The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-02-22
Virginia and the South.

The Enquirer, Examiner and Index, jour
nails at Richmond, are warm in their appeals
and able in their arguments in favor of Viz
ginia Joining in the proposed Convention of
Southern States. But the question stilllingers
in the Legislature, and it is extremely doubt
full what disposition will be made OF it. Res
olutions pro and con the Convention have been
offered, among Others the following. The
Democratic press is doing its duty nobly but
there is an evident dissemination in the Legis-
lature to face the music:
Whereas, the State of South Carolina
through her Commissioner the Hon. C. e..
Memminger, has proposed to the State Of
Virginia a conference with her sister States of
the South to consider the relations between
the slave States and the free States and to
advise such measures as will unite the South
in firm and concerted action against violence
and fanaticism, and will restore the Constitu-
ton, and thereby preserve the Union:
And, whereas, the State of Virginia, being
sincerely DESTROYS to restore "a more perfec,
Union, establish justice, insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common defence, pro-
mote the general welfare, and secure the bless
ings of liberty" believes that such a confer
ence would greatly aid in securing the afore-
said objects Therefore, be it
l. RESOLVED, By tie General assembly of Tr-
ginia, That Virginia, cordially reciprocating
the faternal sentiments by which the State
of South Carolina has been actuated in the
proposal which she has made, accedes to the
same, and invites all the Southern States to
meet in conference.
2. ResolueI, That five Commissioners be
appointed or elected to attend the said con-
ference on the part of Virginia; and that they
be instructed to report such measures as may
be advised, to the General Assembly, for such
action as the said Assembly may see fit to
take thereupon.
5. RESOLVED, That the meeting of the con-
| ference be held at -, on the - day
of -, 1860.
4. Resolued, That the Governor of this
State communicate the foregoing resolutions
to all the slaveholding States with a request
that they appoint Commissioners to the said
conference.
P. S. Since the foregoing was put in type,
we have received the following resolutions,
which were reported on the 18th by the Joint
Committee on the proposed Southern Conven-
ton. From these it would appear that the
committee are alive to the dangers by which
the Southern States are threatened and of the
necessity which calls them to action, but they
believe that more efficient cooperation may
be obtained in the mannsf herein set forth
The conclusion is sfngularly inconsistent
with the premise
Resolved, That the General 3$sscmbIy Of
Virginia, recognizing in our presentfe relations
with non-slaveholding States, an imperative
necessity for decisive measures, does not yet
-mistrust the capacity Of the Southern States
by the wise and firm exercise Of their reserv-
ed powers to protect the rights and liberties Of
the people, and to preserve the Federal Union
For this purpose we earnestly desire the con-
certed action of the Southern States; but the
General Assembly respectfully submits to the
consideration Of South Carolina and all sister
States OF the South, that efficient Co Operation
may be more safely obtained by such direct
legislative action of the several States as may
be necessary and proper, than through the
agency of an assemblage, which can exercise
no legislative powers except to be debated and
advise.
Reso1ced therefore, That in the opinion o.
the General Assembly, it is not expedent to
appoint deputies to the conference proposed by
South Carolina.
Resolved That the Governor oil the Com.
monwealth be requested to communicate the
foregoing resolutions to the Governor of the
State of South Carolina, and to the Governor
of each of the slaveholding States.