Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-16
What Will Virginia Do

The question, "What will Virginia dof' in
the event of secession Of Southern States,
is now asked by thousands in both sections Of
the country. The longer this question remains
unanswered by the people OF Virginia, the
greater is the danger that besets the Unlon.-
Yirrinia's silence misleads both sections,
and tends to encourage the North in the
belief that she will remain an idle sPccta'
tor in the conflict Of coercion that buchanan
or Lincoln may undertake against seeding
States. This silence is not understood at the
South Virgina's position and influence the
weight attached to her opinion, demand some
thing at this time from her, which shall au-
thoritatvely define her position and duly ad-
wise all sections what they may expect from
her.
We have already advised the assembling Of
State Convention at an early day. Such nc.
ton becomes more and more necessary with
every step taken by our sister States of the
South Every day men Of all parties in Virgil
mia are becoming convinced Of the imperative
necessity of State Convention. Such body,
composed of the abest and best men Of Virgi-
MIA, without regard TO party politics, would exert
an influence over both sections most beneficial TO
the country at this time. Without such Con-
vention the State is in danger at any moment
of being involved in civil war. There are
thousands of persons in Virginia who will sus-
tain and support any seeding State, and there
are perhaps equally as many who will rally to the
standard of the Federal Government should it
undertake to cocrcc such Stale. The sore-
reign voice of Virginia, let it be as it may, will
be respected by all her citizens, and her man.
dates will be obeyed, however much they may
conflict with individual wishes and opinions.
The action of State Convention in Yirgi.
ma may DO much good towards settling peace
ABLY this much vcyed and dangerous question,
while continued silence will permit the State
to be involved in the conflicts of civil var, twas
with the view Of concentrating public opinion
upon a State Convention, as well as to prepare
our people for any unforeseen emergency that
Gov. Wise nasuratcd "Ihe Minute Men organ
zation lie contemplated no private raid upon
the Federal Government, and now that the can
vass is past, political animosites are sudsiding,
and cooler reason is doing justice to the patri-
otism of men Of all parties.
We hope to see the late canvas, with all its
animosities, forgotten, and men Of all parties,
a, Tirginians, manfully striving for the honor
of the State and the preservation Of the FcdS.
raj Union We yield TO no man in devotion to
a Constitutional Union, but we compete with
no man in attachment TO an empty Union, dc,
privcd of its constitutional guarantees and
stripped Of the equality Of the States.
In the discussions Of the late canvas, erro-
ncous impressions were made upon the North
crn mind that division and discord in Virginia
..-td ui,t,uo,vry @uiIntnatr IN rv''h;ote nctwcen
her citizens, whom the question Of Union or
Disunion was presented to her people. We
do not believe that any portion of the people
of Virginia will oppose the voice OF the State
rs pronounced by Convention and ratified
by her people Desiring Convention to de-
eide this question, we shall not undertake to
determine what Virginia will do That is
question for the people Of the State; as for
ourselves and speaking for very many others
who agree with us, we aro for united South
in the Union if possible, WHICH we much
prefer-but if that be denied US, then We arc
fur a united South as the only means of pre-
serving Southern rights and Southern insttu-
tions. We do not for one moment question
the motives of any who may disagree with US.