The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-12-24
THE PUBLIC PRESS ON SECESSION.
FROM the latest Papers North and South, We
axe the following expressions of opinion rela-
ave 10 the recent action Of South Carolina:

| FROM the latest papers n or tn and South wa
'ake the following expressions of opinion rela-
| tive TO the recent action of South Carolina:
lFroin the Petersburg (Va.) Intelhgencer1
| II Is with deep sorrow that we chronicle this
| nasty and ill-advised action of our sister
| state Refusing TO wait Tor the result of the
| eHorts which her Sou thern con pfederates " Gro
MAKING lot an amicable and satisfactory set
| uemeht OF all our grievances she has rashIy
| ana precipitateiy resolved to quit the Union
| hoping, no doubt, TO drag the other States
| along with her. For our part, we are not vet
pIepaled 10 follow her lead. She has not
| SHOWN suihclent consideration for our wishes
| ana opinions 10 make ii desirable for us 10 ac-
cept her as leader. Our situation perilou.
as IL was, mas been rendered doubIy compli-
| cdteo Oy neT rashnesS and folly, and still wa
| shaii not relax one jot of heart or hope for a
| permanent and satisfactory adi Just tment of our r
| dlnerences inside the Union. As she regard
| go NOT our advice in the policy which
| sue nas thonght proper to pursue, so we
! sIaii continue in the path We have mark
| 90 our, regardless OF Ler secession
| Our government under the Constitution
| though In many things il has been carried on
| with proper cognizance of our rights is vet
capable OF amendment, and until We have ex-
| hausteu every peaceable mode OF bringing it
| oack TO the beauty and symmetry IN which is
| was beg queathed 10 us by our fathers we do
| not intend TO be "hitehfd'' on to tie tail of
| South Carolina in her rash purpose to DESTROY
| IL mas been to US the source OF tso many es.-
|
| OF TOO many hallowed associations, for us 10
| witness The destruction of this nlaiestic col
| nmn, reared BY the heroes and sages of the
| revolution, with sD great an expenditure of
| blood and treasure. We would be recreant to
| every dictate OF honor and OF patriotism did
| we unite in this wicked attempt 70 destroy it.
while there yet remained Il hope Of preseryin z
| ~ IN all lts pride and glory. The conserva-
| i've men OF all sections are now bending all
| their energies to remove all causes of dlssen-
| sion. The action of the South Carolina Con-
| vention will, we hope, instead of diminishlng
| largely add to their number. For one we
| promise them our cordial and unfaItering CO.
| operation.
| From the Petersburg (Va.) Express
| There was but little discussion upon the
| cues ZION. A single day-prooably a single
| honr-sufiiced tor the introduction. reading
| and passage of this document, which however
| popular In South Carolina, has yet 10 undergo
| the ordeal OF the worlds judgment. History
not the heated Journals and Impulsive orators
| that are now so loudly and Enthusiastically
| applauding it-but sober, dispassionate his
| tory, in its after time review Of all the facts
| circumstances and influences connected with
| this astounding act of South Carolina will
| have TO pass upon ii. To say that the in nteli-
| gencs OF the event surprised or startled u.s.
| would be 10 say what was not true. We had
| prepared our mind fully Tor it. We could not
| nave expected that the Convention would
| hesitate or alter in doing what 1t was specially
! and solely commissioned to do.
We have never believed in the wisdoWn or
l L.
convinced that the election of Lincoln and
HamlIn would be followed by the most disas-
| trous excitement at the South, and that the
| Union would be lmmiuenty periled, if not de-
| stroyed. But, then, we thought that the slave
| States would all join in a common action
| whatever tina: actiUn might be, as it was un-
| questiouably their duty and their interests to
DO. Wecouid hardly suppose that any one of
| them would consider ii right or polite to de-
| tsch herself entirely from the others and with
| draw separately. Bat the thing has been done,
| no doubt, mainly under the cherished ex pee Ia
| Uon that all, or many OF The Others would
| speedily and certainly follow in similar fash
ion.
| South Carolina has chosen to exercise a sove-
| relgnty which we conscientieusly believe be-
| longs 10 her-but In SO exercising IL We are de-
| cidedly OF the opinion that she has acted with
| psIcIpitahcy, leVity, and an IndIScretion
| wholly lrrecohcilabie with The responsibilities
| and obilsa tions involved in the case.
| From tia Philadelphia North American1
Ii is evident that this action is intended TO
| cover two points-tbe one great point being
| the contamination Of some act decIaratory Of
secession and the other being an effort TO Ieay We
| all the practical relations of The peonla to the
! Union III postal and commercial affairs lust a :
they are until commissioners" can negotiate
| This preliminary ordinance is, therefore more
an appearance than reality. Under it no Of
| hcer OF the General Government is expected
| to resign, and Mr.. Buchanan's administration
Is confidently looked TO, to aid in sIn hing he
way for an International arrangement.
lS n
any construction of law likely to be made IN
the case, and there will be none until some OF
the officers fail 10 account TO the Government
or 10 obey the orders of the Departments. The
| passage OF preliminary declaration of thi.
sort Is an ingenious and, We were about to
say, credit table act-certainly one lesrifyiug 10
mixture OF sense and caution not heretofore
! apparent. 1t has q grand show of seeming 10
do much, while 1t practically does little II
may be remarked that the nuliificatiou ordi-
nance OF 1873 was formal and full document
in comparison with this. prescribing a cause
of resistance TO the laws and authority of the
| United States, and on this ground The procia-
nation OF Gen. Jackson was made very severe
and direct. Even that ordinance did not dis
solve the Union.
| From the Philadelphia Ledser.l
| South Carolina, yesterday passed the Sc
cession Ordnance, declaring that she is no
| longer member of the Union, and that all
the laws of the Federal Government and the
treaties which she, as one OF the thirty three
States, had assented TO binding upon the
| United States, and to be abrNgated only after
notice 70 foreign governments, are of no effect
| as far as she is concerned. This is as cool q
| proceeding towards foreign governments as is
| sending Commissioners to Washington TO par
| tition and distribute the property OF the Fed
| eral Government. OF course the United
States Government cannot recognize the Sc
| cession OF South Carolina, or receive or nego-
| tlate win her agents. The duly of The Fed
| eral Government is plain. II is 10 enforce the
| laws IN every part Of the territories OF the
| assumed by any portion of the inhabitaDt Is
| therein. II is to defend, by ali the power of
| the Government, the property and the au-
| thOrity of the General Government and not
| permit spoliatiOn or violation OF either This
| is different thing from making war upon n
| State. If resistance Is made to the Govern
| ment, ii is the people OF State making war
| upon the Government, and the responsibility
| must rest with them. II will be seen by the
| proceedings, that the disunionists, in their
| haste 10 get out Of the Union, have lett them
! selves in the position OF having no govern
| ment a. all.
| From the Philadelphia lnquirer.l
| The result OF this selt-styied " secession" " is
not likely TO DO more harm than It's an tici pa
| ton. There has been some excitement in Com
| gress consequent on lis proclamation over the
| electric wires, and there will be much IL TX
| about ii throughout the North. The simple
| fact is merely that South Carolina is out of
| the Union, as far as she can accomplish that
| result by her own act, exclusive Of its recog-
| milton under the forms OF law, and according
| TO the Will or consent of her sisters in the
| ContedeIacy. 1t remains for Us Ia the North,
| by u manly course, to show that the effect OF
this, whatever be the end, shall not be 10 de-
| precia to our property or derange our business
| 70 the extent hoped for by those who have
| willfully broken the Federal compact. The
intrinsic value of our possessions and our ma
| tive and inseparable energy are left to US un-
affected. With our hardy millions OF men
| aud fruitful millions of acres, we are strong
| and prosperous enough, aud always will re-
| main so, unless God should talnt our vigorous
| blood, blast cur teeming soil. aud swallow up
| our mines in earthq uakes Therefore, let US
| not fear or whimper II, in the course Of lime,
| il may be discovered that this completed
| threat of secession be but another mode 10 OBJ
| tain concession and reconstruction OF the
| Federal Constitution-Weli. Then, let right
| be done.
From the New York ExpIessl
| With heavy heart and faitering pen, we an
| nounce to- day the dissolu tion of our beloved,
a nil ma HhaiU is hrO
| aud we are one and indiyisible no longer The
] event for which The pu bic % md has been for