Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-02-08
Virginia and SOuth.CarOlina.

Some of the Richmond papers appear to appre-
hend that the Legislature Of Virginia will not agree
to the proposition of South Carolina for conference
of the Southern States. The Enquirer urges the
concurrence of Virginia with South Carolina in
tone which shows doubt and anxiety as to the result
and the Examiner of the slst says:
"Thc influence of Virginia with the other States
OF the Cnion for many years past, has been mainly
attributable to her supposed possession of those
qualities of mingled courage and tirmness which she
exhibited upon more than one occasion when the
rights of the States endangered.
10 this reputation, more than to her present
physica. greatness does she owe that reSpec. with
which her advice and action have heretofore been
treated by the whole Cnion Heretofore her fidelity
to the interests Of the South has been equal to any
and every emergency. Heretofore in times of great
est peril her course has met the approval OF her
sister States Of the South. When Virginia loses
this ancient prts'ge she falls from her high estate
and will cease to be regarded the leading slave
holding State of the Republic Are either her peo
pie Or her Legislature willing to Virginia fail
from the head to the foot of the column of slave
States? For the people of Virginia, for the ardent
chivaric masses for those patriotic constituencies
ire.nswtIose hundred primary meetings noble and
loyal resolutions, worthy of the best days of the
Republic, have been sent forth, we can speak Every
be in unison with the wise and conservative mission
of Col Memminger. And the day which witnesses
the rejection of South Cardinals proposition for
Conference of the slave States will be regarded by
the people as the hackeSt and most disastrous day
in the annals Of Virginia. To save Virginia from
the effects OF an act 50 little in unison with the
wishes of her people, we invoke the masses to come
to the resuce Of this proud old Commonwealth.
We write Mus ,carm'y and earnestly because
-. a. L.,
jsettng wise, jndicioas conservatives conciliatory
proposition from the State Of Sou,h- Carolina far
Conference ef the Stare S'n'es. the object g ishieh is
to prers"t dtsa"ion, byproiueing uaon ead concert
Of acton amoag the Stare State. This is the pro-
position which the Legislature Of Virginia, regard
less of the interests of the South, and we sincerely
believe, of the wishes Of the people of Virginia.
proposes 10 reject.
The wrongs and insults so recently inflicted upon
Virginia, the invasion of her soil and the murder Of
her citizens, have occasoncd the proposal for Con-
ference of the Southern States. Il acarnl generous
sincere, espousat oT our course the teating in
CENTRE 10 this call 1or Conference, and for that
reason less than fran respect for her great name
and honorable renown, was Virginia first solicited
to appoint delegates to the proposed Conference.
Under such circumstances. a refusal upon our
part to unite with those who have thus nobly and
c!valrously cspolsed our quarrel would ALLEVIATE
from us the good feelings of the whole South.
We again say to the people of Virginia, that un-
less they at once make known their warm and geI,-
erous approval of the proposal for Conference Of
the slave States, the rejection by the Legislature of
South Cardinals respectful and timely proposal to
Virginia is exceedingly probable"
Gov Lctcher proposed in his inaugural address
Convention of all the States but South Carolina
proposes Convention of the Southern States. OF
these steps looked to only in the event Of
the election of a black Republican President. As
South Carolina has made the proposition can
no risk which Virginia will run by acceding to it
that is if her people intend to resist black Republi
rule. If she should disagree to the proposition
the probability is that South Carolina will act for
herself and alone if no other State will go with her.
in the event of the election of Seward; whereupon
other Southern States, including Virginia will be
hurried forward with her, and will take part with
her, when the attempt is made by Seward to suhju-
gate and "whip her in" A great deal depends up
on the action of Virginia at this crisis. If she will
lead others will follow but if she falters and stops
the cause of the South and Of Constitutional Union
must suffer injury. 4 .,... .a.a.1r