Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-01-26
THE WRONGS AND REMEDIES OF THE SOUTH


such an attempt medtated, one doubts it was
frustrated by the timely Of the State and Fed
eral authorities eiectuay that all serious apprehen
sion had ceased before the guilty wreches had paid the
forfeit of their crimes. The public mind turned
throughout the Union the political consequences likely
to result from the attitude almost unexpected as the
alluded to- in which, since its occurrence, the
Northern and Southern sections of the Union had stood
towards each other Strange to say the awess invasion
of sister State and the murder OF her unOending cit
zens with the ayowed purpose OF exciting civil aud SER
vile rebellion and not merely aboshng slavery but sub
verng the State government greeted by sympathi
zing thousands in the North by facous press and an
antchrstan puptas pous and chivalrc deeds convict
ed thieves and murdcrers meamorphosed into he.
and saints and the gaows held more worthy OF rev.
erence than theCross. The residue OF the population,
for the part preserved unbroken silence, giving
tact encouragement or TO say the least manifesng
cool indifference 70 this urexampled outrage. No won
der the Southern people should consider their Northern
allies all infected in greater or less degree with the
same morbid and deadly feelings and should resolve as
it were with indignant voice, severance of all
political connection with them.
Il in this state of things ventured to call public
attention to the fact previously uunoced and if known
TO any, certainly not until led by the late startling
to examine into deences that legislative pro.
visions although Indispensable to the protection of the
States against invasion stipulated in the 4th article OF
the Federal Constitution, had never been made. The
Jealous maintenance of different opinion shortly after
by Governor WISE seemed to require that should re-
tract defend my views Fully satisfied on further
reflection that they correct have since reviewed
the whole question: including the opinion of
the President and the opposite of the Governor.
Other views open before me of profound and abiding
interest to our Old Commonwealth Where all are con-
cerned all may speak In civil contests, which threaten
the safety Of the State do not wholly rely on the re-.
guar army of politicians still less the trainbands OF
party The militia are called forth every citizen is al
10 tho aid of though
ing no higher than in the ranks, be rejected
Hence feel encouraged TO offer mine humble as 1t Is
trusting that the will may be taken for the deed.
Whether the great body Of the Northern people en-
terrain towards Us sentiments of hostility incompatible
with the continuance of our political alance-as their
cent conduct has led many to suspects problem yet
to be solved. However, this may be, the momentous
question still engrosses and must long occupy the
thoughts of every Nirgiuan to what measures can Vr
GINA have recourse consistently with her own honor
and the continuance Of the Union, guard against
uceasing insults and wrongs no longer to be endured
To pave the way for such reflections as occur to my
own mind will recapituate the propositions already ad
yanced. They may be thus briefly stated
That the obligation of The United States to protect the
Seperai States against iHCasoH applies to irdders from
ercrv quarter, and Of erery description.
That posture aud sgUiUocdI that obligation IS,
N trainers Of the Constitution contemplated subsequent
PROFESSIONS by Congress indispensable tots due ffl
iaeRL
maj Stch provisions nave ever OteH Hdde
That consequently authority s vested IN the Presi-
dent 10 carry the stipulated guarantee into effect.
And lastly That If the opinion attribtiRg full author
ty 10 the President Csre better founded than Il IS, the
disclaimer of that authority 10y the President himself Is
tantamouut TO its uOn-existence No jurst cOnversant
with the Constitution and laws Of the United States no
diSpassionate inquirer dare believe, will dissent from
these conclusions.
What them Is be done to prevent the possible repe-
on of scenes similar those of the 10th Of October
Will our coniedeaes atone for their violated faith and
redeem their solemn pledges Will exled justice be re-
called? domestic tranquility take place of domestic
feuisy Nav We hope that "Izs Union" itself, coeval
with our political independence, and which our fathers
fondy strOye make perfect, now dsmanted by
lawless brigands and sacregous bigots will withstand
their increasing rage and secure henceorward e bles
sings Of liberty 20 rs and our posteritg d"
For one am not willing to abandon all hope that the
Mon may be preserved still less to conclude with
not few of our intelligent politicians that It's immediate
dissolution Is sole resource But It apparent that
the prospect of its continuance terms of reciprocal re-
spect aud friendship, land the union of independent
States on any other never be durabe hourly
becomes more gloomy. Indeed-and | say it with
heavy hear-the hope Of preserving it in its present
FORM consistently with rights and our honor, is, with
me- all but extngu>hed
Waving ut this time the discussion of such measures
defensive or retaatory Virginia may ultimately be
forced To ADOPT let us calmly inquire whether the Fede
UONtlllcil anu Tue -NOlNitl 'tAl'o NHH VI VI"
ford US the redress We entitled TO exact at their
hands The chief wrongs Of which complain are,
first the failure of the United States 10 pr0Uids for the
fiDentof their obligation to protect tbs sspera States
from itpasioH, and,
Sscoudg, the ratification By The people and State,
of the North Of The lars and Constitution fHe Union
rs'atire ia nlgjtipe siarss.
Let us in the first place consider what redress the
nted States offer to Virginia for their omission to pro-
vide for the stipulated protection.
The answer seems sufficiently obvious Indemnifca-
ton As far as possible for all injuries sustained in
qucuce of that OMISSION ard full provision for the per-
Torrance of their duty in future.
How should this provision be madeg have already
suggested without going into details by the iuterpoa
ton of a few words in the act prohibiting hostile enter
prises against foreign nations simply inserting after
enumerating the nations territories, &c against which
such hostile enterprises prohibited the words, cor
against aHy State Of The Union, tLc inhabitants there
of That such provision, or one more suitable, with
adequate sanctions and with incidental authority in the
President the militia, and standing army, as in
the acts of 1885, and 1907 will be made by Congress, II
required by the State, | hardly doubt. The
protection voluntarily given foreign nations can
not be denied to political associates entitled TO 1t I'M
der plain covenant. Virginia, should she design to
claim it, will beg no favor; she will demand a right and
she NAV proudly point to her statute, which long before
he signed the bond of Union partially suspending the
exercise of her sovereign rights, extended protection
TO neghborng people against the hostile enterprises OF
her own
But in the power Of the General Government to rem
der such a law eticaciOuSs Here is one OF the difficult
tie. in the way OF satisfactory adjustment Popular pre-
iudcc often annu the painest and wiest laws. Should
the contemplated emergency arise, requiring military
forces to repe suppress it, what forces shall be EN-
ployedg Militia or regulars II militia, from what
quarter The naturA answer would be in the words OF
the act of 1895 from that most Convenient to the place
of dHger or scene Of action But that unless the call
be confined to the State endangered-s precisely the
quarter from which the danger itself would most proba-
blv come or bo appreheuded Tho late uroad at Har-
pers Ferry is a in point Could Virginia or Mary
land have relied on the militia of the neighborng States
of Pennsylvania and Ohio III which engendered aud
habOred not merely the execrbe wretches whose guo
minious te he's in some measure expiaed their crimes,
but the tens of thousands not e-s eyecabe who aided
or approved their nsarious enterprises No such mi
lta of the vcnage would most probably have consisted
in part of piebald mixture of Black Republicans and
Brown monomaniacs, numerous enough TO infect every
regiment and ready fan the flames they were sent to
extingush. Gave Us from such friends!
Say then we are offered Ls s..ndiHg army 1t raised
and differed in infected diSricts-(and what region of
the North is full Of pestience ?-the same objection
would apply The Federal army would most probably,
fratsrl,ise with the Black Republicans the govern
nent troops Of France did with the RED ones OF Paris
and turn their against US.
What theng Shall a special force be recruited and
ocered in Virginia or in other Southern States, at the
charge of the General Government aud placed under the
control of the State authorities? one or tie Other
Southern militia or Southern regHdrs-cau alone be
trusted to defend the South,
But suppose such special force provided what con-
slant of reproach and irritation to the people
of the North What anomaly in the history of I'm
ions! What in fact would it he but the resumption or
exercise by the SOuhlTR States Of the power to keep
armies ia time Of peace warSitb view ITO engage
IN ,oaYn ivih their cOHtsderdteS !"
Something trust better than | can suggest, will be
devised for the security of the South against Northern
crusaders should be apprehended that another Brown