Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-07-31
THE Conspiracy To BREAK Up
THE UNION.
THE PLOT AND ITS DEVELOPMENT.
MORE PROOF OF A SETTLED PURPOSE TO REVOLT.
TONNE THE GOVERNMENT.
HOW STANDSlIR. BRECKENRIDGE!

HOW STANDSMR. BRECKINRIDGEl
On the 18th inst, published an article charging
that eoldbooded deliberate heartess conspiracy e1-
listed in certain quarters to break up the Union of the
United States, to revOlutOnze the government and e.
tAbhsh Southern Confederacy We dated this eOnspi
raey with the meeting Of the Southern Convention in
NAV, 1855, in Montgomery Ala and showed conclusive
" that it then set on foot as regular svstematis
organization, and assumed all the qualities except the
arning Of men, Of technical eoaspiray one tina. would
be held to be so in any of law in Christendom-
We therein grouped the evidence, bringing it down to
December, 1859, step BY step all Of which pointed in
tAhbly 70 the existence Of the conspiracy, and
TO sctive efforts being made for its eonsummaton
Treason, Ike fraud burrows under the surface Ii never
raises it, head to the view Of men, until il is prepared to
assume the form and proportion Of Revolution when
the government against which it Is eveed is at an end
aud armed men, desoton and blood take the place Of
the Ia" and the gaIlows. Like fraud. t weaves about
iSeH network OF circumstances, which conceal it until
1t g TRACED in such way that its existence excludes eve
oInef reasonable hypothesis Though in our previous
article, We aFrayed facts pregnant and so conclusive
a. to convince any but confirmed skep.ic we desire
no" to supply some facts which, for want Of space we
were then compelled to omit and adduce Others equal
~ as convincing and Of still later date. bringing the
scheme up to the present moment aud connecting it with
the candidacy Of Mr. Breeknridge for the Presidency
We set oV before with a disclosure made by Judge
Bailey, IN Union meeting Knoxville in this State in
the month Of January last to the effect that Gov Wise
had addressed letters to the Southern Governors in 1886
with the TIA view Of consulting upon measures to prevent
the Inauguration ofFremont in the event of his election
"snoW append that letter as il appeared after Judge
Baleys statement in the Richmond ENQUIRER It is as
follows
RicNoND, Va, Sept. -, 1856.
Ds1r SIR Events approaching which address them
selves 20 your responsibilities and to mine as chief execu-
uV shveholdng States. Contingencies NAV soon hap
pen which would require preparation for the worst ofeys
70 the people Ought 70 admOuish ourselves by
JOINT counsel OF the extraordinary duties which msy de-
'o'e upon usirom the dangers which papably threat
en- our common peace and safetye when how, or to
"nat extent may We act separately or untedy 70 ward
musty
propose that early as convenient the Governors
OF Maryland, Virginia North Carolina South Carolina
1eOfgia, FLORIDA, Alabama, Louisiana Texas Arkansas
Mississippi ana Tennessee shall assemble az Raleigh
- Tor the purpose generally Of consultation upon the
slate OF the country upon the best means Of preserving
us peace nd especially Of protecting the honor and in
teress OF the siavehOdng States have addressed the
states only having Democratic Executives, for obvious
reasons
This should be done as early as possible before the
Presidential election and would suggest Monday. 18th
oiOetoOer next VIII you please give me an early an
s"er' ana oolge Yours most truly and respectfully,
HNRY A. WISE
His EHeelency Thomas W. Lyon, Governor Of Mary
land.
the same to Thomas Bragg, Governor Of North Carroll
ns; James H. Adams Governor OF South Carolina; Her
seheI v johnson, Governor Of Georgia; James C.
Broone, Governor Of Florida John A. Winston, Gov
Of NN.h..
p Robert Wickide Jr., Governor Of Louisiana; Ed
mond N. Pease, Governor Of Texas Elias n. Conway
Governor Of Arkansas and Andrew Johnson Governor
Of Tennessee.
The chief importance Of this document, at this time
is to show what the position Of Gov Wise at that
day, and that only Democratic Governors were TO he
consulted Up the time We have dated this conspra-
Cy, May 10Th 1855 there were, unqnestionaby, many
disuniOnsts in the country but We have no evidence
that they had ever taken counsel together and deter
mined upon systematic course Of action 70 accom-
plsh their designs. OF this number Gov Wise was evil
IDENTIFY one, It remains for him to clear It up and to
explain his connection with the well considered South
cru policy spoken Of BY Mr.. Yaneey Mr.. Pryor in
August or September, lS5s.--Without connecting him
with the movement At this time the circumstances
der imperative that he should defBe his present posi-
ton.
The Southern Convention st the next meeting succeed
ing that at Montgomery, resumed the eOnsltrlion Of
the proposition reopen the slave trade and to sssai
ing the Union. This body occupies prominent position
in this dsunion picture. It's members portion Of
them,-for many who have been, from time 10 time,
drawn 70 its tings and membership, true friends Of
the Union and eonservatism-doubtess presided at the
birth Of the plot Montgomery and met again at
NicksbuIg 70 forward the scheme. Ar. SIratt South
Carolina freeater thus expressed himself on that ocea
EiOn
ut might be said that the slave trade could not
e be esalized within the Union, and that 10 re-es-
tablish it the Union would have TO be dissolved
Let s Be- 20. The men Of the South had high
trrss than 10 preserve the Union The
pOEer 20 control Congress bad passed irreyocaby into
fhe hands Of those who had expressed remOrsees hos
tity % Southern institutions. Mast he South take
lac pteger such Congress may please 20 dietaisf The
South could not Of itself legitimate any action; but
should they therefore take no steps until legitmatedF
Must hey the slyish doctrine that power carries
With il the right govern II the resolutions proposed
b. him affirmed BY the Convention, the reopening
of the slave rade would have all the sanction which, as
Southern man, they would ask (Applause.) II the
principle should be approved by Southern sentiment it
matters little what might be the Of Congress
The profits Of the trade would compensate the risks Of
1he adventure and slaves would be brought into the
country. Besides thar there point Of honor in
Folyed in this matter. There men in the South who
felt that in this way only could the South take the posi-
lion that vas consistent with the maintenance Of her
rights His friend Lamar had already hoisted the slave
trade Tag and that Tag hoated al the masthead
(Appause) If this government in that madness which
precedes dissolution should send its agents here TO spy
out the acts of Southern men, TO enforce this law 10
seize Southern citizens and take their property for acts
which they recognize as rights a. s sn, should
rise Il could rise ne TsskHg plans Of another Lsx-
iagtOa and C0AeOrd Loud APPlAusel