Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-11-29
RICHMOND WHIG.
LETTER FROM MR.. McCUE, OF NELSON, TO A
FRIEND IN STAUNT0N.
D 4 L.
LoYlNosroN, Noy. 2lst, lS6O.

LoyiSGsToS Nov. 2lst 1860.
DEAR SRI embrace this opportunity TO write
you in reference the affairs Of distracted country
You have before this my letter TO Gov. Gist, and
the sentiments therein contained have not surprised YOU
for you have long been aware of them had supposed
you and myself cOneurrcd in opinion but your having
united in A call for Union meeting" in Augusta, and
your subsequent action in that meeting have greatly sur
prised me- aud now fear widely apart as the
the poles Your meeting has been adjourned 10 another
day and before that day arrives desire to give express
sion to Of my views, trusting they may make such
An impression on your mind induce you 10 present
them to the good people Of Augusta.
l am Union man. desire TO see this great govern
ment perpetuAted through all time, upon the great idea
OF foundersof justice, equality aud republican ho-
erty.
The encroaehments of the North upon Southern rights
from the adoption of the Constitution TO the present time
cannot be denied It is evident too, that our oppression
has not been less than when subjects of Great
Britain.
Il behooyes us then to convince our op2ressors that
We will submit no ongcr-hat our talk and threats oil
secession aud dissolution have not been all takthat we
can exist more prosperousy than they, sepaate Peo
ple that the producer is always in better condition to
endure civil war than the consumer. Ia fine, that Cot
ton is King aud they bis sui ecs. should sdd in
this connection the fact that from the foundation OF the
Government TO the present time, the South has sustained
three ourhS of the expenses Of the government and the
North OF course, but One-iOurth
Tue position Of South Carolina, and the other Cotton
States is now accomplishing what argument and figures
have heretofore failed do set the demonstration that
the North is dependent the South and The South not
on the North. Trade, manufactures, busoeSs Ot ell
kinds are in fearluly depressed condition North. la
shorter time than sky days thousands OF operatives,
clerks and other employees will be thrown out Of bus-
ness there then the cry will ring in Northern ears,
bread or blood" An enemy at home will be more ter
ribe and formidable than enemy abroad; an insurrec-
ton theD more appalling in its consequences than an n
rcTs 10 uufi fhn VNIu
Union be demonstrate TO the North, as also the loy
aud madness of auacism. The people then must LOOK
TO causes and they will them in the tenets OF Black
Repubcanism and the ambitious Vaccinations oil it,
hellsh leaders.
How is the panic and the suffering at the North to be
increased and what the legitimate cluSey
Added 10 laws already contemplated by the Southern
States 10 prevent the collection Of debts due from the
South to the North, heavy aud probibiory duties on
Northern goods aud fabrics &c. &e let Southern Banks
suspend specie payments at once that will keep all our
specie at hUme. Cotton, tobacco, &c, the North must
have sell to her, and receive nothing in payment but
gold aud silver that will drain her banks and her people
and supply our banks and our people.
la the meantime throw obstacles in the way Of
South Carouas seces,ou rather encourage her TO 60,
and that will convince enemy that the South Is not
so firmly and uuaeraby attached TO the Uuion as TO
bear and patiently submit to oppressionthat there IS
point beyond which patience ceases 70 be virtue.
What now the ect Of all this The North will soon
begin seek for terms her laws IN COntraVehuOn OF
the Fugitive Slave Law will speedily be repealed. She
will appeal 10 the South to 90 into National Conyen-
on such the Constitution provides for an amendment
OF that instrument and will in such changes az
70 guarantee to the South all she may demand aud thus
give quietus slavery agitation now aud forever
The North will consent engtt upon the Constitution
the following provisions and the South should be salts
fled with nothing less.
lst That Congress shall not have the power to abolish
slavery in the District OF Columbia.
ID That Congress shall not have the power to inter
fere with or restrict the inter State slave trade.
Sl That the Territories of the United States shall be
open to slaves they TO other species Of property,
aud that stvery shall exist therein uudCr the protection
OF Congress until the Inhabitants citizens thereof,
come TO form Constitutions for admission into the Union
as States, and are so received.
Ash A dual Senate such as that suggested by judge
Robertson of this State that no bill shall become
law without the Of specified proportion OF
each class OF Senator'S representing respectively, the
slave holding and non-slhvehoiding sections OI the
Union"
Other changes might be suggested but for the present.
| iotbear
When all this is accomplished South Carolina may be
invited 70 return TO the family OF States, which he
DO with honor and profit TO herself II the suggestions ndi
Gated are not adopted she ca mot return with credit
and Virginia and the other Southern States remaining in
the Union cannot dispense with her representation in
Congress The South il weak already and she cannot
afford to lose single vote in Halls of Legislation
In sentiments such as those | have expressed !
verify believe is to be found the only hope OF the perpe
tuity of our Republican Government.
Truly and respectfully
Your friend and obt servant
JOHN H. MCCUE.