Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-01-31

| could no longer remain lilacLNe. IHeh W.
cina would have no alternative by which to
rorcfcud revolution. She would be forced to
take her place IN the rear of the phalanx OF
Southern States, having proved unequal to the
task either Of saving the Union. or taking the
leu,l among her coaborels in the calss, If State
soyercg gnty.
Asa Union man, then, we say, unhesita,lnsly,
that the worst "disuaioaist per Sc who holds
:. seat in the General Assembly, could not take
step more sure, direct or speedy. towards dis
union itself, than to refuse compliance with the
rightfu request Of South Carolina for 4 confer
ence among the Southern States.
Let our compliance with South Carolina re-
| quest, them be declared PROMPTLY aud UNA%I
AcusLY. Let it so carry with il the whcle
moral force of the State.
---~--C-S~----
The Southern Conference.
| We had not the rcmotcst idea, when we pcnned
the editorial for Saturdays Enquirer" that a
corporal's guard in either House Of the Virginia
Legislature would bc found decidedly opposing .
Southern Conference We knew there were
many who dstrusted the conference men who
feared that the question OF disunion would hc
discussed and hence we're dcsirous Of combining
its deliberations to the preservation Of the Con
stitution. and the consideration al remedies for
| its iniraction by the Northern States. But thut
any thing like = successful opposition to con-
ference could be organized in the Legislature,
neither ourselves nor the people Of Virginia ever
dreamed.
| But we feel bound 10 tell the people Mat
there is grsat 3anger ef defeating this impor'
tant measure. Opposition from men and quar-
tcrs never dreamed Of has shown itself, ami the
fate of the Union is more involved in the fate
of this measure than in any ever deiberated
upon by Legislative body. This will be con-
sidercd u strong expression, but we repeat it.
| The question ola Southern Conference involves
the fate of the Union Let those laugh who
may.
And how does it involve the fate nf the
Union? The question Of disunion not being
within the purvew OF the conference, Of
course, cannot arise in its deliberations, but
if extreme caution suggested to guard against
its discussion, nothing is easier than to pre-
scribe the course OF dcbcration TO be pursued
by the Commissioners from Virginia. No con-
ference or convention will ever inauSuratc dis
| union, and hence there is no fear from this
conference; but the Virginia Commissioners,
instructed TO deliberate upon the preservation
| of the Union, upon the means OF defence il as
sailed upon measures OF Southern trade, would
be forbid entertaining a discussion Of dis
union which necessarily belongs to the So
vcrcignty Of each Stale. and canI,ot bc cntrust-
| cd 10 any Commissioners. Hence no question
OF. ,lisunion can arise in the Southern Confer
ence, and no danger TO the Union eau result
| from its deliberations.
But what are the consequences Of rejecting
the request Of South Carolina? They arc to
strengthen 0ur enemtes ani {" tccakeH oHr
friends, 10 paiuiy=e the seonsfrratire arm cJthe
| NORTH, and 10 nerrc niM redoulled energies tic
,tanaticiSm ot' Neoc Engtand. What awakened
the conservatism at tho North and caused the
expression of opinion we have already had
from the commercial emporiunls: The fact
that spirit Of union had ut last been aroused
throughout the South; and the resolution to de-
fend with arms our constitutional rights,
aroused the solid neil Of the North and brought
into action the latent conservatism How shal!
tl,nt
ing proposition looking 10 Southern
union: CnqucstionabIy moi; but, 10y acceding
to the request Of South Carolina, We e.Incc the
manly purpose Of preserving onr rights and
protecting the Constitution. We enable the
conservative men Of the North 10 maintain
their position, which is, that unless the North
yields the rights Of the South, disnniOn must
tollo,s But reject this conference, and forth
with r:dicuie and contempt will he visited BY
the Blacl; Republicans upon the conservatives
Of the North for esponsing the cause Of peo-
pic who have not the wisdom and manlinesS 10
confer for their own protection. We speak
what we do know, when we say, that conserva-
tive men, both Wings and Democrats, at the
| North, look to this Conference as the great
pivo; upon which TO plant their engines in the
approaching Presidential campaign. The
conservative men nj the North are Wa
| ging manly fight Tor Southern rights;
| anal shall the Legislature Of Virginia bring
contempt upon the cause that is cnlsting
the noble Efforts Of our Northern friends p
This rejection Of the conference. il made hy
the Legislature. will do more 10 invjgoratc
Black Republicanis!n than any book, proros-
| ton or measure ever written or made. The
great mass Of the Northern people have been
taught to look with contempt upon the people
of the South; that eheminacy has degenerated
US below the hardy sons Of the North; that
neither courage nor resolution are any part Of
the Southern character: that there is no more
union and sympathy between the cotton or
planting States, and the bread or farming States,
than between the slave States and the free
States
This erroneous idea thoroughly existing
throughout the North, ,cW be strengthened by
the rejection OF this conference. and will iu-
visorate cur enemies and paraiyze our friends.
The Black Republicans already boldly assert that
Virginia cannot be kicked out Of The Union, and
really the rejection Of the conference will con-
firm the belief 1t will do more-it will en-
courage our enemies and emboden them in
their assaults, until, having invited aggression
by our supincncss, We shall fall nnaided, VIC
Tins 10 our own fnn:.
But what effect will the rejection Of this re-
quest for & conference have upon the Southern
people, Will Virginia increase the confidence
of the cotton States in the planting States by