The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-07
Letter from Col. r. n. Smith 70 Friend,
on the Questions of the Day.
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

December 18th, 1860.
MY DEARSfR: When the correspondent Of
the Richmond Dispatch represented me as ia
variBg "Southern Confederacy,o be was as
unjust to me as l think he was to Major Pres
ton when he stated that that gentleman ex-
pressed his /" satisfaction with the Union as 1t
is" My position may be enunciated In two
general propositions
l. not only prefer, but am most earnestly
nsioas 10 preserve and perpetuate the Con-
sttutioaai Union under which we live.
. am no less determined 10 ytndica te the
constitutional rights, aud 10 preserve invio-
/ late the honor and character OF my beloved
N her monwealth-Virginia.
The two propositions, though seemingly
paradoxical, are perfectly consistent. and are
hased upon the fundamen tai principles which
/ underlie our Federal Union.
No constitutional right of single State can
| be trampied upon by the Federal Govern
l ment, or by one of the States which compose
| it, without impairrg the Union itself Its
security, peace and perpetnity, are all In
| volved in the jealous vigilance with which
| each separate State guards it's constitutional
rights; while submission to oppression and
| wrong would not only enslave the State upon
| which they were visited, but impair the honor
| and safety of the Union 10 which see belongs
| am sure you fully endorse both PROPOSE
| tious, and are the last person in Virginia who
| would repudate either.
| How, now shall we practically apply them
| in the pres ent crisis Here MANY OF Us differ,
| and We differ. too, from day to day; for, Wha'
1 seem d to be the best course YESTERDAY, $50 IA
| min ate,) would not do to-day.
There Is no question between us OF the
| South in reference to the bill OF grievances.
Our constitutional compact has not only
| heen violated IL letter, but In spirit; and we
hnd those who have been the chief agents III
he work Of violation now riding into power
| Ard taking possession OF the tederaI Govern
| nent, that they may, by the forms OF the Ceh-
| ,titution, still further trample upon our con-
| stiturionai rights. Here we are all agreed
| We have been wrouged.-grievously SO.
| Shall we submit! Never; no. never. We
would be unworthy of our fathers s, wh,
| coun ted not the cost, bat freely pledged lie,
| fortune and hopor, rather than submit L
| Uroug-to oppression.
| Then we must seek redress. Ia what ' ay p!
| It seems 10 me-, now, that if the Sou therI
| States had gone into Conference last spring
| and drawn up bill OF grievances. and pre-.
| sentpd an alfinatIsn, present difficulties nigh
| have been obyiated. l did not think so ther
| but the coarse OF affairs since has led me I.
tne conclusion, that Virginia erred in refusing
this Conference. If nothing else had been Sc,
l cured, unity in the Presidential contes mlxb
| hav e been promoted.
| Rut this failed. Now, it does seem to me
that We in virginia are estopped from com
| plant against South Carolina for her s-parat'
| action, after refusing to 60 into Conference
| with her.
We may think she has acted precipitately
| or rashlv, or selfishiy; but we refused 10 coun
sci with her, and left her, in the hour of com
| mon peril, TO take counsel of herself. Whether
| she acted wisely or Inwisely-for the best ii
terest of the Sonth or not for or against cul
own interest, she has acied-the Southern
States acting in concert with her are alb bput tC
r act, and We in Virginia are irresistib!y, by
| the force OF circums tanees, to shape our course
| cot by the consideration of what might hav
J y | been best If South Carolina had not seeded
u or matters had not gone SO far, but by fact
. as they are; and as she would not breast tn
0 storm. and lead others who would nave giadl,
D | followed her proud flag, she must be conien
= | to shape her action as may be best in tn
u 1 which
l sent surrounded.
!, 1t seems 10 me she is compelled to meet tbi
0 crisis. and have questions at issue settled; an
| the point Is, how she may do this, with les
: | damage to herself and her peculiar interests
| Some advise that we remain in the Onion an
j. | make a solemn demand upon the North 10
u | redress. But what avail viii! be the weax or
d of Virginia, stripped Of the united strength {
:, her sister Southern Statesl Or Whist coul
: | Virginia, Kentucky, North CiTolina, and Ten
e | nessee do, when their power in the FEEDERS
II Union has heen paralyz zed by the secession
u the cotton States
e Or admit thSt redress were secured, no,
could she remain in a Union, overpowered 8
l. she would be by the united ser timent Of III
| North without additional consti utionai gual
= antees And could she get them trow no
,f Others, considering the dissolution of II
+ Union inevitable, are suggesting Midd
| Confederacy. While ] see no advantage
| this arrangement that could not to as full
.. secured in an united South, there are man
80 serious objections TO IL. 1t increases our no
" tile frontier, while it weakens our means
80 | defence could not favor such dim n u TIC
ro of our political status. except under the for
M | of an overTuiipg necessity.
My opinion is, that the safety of The Unic
81 depends ups n an united South, on tne cou
a. mon issue which has exposed us to the con
re mon peril.
u Let the whole South act in concert.
lie South Carolina has proceeded so far that 81
10 cannot, in honor, counsel with us, let Il
ne other Soathern States act together. II II
81 country can be saved, without recourse 10 u
Is, ultima ratio. by all means save the country.
to II this be impossible. then it Is not wor
er while to argue upon tie abstract right of S
a cession--we will all act upon It--and II l
iy | constitutional power exists in the FEEDER
IN Government, as MIR. Buchanan and his Auto
ney General think, to coerce. then, we mi
secede peaceably, first settling the comm
a. debt and dividing the common proper ty. n
belief is, that when the North sees that :
is whale South is in real earnest: that the count
n. is gone unless they reIent III their u friend
1T attitude, they will submit tn any c. noltIo
ic | cousis tent with justice and right and honor
NJ We have assurance OF this, in the large Co
ed | s.rvative element OF the North, who ha
of been all along fighting Tor US, aud who ha
IS. been at last overpoweTed by the combnat ii,
a | of opposing elements.
i We shall have the conscience of those r
by pubiicans, who have been mised and betray
into heir present associations, but who real
a desire 40 do justice and To avoid Wron
o. and the noisy ciamor for ''bread or blood
n | will frighten those who know no other appe
49,. Now can the South be brought to act th
:. in concerto l hope it.may. l think there
r. patriotism enough 10 the South to do it.
Did ever a people bear as loog as we hav
N. Surely, surely our patriotism has been tri'
Isl and it has not been fourd wanting.
We all desire to preserve this proud ia b
of our National Union, and that We do so
evident from the TACT that we are willing
- make such sacrifices for 1t.
I'm Every fibre OF our Southern heart has be
rn stretched TO preserve it, and if il falls the u
ar. ted Southern voice can say II lras NOT / II
-. did it,"
ay MY allegiance is due to my native Sta
he Virginia For veal or woe, my destiny Is
- dissolubIy united TO hers. submit TO her
cision, and most devoutly pray that she m
=, be guided by the spirit OF All Wisdom. ha
ell written to you more fully, because you a
ne nv friends else where have the right to kn
ies the sentiments of one holding SD public pc
ue ton as do, and you are at liberty TO ma
, in such use of this letter rs may seem best u
~ right
ss ' remain, most sincerely, your friend,
,se FRANCIS ii. SMITH
oly FATAL AFFRAY IN ELIZABETH CITY II
40 municipal election al Elizabeth City. N. q
me Monday last resulted in the choice OF DIR.
ci- fus K. Speed over MIR. Cohoon, the present
rty cumbent Of the Mayoralty. The election Y
in' hotly contested, and was marked by a ia al
Ito fray at the polls, the following particulars
The which were furnished the Norfolk Herald
vas a correspondent. The Messrs. Pooles are b
-, Young men and natives OF Baltimore:
.ife About l2 O'Clock III between Messrs. il
= w and Walter @. Poole, and julius G.
md shell and Henry Culpepper and others,
yolvers were freely used seven or eig ht sf
ist. heink fired. and causing general Stamp ped
er- persons around and near the polls. Culp