Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-06

Al vr., tie right believe, to aecods fcn the Enion
which h formed when The conditions and obligations
upon which il vas made have been violated and annnL
The right Of secession IS argued at length and this
conclusion drawn;
FOR \, the reasons which have given, and for others
ma nov enumerated believe that each State acting IN
is sovereign capacity has political right 10 secede IRON
The Upjon when Il believes there has been papaole
and dangerous nacon OF the Constitution or compact
But whilst recognize lis right TO Judge for itself, am
also Of opinion that the Is morally justhibe only
hcn Inc infraeton s Of such character to make Sc
eon the only remedy, or when the danger OF such an
inracon Is 50 immineat that secession nus oe ihsd,
,fs 10 be a remedy at all Therefore Il IS that when
Was Questioned during the recent canvass TO know Wheth-
or would regard the election Of Lincoln, by constu-
onal means as Just cause for secession, lreped tnat
for such cause would not advise Virginia 10 seeede,
but any State did deem i, just cause aud for that iea-
500 seeede from the Uuiou, hold that she had right
,hus 10 act without question iTom me, aud that tnere
vas no Igblu authority gnywhsre 20 force her back
within the jurisdiction OF the General Government In
the case OF Virginia, where as voter aud eiSizen
have riga speak, would say, that although such an
election Ia nv opinion affords Just cause for serious APP
prehension aud makes prudent 10 prepare the means
nj selEdseuce ia case of the worst results, still, would
not desire 20 break up this Union, without az least an
honorable effort 70 preserve IT, upon terms consistent
with the rights and safety oil the South 10 preserve the
Union of the C31stitHfi0n | would be willing, trust
10 make any personal sacrifice. therefore desire aud
advocate conference amongst the Southern States 10
consult and agree upon such guarantees as IN their opn
ion si secure their equality aud their rights within the
Union.
The position Of Virginia in Of dissolution ofthe
Contederacy next occupies his attention He says:
The question: then, for the border sayehoding states
will be- not whether tbs Southern States would have
been safe If all had remained in the Union, but 70 which
division Of the Coufederaey they ought TO attach them
selves now that m severed 10 such an event. have
not the shadow Of a doubt what ought TO be the
course of Virginia aud other Southern border States
II thew united with the other slave States they would
confederate as equals aud with those whose population
was homogeneous and whose interests ware idsnuhed
with their own. Ii they united with the North under
such circumstances they would constitute helpless mi
norty IN an association with States, whose population
VS. NOT homogeneous with theirs and whose interests
would be considered different and hostile. They could
De treated as tHrsriors by the dominant minority, aud
considered as having acQuesced in that position by the
choice which they had made.
Ia the Southern CouiedeTacy they would md 81 out
et f,- their surplus population Of slaves not only IN
these coSates but in whatever territory might be ac-
ouir,d by that Union. Under that Government too,
hey would End eectus protection for their property
and institutions In the other COntetericy their slave
popu,tion would indeed DO "penned in" and local
Eed within their own borders The dominant party in
the North looks 70 this object the cardinal principle OF
heir association aud they would be able TO pursue that
end without the shoE Of opposition. This negro
population would then be penued up, not only by restrc
lions from the Northern msj ]rity, but by restrictions
from the neghborng slave states also, who would pro
badly hold il 70 be their interest 10 force the border
states 10 hold on 10 their slaves. not only for political
reasons but also from desire 70 inerpOse an obstacle
90 the escape OF their fugitive slaves What then would
De the position OF the sayehOdiug states IN the Northern
Confectionery As their slave population increased there
would be a tendency 20 fall IN wages. The white la
borer by emigration could better his condition BY
moving where bis labor more productive; bus the
slave by the circumstances Of his position must remain
and work for the home rate Of wages, whatever II might
be In this state OF things the white llborer would emf
CRATE where he could work better terms and the slave
would remain 70 increase his hold upon these States aud
20 become the governing element Of their population
Whilst the new territory OF this Northern COME ieracy
would he given to the white man according 70 their
theory the Old territory Of the border slvehoding
State, would be given 20 the negro. Iae consequence
Of such process would reduce to such an exteat
tie number Of whites In these States that they would oe
their only but slender oi defence which they had
suilved through the little political strength with which
,hey had entered that Contederacy Indeed, how long
would be before the uoC-5avehoding States would IN
crease 10 the mark requisite enable them 70 abO sh
slavery vtbn the States by constitutional amendment
Would they wait Tor that oces If they did not knoE it TO
be 10Th rapid aud sureg With the principles and ite,-
ugs Of this sectional party-which would WELD the
p.ver Of that Couedency-how long wosd the institu
non of slavery endure in the five or six sliyehodug
States which were attached 20 sit Unions Is there
Of the sayetoiiug States which would Voluntarily incur
,lch risk with the fate Of the British We, Indies before
their ewes Ia Union with Southern Coniederlcy they
should encoln.er none Of these dangers 10 connection
9ith the slave population operates as safety valve TO
protect the white lao5rer against an unreasonable or
runous decline 10 the OF wages. The Law OF profit
moves him 20 theatre where he will more for his
master and vet more for himself whilst the labor mar
xet hitch he leaves Is ihus gradually relieved from the
rrs-su~-. auA hi rs"s-i.a - 'ha i-F ~ hia
birth 10 enjoy the PROFITS OF rcmuueratng operations
A proof OF tho truth Of this view ask nthe average
rt of wages Of The white aborer Of the South is not
HIGHER than IN ary other settled porop OF the globe
lu conclusion le 5Iys.
When the future which lies before Us is 50 c!ouded b.
Gloom aud uncertainty ae all must feel that the time
bs come for Virgiu, to Plt Der house in order NJ
man can nov ts xhst day hour may bring forth
An a,cdlu. might fire train, whose explosion would
rar the Uriou asuu1er But, be the issue what Il may
-pesce or and no mau desires the former more
e,fncstlv than I do-usy the noble old Common
wealth be prepared PLAY tae part that becomes her
C.rtln am tdat speak the common voice OF nearly all
her sons when icy that where she leads We follow
and should she 10 her sovereign capacity throw her BAN
per 10 he breez,se viii rally TO i. as the emblem OF our
a-gsuce whether Il bears upon is iods single STAR,
as tfe representation OF her undivided sovereignty or
whole constellation 10 marx the numbers Of conedera-
ted system When she speaks her voice will be needed
AZ home, aud, trust respected abroad.