Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-18
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.

THE NATIONAL CRISIS
The impression at Washington on Saturday among
many persons was that the committee OF tbirtythree
would in q few days, unite upon plan ior auJustmens
Of the dangers that imperis the Unlon Inc o'Af
Of Saturday evening in speaking oil the proceedings Vi
the committee, says
We hear il said and have confidence in the statement
that their deliberations yesterday made apparent that
they fail to harmonic upon but single question, that
of the protection of the right OF the Shareholder III he
United States Territories having already arrived At "a
may be regarded a common understanding win refer
ence to the disabilities of the South in connection WIN
the nonobservance aud notification OF the fugitive slave
law and indeed regards all other questions than that
of the rights of the South in the Territories
We have further to add that matters are believed 70
be tending rapidly in their sessions TO the adopuon p
an overwhelming majority of report that will initiate
promnt movements of the Northern States for their
cepance of the Supreme Courts rulings concerning that
vexed and vexatous question. Thus DO we look LOT us
eventlal peaceful settlement.
Two elaborate speeches are believed to have been made
In the committeeroom yesterday, where they sat from
noon till near F. My Messrs COrwin and Kellogg
and there was, doubtless, also, much conversational
debate upon many OF the multitude oil propositions before
them Ii We are not greatly Mistaken the end ana ann
of the two speeches above referred to was TO dsaOuse
the minds OF the Southern members OF the committee OF
the idea that the great mass oil the people oil the North
will not eynce frank readiness to redress the grievances
of the South so soon they can be ascerained and
substantial statesmen like remedies, based on the true
ptaepes of the Constitution be arranged for them
THE VIEWS OF GENERAL SCOTT.
According to a dispatch from Washington, General
Scott has given the President an elaborate opinion in
reference 10 the present condition Of the military de-
fences of the country and what should be done in view
of possible contingencies He deprecaes secession and
bes his own State of Virginia to pause and bear the ills
she has rather than fly TO those she knows not Of But IT
secession occurs he says it will not only result in the
formation of two but four distinct naonalitles These
are as follows: First-New York, New England, Penn
sylyania Michigan Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. The
second will consist of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Western
Virginia and so along down the Blue Ridge taking in
Western Florida Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana Ten
nessee Arkansas, Kentucky, missouri and Iexas. Inc
~; M .Uusisl Carolina georgia, East RON
da Eastern Virginia and perhaps Marylan and Della
ware. The Pacific States will constitute the fourth
The General treats the exclusion OF the grain growing
States of the West from direct communication with the
Cult Of Mexico as an mpossibity. They will have free
course to 20 down the Mississippi and will insist upon
Pensacola as a naval depot. The General also gives an
elaborate statement of the disposition OF the military
forces of the nation and the coalition and needs of the
fortified places.
A MOVEMENT IN NEW YORK-MR. FILLMORE A
COMMISSIONER TO THE SOUTH.
A meeting of prominent merchants aud politicians Of
the cty and State of New York was held in New York
city on Saturday at the Office Of Mr. Richard Lather
Pine street. to consult the best to be adopt
ed to avert the danger threatening the Union, and
10 assure to the South sufficient protection in their
stitutiona right within the Union.
The meeting called by circular addressed to lead
ing citizens without distinction of politics, and was well
attended Among those present were ex-President Van
Buren, ex-Congressman Israel 7. Hatch, Of Buffalo;
Washington Hunt Watts Sherman, Erastus Brooks Jas.
T. Brady, Edwin Croswell Wilson G. Hunt, O. Com
stock Of the Albany Atlas and Argus Gerard Haeck,
James W. Beekman, Fernando Wood, Augustus Schell,
Richard Lathers, aud many other gentlemen Of prom
nent position as merchants and public men.
The condition Of the Union freely discussed, and
several suggestions made, one of whiah was that
Willard Fillmore be requested TO proceed TO South Caro-
lima as Commissioner from the State OF New York, to
exhot temperate action aud delay the part OF the for
mer State It was understood that Mr. Fillmore would
accept the duty f desired but that be expressed be-
lief that the mission would be unsuccessful unless he
could bear with him authorized pledge Of conserva
tive policy from the party about assume the control OF
the general government,
Charles O'Conor presided and speeches were made by
John A. Dix, John McKeon and others Mr. McKeon
expressed the opinion that the Union already dis.
solved that IL would be peaceable separation until af
ter the fourth Of March and that civil would then
On taking the chair Mr. 0'Conner made long speech
on the state of national politics He laid down the doc
rne that the States of this Union cannot live in
aud harmony under the government so long as
the people OF one portion believe the people Of the other
portion wrong 'morally-wrong in their daily life and
conversation. Applause. SO long such state Of
things continue the weaker States will be oppr sed al
though the oppression may be in accordance with cOnst
tutiona forms.
Mr. OConnor repealed the idea that the South has
mited anv aggressons. The South, he said has done
rgh the South has nothing to atone for She
has only struggled stay the power OF the increasing
antsavery sentiment of the North and unless that could
be DONE secession is the only remedy for the Southern
States to preserve their rights There might be men in
the South whom he dislked; bu. he looked upon the
South as a unit; and looking upon her as unit, he
thought she had done right He looked also upon the
North as a unit lie did not take into the men
in the South who acted from bad motives the in
the North who acted from bad good motives; but he
looked upon the North the sentiments Of her ma )y
were expressed through the balot-Dox.
He had no fears OF the unprncpled politicians Of the
North He did not believe they had power TO rjure the
Union The only Dho dangerous 10 the Union,
are The honest and conscientious Of the North, who
have embbed the dreadful that Is their duty to
crush out slavery in the Southern States 1t would do
no good to say that Congress could not eg against
slavery in the territories so long the antavery SEN
tment is dominant There in the speakers opinion
but one hope the Union; aud that that the South
could be induced TO wait little while, and he believed
she could As one sign Of encouragement that the Norh
is changing its opinion Of slavery he said the pulpit had
been comparatively silent during the recent presidential
contest This he thought showed that the pulpit had
| considered its views. lie believed million had read
and he hoped millions would read the sermon Of
Mr. Van DYKE of Brooklyn. This sermon showed not on
ly that the pulpit has been silent but that had changed
It's opinion. THE sermon alluded to was against abo
ton as not in the Bible aud claiming that Il tends to in
fdelity He thought the North was looking to its own
vices instead Of meddling with the affairs OF Others"
The meeting also addressed by ex-senator Dick
iuson who expressed apprehension that the Union
even now hopelessy dissolved He attributed the
sad result vitiated politics and politicians and vita
| ted public sentiment.
Hiram Ketchum spoke more hopefully, and said he
believed that the public sentiment could be reached and
corrected at home.
Letters were then read from large number of dstn.
gushed men, including ex-Presidsnt Fillmore, Green G.
Bronson Rev. DR.. Hawks, Judge Page and John A.
Green
Ex.President Fillmore, Green @. Bronson and Rich
ard Lathauis were appointed to visit the South.
Is A COMPROMISE POSSIBLE?
The Charleston Courier thus responds 10 this question
We can only aoswer in full confidence and conviction,
that we do not believe any compromise possible Nor
do We deem II probable that any terms which the more