Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-06
LETTER FROM X. f. SCOTT, ESQ.
he Enquirer OF Monday, publishes the following let
RIenvoSp. Nov. so.h, 1850

The Enquirer OF Monday, publishes the following let
ter:
RICHMOND Nov. S0th, 1860.
To tks Eiiiors Of tbs RichnoHd EHquirer'
GKvrtEyES In your article Of this morning inviting
attention 70 the letters Of Mr. Mason aud Mr.. Hopkins
YOU state that these letters we're written IN response 70
letter addressed by Of the editors OF the enquirer 70
several gentlemen whose names are given among Nhch
find nv own and you say "ifany one OF the gentlemen
named have no, received the letter addressed By to
them they can Notwithstanding furnish Us with their
views on the prophecy Of assembling State Convention
a. vel as the nature Of State scuon, any in their
opiniou is desirable at present"
Without appropriatng 10 myself any part OF the COM
planetary ausou made TO those gentlemen, or srrogai
ing 70 speak on behalf Of those With whom have been
connected In party relations; but an individual speak
ing only for myself have no hesitation in saying that
concur in the "proprey Of assembling State Con-
VeuuOu.
Toe action Of some Of our Southern sister States, and
he obvious Tesulis which this action leads surround
us With circumstances too grave to be dealt with by an
ordinary General Assembly
To take no account Of the fac, that the members who
compose this body we're not elected with any view to
those surroundings Il is apparent that those who are
trammeed Eh an oath to support the present Federal
Constitution are not in situation 70 deal freely with
questions Of State that revolution give rise 70. That
portion Of the Southern States contemplate with
draEal from tie Union, and that according to every
probability some OF them will shortly declare formal
secession there il for doubt Whether seces-
sion i among the rights reserved 70 the States, and
therefore, constitutional suppose; or whether IL
arises from right Of revolution, as others maintain, It
seems quite useless 70 determine because whether nsti-
ned or excused according 70 toe one vie" or the other,
We must deal with il As an existing fact know Of no
m, ans BY which any State be iorciby compelled 10
remain in the Union aud perform the duties thst pertain
% her a. member OF the COnederacy and such Is the
intimate connection betEeen the Southern States, grow
ing OF the institution Of slavery aud so dependent
i the safety Of each upon the power OF all in respect TO
the operation Of the Federal Government, that the with
drawa Of any considerable number Of them necessarily
Affects the relations Of the others aud njurousy impars
their condition in their federal connexions
These considerations would to imply an obigs-
ton Of friendly concert the part Of all the Southern
Safes in crisis grave the present. and to forbid
uues under the pressure Of absolute necessity the sep
action Of any. Under present circumstances sep
ate action evnces dscordAnt counses and leads to the
suspicion OF an attempt others into acts OF rev.
Oluon that ought proceed only from common inter
ests common purposes and aocord4nt eounsel, and is
bui 100 well calculated to engendeF antagonsms from
which evil consequences are likely TO toE.
FOR myself am unalterably opposed 70 that secession
which would leave q diminished number Of the slave
holding States exposed dsiencess TO the Federal pow
or and equally Oppose 70 any form Of secession
witch would leave the present Federal Government III
stalled At Washington.
II cur union with the free States is 20 be broken, the
government founded upon il should be discarded and
each section subjected the like necessity OF forming
rev associations, and inaugurdtiDg new governments
upon them THIS can be accomplished by concerted ac
ton: In 10 other WAy il be accomplished through
the nsrunsatily Of our Representatives in Congress
because Ak inst their uuted action it would be i'm
possible for the government 10 be administered and the
free States would be brought TO the alternative Of re-
dress OF grievances by voluntary action IN the UnOn or
dissolution b. agreement.
The common interests OF the slyehoding States are
Ia my Judgment, strong bind them 20 a common
drsiy and uecessiiAte ultimate relations among lhsm
isomueh that DO not think We can be said TO BE-
ters Of or oun position The Withdrawal OF some oil the
may compel Us 20 the same for whatever may be
o. uion 70 tie peril Of present evils, or the eca
g. o. the proposed renedy would be left to narrow
ale ruative
TN position Of Maryland oollecs her especially with
the tts q Virginia sud think should dsiefmn upon
Ultimate action without conference with her people
Slod that SAss unite Il the At Of vi bdraWs ths re