Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-04
A1fRuoub enquirer.
TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER i.
A State Convcntion--Mr. Robert Il. scott.
OF EauQuIer.
BY TYLER, WISE & ALLEGRE.

uucnt letter from Robert T. Scott, OF fauTuler,
which will not fail to enlist attention at this
time.
Mr.. Scotts acknowledged leadership Of the
Wings of Virginia, his pretminent ability as
a lawyer, his known conservatism in political
principles and action, al! give peculiar force to
his advocacy Of Convention. His views Of
existing difficulties are forcibly and most clio.
Qucntly expressed. His response has been
prompt and pointed. We are gratiied to find
that, however much Wings and Democrats Of
Virginia may have formerly differed, yet as
long as a common danger besets Virginia, par.
ty divisions will DO oblitcratcd, urd al her
reoplc will be united for her honor and her
rights.
Mr.. Scott Of tho Opposition unitcs with Mr.
Mascn Of the Breckenridge Democracy, and
Mr.. Hopkins of the Douglas Democracy, in
favor of the Legislature calling n Convention
Of the people at an early day.
We arc awaiting replies from Messrs Hun
ter and Floyd, Of The Breckinrdse Democracy;
Mcssrs. Ilarman and Brent, Of the Douglas
Democracy; and Messrs. Summers and Chris
tian, Of the Opposition party
There are other able men men in Virginia
upon whom we mus call for their views and
opinions after those already addressed have an
swcred We shall ask men Of all parties Of
all divisions in the State, To speal: out and let
the people know their opinions We want the
Northern people TO understand that all Virginia,
without distinction and divisions aS 10 parties,
is united for her rights and her honor, and that
unless the North does full, complete and spec.
! dy Justice, the Sovereign State Of Virginia will
adept her own mode OF complete redress.
EicmNeSD, Nov. Goth, 1850
To The Eii;orx 81 The Richmond Enquirer:
! GENTLEMEN ia your article Of this morn
Ing, inviting attention to the letters Of Mr.
Mason and MIR. Hopkins, you state that these
letters were written in response 10 letter ad-
dressed by one Of the editors Of the "Enqu;-
| Ter' 10 several gentlemen, whose names are
! given among which | find my own, and you
say iii any Of the gentlemen named have not
received the letter addressed by lis to them,
they can, notwithstanding, furnish US with
their views on the rroprieIy of assembling a
! State Convention, rs well as TO the nature Of
State action, il apy, in their opinion, is dcsira-
. bic at present
Without appropriating 10 myself any part
Of the complimentary allusIon made TO those
! gentlemen, OF arrugatIng 10 speak on behalf Of
| those with whom have been connected in
party relations, but as au individual. speaking
only for myself, ! have no hesitation in say
ing, that concur in the 'propriety of assem-
! bling State Convention"
Tho action of some Of orr Southern sister
States, and the obvious results IN which this
action leads, surround Us with circumstances
too grave to be dealt with by All ordinary
General Assembly.
TO take no account Of the fact that the mem
bcrs who compose ,ts body were not elected
! with any vicw to these Surroundings, i is ap
parent that those who are tramuelled with m
oath TO support the present Federal COnstitu-
ton arc not in 1 situation to deal freely with
questions Of State that revolutions give rise to.
That u portion Of tic Southern States now
contemplate withdrawal from the Union, and
that, according To cTcry probability, some Of
them will shortly declare u formal secession,
there is 10 ruoiu for doubt. Whether seces
sion is among the rights reserved to the States,
and therefore constitutional, as some suppose,
or whether it arises from right Of revolution,
rs others muintaiD, it seems quite useless TO
determine; because, whether justified or cX-
c,iscd according to the one view or the other.
we must deal with it as an existing fact.
know Of no means by which any State can be
forcibiy compelled to remain in the Union and
perform the duties that pertain to her rs 4
member Of the Confederacy; and such is the
intimate connexion between the Southern
States, growing out Of the institution Of slave.
~, anl so dependent is the safety OF each upon
the power Of all in respect to the operation Of
the Federal Government that the withdrawal
Of any considerable number CT them necessari
! j. aIecL: the relations of the others and inji-
rlously imrairs their condition in their federal
! connexions.
These considerations would seem 10 imply
an obligation Of friendly concert on the part Of
all the Southern States, in crisis so grave as
tic present, and TO forbid (unless under the
pressure Of absolute necessity the separatcac-
ton Of any. Under present circumstances, Sc
paratc action evinccs diScurdant counscls, and
leads to The suspicion Of an attempt to coercn
others into acts of revolution that ought 10 pro-
| coed only from common interests, common pur
poses and accordant counsels, ard is but too
well calculated to cnscnder antagonslns from
which ctil consequences are likely to How
| For myself, am unalterAbly opposed to that
secession which would Leave diminished NUM-
roi the sIayehOding States exposed, defence.
less 10 l!e Federal power; and ain equally
opposed ~ any form Of secession which would
leave ;hc present Federal Government installed
at Washington.
! [; our union with the free States is TO br
! broken, the government founded upon 1t Should
he discarded, and each section subjected to the
like necessity Of forming new associations, and
! man. nguraiing new governments upon thcm.-
! This can be- accomplished by concerted action;
| If i'll mn other way, il can bc accomplished
, through the insrnmentalty Of our Senators
and Representatives in Congress, because
against their united action it would be impoSsi-
bIc FOR the government TO bc administered, and
the free States would be brought to the alter
| native Of n redress uf grievances by voluntary
actlnn III ihe Union, or a dissolution by agree.
IEcnt.
Tho coan,non interests Of the slavehoding
! States arc, in my ud sinent, 50 strong rs TO
biiI them to Il common destiny, and to ncccs-
state intimate relations among them, insomuch
that do not think We can he said 10 be mas
tcrs of cur own position. The withdrawal Of
soInc Of the States may compel us to the same,
for Whatever may be our opinion as to the peril
Of present evils, i'r the efficacy Of tho proposed
remedy, We would be left 10 narrow altcrna-
tive
rhc position Of Maryland connects hcr, cSpc
cisily, with the fate Of Virginia, and think
We ,hntld determine upon no ultimate nc.
tioH wi!llut Il conference with her people.
Should that State unite in the act Of with.
dr;;w.i, the resumption of hcr jurisdiction
ever the District Of Columbia, would GUST the
Government at Washington, and the acconlmo.
.ll;nl,S in that city would at once afford all
the convenicnces for the Capital Of lhe South
crn Gonfcdrracy.
ia Convention Of our State be called by
the General Assembly, it will, trust, tic
Cnmnnsr,, Dr the WiScst and best Of her sons.