Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-11-28
SOUTH CAROLINA VERSUS VIRGINIA.
From The Charleston, S. c., Mercury.

ID
From The Charleston, S. c., Mercury.
SourHERN CoNFERENcE-roo LATE = We
see it stated in the papers, that, by the LegIs-
lature which we believe, is summoned TO
meet in January, Virginia viii propose meet
ing of the Southern States in conference.
This is the measure which South Carolina
proposed to Virginia last Winter. 1t was hoot-
ed down, and rejected as disunion measure.
Ii it had been adopted, an Abolitionist would
not, in all probability, have been elected Pres
ident of the United States, and the sectional
ism of the North might have been alarmed
1t was an exceedingly conservative propositloh,
which Virginia was unable to appreciate. Inc
times have now passedtbeyond it. Virginia
may now call, but the South will not answer.
She is completely demoralized in the esima-
ton of the South and no Southern State, in
tent on vindicating her rights and preserving
her institutions, would not go into a confer
ence with her. She has placed the Union
above the rights and institutions of the South,
and will only seek conference with the
Southern States in order to bring them down
to the level of her fatal Union policy. Vir-
ginia and the other frontier States may as well
at once understand their position with the
Cotton States. They are not expected to aid
the cotton States in protecting themselves
and redeeming their liberties. They will
practically aid the Northern States in attempt
ing to obtain in the South an acquiescence in
Southern States, however, will disregard their
counsels. They want no conference but in
the Convention which will assemble to frame
the Constitution, ,and complete, the organization
of Southern Confederacy. They intend to
secede from the Union, and construct a U nion
among themselves, and will be glad to find
Virginia and the other border States in coun-
sci with them, after this great revolution
But if these value their own dignity, or re-
spect our wishes, let them keep aloof from us
until they are prepared to dissolve their con-
nection with the present Union, and to unite
their destiny with that of the other Southern
States. If they will not be our friends, let
them not be our enemies, by unsolicited and
undesired efforts under whatever amiable pre-
tcxt-of preserving an abolished Union, to
subject us to the sectional despotisn of a con-
solidated government under the control OF
Abolitionists at Washington. The day for
new guarantees is gone. Hencetorth we are
two people.
From The Alexandria Virgi inia, Gazette.
The Charleston Mercury will sstake nothing"
by its impudent allusions to Virginia. Our
State, under the advice OF the conservative
men OF both pariies-Democrats and Wings
and by the resolution of its Legislature, de-
clined as it had right to do, and as its best
interests demanded, the invitation of South
Carolina on former occasion to go into a
proposed Convention of the Southern States.
1t declined respectfully. IL tTedteu TIE COih-
missioner of South Carolina with all honor
and courtesy and respect. 1t was an invita-
tion from another State to us, produced by
the foray Of band Of incendiaries, fanatics,
and assasSins upon our territory and to the in
jury of our citizens. Virginia chose TO punish
these rufians under her Own laws-which she
did to the entire extirpation of the whole band
and to provide for her safety without
| troubling other States, or calling upon them to
avenge her wrongs take up her quarrel.
| That she did well and wisely we have no doubt,
| and all honor and thanks to the patriots in the
| Legislature who then directed her couDsels
| and shaped her action in this matter! We
| have now no doubt that had that invitation
been accepted the disunion movement would
| have commenced fhen and Virginia been ex-
| pected to head and lead it on Is it the fall
| ure to 'shitch in'' Virginia then which has pro-
| duced the outbreak of the Mercury and its
disunion friends now 2 Let that be as it may,
We repeat that the Mercury will take nothing
and make nothing by its exposition of the
| feelings of the South Carolina disunionsts
towards Virginia and the other border States.
On the contrary, its remarks will disgust and
turn away from all sympathy with their course
thousands of the citizens of Virginia, who ,ad-
mitting the injuries inflicted upon the South
by Northern Legislatures and Northern peo-
pie, will not suffer patiently the arrogant air,
tone, and pretensions now assumed by the
| South Carolina coteries.