New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-06

benefit of the STAKEHOLDER, it will be well to watch the
current of this conflict and try to appreciate the ee'
ments about 10 be engaged in the issue
The State of Virginia in the pending struggle, oilers
fair illustration of the Slavery contest In the whole
country. The Eastern portion of the State, resting on
the sea-board, is savehoding community; while the
Western portion, beyond the Alegany Mountains, is
part Of the great Valley of the Mississippi with very
few, and in extensive portions Of it, no slaves
Between these extreme sections is the fertile Valley
Of Virginia, tier of border counties, lying between
the Alegany range and the Blue Mountains, containing
considerable number Of slaves, it is true but also
large and constantly increasing industrious white popu-
lation, without slaves.
Here, them in a single State all the elements Of
that exciting struggle now going on throughout the
Union, and which is attracting the attention Of the
civilized world. Here, in Virginia, is seen the larger
area and the larger population of the free counties re-
ceiving their constitution, their laws and such other
privileges they willing to grant, from the smaller
but more concentrated and united and therefore
effective minority in the saveholding section. Here
is the aristocratic East giving laws and distributing
limited patronage 10 the democratic West Here is the
stakeholder representing and taxing the non savehoc-
ers property, and exempting from taxation his own
property in slaves and now, finally, in virtue OF the
all-controng power which he has usurped, by the aid
of that concentrated influence, acting always In the
State Legislature in the national Congress- with an
unbroken 'front.' and aided, too often, by recruits am
bilious of political preerment from the non-savehod-
ing notwithstanding the last and dearest concession
to his nperoritythe surrender by the nonsaveholder
of his claim to participate in his couNrys glory and to
rest secure under the shelter Of it, honored flag.
At this crisis of the struggle the patriotic ra-mon-
tame Virsinian, accustomed TO yield with but slight
show of resistance is at last compelled to pause and
protest and while the Eastern member calculates
the value of the Union, the Western member driven
to the wall is forced his side TO compute the Uaiue
Of Siarery.
The result will soon determine whether the lgaures
which bind Virginia TO that Union which it has been
the chief glory Of her wses and best that they aided to
form IT, or those which tie the western counties Of the
State to the EASTERN are destined TO be soonest torn
asunder whether the love Of their country, or conth
ued submission to the demands Of the eastern section Of
the State il the stronger sentiment in the breast OF
| Western Virginian.
Apart from the question Of national loyalty, which in
Eastern Virginia has been slowly, yet eiectually I'M
dermined, in the name Of State rights, principle
which weet Of the mountains, has made less perncious
| progess numerous other considerations of great mo-
ment find place in the discussions. Nearly all the COM
| mercial relations Of Western Virginia are with the
North or with the States north and west Of the ONO
The merchant Of Western Virginia sends bis orders for
ods to Now-York, Philadelphia or Baltimore, TO be
filed. The miners and manufacturers Of the western
portion Of the State send the product Of their labor
their nails and iron glass, coal, and salt-to Cinein
natl and the States beyond the Ohio. All their pur-
chases and sales and dealings with the Free States
Of the North and West or with Maryland. Even the
cattle raised in the grazing counties Of the mountainous
districts find their market at Baltimore and the cities
further north. Dissolve the connection Of the merchant
or miner or grlaier Of Western Virginia with those
Northern States and cities and place CHstom-H0I'e
between him and his market, and his hopes OF future
| material prosperity gone. lie has no slaves TO
carry into new Territories 10 sell or establish there.
Whatever Of sympathy he has with those who con-
irving treason for his ruin Is the result of habits Of old
association and s hostile TO all his real hopes and In
terests.
In the County Of Nicholas-one Of the largest coun-
| ties In Western Yirginia-there more than fifty
white men for every negro. In the County OF Preston
there are not less than 40 whites for every negro. In
the County Of Richie there $40, and in Weze, 20
times as many whites az there slaves; while IN
Hancock there are but three slaves in population ex
ceeding 1000 persons.
In Eastern Virginia on the other hand, we have the
County Of Caroline, with only 1000 whites and no less
than IL 900 slaves Halifax, with 1000 whites and
nearly 5000 slaves; and Charlotte, containing over
900 whites and more than 1000 slaves. The slaves,
In Eastern Virginia. are increasing from year TO year,
and bringing the sentiments Of that section, though
| sowly, etin continually, and more in harmony
with opinion in the Cotton States; while Western Vir-
gina, on the other hand is constantly approximating
more and closely in many respects to the States Of
| Ohio and Western Pennsylvania
Tie irrepressibe conflict" them II anywhere, is to
be studied with profit just in Virginia. The same
argument which lie used to justify and effect the separa-
ton Of the sayehoding from the non-sayehodng States
that they are different peoples having different Gus
TOMS tastes habits and pursuits-applies with equal
force to the separation Of the Eastern from the Western
portion Of the State Itself where all the same differ
ences exist TO an equal extent.
In the western part of Virginia the white man is sup
ported by bis own labor. In the eastern part he is
supported essentially by the labor Of the negro. In the
western section, labor is respected while among too
many in the eastern section the man who labors for
his bread is despsed. On these cs rests the whole Of
that assumed diversity of character which, coming in
aid Of the geographical and commercial influences
which attach Western Virginia to the Free States now
threatens to rend the State twain and attach the good
| Old Dominion to tho train Of South Carolina.
What to be the immediate result, however, we do
not to predict though the probability seems to
be gaining ground that the links Of connection between
Eastern and Western Virginia will be strained to the
point Of parting before the attachments of the Western
section to the thrift progress and independence Of the
| IL -. Will. and 20 tlarr mo-