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

and, If not, to prepare US well 10 meet the laat
extremity, whatever it may prove to DC. VIII
name now no effect rs the cause oil actlon. Inc
man who occupies himself at this time with
the consideration Of contingencies and ultima
tn, is far behind tho requirements oil the pre-
sent cxisency. | would proclaim no pro,
rratnlne nf dissolution. would try hrst anu
las. to restore the guarantees OF the ConStltu-
ton, and take all the legitimate steps consistent
with honor and safety, which lie Immediately
before me. would, within the Union, prepare
to defend the Constitution, and by the efficient
measures taken 10 deter inffactlonS OF that IN
strument, either save the Union or be prepared
for the civil war which must inevitably follow
its dissolution. There are Legitimate first steps
to be taken. in the Union, before ] can be IN
duccd to define what shall he the ultimate, the
last step cut Of the Union. Take the first pro-
per and constitutional steps, and the last, 1t
may be, need never be taken.
The question before us concerns the first
step, not the last step. DO not be tinid. DO not
dlstrust yourselves. Do not DO afraid to take
the first step, hecalee, ~iorsooth, it may be ne
ccSsary to take the last step. If II Is your
boundcn duty to take the first step IN order 10
walk 1T all, in order 70 save your country IRON
the dissolution OF decay. in order TO reform ana
to restore, ifthc first step is right. take 1t, then,
take it promptly and boldly, i'll faith ami trust.
You will then be the better poised to judge as
10 the expcdiency of the next step, as well rs
prepared to take it, if requisite To the purpose
of your duty. And if you find il, then, wrong
to take the next step, you can go no illrther.-
But do say 10 the friends of the Union, 10
the conservative men here tonight, that the
safety Of the Union no less than the interest
and honor Of Virginia, does require that some
first steps shall be taken. And they must
he taken without fGre-knowledsc OF the last
step, for human intellect cannot divine wllal
may be or what ought to bc, the last, the ultl-
mate step in the path Of progress traced oy INC
guidance Of honor and safety.
| have Il little experience i'll taking the nrSt
steps to save and not 10 destroy the Union, anu
10 guard the rights OF the States. Alone, un-
coulisrllcd, adopted and tried one III 1886. J.
was informed by high authority Of i list Of
100 merchants in Philadelphia, whose JOINT
capital amounted to SO, o0O, 200, VIII" had IN
vited JOHN c. Fremont to the steps OF CarPen'
trr's Hall, and there was reason to believe that
Il large amount of money would DC employed
to carry PENNSYLVANIA for 4 Black Republican
President. took counsel with no one, and
scarcely letting my left hand know what my
right hand did, | addressed the Governors Of
SIavcho!ding States, requesting IL meeting Al
Raleigh, North Carolina, 10 confer on the mode
Of saving the Union and defending our peace
and safety. | will detail none Of the responses
to this call. 1t is enough to say that the call
cilrctually answered the end | had in ricw-to
prevent the finale of that dissolution Of decay
which threatened TO place the Black flag over
the Capitol ut Washington. But ] will say
that the Governor of South Carolina met
me there, as ~did the Governor Of North
Carolina. The representatives Of the three
sister States supped together, parted good
friends, and then went home. The knowledge
of these facts alone struck a panic among those
one hundred merchants Of Philadelphia. The
moment it was discovered that the call was
made and that Southern Governors did assem-
bic at Raleigh, the names Of cighty.one mer-
chants were stricken out Of the list OF one hun
drel. But nineteen names were left. Penn
~Sylvania was saved. And the vote Of Pcnnsyl-
vania saved the Union, by the defeat of the
Black Republican candidate. Applause.
And ON the same occasion, ! went to Corin-
THAN Hall and openly uttered my sentiments
upon the theme of raising the Black Flag over
the Capitol of the United States, and have
never rclractra and mean never TO rctract one
word then uttered for that occasion, and if
necessary, | will repeat them whenever . SINH
lar occasion shall arise.
On the present occasion, it is sufficient 10 re-
repeat that there are steps, first steps to betaken,
now demanded by the safety Of the Common
wealth and of the conicderacy. These first
steps are: First, organize and arm your peo-
Pile; second, establish your own manufacture
of arms and munitions Of war.
The late raid has demonstrated the necessity
y for we'll appointed military staff corps, and the
thorough organization, ar1ning and drilling oil
the militia throughout the State.
But We are told by the incendiary that 10
organize and arm the militia Of the State, is to
give encouragement TO 4 spirit Of disunion.-
Disunion Who, let me ask, is the founder and
6nishcr Of the faith Of Union? Who but the "e'
vcrcd Father Of his Country ! And did not Geo.
Washington leave, as one of his priceless leg
acies to the Republic, the injunction that its
best reliance for the defence of it's liberty is II
well organized militia, and that the palladium
Of liberty !, the Union!
But am thankful that it is unnecessary TO
argue this with the members Of the General
Assembly, who, to their honor be it remember
ed, have Just passed IN armory bill and 4 blll to
paw the gallant volunteers and militia oil the
State. All that remains 10 he done, III this
connection, is To organize the militia INTO an
active and reserved corps, rs would again and
again urge on Your attention. Neither a yolun-
tccr nor an elite system will DO. You must
have an active militia Of young men under a
compulsory system.
But YOU must do more. y sister State, sui
ierlng under the same wrongs which asgrleve
YOU, requests Il conference with you. Then, |
urge vol, to accept her call. Iou W it to
South Carolina. As I would preserve the Union,
as | would defend and guard it, as | would
arouse the conservative clement Of the North,
MS wonld convince them that it is time for
them to he up and doing in behalf of the Union,
| advise, | i%nplorc, the Legislature OF Virginia
to hcarken TO the call Of orr sister State, and
meet her in council. Applause. louowc II,
say, TO South Carolina. You have once or
twice before adopted ultimate. You once pass
cd Il last extremity resolution, which ran
South Carolina TO much expense; and then you
backed ont IN the hour OF extremity, when
Congress abolished the slave-tradc in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, the very contingency OF Sc
cesSion which you resolved upon, and South
Cardinals expenditures were thrown away by
her trust in your resolves. You have now been
invaded, and she comes TO offer you her sym,
patty and tender you a conference. Your re-
iusal would not fail to be regarded by her as a
discourtesy. Worse than that-it would pro,
badly drive her, Of necessity, to extreme action.
You are not TO understand Inc as speaking fol
S0nth Carolina.
| only speak my own convictions, when
refer you TO her probable action, in case you
T shall refuse TO meet her in conference. She
will have no alternative but to take the remedy
into her own hands. If you refuse to enable
her to strive together with you by concerted
measures in the Union, and for the protection
of the Constitution, she will declare herself ou'
, of the Union, and thus force you to the alter
:, native Of rnlIying to her side, or uniting witt
the North against her. Where will we stant
then: We lovers of the Union, indeed, ant
protesting against dissolution; but can we, il
t the last extremity, leave u sister Southern
, Siate staniinn aluu: IN .lrfrnl hrrsllf ,nairs