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

The Southern Conference.
Recognizing the necessity for some action oI,
the part of the Southern States Of the Union,
to correct the existing asgressions of Northern
States upon our constitutional rights, as
we'll rs to provide against the recurrence, and
especially the accumulation of future acts o'
similar aggression; recognizing, also, with equal
Justice the cxpcdiency of the concurrence o
the injured States in 4 uniform course Of action
to be adopted for the suppression Of such ag
crcssive acts; basing State action upon these
Just and undeniable premises, the State Of South
Carolina by unanimous vote of her Legisla
turc, has simply requested the State of Virginia
to Join with South Carolina and the rest Of the
Southern States, in sending deputies toan inter
State conference, to be held for the purpose OF
securing mutual understanding and, to the
same end, to suggest to Ihc several States some
form of efficient action in which all the States
can unite.
We do not entertain doubt that the General
Assembly will acccde to the earnest request
which has been rendered with such marked
loyalty and courtesy by South Carolina. Bui
we are aware that some Of our citizens, in
cludng minority Of the members Of the Legis'
lature, are disposed 10 doubt the cxpcdiency Of
acceding to the proposed conference, expressing
the fear that its asscmblage may tend to pre-
c,pitate disunion, instead of preparing the way
r.. IN, ~. hofl,
the rights of the South and the continuance Of
the Union.
Yielding precedence 10 TO man in the ardor
Of an honorable devotion to the Union, we de-
sire TO say few words of warning and Of coun,
sci to those legislators and citizens who may
honestly entertain such fears and doubts.
Do not the close bonds Of comfy and Union
which bind the States of this confederacy, re.
quire, when one State Solemnly requests an
other State to confer with her officially on mat.
ters Of common interest to the honor and vel
fare of their people, that such request shall be
promptly respected and observed:
Again. Has not South Carolina an especial
claim on Virginia rendering douby imperative
this requirement of the comfy Of ConfeGcracy:
Has not South Carolina more than once given
prompt and unhesta;ing assent 10 similar and
much more peremptory demands from Er.
ginia, based OH the same claim OF comfy:
Again. Does this claim Of comfy require
even the pledged faith Of close confederation to
give it vitality: Would it not'be binding even be-
tween States foreign to each other, and having
q common interest in any one matter? Put an
example. Suppose any Central American
State should propose Conference with the
United States, to suggest the best means to be
uniformly adopted, IN a moment of peril, for
the vind;cation of the Monroe doctrine. Could
anabUnited States legislator refuse his assent
to such proposition: Would not such re-
fusal amount to an expression Of national dis.
trust towards the proposer of the Conference:
And can We, ought we to offer an insult to
South Carolina, which we would hesitate to
offer to foreign State: And is the protection
of our hcarths and our homes, Of our rights ol
property at home and our rights Of franchise
as co-euuas in this Union Of States--iS all this
less dear to us than the vindication Of the Mcn'
roe doctrine?
No Virginia legislator will now dare deny,
before the people Of Virginia, that We are now
suffering under serious acts Of oppression i'm
posed by the majority Of political power in the
- in M hands
TO which it has been confided by the Northern
peonle. No Virginia legislator will now venture
the public denial of the fact that VIC are threat
ened seriously and imminently with new, and
even more oppressive, acts of sectional aggrcs-
sion upon our rights. Nor will any Virginia
legislator deny the expedicncy oFconcurrent
action, on the part Of the Southern States, to
countervail this tide Of aggreSsion-and none
can devise any means, other than State con-
ference, bv which to secure the unanimity OF
simultaneous movement Oh tie part Of the
Southern States.
Upon what ground, then, can we base de-
nial of South Cardinals request? There IS
but ono! Such denial would simply say to
South Carolina.
ave distrust you We regard YOU MS dam
co,o,,s md scdtious confederate. Hence, we
cannot accord to you the mere claim oil inter-
national comfy, much less the full privileges
of close confcderacy."
Couch the denial in what language. you please
l.-,
and it will amount to nothing more nor less
than this false accusation against the loyalty OF
q sister Safe, and as such it would undoubtedly
be received by South Carolina.
What would be the consequence OF such IN
sultiny refusal? We put this question directly
n snch men rs We ourselves claim to be- we
mt i, to the ardent lovers Of this Union ol
States
The refusal Of virgni. to enter into the con-
carence nronosed hY South Carolina, would by
no means prevent a Southern Conference.
Othcr Southern States are already taking ne;''
sures for the appointment Of deputies There
will be conference then-one which virginia
cannot prevent, even ifshc would. A conference
then would be held "a Southern conference IN
which the great conservative voice o' virginia
would find no uttcrance--a conference oil south
crp States, eulbttcred not only by Northern
AGGRESSION, but.by All insult, bitter as gall, re-
cnived from State to whom they had Just ten
dered the warmeSt testimonial OF earnest sym.
pathy and confederate loyalty " hat wou'o
be the language Of deputy from South caro-
line before such conference: we thlnK We
can loreshadow its purport
Fellow Deputies, the States here repre-
,+oa b,v. lut one resource now left them tor
,ho efficient protection of their honor and their
sovereignty II is idle to talk about protecting
our rights in the onion, unless the INJURED
States will unite for the purpose OF snch pro-
lection. So far from giving US assurance o