Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-11-27
THOUGHTS ON TIE TINES. BY A CITIZEN OF MEL

THOUGHTS ON THE TINES. BY CITIZEN OF MEL
SON.
TO lie Editor Of the Wig.
The election Of a sectional candidate by sec
tionAl majority is to my mind, substantial reyo-
lution-a virtual subversion Of the compact Oh
Union The forms of the Constitution may have
been observed-but that does not alter the iact that
the spirit of the compact has been violated that one
section animated by hostile spirit has elected Presi-
dent to rule over the other section which gave no vote
for him. Disguise the matter as We may, We cannot es-
cane the humatng truth that section IS by such an
election reduced to status OF provncalism we may
no. be oppressed-but shall be indebted to the for
bearanee Of Government wholly foreign to US, Tor
whatever favors may receive.
In this view Of the matter has occurred to me- that
any Southern State had the rght-you may call 1t the
right of Revolution Resistance, or what you wl-but
il had the right and in duty bound, TO look 70 the
means of It's safety and freedom. lay but little stress
ON the right of Secession-for though the question: how
far resistance to established Government is defensble,
has been discussed and has divided opinions since the
DAYS of Fmer and Sdney-it has seemed to me to re-
solve itself into little else than the right to be shot or
hanged The true question is is our freedom invaded
is il worth struggle to maintain it, Had we not bet
ter die in its defence than live like slavesy
But there were palatng circumstances attending the
late election of President which evidently had great
influence on large portion Of the Virginia people, and
predispOsed them abstain from violent measures IN the
event of sectional triumph. l. There was distraction
in the party or parties opposed to the Black Republicans
p There was large conservative vote cast at the North
which inspires hope With many that the wrong OF to-
day would be righed at the baotbox in 1864 Besides
these considerations, the odum attached to the Federal
Administration hung like milestone around our neck
aud damaged our cause in every Northern State These
paatives concurrng with the devotion which animates
the great mass of the people of the State for the Union
no doubt produced the general acquesence which was
manifest in the Revolution which has been wrought.
They have failed however TO have the same effect up
on South Carolina and other States farther South These
States accept the sectional triumph and de-
fAnce and suppose there is doubt but that they will
take the responsibility and dissolve their relations with
the existing Confederacy within the next sixty days
That action pnts end to the Union as It'll and has been
for seventy years II affects our position both TO the re-
naming and seeding States and will force us to some
action whether will or not. l suppose convention
Is inevitable to consider and determine what that action
shall be- deem it premature to undertake to lay down
this time any precise line OF conduct for our action
must great degree depend upon the Of events
But one cannot close his to the thousand nterogi
tories which greet him all sides Shall Virginia join
the Southern States? Shall she remain with the North to
be ruled and ruined by the least amAble OF the human
race-the Goddess Purans OF New England? Shall she
seek to form Central Contederacy by Union with
North Carolina Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Penn
sylvana Delaware New Jersey and Southern New York =
Shall she set p for hersslfl The answer to these and
many similar questions only be found III the future.
For the present. TO me that We should direct all
our energies to main object the preservation OF I'M
ion harmony and good feeling among ourselves Cling
10 the old Common wealth-determined to abide its for
tunes whatever they may be- and We may thereby be in
poson the better to interfere when the time for nterpo
son arrives If suffer ourselves to be torn to pieces by
faction We shall become the pity friends and the scorn Of
foes IL is highly probable if there perfect accord
among all the Southern States they might unitedly aud
with great effect say to the Northern States We haze
crangied long enough Let come 10 clear aud dis
tinct Understandings LsWs ascertain the of quar-
rel remove IT, If eau, and il ,ce e0HOt, let as part in
peace" If the hasy secession OF some, and the want OF
concurrence by other Southern States prevent such
united remoustrance possibly from united Virginia it
might not come in vain.
As TO collision between the Federal troops and those
Of the seeding States should it unfortunately occur,
should regard the Republic at an end. For, suppose
the Federal army should succeed in whipping back into
the Union seeding State, what would be its condition:
A fee Commonwealth or subugated Province? Would
not standing army be required to keep in subsection!
Would not that standing army subvert the liberties
of all the rest? Or if 1t failed in that should we not
re-enact upon broader scale the scenes now trans
piring in Mexico? For my part have no hesitation in
declaring that cOniederacy OF States held together by
bayonets is something mOnstrous and abhorent to every
notion Of Republican liberty. But we need not appre
bend any danger this score for some time TO come
Il be true as reported that the present Federal Execu
tive will forbear the exercise OF any armed interference
There Is another danger however, OF derenI char-
acter to which the attention OF Southern should be
directed South Carolina in seeding aud declaring her
may form treaties with some foreign
power. Aluson has already been made in the papers
TO some such project being in contemplation with the
Emperor of the French. No doubt that distinguished
of oppressed natonates would hail with rap
ture any overture for closer alliance with the great
cotton producing States OF this continent. With King
Cotton for an ally he would safely defy perfdious Albion
aud all its Vaccinations The danger TO which refer
L. that South Carolina through bate of Yankeedom aud
pride in such ally may hastily enter Into treaty
which will embarraSs all her future. In matter Of such
vast moment too much caution be used Backed
by cotton she may pick her friends where she chooses
and make the scales of ianacsm fall from the eyes
of Old John Bull himself Treaties with foreign powers,
highly beneficial no doubt could and should be formed;
but let them be the result OF mature deliberations The
embraces Of Foreign friend only less dangerous
than those Of domestic foe!