Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-13
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.

To The Editor o. the Wig
am one Of those who have approved your silence in
relation TO the which becomes Virginia 10 pur-
sue in the present dtracte state oil the country have
thought that "a it impo, sibe to foresee what will be
the results of the present agitation, and as the Cotton
States neither asked desired counses our con-
currence in their action IL became Us 10 wait until VIC
could act with knowledge Of actual condition, and
thus be enabled 20 de ermne wisely and WELL what our
true interests required. Hating with cordial hatred
Black Repubcauism and all its elements whether oil
principles men-hAying more regard Tor Cotton re-
eaters aud advocates OF the African slave trades and Ut
terly onposed to bnc led or dragged driven by eth
err thought and still think, that the interests aud
honor of Virgins alone should be the consideration
which should and direct our course and that the
first and greatest interest of Virginia Is that all her peo-
pie shall be OF Que heart and mind, III whatever she
may do.
Ii is Therefore with regret that have your col
umns opened the discussion of the question OF what
is proper for Virginia do. Such premature discussion
can only serve TO excite and ALLEVIATE the people, whilst
great is calmness and union. But as We are
TO have the discussion ask leave to engage in it. and
to present my views and only ask for them such cond
Grafton ~ they may deserve go for Virginia first and
last one and ndiSsble her honor her interests, and
her prosperity lie is greater saint than am who still
loves the North; aud am not willing be hitched TO
the Southland yet il may be that We shall be compel-
ed 20 90 with one or the other but who can say now
which We should do or whether should do neither
Believing that not prepared, or In condition to
but will rather consider what Virginia ought not to do
start with proposition in which all Vrginians will
concur That proposition sthat having been born free
intend to live aud die Free speak not OF freedom
in the social sensen the sense which distinguishes the
free white from the African slave. speak OF free
dom In It's political sense and say are all OF one
mind to live and die Free not only in the FORM but in the
substance-not only in the substance but in the security
that substance and not security in paper guaran-
tees or mans faith but in the union and identity OF the
1tl, t-off Tho ala with
whom We share the guardianship Of our liberty.
Every reader of history knows that the Roman people
we're slaves under Augustus and Tberus thoughn their
government all the forms of the Republic preserv
ed Probably government that existed in France
better protected the per- of the people, promo
ted its physical prosperity, as that which now exists
Yet the people politically slaves and Louis Napoleon
despot Fifteen years since the best governed coun-
try in Italy for physical prosperity except perhaps Sar
dinia, was Lombardy; yet LOmbardy subjected to
foreign master.
If we might be tempted by the instances given, to
think securities liberties not necessary as we
had supposed let not jump to that conclusion too has
ty. The considerations which may restrain the abuse
o. power many, bat they all spring from the interests
of its pOsssssor, not Of his subject.
OF all the people governments of Europe, the Eng
sh people and the English Government best understand
what constitutes rational liberty, whether social pot
ca AMI best instructed in the principles OF social and
political Justice. Yet look at the domination OF England
over her dependent provinces No doubt, the govern
men Of India by the English, is the best government
that India ever knew But the history Of English domi
nation in India is history Of robbery, extoron OPP
preston and degradation. IL may be said that in this
case the subject unlike the sovereign in race in in
situons in and religion that there could be
sympathy between them and that the ordinary principles
Of political and social Justice inApplicabe TO them.
Without admitting the force Of the defence stopping
70 discuss it, let take another The people OF the
British West Indies the people, identical in
interests institutions aud religion except in psrticu
lar: the West Indies had African slaves England had
none And with this only difference between them EGG
land the dominating power at the cost Of one hundred
millions OF dollars paid directly out OF her treasury,
against the Of the people who to be
affected by it, under the pressure Of that uureasonng
and reckless phanhrophy, which is ready TO dis
peuse its charities the expense Of Others abolished AZ
rican slavery in the West Indes and has thereby
verted Jamaica and Guiana into desolAton. Take
other case-Ireand "the gem of the sea- Ireland al
most in sight from the cliffs Of England with the
climate capable Of the productions part of its
population of the same aud religion. No phloso-
pher no statesman Humanitarian ignorant Of the his
tory of the countries would hesitate say that there
mast be that union and identity onerest and policy which
should unite them under government. And yetthe
history of English domination over Ireland for many
long years. is history Of oppression Of contumely aud
degradation and after fifty years of representation 10
the Parliament OF Great Britain with no antagonist in
er,sts aud no disturbances but OF and religion the
r land OF the Irish has gone into bankruptcy and the
rh race BY one great exodus have gone 10 enrich 9TH
lands by their labor for which at home they could OBJ
tain no jus: reward.