The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-04-04
The Virginia Mission.

To-day we complete the record of this Mis-
sion by the publication of Gen. Stark's able
and dignified Report to the Governor. We
hazard nothing in saying that this Report will
sustain the opinions heretofore expressed
that the Commissioner has discharged his du-
ty ably and faithfully, and that neither the in
terests of the State, nor the public sentiment
in which the movement originated, have suf-
fered detriment in his keeping.
In this connection we deem it proper hearth
ly to endorse the following comments Of the
Charleston Mercury upon the course which
Virginia has thought proper to take
The rejection by the Legislature of Virginia,
Of the proposals by South Carolina and Mis-
sissippi, to call and hold Conference Of the
Southern States in Convention, on the critical
condition of their political relations, is sugges-
tive of some grave relations The rejection
was an error, and Indicative of social timidity
Cd the anA ode, and Of political selfshness on
the other 1t was an error which will proba-
bly,, and ere long, cost Virginia much more
than she could possibly have lost, even in Fed
eral favors, from Southern consultation.
The leading pretence of Virginia for refus-
ing the Conference, was that it might 'endanger
the Union. Here was another error. 1t would
have been, and will be, the only mode Of saving
it, The North, seeing that the South cannot
unite, but will remain divided and distracted
on measures of defense, and relying on Vir-
gnia's adherence to the Union, and her tame
submission to Federal action, and the chances Of
border raids, will proceed with her expressions
and aggressions on the South. This course,
in time, will provoke other Southern States
and their citizens, despairing of cooperation in
advance, will resort to decisive action of their
own, especially the cotton and Sugar States.
This action once taken the Union is gone, and
Virginia will be compelled to choose between
the North and the South.
On the other hand, Conference of Sonth-
ern States is the only poGe of uniting them.
The South united can always save the Union,
and control it too. First, because the North
will never dare to provoke the united South
to secession and to the formation of a Southern
confederacy, it would ruin the North and.
second, because the South united, acting as
balance of power between the divisions of
Northern States and parties, could always
turn the general elections, and dictate her own
terms. Virginia has defeated her own policy
of saving the Union.
Virginia refuses affilation Of policy with
South Carolina-what shall South Carolina
do She yielded to Virginia in 1928
and repealed the multiplying ordinance. She
deferred to Virginia in 1852, even after Vir-
GINA had led her to prepare for action and to
expect concerted action, and forbore to secede.
Her proffered friendly conference and assis-
lance is now repealed by Virginia, and in the
name of federal MISREPRESENTATION is moth
ing else.
The counsel, too, of Mississippi is similarly
rejected. What shall South Carolina and
Mississippi do? Our answer is Promptly
ask for (and they will obtain) conference
of the cotton and sugar States, open to other
slave States. Let Virginia stay out of it, if
she chooses. She cannot expect to be again