Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-30

people. By the encouragement and support
given ut the North to conspiracicS and conspi-
rators within their borders, against tho lives
and property Of the people Of the South, anu
bv their refusal or failure to pass laws Tor the
nunishment of such offenders, or for prevention
of the like in future. BY the open recom1nen-
dation Of their Senators and Representatives
Of publications issued at the North, for circu-
lation ut the South, designed, by false and Gu
luminous charges, 10 foment divisions amongst
our people, and to incite the scrvlle class to IN
surrection and ~rarinc. BY the sanction given
to such inhuuan and cruel conduct by constl-
tuents at the North, in returning such Repre-
sentatives back to the federal councils. And,
if more were wanting, by that fixed and set
tied policy, made the cornerstone oil Tue IN
coming administration, Ito which there is no
party exception at the North which refuses
to the people at the South u common right with
the people at the North, in the common terri
tories OF the Confederacy.
Such are some Of the reasons which, l be-
lieve, have satisfied those o fwhom | speak, which
certainly nave convinced rue, that the Southern
people must now look to their own State au-
thorities, and to them only, for their safety IN
the future. Whether in the form o! other and
higher securities in the present conie1erncy,
or in a new confcderacy, the injured States
must determine in Convention.
Indeed, in the progress of events, so far, the
field OF dclibc.ation may bc narrowed. One
State has already made her election toahandon
the confederation. think, as to South Caro-.
| lima, VIC may safely assume that as Il fact, and
| with which the future has nothing more TO do
than to establish it in history. As to three
other States, and most probably four, there is
every reason to believe, they are prepared also
to secedc us soon Us the acts of separation can
be reduced to form. What may be the sense
Of other States in this great crisis, dor great II
certainly isl as to the proper measures 10 DC
adopted for their safety, | will not venture to
| anticipate. But the secession Of one State Is a
disruption of the Union.
Whether, in the opinion Of other States, she
has determined wisely or unwisely, the Stale
is TO be the arbitcr of her Own act, her destiny
is in her own keeping. under submission alone
TO the Supreme Ruler Of the universe. 10
reason: otherwise, is 10 treat q State OF the con
cederacy, not as one Of the coniedcrates, but
as an integral part of Il consolidated Empire.
Fortunately for the occasion and It's conSe-
oucnccs, this is not nm open question in 'irgi'
MIA.
Our honored State has ever maintained, nat
orr Federal system was 4 confederation Of Sore-
reign powers, not = consolidation OF States INTO
one people; and, as = consequence, whenever n
State considered the compact broken, and IN 4
| manner to endangcr her safety, such State stood
RENTED, as in sovereign right, to determine lot
herself, and under no responsibility, save 70
the oninion OF the civilized world, both the
mode md measure Of redress.
The disruption Of the Federal Union, thus
imminent, or, l should more properly say, ac-
tual, is n great and pregnant event; and IN con-
sidering, therefore, how it may become the
Convention Of Virginia to act, we must LOOK to
that event rs q material il not a controlling Gle
ment in its deliberations. In the first place, II
may, and most probably will, force upon the
Federal Government the settlement between 1t
and the several States, Of the question OF the
RIGHT of secession. If that right is denied, i new
and paramount issue will be made between the
States and the Federal power, which will be
presented TO the Virginia Convention IL amt
ne. One thing is very clear: Virginia (no more
than any other Southern State) will not be pas
siye, should any attempt be made, h.y lorce, to
reduce such seeding State or States 10 sn9j=c
ton.
In the next place, j, is to my mind equally
clear, should one of the States separate from
the Union on this slavery question, the disrul-
ton will necessarily carry with it the like sepa.
ton of all those slaveholding States whose deS.
tiny it is to continue such; unless, under L re-
turning sense Of right and justice in the North
ern mind, all may remain, on such securities
for the future as will establish this great social
interest in the exclusive charge of those to
whom it pertains. -,
have yentured thus, though with unieigncd
difidence, to look forward to what Virginia may
be called on to consider, and determine, in re-
gard to the great issues forced upon her coun-
sells By events in progress. The magnitude
Of the occasion, may be well estimated by the
magnitude Of those events. State follows State
into Convention, to deliberate on the necesSityo 81
breaking mp a government, which they believe
has levied war against the essential interest and
dearest rights, Of their people. The Southern
States, happen what may, have never been the
agsrcssors, in this strange, unnatural contest.
In what they have done, or what may yet re-
main for them to do, they are prepared to meet
all the consequences. There can be no doubt
or hesitancy, therefore, in my mind, Us to the
course of Virginia. 4 convention is the only
authority competent 10 the occasion, and 1t
should be assembled at the earliest day practl-
cable.
In conclusion | will only add, tina, the crisis
which for unborn p~ostcrity will fix the desti.
mics Of the South, is upon us, and must be fear
lessly met certainly with calm and prudent
discretion, and all sobriety Of judgement but
with an obdurate purpose to establish the just
rights Of our people, and to yield nothing that
pertains 10 Virginia as a free and sovereign
State. Very respectfully, yours,
J.. VI. MASON.
r. N,r .rvyrp Esn EJinr ct fhs Rich