Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-12-20

ferritory-but IL needs must be. ne will as
ssrt our rights by force Of arms
To our sister State OF South Carolina, We
look With the deepest interest We implore
her Tor the sake Of those whose good she
ought To have at heart, TO borb,cr and ~ Iraf
ihe grievances Of which she complains bear
moro heavily upon Us, than upon herself
NO where have the results Of Northern IA,
natieism and Abolitionism been more bitterly
felt than here. IL any community has been
Aggrieved-if any people eau claim peculiar
right To spesk-we, the citizens OF Jefferson
county might Justly demand a harrington
We have ieit, and NC have endured the worst
that has occurred. Living upon the frontier,
not only arc we more exposed, but we have
ever been the actual sufferers. Virginia too,
as an elder sister, claims the privilege con-
ferred by consciousness of her own actual
strength aud power, to stand up in her own
defence. Carolina can complain uf no griev-
ance which Virginia has not Eel, a hundred
fold, and as Virginians We deem il unkind
and imPoltie, a wide departure from the
feeling Of kindness, and identity Of interest
which should exist betweea southern sister
States, when Carolina undertakes without
oonsultatIon--without advising with her-to
aVenge 'irginias wrongS--when she oucnly
avows and declares, that in asserting Whist
ought 10 be a common cause, she wishes no
ooHsgfdf'oS, and will have no conference with
her Justly indignant at the attempt made
by South Carolina Ia exclude Virginia from
n Convention OF Southern States she should
spurn the position assigned her, AZ a future
follower and dependent Of Carolina Yet
tor the sake Of the Union, and for the preser.
walton OF Southern rights" we will still
consent To go into Convention with her
treating her full sister and our eoual
and demanding Of her that she shall accord
to Us Ike position.
Should she, however, persist in holding
her present attitude, of refusing to 20 into
| conference with u, then let Virginia, mind.
iul OF her history in the past, call around her
the Border States, and such more Southern
/ states, as will unite with her in Convention
and with them, lc, her determine the mode
oi meeting the issues forced upon us--if she
I cannot tedd, never let our honored State ,,b
NAT 10 be drireH.
| la the election Of Mr. Lincoln. whilst We
feel the insult, and deploro his accidental
election rs an evil threatening the overthrow
| oil our Government we see no sufficient cause
Tor disuniOn. His election was n sectional
triumph, aud We conscieutiously believe that
We can already see evidences Of early decay.
IN the separation of the extreme sections OF
his Party. Drawn together and held by the
| hope Of public plumber, jealousies aud sani.
mosities must spring up aud weaken the CO.
hesive power which holds the wings of his
| Party together. And, moreover. in the de.
elded majorities opposed 80 him in both
Houses of Congress, We 6nd grcunds for hopos
OF future safety. and entertain the assured
/ trust, that in tho elections vet to take place
/ during his administration that our rights will
be even yet more secured, BY enlarged and in.
creased majorities opposed 10 him. This may
not be however, IL we are deserted by the
Representatives of our Southern Sister States
IN this the hour Of our necessity. We apaeaI
10 them by every consideration Of LOYALTY
/ PATRIOTISM, and common interests, and by ev-
/ cry kindly memory Of the past. 10 come for
ward and to stand by u. For ourselves-wo
I will submit to Mr.. Lineoln's administration.
81 long as he abides by his constitutional OBJ.
| lgationsi sustaining, even applauding what
Is good and, ieherercT and ,oheHcr,r We can.
| appealing to our eoBiederates 0f tho Northern
states, in the aaue 81 our glorious country
! 10y halloWed memories of our Revolutionary
/ Fathers-cntreating them by every consider
alton which looks Ia present happiness-and
/ by every hope OF future peace entrcating our
Brethren Of the Free States--to paase. We
ask in the name of the Constitution We an.
Z ply IN theu il they will save our beloved
country from min IL they would psrt.atnats
( our glorious Union, ia the name Il Justice
and Of common seDsc, We appeal 10 them 10
SxPsngs tbsir obnoxious lhWs-of which
the South complains 80 justly, and ccasing 20
/ inteiere with what does not concern them>
! selves. Nothing less can save car Country
from impending dangers, aud our Union from
( inevitable destruction
| Having thus at some length reviewed our
/ grievances, and indicated the sources through
which alone VIC can look for pacifcation, and
expect redress--having appealed to our Sister
States ut the South, aDd e. the aoa- 4 Ia, ehold.
/ ing States at the North IL all shall be of no
/ avail Surprising that all efforts at securing
! peace may fail that the downfall Of our Union
/ "a determined, and at hand, the time for
action will have arrived. let us look for.
ward and determine where Virginia should
stand. DO tho interests Of Virginia lead her
! inevitably to a union with the Cotton or
4 Gull St8tes! No and VIC here ase our
voices, and Ne wall exert our almost efforts.
! against tnionsO adverse to what We consider
the true interests of our State. Looking for
ward 90 the ultimate establishment Of the
I ahAit'AH t'AaNt AEaurf anu acknowledging
I and prDclaiming TINT " Cotton l. Kioe how
| can Virginia IN her lofty and asserted position.
/ fgW 70 the supremacy Of South Carolina -
/ With sisters protecting arm We would have
/ Virginia 10 shield and defend her from inn.
| pending harm. but Heter, Rerer, 10 descend
from her position, ADD allow South Carolina
| u driee her into disgrioH. aud compel her
7 submission % her acknowledged King -
/ Ncrer, aecsr. shall Carolina, or any o,L,r
state say where Virginia skall siaEd in
/ seS coniAdsracy! Whit she sits calmly AZ
/ home a. peace. surrounded and protected by
States more powerful than herself. shall w.
! gina ooHdeirssd 10 become frontier State
ADD stand ssFiiRci 20 guard South Carolina
from invasion God forbid We call mon
NiFginia's faithful ems 10 arouse themselyes ts
rescue their State from degradation. aud upou
\ her People b take their Interests into t6si,
own hands. out u the keeping ~ I'1i,iciss,
I and D'ia1gogaef. isst us fK our eyrs add
I oar aspirations On no cosIseeE.I &osfhssu
Confederation which wiIi BE- ~ veal o. pro.
feet itself irgn aggression. and to1 helplefs Co
I Tepoi the encroaehmouLs 0f fsffirn rover
I let Nirgiaia, II oar present unioa asas he
/ Remembered and diaseyercd-l~t h.r a.
] long ID a srfffIrfnru