Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-01
RICHMOND SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 1,

of Parliament helu
without any constitutional foundation. But here the
controversy arises only ia he construction Of the cons
tuition In the one the right Of legislation is ad
mitted and diversity Of construction Is subject TO
method Of adjustment appointed by the parties while
in the other there was right TO egsale at all and TO
submit would have been slavery.
In the progress OF events may become necessary 10
call convention not only Of Virginia, but OF all the
States of the Unon and this expedont has already been
suggested both by the Governor OF Virginia aud the
President of the United States In national convention
let the representatives Of the South be confronted with
representatives of the North Let them faithfully confer
together upon the great issues that divide the country
Aud there let the terms Of permanent peace and recon-
citation be adjusted between them. The South would
probably demand amendments OF the Federal Consttu-
ton. The peace and harmony OF the country demand
lie amendment but il should be amended under its
own prescription In the election that has just pass
ed the President and Vice-Pi esident Of he United
States have been elected by a minority of votes
amounting. perhaps, TO but few more than one
third of the whole number cast. THIS Is an er-
ror and an evil. Il is contrary to the general
policy of our government and it should be immediate
" changed 1t is likewise true that the Presidential term
OF office is too short The effect Of this error is varously
productive of evil aud it should be corrected But the
important change to be made in the Constitution Is
such an amendment as would give the slave States
to power over all Federal legislation on the subject of
slavery This would obviously be proper II would be
Just aud without danger to the North; and II may be ne
cessary to the adequate protection OF the South 1t
might also sufficiently effect the object Of the dual execu-
tive scheme that suggested by Mr. Calhoun Then
let the representatives OF the North give adequate assu
that the existing legislation of her States hostile
to the institution Of slavery, will be repealed that they
will respect the constitutional rights Of the South and
that they will faithfully and IN fact support the Federal
Government in the execution OF the Fugitive Slave Law
State may justly resort to whenever it is neces
sary TO maintain its honor And 1t may do so Whenev-
injury is offered 10 its material interests OF mag
nitude sufficient 10 justify TO reason so fearful measure
In every case calculation should be made But where
the objection applies only to material injury aud the
proposed remedy of force could only make the
worse, could anything be more absurd than war; Men
should consult their understanding more and their pas
siOus less The failure TO do has brought US TO the
brink Of ruin which stand ltis better not to
repent reckless selfabandonment TO the control Of
exasperated feeling is incompatible with the character OF
4 people that is fit for self government. Can State do
anything unwise than to ruin itself in order to in
jure its enemies!
II may be we'll also 10 consider that IL the Southern
States should secede and should result as il n-
evitably woud) that the must either be perpetual
which is improbable-Or II must probably be closed by
treaty of peace Now If this treaty is come for what
motive could incur the evils OF long and bloody war,
unless TO crafty savage propensity 10 kill and 10 des-
troy II the treaty be made why let it be made
now and without this terrible cost? The answer, Of
course IT, that prefer take the chances Of conquer
ing an honorable peace rather than submit TO what we
hold be injustice. Ii is answer which sometimes
necessary aud proper but sometimes It's not IL is not
in this Il is probable that better terms could
be made At the close tlan at the beginning Of the
war between two such powers. Neither could suhugate
the other. In the Of few years both parties
would become sick at the sight Of blood. They would
become impoverished by the costs Of war and mutually
instructed by terrible experience they would find them
selves alike in condition to terms, which they
could have obtsined at first Why is IL that nations
fuse take advantage OF the teachings of hstory Why
il that to personal experience is so often
necessary teach and States the folly and the hor
rid evils of war? If the adjustment of the controversy
be effected directly between the parties 1t may be
done by the mediation Of conservative States occupying
middle ground Such has already occurred in the
short history OF this Union. The appeal to war should
be made without irst having exhausted without
effect all the known remedies of peace. The presump
ton is that il is always wiser and better to adopt the
judgment Of a competent third party than to resort to
war
II the Union should be unhappily dissolved, by
AvBLE secession Of the Southern Sates-even In that
case the distribution OF its assets would be saject OF
immense difficulty. What would become Of the Navy
How should we divide its How should divide the
70" o Sa EG OV Of SoaS Rs bss6%
the National Capitalg II occupies a position which
would be central neither Of the proposed divisions OF
the Republic. It could fty he the capital Of neither
Il is melancholy TO contemplate the destiny Of that
stately pile, in such event. Il might be burned or
battered down in the fury Of contending armies. Il
might become the castle Of some iron despot Itmirht
be permitted TO stand monument Of the instability
and folly of States and Statesmen That magnificent
structure which Wisdom and Virtue appointed to be
through all ages the Temple Of Freedom might become
the sable Mausoleumof American Liberty! :.
Men would not lightly the lists Of war f III
buckliug on as 10 putting Off their armor they knew the
plaques it brings The leaders of the people respOn
sibc for this ignorance Of the The do
not appreciate in advance the horrd consequences OF