ON the
/ part OF those who have made the experiment ia
| the face os ,he solemn and not uniriendly warn
/ ings which were addressed % them. IL - not
/ the Individual elected. whoever he may be- but
/ the hostile sectional combination which elected
hun that constitutes both the danger aud the OF.
/ fence.
! What, then. 10 Ia be done Shall VIC rush at
once 10 dissolution of our compae; of union
l tear down the pillars of the temple which con.
tains tho precious deposit OF our rights and lib
/ critics and bury otrselves--ior IA time At least
| ma "A common ruin with our dcluded or offending
/ eoniederatesl This would seem 10 be the courS.
/ OF desperation AMI Bindness. not of reason and
/ deliberatinn.
! There are few, &c any, among us who do not
I feel aud Acknowledge that the Constitution OF
the United States, ifhoncstiy and faithfully pur-
sued IA IT. letter and its sprlt Afors every de-
sirable guarantee for the rights and liberties Of
/ all the parties 10 il. We Sru entitled to demand
| and insist upon n loyal and upright fal6lInent
ct all it, obligations a. the sole and indspensa-
bic condition on which the Union can be main
/ tanned
The equal rights Of the States in thu common
| Territories OF the Union. the iInmunity Of their
domestic institutions from all external Interior
ence and control. direct or Indirect and the sur
render of fugitivcs from service, arr tndntn..nt.
al principles the constitutional com pact which
! however, clear in theory, arc practically denied
IN various quarters, and call. therefore for new
! and uhequyocAl securities for their future ob.
servancs. IL these securities are demanded with
calm and dignihed but iuiicNihlc frrnness-not
with buster and ilenunciation--I cannot doubt
that they will bc yicldc, b. a large majority, ii
not by all Of our co-States- Ii any should re-
fuse them, by that act of recusancy thew will re-
nonnce the authority Of the Constitution it-.lf
and put themselves virtually out Of the pale OF
the Union.
Such terms Of settlcmrnt as thosc here brief
~ interchangeable ia their details Of mor,.
or less deNrlOpment-Would,i IN my opinion "a L
isfy the yicws OF n large majority OF the slave
holding States. They would not be- likely Co
obtain the acceptance OF South Carolina who
seems determined, by foregone conclusion Ia
go out Of the Union in spite Of every possible
concession. and 10 drag many OF her sisier
states as she can after her. What succrs- her
policy Of ooeTciag other States into fiSupioa
may have remains Ia be seen. But IL may not
unrOasonAbly, be presumed that Georgia who
did not recognise her dictAiorial authority in
1882 and ia 1881, would prefer har Own plat
form, laid down with much wisdom and firm
ness IA the latter wear, and which with one or
two suggested additions IL well adapted q
meet the acquisitions ct the present crisis II
Georgia, to the traditions OF her former pa
triOtic policy should b. satisfied with an adpis
n'ent reoonciling the constitutional rights OF a.,
! | South with the prrseryAIgssPof tha onion. IL,
probability s that her neighbors AlAbams am
Florida would be- equally 80.
But, whatever might b. the decision OF thos,
States. there can b. little doubt that MARI land
4 Delaware, Virginia, Kentucky, T,nt.esS.,
? North Carolina, Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas
, Texas, aud, it - TO b. hoped, Mississippi also
would cordially unite ia such a plan OF ADJUST
mcnt
These are the natural allies Of virginia il
every great crisis OF the Republic. She can ucy
! er divorce herself from Maryland keatucky
Tennessee. nnd North Carolina-States vhsl
Immediately surround her. and with which n,
has 30 many common Interests Of the most init
{ mate aud vital character. And wh.n IL - 10
, collected that, in one half Of her territory she Il
a Nesisrp Stat, having for that portion OF bel
domain. her natural outlet tn ths ocean by th
river AiAs1s7lppi, she -, by that cirVumss ancI
10 n we'll as by thc large number OF her thiidrei
2 who now people as magnificent valley hnke,
by the ties Of kindred feeling and a common des
tiny TO those AouFishing and prosperous state
which have risen 70 such magic wealth and Pow
y err upon iu fertile borders.
y It's also 90 be remarked that the slayc.hold
n ing states Of she valley Of the Mississippi, bl
their position on the banks Of a great stream
assigned by Providence ~ n common aycuue n
J. commerce for themselves and other powerful
communities inhahiiing is upper parts m,
atsAitsiilf fifsiAfstif ietititnss fltil
e. lightly regard severance at the Union b,
such iine-ah event which would bring wiil
e 81 them inevitable conflicts and the danger O
q national controversies aud wars. ~ il sbund
anty proved by the history Of the Hyer ~hsi
its mouth was held by an independent snd for
n eign Power While these States therefore sr
scusltivciy alive IT, whatever affects che rccar
10 " q their domestic institutions OF eopsrds thf
equal constitutional rights ia che Union ani sr
p ready 81 All times % make aacridcc % deien
4 them, ~ ths Stairs commonly dcEominsfed Oh
b border slave states also are. they are YET nc
!. suIiiien- any more than those border states
with passion ior disunion for its 0-yu sasr, q
q Disposed 10 ulsh INTO u hec,liessly sod unneco
D. sauly.
b. isi, thea. che States ! have mcrfiopsi rsii
n forced J, j. 20 b. hopod by Gecrga sEd her ~
neighbors -unite in their demands upor fhs u.a
D. siaveholding rtstss sd say b. tss-. rsnki
be AMI plainly. bat s1berly aad kl5diy ibai %
y TINE has conc when ufe aathSrity Of tHe Coust
tuition. which v The h0fd heiwecn tssri, mu
D. recognized. o. dat Union vili Inevitable D.
ish that thefe msst D. M longer acts oi sis
N leEisiatsou, n ths guise ~ -rcrsonal hherl
lf lnvs ~ n~llff aud Fet "a naught a solemn su
unclaisocai compact sriiien in thT '0nsut
ftsa that thfrc must o. % attcmpts. covert
p auen. hv Congregational legislation tl aHsad