Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-11-23
S vi IL e.
Virginsa.

A. dispatchssfom Richmond brings the cheering
linislligence that Virginia will demand a confer
cuco Of the Shave States with view to the set
tiement o. existing difficulties Within the Union
and that she will 60 with the extreme Gulf States
enly when her reasonable demands upon the North
.hall have been refused. This, as VIC nreued IN our
last issue, is the only rational mode Of preceding
the only plan Which can prevent secession, aud,
al the same time, enforce our demands for that
Justice now denied MS by the North. To save the
Union, secession mustbe prevented and to accom-
plish the latter object there must be concerted Ac-
ton on the part Of all The Slave States, aud that
action must look 70 the single purpose of securin g.
by ample guarantees, every Constitutional right of
the South, and the settlement of the slavery qucs
ton beyond the possibility of its future disturbance
By fanatics and demagogues. Should this course
fail TO bring the North to its senses, within rea-
sonablo and specified time, then, as Stevens Of
Georgia, lately said, 'ihc South can go out Of the
Union with clean hands leaving the responsible
ity of the fearful step with the Northern IA
Datcs who shall have left us no alternative but
base submission, or n final separation. The time
is auspicious for such a settlement through the
united action of the Slave States, and such action
Is imperatively demanded as the only means OF
preventing separate sccesson--a policy cowardy
in ITSELF and grossly uni Just to the border States.
The more we investigate this subject the more
fully ars VIC satisfied that this opportunity for q
final settlement ought not TO be lost and such q
conclusion is not incompatible with the most ear
nest devotion to the Union--indeed Il is the true
policy of the Union party and of the entire South
toinsist upon nn immediate adjustment of every
cause Of quarrel. If nothing is done to prevent il
four or five of the cotton States viii seccde, and
even It their action be followed by no conflict will
the Federal Government, the withdrawal of Sc
large representation from Congress will leave the
other Slave States at the mercy of fanatic North
crn majority, add none can doubt that such mercy
will speedily drive from the Union every State thai
clngs to the institution Of slavery. Secession
then, isanother nanlo for ultimate disunon; and
such being its character and tendency, it behoove
Union men to avert it by any and every Legitimate
means, and no means are so adequate to that EN-
as the presentation, to the North, of its utimatun
by united South, accompanied with the declara
ton that all intercourse between the sections mus
until that ultimatum is fully and uneonditon
ally complied with. If the cotton States secede
and the remainder acquiesce in Lincoln's inaugu
ration, agitation will still go on, perhaps with in
creased bitterness, until disunion Is our last re
course, and the evil day viii only be postponed
instead of being altogether averted, as it may b.
By wise and uuted stand at this juncture. As
Union man, then, we advise q conference Of all tn
Slave States as the best possible Union measure
as the only way to prevent secession, and as III
most enectual mode of procuring full rccognitio
of Southern rights, and of restoring that sections
harmony which has been broken up by the folly
ambition and corruption of designing politicians
II secession were not determined upon dnerer
policy might be advisable but now it seems una
vo!dable.