Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-10-18
The "Rnauirer,, on pl.unlon.

ViteQ 70 De present.
The Enquirer ON DisuniOn.
Our special attention has been called to most sugu
lar and significant article that appeared in the Richmond
Epgirsr Of Monday last 1t is f Of the very essence
aud 0uutessence Of Disunion, from beginning to end
and aerreadngi il the people Of Virginia should pause
and enquire whittier the Breckenridge leaders driving
them. Look At the sentiments Of the following extract
from thar article;
Virginia can no more prevent the dissolution Of this
U1ion after Incou election than she prevent that
election She will De powerless 70 prevent civil war
with an lis attendant horrors Auy Of the Southern
States can AID Of them eii, involve the whole
country North wei as South, IN the lnerneiae STRIFE
OF "a bloody and desolaiiug cyd war VIRGINIA WILL
BY AMAJORITY OF HER PEOPLE DECIDE UPuN
RESISTANCE, while a large minority may desire 20
postpone resistance for the overt act but hc1cd
she Is 20 the southern States, she will be dragged into
common destiny with them no matter what may be the
ds,ir. Of the people. HE BELIEVE THAT A LARGE
MAJORITY or THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA, II THE
OPPORTUNITY OF A STATE CONVENTION WAS Al
LOWED THEN, WOULD VOTE FOR IMMEDIATE RE-
SlSrANCE AND FOR A COMMON DESTINY WIN ruE
SOUTHERN STATES, AND WITH THIS BELIEF WE
WOULD ADVISE TIE SLAVE STATES MOTTO HESl-
TATE To STRIKE AN EARLY BLOW FROM FEAR
THAT VIRGINIA MAY HESITATE IN HER DUTY
To rdE SOUTH"
We differ in toto from the opinion expressed by the
Eayrer, in the foregoing extract We DO not believe
tina Virginia is the slave Of the Gull States, De
made the slave Of those States under any circumstance
We believe she possesses miod and a viii OF her own
and prepared 70 act her safety and interests
may require without regard to the wishes opinions
action OF the Co;;on States. II the Old Dominion is
mere automaton without Intelligence, without will and
without feeling she VIII Of course, allow the Gulf States
20 decide for her the she should pursue in The
event Of Lueolas election and viii submit 30 be drag
gsd or kicked in any direction those Gulf States may de-
tsrmre On the contrary If she Is high minded, IT,
dependent sovarega State, With capacity and discretion
eaos.h 10 regute her own slirs in her own way, ard
chalk out her des,ia.es she viii rePel with prompt
indignation the buuatng idea that she VilI be obliged
10 submit. 70 the wishes aud dc.aG0u Of the whimsical
and arrogant Cotton States.
Toe ERgairsr maintains that; Tiry'nir riV By ma
ority Of her people dses upon Residence in the event
Of IInoOlns election. OF course in th declaration is
involved the annunoiaton that the Richmond Eng,t-
y will take ground in favor Of resistance, should Liz
coin be elected ard let the rank and 6a Of the Breck
iurdge party in Virginia bear in mind this annuncton
when they 60 to the polls to vote on tie DAY Of election
We believe that our neghbor {, widely AID radically mis-
taken a. TO the course Virginia viii pursue in the event Of
reope or even a respectable minority viii favor "resis.
sDee on account Of the Constitutional election Of any
President Of any party. We believe on the otherhand
that lourhhs Of the voters Of Virginia will decide aud
wisely decide 70 wait for the 'ovet act" before they
conclude 20 appeal and the god Of battles. TIE
election Of President in seeorAues with the forms and
reurements Of the Constitution constitutes no sufficient
ar ushable or exeuseabe cause for disruption Of the
Confederacy and i, would be the height Of folly and mad
ness for the people ofany State to take their stand before
the country and before the world ground so uuten
able and so absurd We sure, least that the intel
Feu and patriotic people Of Virginia entertain such
ne. themselves and win administer whitening rebukc
IN those who do We equally sure that there win DC
bsr5apd fierce contest in the Old Dominion if any al
t.opt is made TO hi,ch' her to the Gulf States and
decide her in favor Of resistance, in the event OF Liz
,ios election Aud for one We have appsehen.ions
If the result Of such contest We believe the reckless
,lvocates Of resistance for such cause viii be over
,belned BY a popular majority Of AZ least a hundred
thousand votesl
But. our neigbbOr Of the Enquirer IS Of a wholly dif.
Ferent opinion Il processes "beieve that large ma
iority Of the people Of Virginia il the opportunity Of
STATE Convention was allowed them, ro'sld gote jof
MEDIATE RESISTANCE, aud ior common destiny wiki the
Southern CostOD) States And so believing it cooy
advises the slave Cotioa States not TO hesitate to strike
aa early 5lo for RESISTANCE DlsUSIoS from sar
that Virginia may hesitate iAsr ds,y 10 he S9uL"-
Now this is all haludn enough as piece of sentmen-
al composition; bat take occasion admOuish the
gulf States that if in the event Of Liucolns election
sy proceed 40 strike early blow for Disunion in
the expectation or hope that vrsi-s viii join in in
- Il. Ill
exhibit an extraordinary degree Of weakness and folly
For We tel them beforehand in all oandor and truth,
that Virginia will unite With them in resistance TO
the mere Constitutional election Of Abraham Lincoln
any other Let not then ueighbOFs and friends
Of the Cotton States be msed or deceived by any con-
trary assurances this subject 10 matter how nteh
gent and respectable the source from which they may
enanaie The position Of Virgins is tia. she means 10
stand b. the Constitution and the Union the last and
assaad an her Constitutional rights 10, the Union no
matter Who may be President
In conclusion invoke the serious attention Of the
people Of Virginia 10 the pregnant extract which We
have copied from the editorial in Mondays Enquirer
L., them an be admonshed in time that the single and
ouly issue IL the present the issue Of Union or
Dis,aiOH Aud les them remember, also that If Bresk-
ilridge should carry the STATE and Lincoln should be
elected immediate Disunion viii be upon them with all
it and horrors if the Breckenridge leaders in
Virginia possibly bring il about. Even II Lineola
should not be elected, /, IS Overwhelmingly important
that Virginia should cas-, her vote against Breckenridge
and the DisuniOnisis. But il Lincoln should unioriu
na.ey be elected how ranseendendy and infinitely i'm
pOrtant-hOW absolutely essential is it-that Virginia
should vote against Breeknridge and in favor Of the
Union erndidAts John Bel, By atretsndous msjo5itY
II Virginia votes agaist Breoinridge the advOeates Of
redstaree' vii abandon their present purpose Of pre-
e'pi;aiag revolution aud DisunOn But shOald Virgin
ia unfortunately vote for Breckenridge, look out for Dis
union, Revolution and Civil War in sixty days thereaf
ter-for such is The prOgramme Of the reckless Breckn
ride leaders At the present writing
People Of yirsiOil, do you not perceive that your