Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-23

trained and brought to bear upon our distract.
ed forces. We need action now, ilnmeiaia,
decisive and irrevocabe action. II is male the
duty, by law of our last Legislature OF ,c
Governor TO call convention Of our State We
trust and believe that the Governor this time,
will obey the will Of the people.
OF course we shall, Of necessity, abide rs
and conform to the decision Of the State, or .ly
to some other State, whose flag Of resistance 10
| Lincoln may invite US TO its protecting folds.
But we have our own views of the true policy
Of the State, and the times demand outspOken
and fearless counselS.
We are opposed to immediate scccssion-rct
that we deem it possible TO avoid it in the end,
but We fear 10 prccipitate the issue. We are
willing in Difference TO the views Of others, and
in order to secure harmony and unity, to work
out the problem with all the elements Of Union
in it. We are willing to take the shortest step
which has progress and resistance in it, ana
test each step as we take it. WemuSt operate
upon the principle Of the screw. We must not
leap forward, per sdltem, but progress gradG;
| tim st pcdetentim.
We should not risk the success Of the resist.
ance cause by q present issue Of secession. Oar
policy would be for Alabama to organize pro.
sional Government at once, and demand con-
vention Of al! the States; and in that convention
demand, first repeal OF all the laws of North.
eyn States nullifying the fugitive slave law
! ID. Sufficient constitutional securities for
our rights in slave property, both III the States
and Territories. Pending these proceedings,
we would suspend our confederate rcla.
tons If we should succeed in obtaining our
rights, we would ut once resume these rrlL.
tionS, and continue member Of the ConirJc.
| racy.
Ii we should fail to obtain them. as We
should Of course, then, appealing TO Heaven
and earth for our Justification, we Shonid have
nothing to do but to declare our Provincial Co.
! rernmcnt permanent, and SO enter on II career
of Sovereign and ua,ettered nationality!
We should invite q Southern Convention 10
counsel, but should not wait for "c0-opcralIon."
Alabama is sovereign and her people look 10
her alone for protection. Hitherto she has
been foremost in this struggle for the rights Of
all, and We would not have her surrender her
proud pre.cminence in devotion tG this great
cause.
In the meantime we ought TO have All agent
at Washington, demanding our rights, ami ne.
gotiatlng q provisional treaty; another in Eng.
land another in France Federal and foreign
influence in Mexico ought to be specially pro.
vided against
There is much Of detail which, Of course,
we do not pretend 10 indicate. Our leading
ideas are sufficiently declared
rejoice in the prospect Of q cheering mp.
Proclamation to unity among our people OF ali
parties. upon this grave and momentUus Ques.
ton. We shall have good working lnnjori-
ties" in all sections Of the State.
We hope our county will not fail to select
her ablcst truest, most sagacous men. us Dele
gates to the convention. We need no party
brawlers or intrisues, but clear heads, pure
hearts and steady hands.
Finally, we commit our great cause, with
humble devotion. 10 the Providence Of Cod
Bowling before the throne Of his eternal Om.
impotence, we trustinGly impore His Di"I'e
grace and guidance. Our wives and little ones,
our substance and lives are NIL involved in this
fearful controversy. God Of Nations shelter
our native land in the coming storm. Amen!