The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-03-13

Prspesition-The Cotton and Sugar States.
The rejection by the Legislature of Virginia
of the proposals by South Carolina and Mis-.
sissippi to call and hold q Conference of the
Southern States in Convention, on the critical
condition of their political relations, is the
subject OF comment in South Carolina papers.
The Charleston News has the following 'slead.
err on the subject:
The rejection was an error, and one indica-
i've OF social timidity on one side, and Of po-
htical selflshness on the other. 1t was An er-
ror which will probably, and ere long, cost
virginia much more than she could possibly
have lost, even in Federal favors, from
south Carolina, when the latter was prepar-
ing III 1851 to secede from the Union, not to
take any action without the cooperation Of
the other Southern States and her citizens
and presses taunted South Carolina wi an
arrogant disposition to dictate and lead. n nd
now. when South Carolina urges the co-opera.
lion deemed advisable when her prophecy of
continued and increasing wrongs and aggres-
sions has been more than verified. and when
tne Whole South is in perilous crisis, Vir-
ginia refuses it, And she does SO, despite the
Indications that half the Southern States are
ready aud anxious to enter promptly upon
Joint counsel, measures and policy. And she
mas done II very much with that air of conf
dence which assumes that she (Virginia) can
ana should alone dictate and lead the course
Oh the South. She does not conffne herself to
repeliing the Conference, and in palpable,
and partially declared, want Of confidence in
the wisdom and prudence of her sister slave
STATES, but proceeds to require them to adopt
her measures. She proposes that each State
shall leglsiate remedies for herself-and they
must be Union remedies, to wit: restrictions
and disabilities on Northern citizens, North
ern commerce, and Northern goods, with dis.
ordinations in favor Of the foreign-an ab-
surd policy, contrary to the spirit Of the Con-
stItution, subyersive Of the self.regulation OF
trade, and that would really be productive of
more injury than good to the South Yet even
on these measures she refuses to concert in
Conference with the other Southern States,
and thereby precluding the only hope and
chance OF their being of any service. Virginia
has this lesson to learn: that her difference in
production with the cotton and sugar States,
aud her singular tenacity Of adherence to fed
eral h0nors, offices and parties, to the d,spar-
agement ct the interests and sen timents OF
those States, is fast losing her influence with
them, and isolating herself from Southern ac-
cord.
The leading pretence Of Virginia in refusing
the Conference, was thatit might endanger the
Union. Here was another error. 1t would
have been, and will be, the only mode of saring
n. The North. seeing that tue South cannot
unite. but will remain divided and distracted
on measures of defence and relying on Vir-
ginia's adherence to the Union and her tame
submission to Fedora action. and the chances
of border raids, will proceed with her Oppres-
u.
course, in time will provoke other Southern
States and their citizens, desparing of gene
raj cooperation in advance, to resort to deci-
sive action OF their own; especially the cotton
and sugar States This action once taken the
Union is gone, and Virginia will be compell-
ed to choose between the North and the South.
On the other hand, a conference of Sou thern
States Is the only mode 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 Sc
cession and to the formation Of a Southern
confederacy-it would ruin the North; and
second, because the South united, acting as Il
balance of power between the divisions OF
Northern States and parties, could ALWAYS
turn the general elections and die tate her own
terms. Virginia has d. fedted her Oun DOlicu of
saving the Union.
Virginia refuses afiliation of policy with
South Carolina-what shall South Carolina
do! She yielded to Virginia in 1882 3d. and
repealed the Multiplying Ordinance She de-
ferred to Virginia in 1852. even after Virginia
had led her 10 prepare for action and to ex-
pee concerted ac ton, and forbare to secede--
Her proflered friendly conference and assist
ance is repealed by Virginia. and in the
name of federal Observation-Disclosures is
nothing else.
The counsel, too of Mississippi is similarly
rejected. What shall South Carolina and Mis-
sissippi 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 looked
TO for either leadership or action.
The Mercury has an editorial from which
we extract the following:
Virginia is truly Southern in her feelings
and sympathies. There is doubtless party
in that State who sees the dangers and are
ready TO meet them in time, and by adequate
action; but this party is too weak to inaugu-
rate any measure Of real resistance. There
are influences, associations, and disabilities
which will ever prevent that State from moy-
ing in the van of the South. And if this mis-.
sion has failed in its prime object, it has at
least accomplished good purpose in show
ing where the Southern pc pie are to look for
measures of redemption.
We have heretofore repeatedly expressed an
opinion which We now reiterate. In the con.
proper-the necessarily slave SOuth-has la
bored under two fatal errors: First, in relying
upon any party of the North as able to protect
us; and second, In relying upon the from tier
Southern States-slave States at Inconvenience
to lead the van of our resistance, and 10 bear
the brunt Of the conflict
And what right have we to expect Virginia
Maryland. Kentucky, Missouri, to bear the
brunt of the struggle in which we are much
more vitality interested, with :ewer induce
ments to pOstpOnement and inactiun What
reason have We to expect either of them to take
the initiative in our defence They NAV live
and thrive without slavery; and with them
slavery or its abOlishment is question of ex-
pediency-a choice of different instrumentali-
.
dispensable We must maintain ourselves in
the contest or be utterly destroyed; and it is,
SO far as we are concerned, vain and coWardIy
to look to the frontier States to lead the Sou III
to the recovery of her independence and secu-
rity. The slave South proper-the cotton
States-must look to themselves alone for de-
fence.
This refusal of Virginia will have the effect
of inspiring the Black Republican party with
confidence in the submissive spirit of resist
ance, and greatly tend to remove fear OF a
dissolution Of the Union In our opinion it
insures the election Of Black Republican TO
the Presidency To resist this, two OF the
cotton States, Alabama and Mississippi, have
pledged themselves. South Carolina is ready
to cooperate with them. These States will
constitute a nucleus around which several
Others will rally. We trust that hereafter
Virginia will not be looked TO for leadership.
II is a false position to assign her, situated as
she is, and her truest and abiest men are ready
To acknowledge the fact and urge other States
to move Virginia will always be found to
follow the South, to which she really aud tru-
ly belongs.
PEHILOus PosITIoN-Suspeasio sion orey Bias
Near Dubuque, Iowa, last week, a shaft was
being blasted through rock thirty feet deep
A man, named Norton was engaged in drill.
ing, while companion attended to the wind
lass and drew him up when the signal was
given. The Herald says:
Having finished drill, loaded it, and getting
ready preparatory TO firing the fuse, Mr.. Nor
ton commenced picking up his tools, in readi-
ness to ascend. At this moment his foot
struck the candle, upsetting it exactly on the
fuse, and in a second it had caught and was
fizzing down toward the powder. Mr.. Norton
Immediately commenced calling on the man
above TO pull him Up. The latter was at some
little distance from the shaft, and did not hear
the cry; but, fortunately, happening to look in
that direction, he saw the rope shaking, and
thinking that he might be wanted, he hasten
ed up. In the next instant he became aware
what was wanted, aud Immediately commenc.