Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-20
no COMMENCEMENT.
a Con,sn.lon % AlI .hs alaass.

Slate Conventions and Southern Conventions may be
very proper preliminary steps for the SOnthern people 10
take, IN the present emergency Indeed a. to those
States bent on secession whether or no State ConVer
tons are The only thing needfuL But no, 50 with these
other southern SUSCEPTIBILITY 9th all the Border
Slave States-whch desire to preserve the Uuion, rs
preservation he consistent vh honor and Uh the main
teu.pce Of an their rights These latter States must ne-
sss,rlv favor the call Of Convention Of all the States,
North aud South as the best and reAdes, meAns OF OBJ
tanning redress Of their grievances by amendments to
the Constitution which shall clear up all disputed points,
"A TO slavery and afford such additional security to the
South as right justice aud fAternAl feeling shall die
3 tate.
We advocate the call Of a National Convention, be-
c,use ue desire to elect final and permanent adjust
n,ut Of Al the differences existing hs,Sesn the North
and Soush With as Httla delay possible We are CT
pos 70 Any ur,her sgitafon Of the slayery question
bs,sesn- the two sections of the Union our ssh aad
object are 20 retabsh peace and good vii between the
North and South upon satisfactory and ss'ias basis
Al legislative compromises have failed to reach the end
in vev AID hence the Ouy alternative left Is for the
ope OF both Sections ard Of an the States 20 meet to-
reher. through their representatives IN general Con
vntion and looking each other fairly aud squArely IN
the face and couuseing with each other in moderate
prudent and patriotic spirit endeayor oreeoneie eIsns
Frensts anddiHeul.iss upon terms agreeable, houo'-
able and Just to al The parties 10 the original compact
We think the time has arrived when the people OF the
North and the South should come to mutual under-
standing in regard 10 this vexed question, which has 50
long divided distracted, and acuated them. Il, after
meeting and consulting together t should be discovered
that the savehoiiur and nonsayehodng States cannot
live together in peace and mutual respect and kindness,
"a re siss Union then let the General Convention, in
the name Of the people Of both sections agree to
rs.eeable separation aud provide fer fair and eQata-
bl, division Of all the property and possessions Of the
United States
Ia our Judgment a Convention Of ell the States would
speedily settle the differences between the two sections
upon an honorable aud satisfactory basis. A obstinate
aud foolish - We kuow 10 be, when influenced by
passion and resentment yet do not believe that tie
repr,scusyes OF sovereign States, in solemn Couyen-
aoa embed aud elected to consider and decide que
tons involving Ehe fate OF great and dourishug RePqb
Ii. would be so obstinate and foolish to fail to i'd
ia, pending difficulties upon terms fair jus; and mutt
ay satisfactory We believe there is yet wisdom, mod
ssaoa and patriotism enough in the country, both North
and SJrth tO-dcyse way Of escape Gu. Of our Frccs
troubles and TO the "a greater eaAmities that iu
pod Impase, excitement passion, may rule the Amer
ian people for awhile hut and common sense vii
ultimately resume their swsy, and eOuduc, Us in safety
aud honor 20 happy issue out o. Our difficulties and
d,nsers The ianalcism Of Abolition may rave Al hc
North ana the madness Of Secession may howl a. the
S,u,h bugtJe ca stern voice VI Intelligent; aui pa
totic people will hush them bod into silence, and
rgh.s Institutions aud liberties Wi al DC preserved aud
psrpetuated trust TO the liess generation. The
ci,a5e and demasogcal portion q our popuaon Nor'h
ard South have here olore ruled our legislative hall
and in the assemblies OF the peopl; but the thinking,
Teaes,ng a1d honest masses are a! las, beginning 10
speak aad ac. for themselves and hence The hope hr
consoles us is that the counse OF madm5n viii De brought
TO no1ght, ~ thas wise aul rari'; will shape AHi
d. ;srmine the future.
We have. then strong c5gflcuee IN the virtue o.
Peoer,i Convention Of al The States. We believe tat
We, moderate, patriotic would De sent TO such
Convention and that they could amead OF add 10 tLe
Con ii atinu A. 20 secure for al tine the rights Of tie
Sso,srn States IN che UriOa. We believe the action OF
srch Convection wcu'd be- entirely acceptable TO u.u
tsltis Of the people CT al the STATES exclusive Of courc
osthe Abolition fanatics OF New England and Oh, fanal-
cal psuuioniss ofthe Cotton Sate' AtaI events, The
eFrt in behalf Of reconciliation ia ne U'ioH by
ola National Convenion worth making There can GER
tuy unreasonable jec.on The plrl Of sny plr
ca, man in either section trying the efficacy offs Nation
sConventn bl fore resorng secession and hslrdiug
The horrors Of ey wAr Il is surely the duty OF every
sensible, prudent and patriotic man to exhaust every
remedy Tor existing and threatened troubles before tax
uR mad and psecipiste leap IN the DIRK. Il is surely
the du.y OF Us all preserve the Union Of fathers,
II ts preservation il Incompatible With the mAntsL
a.ce OF our rights, honor and dignity.
But should National Convention fail to satisfactorily
adjust the differences between the slveh0lding and noL
s.veboldog States we think such failure soud demon
rate the proprety and necessity Of inmedilte and
c,nliona seplratoa. Il would demonstrate that
70. fted 70 I've together under the same Constitution
and in the same Cnioe. Il would show lha; Interests
and our peee souli be better su6seryed by living
nader separate governments aud in separate natiou.c-
And saehbeing the facts demonstrated by the failure Of
General Convention to settle the cutes between ~
We should be in favor Of instant and peaceable separ
ton the public property Of the present Uaiou TO b.
equally divided and the public debt TO be fairly appOr
tioued between the tso sections And se have said
in cas-, Of Gle refusal OF the Northern States fairly d.
vide The a.-ets % the present Government with tie
sal-b. we should be in favor Of inmmeilts gar.
Bot iel General Convention Of an The States be CAL
81 uiL5a DELAY and in such Convention et the psoPl,
OF both sections make another and lass Effort % adjust
beading dinrtuces upon honorable and satisfactory
bass aud preserve the Uaion In word, lst true v
ai,n think Of Secession under existing circumstances
B-se. "a all gou for che North aud the South coming
together add reasoning together and settling their diff
eglles If possibls; and If no; possible then, instead q
res5rtng TO the unmauly and eosard device Of peace
able secession lee demand peaceabe separation ard
AGGRESSION Of al the tights pertaining to in the pres
cot ULion.
A Sign orthe Tiusss.