Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-11
our fositiOs,- Duty Of virginia In ths Present
Crisis.

Dr. Consequence OF absence nom some, ever since tc
week after the election as well as from desire to calmly
sEst and watch the development OF events there has
been no definition Of the position Of the "Whig" in
reference 10 the pending crisis and what conceive to
he the duty Of Virginia in relation thereto. Before Ia
king our departure We wrote a brief article, advising
and urging the people OF Virginia TO preserve for a
while a least e." wise aud mastery inactivity, and take
no step one Wav or another without the most careful
reflection and dehberatiou. We are satisfied nov that
that suggestion was a prudent and proper one aud We
accordingly still recommend to al the c liens Of The
Commonwealth to be on their guard, and do nothing
rlshy and unadyisedly-ina word do nothing in hurry
nothing n excitement For such is the upidiiy With
which events the most mOmeutous are now trausprng
that what may seem proper for Virginia to DO to-day,
would perhaps be the unwes thing for her to do to-
morrow We are all in a measure, at sea-al in dogbt
rs TO the best and safest course pursue And such
b.iag the case IS indispensable to Just and proper a.
fma,s action on the par. Of the State that should
avoid rash and preeipate eOmmitts and in whatever
We may 90 or nay propose to DO should adopt the
safe and sensible policy Of making haste slowly"
L not our purpose az present to enter into any eb
Grafton Of our views in reference TO the pending crisis
hat only TO hint them in very brief manner. In the
first place, then We are for ezhausng all rational and
honorable expedieus for obtaining redress Of Southern
grievances ia the Union before taking up hat and
walking OF Of the Union. To this end We are for
State Convention-for a Convention Of the Southern
Ss,es-snd for a general Convention of al the States.
Aud IT, through the iustrumentaity Of these various
Conventions, We cannO, effect adjustment Of the diff
isrences and difficulties existing between the North and
the South then favor, not Of secession, but Of
separation upon fair aud Just terms to be arranged BY
The foresaid Convention Of az the States In the terms
OF separation, If adjustment be had and separa-
ton must come We shall demand fair and equitable d.
vision OF all the property Of the United States including
OF course the Souths Just proportion Of the army and
navy I such division Of the army and navy and ofa the
public property Of the United States including likewise
the public domain should be refused by the Northern
Safes then snail be in favor neither OF psgcslbs
ce.soa nor Of peicsa5ls separation bu; OF immediate
war and var TO the knife and war to the "bter end"
Such Is our programme and such policy, in gene
eral terlus and SUCH We trust will be the programme
aud policy OF Virginia and the people OF Virginia, and
Also Of al the southern States without exception As
10 the hing You call psaesabie secesiOn-such secession
An South Carolina and other southern States pre-
pairing orwe consider il unmauy and cowardly 10 the
defense Of our rights IL is a runnng'avay from our
rights. and a running away from duty, ania running
awiy f,om responsibility. Kiss remedy foT uOthing-l
is alike base abandonment Of rights aud compro
mise Of our honor And VET our sister States Of the ex-
IRENE South and many persons in our own and other
border States seem to consider it great point gained
mighty triumph achieyed-ii they only be gracious
~ ail,d BY the North psaesably seeede, leaving all
their valuable rights in the army and the navy and the
plhl, property behind them As for ourselves We ask
no such miserable and dignceal boon the hands Of
tbe Northern States. We ask Of chem boon at ALL
Bst we slssaa8 Of the North, whether stay in the
lon or ~ out Of t. our rights and al rights po-
c.l or pecunary, down to the last atom or the last far
ding We mean 70 ruu away from uoae Of them. We
iuiGi 70 ssrc. from Of them. On the contrary II
f. .o 20 the worst aud separation becomes inevitable
We mean 20 take all rights along with us, peaceaby,
IL ~, can lOreibly, Il We must Never Rsrsr, will Ne
cousaut TO psa,sabs secession Of Virginia from the
Northern States unless the Northern States themselves
consent % fair and equitable division oteyery particle Of
public property belonging TO the United States. Il
South Carolina and the other Gulf States shOrtsghi
ed and unmarly enough to indulge in the luxury OF
rabs secession Al the sacrifice OF the immense rights
y possess Ia the army aud navy aud the public proper
" o. tb. Uuioo shall regret aud depore their folly
bat us cannot helpi As Nrgniaus proud courageous
and tenacious Of every right ard interest wish be-
I,ogs tou. We shall eertay not follow their mad-csp,
coWardy and dsgraoefu example. And We indulge the
hone that most Of our Southern sisters viii yet think
better Of this matter and pause and reflect before they
consent 70 run awav from their duty aud herIghts and
take refuge in the guomnious device Of pso-air seces
E1n.
We have no means at hand Of correctly sscerlaniug The
value Of the pubo property OF the United States inelad
ing armories forts arsenas dOckyarks public buildings
Of various sorts the public lands navy &C. At mode
rate estimate their value is perhaps Zoo h01aaHd mil
Ion. Of. loliars And here then, are thousand mil
lions Of proper.y belonging the South that it is grave
" proposed the South shall run away and asesds irom
withont making a single demand striking single
bios for We can well understand that the North, 81
Won viii give her the whole army and navy and oil the
puoHc property would be willing enough to promise to
let Us 20 out Of the Union in peace. The North indeed
would be a moustrous simpleon, 70 oppose the peace
abe ssce. sion Of the Southern States upon terms in
fai.ely advantageous 70 herself But suppose The IT,
ssn Southern States secedc peaceaby from the Unop
with The consent Of the North, leaving al the public
property together with the army and navy in the bands
Of the N0rth-WOuld not the condition OF the South
srn States be the most defeDceless and helpless tha
could be imagined Would not be bound hand and
foot, aud at the complete mercy OF our Northern enc
rnssy Aud, in ten lays after the hour Of peaceablc
secession unless share Of the army and navy had
been granted US BY the North might not the North for
e. Der promise 70 lee 20 10 peace and at once block
ais al orr ports and surround as sili her army, and
literally exact Of "a What terms Of Submission her fancy
,aght suggest in present. unorganized military COL
diGous
We merely to-day throw ont the foregoing hints for
che consideration Of the good people Of Virginia, without
distinction Of party locality. We shall take them up
and elaborate them a. leisure, satisfied meanwhile
,l.t the proad and courageous ireemen OF Vrgioil,
though they may determine secession from the TN
SON win never secede, leaving a single right behind
tAsm Uuicn or d sgnion--Peace o. WaF-Ne for one,
slll demand Of he Norh all our rights o. every dss
,dpGou, and shall be content with uO.hilOhs7.
The Di-n ,mbsrnl mt Of the Uaion.
We have flllen at last upon sal and pariloas times
tic I.st and the mos. parlou. TIA. any enlightened
-ai Tree people we're ever called upon encounter