Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-03-24
Will Virginia Desert her Border Sisters

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We think it is absolutely certain that not a
single one of the border slave States will accept
| the invitation Of South Carolina TO send commits
soners TO The proposed Southern Conference.
The resolutions Of South Carolina on this subject
were transmitted by the Governor of Maryland
to the General Assembly Of that State some two
or three days ago, and the cool, almost indignant,
reception they met with at the hands Of the
representatives. of the people Of Maryland in
dicates clearly enough that Maryland has not the
remOtes idea of taking part in this Southern
Convention. And yet the Legislature Of Mary
land is overwhelmingly Democratic composed
Of men Of the same general politics with the
men of South Carolina. The Legislatures of
Kentucky and Tennessee are also in session at
the present time, and yet We have seen not the
slightest Indication, on the part Of either, Of
any purpose, to appoint delegates to Southern
Conference Indeed, it is positively certain
that neither of these States will take any part
in such Conference. 1t is equally certain, also,
that neither Delaware, Missouri, North Carol ina
will go into such Conference. Recent intell-
gence from Texas, too, iustiiies the belief that
that State, extreme Southern though it be- will
follow the example Of her border sisters. Then,
in addition to the four border States of Delaware,
Maryland. Kentucky, and Missouri, there are the
three States Of North Carolina, Tennessee, and
Texas, making seven in all-which are absolute
ly certain not to send commissioners to the pro-
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safety add Louisiana to the list, alSo and per-
haps Georgia. Here. at any rate, leaving out
Virginia, are seven States certain, and pf06d6ty
eight or ten, that will not consent to send com
missioners to this Southern Conference.
And thus it is clear that there is no earthly
possibility Of getting up Conference Of all, or
even a majority of the Southern States at the
present time. The only States at all likely to
be represented in such Conference are DsuniOn
States per estates in favor of Dsunion for the
mere sake of Dsunion. VIII Vrgina-Can Nir-
ginia- desert her border sisters and others Of
her sisters not on the border and cast in her lot
with the Disunon States? Is Virginia willing
to play second fiddle to South Carolina and
Alabama, and Mississippi, as play second fiddle
She must, if she consents to go into Conference
with them, while all her border sisters and
many others, positively refuse to go into such
Conference? With these States refusing to par
ti2ipate in such Conference, it is obvious that
there can be no such thing as ii Southern Con
ierence-no such thing as u C0HtereHce Ct the
S0Hihern SEateS-but the meeting at Atlanta
will only be a Conference Of fer Of he South
crn States, and these few all bent on the single
| object of bringing about an immediate aud uncon-
dltOnal dissolution Of the Union We assert,
then. that the proposed Southern Conference is
already tGllure-a signal iallure-and for the
reason that, no matter what Virginia may or
may not do, there are six or sight Of her South
ern sisters who will not take part in such Con
ference We are, nevertheless deeply soljcitous
that Virginia should take u stand on high ground
that she should have nothing TO do with this
Southern Conference-that she should set her
face against it, and thus preserve her ancent re-
putalion as a moderate, conservative, national
Union loving Commonwealth.
SO far the mere question Of party policy is
concerned, we should rejoice to see every Demo
crat in the General Assembly voting for the pro
position to send delegates to this Southern Sec
tional Disunion Convention. And therefore, as
party man, we have no disposition to dissuade
any Democrat from voting for such proposition
But if there be any Wings, in either branch Of
the Legislature, disposed to favor this Southern
Conference scheme, we would, if we could, pluck
them as brands from the burning we would
their political lives, and reserve them for u
useful and honorable ny.-RchnoAd IThiq.