The Hillsborough recorder., 1860-11-07
From ,hs NslIonsr Intelligence.
WHAT WILL VIRGINIA DOT


In the event Of MIR. Lincoln's election il
is confidently asserted that some Of the South
ern States will secede, aud thus weaken and
impair, if they do not destroy, this beautiful
Union, in and BY which il was supposed the
great problem Of a free Government had been
satisfactorily solved. Ii the destruction Of
such system were the only result of the
threatened movement. il would behooye every
man to pause and think deeply before COM
hitting himself to it. But when in addition
civil war and its train Of horrors. public and
private bankruptcy and their banefnl results,
become almost inevitable as the consequences
Of such course. can any sane man doubt
about his duty to do all in his power to avert
the evili viii he not first and seriously in
quire whether the proposed remedy is any
remedy at all. aud. if so. to what extent'
Now. If the secession movement is worth any
thing it must be for two reasons; First. that
il will result in securing to the people Of the
South better government than they now en-
joy-one under which they wi!lb more pros
porous. freer, and happier than at present;
and, second, that the change will secure them
in the better enjoyment Of their peculiar in
sttutions. Will these results necessarily or
even probably iollowf No one at all ac-
quainted with our past history and the i'm
mense struggle and sacrifices under which
this Union was constructed, can believe that
out of the present materials Government
so well calculated TO secure TO the masses the
perfect enjoyment of /" life, liberty, and pro-
perty," could be built up; and, so far as the
slaves are concerned, il is plain that for one
now, we should loose hundreds then. Atbest
we should make miserable bargain, even it
we separate in peace. securing no single sub.
stantial advantage. abandoning our title m
The Territories, concerning which we have
disputed 50 long. and like Esau giving up
our very birthright at time when we are
likely most to need and can best enjoy it
All this, admitting that secession can be
peaccably Accomplishments matter Of the most
grave aud serious doubt.
In view OF these considerations. ask,
What is the duty Of Virginia That ,cil
she do2 will she adopt the rash counsels oi
some Of her too ardent sons. and suffer her.
self to be /" "hitched on" to this Jpggernautal
car OF secession. and thus encounter the risk
Of relentless and interminabie border war
Such course would entail upon all her in.
terests, public aud private, severe suffering
and embarrassment, il not certain ruin. Her
past history. present position, and future
! prospects all forbid il. Virginia has always
been generous. magnanimous let her now
be Just, at least TO herself. Let her cousid-
u The welfare Of her own people. first and
above all. II The Union eaunnt be maintain
ed in its integrity, il war must come, and she
cannot avert tie blow, then let her {" stand
from under" Let her never consent to b
made the Flanders Of America." Let those
who court ci,il war. for motives oi their own
+ fake if 10 their oWa homes aud tiresdes. What
can Virginia gam by il! Not security for
single slave: not better market for her pro-
duce not the opportunity or means Of a bet
ter development uf her great natural re
sources. Not one Of these things. M
growing neither rice, nor sugar. nor eott1n
her cunnerC lal and agricultural interests car
never justify the sacrifice proposed by III,
more southern States. She can better at.
lnri, il 80 she must DECIDE, 10 cling 10 ii,
Union. aud LEI them slide Such, be.
lieye, would be her decision, il driven TO th,
Alternative af choice, deeply As every one o
her sons would deplDre the necessity. III,
Old Dominion will " stand 10 the breach,
aud do and suffer all that justice and hannl
require but she will not abandon UHior
which the wisdom and yalnr 0f her own son
50 signaliy aided 10 establish. TO tie glorl
and greatness of winch she has indeed il
every way contributed, and TO which she q
bound by the successes Of the past aud u,
hopes of the future. IN the Union and througl
!; her highest honors have been won; q
her best aud truest interests bind her. sa
can never fnrget the advice Of her own Wash
ington--iolpwing that, she has accustomed
herself = 70 lhink II tie Union a. The paia
dium II her liberties. aud wM " indignant
" iroan on every attempt 70 subytrt Il y
A yIRGINIAN.
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