Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-04

| theatre OF agitation and aggression against tn
clearly expressed constitutional rights Of the Souther
States was transferred to the Congress Senators
Representatives were sent to the councils OF th
nation whose chief claim to this distinction consisted
the display of spirit Of ultra ana:icsn and whose bps
ness was not ito promote the general welfare
domestic trar guilty but 10 awaken tie bieTes, hae
sglnst the citizens OF sister States BY violent denuuca
lion of their nsttulions the transaction of public at
fairs was impeded by repeated efforts 20 usurp power
not delegated by the Constitution toF the purpose of i'm
pairing the security of properly in slaves and reducing
those S.aes which held slaves coudiaen OF ine icr
i.y Finally great party was organic ID for the purpos
of obtaining the administration OF the government, will
the svowed object of using its power for the total excu
sion Of the slave States from all participation In the ben
ets of the public domain acquired by all the States il
common whether By conquest pu. chase OF surround
ing them entirely by States in which slavery should b.
prohibited of thus rendering the property in slaves
insecure to bescompasstivs' worthless and thereby
annihating in effect property worth thousands of mil
lions OF collars This party, thus organized succeedeC
in the month Of November last in the election OF lis
ddate for the Presidency of the United States.
In the meantime under the mild and genial climate
of the Southern States and the increasing aud at
tention for the welbeing and comfort OF the labcur
log class, dictated alike by interest and humanity, tn,
| African slaves had augmented in number from about
100000 at the date OF the adoption OF the constitutions
compact, TO upwards Of 100000 Ia moral and social
condition they had been elevated from brutal savages
into dCcle, l1ellgent ClVlZ sgrlcuitutai
and supplied only with bodily comforts, but with
careful religious instruction Under the supervision Of
superior race their labor had been directed as not
only TO allow gradual aud marked ame0TatioD oil THEN
own on but to convert hundreds of thousands OF
square miles Of the wilderness into cultivated lands
covered wish prosperous people; towns and cities had
spIung into existence, and had rapidly increased in
wealth and population under the social system Of
! the South; The white population OF the Southern
syeho'ding States had augmented from about $50 900
a; the dare OF the adoption Of the Constitution, 10 more
tuan S,5n0O00 in 1860; and the productions cf thr
Souh in cotton rice sugar, and tobacco, for the full
Development anu continuance of which The labor oI
African slavery gas, aud IS indispensable, hsd swollen
70 au amount which formed nearly treeiourths OF the
exports OF the whole United States aud bad become ab
solutely necessary to tie wants of civilized man.
VITA Interests Of such overwhelming magnitude i'm.
period the people OF the Southern States we're driven
by The conduct Of The North 70 the aGo9ton of some
OF action to avert the danger with which they
openly meuaccd With this view, the Legislatures
Of the several States invited the people TO select delegates
to Conventions TO be held for the purpose OF deermn NJ
for themselves what adapted to meet
so alarming a crisis in their history.
Here it may be proper to observe that from period
early l7uS there had existed in all of the States OF
the Union party 5Imos unntetruptedy in the ajoTity,
based upon the creed that each Stale in the last
Sort the sole judge well OF ts wro! g. OF the mode
and measure redress. Indeed i, obvious that Under
to the relations OF Independent sovereign States sIch
these which bad aned themselves under the consti;u.
tional compact. The Democratic party OF the United
States repeated in its successful in 1885, the de-
caraiion made in numerous previous politcal contests,
that il would " .fhuly abide by aud uphold the prin-
cpes laid down in the Kentucky and ygiaia resolutions
OF l79S and in the report OF hr. Madison The Virginia
Legislature in 1899, and hlt il adopts these principles
constituting one OF the main foundations Ct ts political
creed"
The principles thus emphlticaly announced embrace
that 10 which have already aIyerted.he right Of each
State to Judge Of and redress The wrongs Of which it
complains These principles were maintained by over
shoGiog me oriies Of the people Of all the States OF
the Uaon a. Ieut elections especially in the cleo
ocs Of Mr JfHrson in 1905, Mr.. Madison in 1909, and
| Mr.. Pierce in 1852.
In the exercise of right so ancient so well estab-
she'd and 30 necessary for sEpreseryaion the people
of the Confederate States in tterCouventions deierm
cd that the wrongs which they had suffered and the evils
with which they meraced, required thettney should
revoke the delegation Of powers 10 the Federal Govern.
ment which they had ratified in their several Conyen-
ticus They consequently passed ordinances resunug
al their rights sovereign and Independent States and
dissolved their connection with the other States OF the
| Union.
Having done this, they proceeded to fern cou-
pac. amongst themselves by articles Of COnedeIa-
ou which have been also ratified by the conventions Of
the several States with approach to unanimity far
ceedug that Of the conventions which adopted the Con-
s;utioD Of 1887. TGoy have organ zed their gov
ernmeut IL all lis departmens the functions Of the Ex
cutiyc Legislative and Judicial Magistrates perform
ed in accordance sih the viii OF the people Cis ayed,
not merely in cheerful acquesceEce but in the eItau-
sastc support Of the gov thus established by
hemselve aud but or the Interference Of the govern
OF the United States in this legitimate exercise OF
the right of pcoIle to se-goyeTumen happiness and
| prosperity would smile our land.
| That peace il ardenty desired by this government
and people, and has been manifested in every possible
FORM Scarce had you assembled in February last when,
prior to the Inauguration OF the Chief Magistrate
you had elected, you passed resolution expressive o!
your desire for the appointment OF commissioner u he
sent TO the government of the United States or the pur-
pose of negotiating n1y relations between that gov
aud the Of the Confederate States Of
America and for the settlement Of ali questions OF dsa-
greement between the two governments upon principles
| OF Iight justice, equity and good faith"
II wssmy pleasure, well my duty, to cooperate
with you in this work Ct peace. Indeed in my address
you taking the oath OF office aud before receiving
| from you the communication OF this resolution had
slii "4s necessity, not choice have resort,d TO
the remedy of separation aud hencefoIth our energies
must be directed the conduct of sfs and the
perpetuy of the COntederacy which we haze formed -
If just perception OF mutual interest shall permit US
peaceably TO pursue separate political career, my
most earnest desire will have been fulfilled"
Il in furherance OF these accordant views OF the
Congress and TIE Executive tha; made choice of three
Washington. Aided by their cordial co operation, and
ha: of the Secretary OF State every effort compatible
with serespect aud the dignity Of the Conederacy was
exhausted before allowed myself TO yield 10 the con-
vicon that the government Of the United States was de-
eImined TO attempt the conquest of this people, ana
that cherished hopes Of peace unattainab!e.
On the arrival Of commissioners in Washington,
the Jh March, they postponed, at the suggestion o!
friendly intermediary doing than giving inform
al notice Of their arrival. This done with view to
afford time 10 the President who had just been naugG-
ra for the discharge of other pressing cical due
in the organization OF his administration, before ergag-
ng his attention in the object OF their mission 1t was
not until he 18th Of the month that they officially aG-
dressed the Secretary of State informing him OF the pur-
poses of r arrival and stating in the language CT their
instructions their wish "lo make TO the government ol
the United States overures for the opening Of negota
tiers assuring the government of the United States that
the President Congress and people oil the
States earnestly desire peaceful solution OF these great
qnes.icns that il il neither their interest nor their wish
TO make any demand which not founded on strict jus
tce nor do any act uiure their late coniederaIes.
To this communication no formal reply was received
until the Sih April During the Gtcrval the C0mmis
sioners had consented waive oil questions OF FORM.
With the firm resolve avoid war possible, they went
so far even as TO hold during Ibalon period unofficial
intercourse through an intermediary whose hgd p0, i
ton and character inspired the hope of suceess aud
through whom constant assurances we're received IRON
the Government of the United States OF peaceful nten
tions of the determination TO evacuate Fort Sumier
aud further, that no measure changing the existir
status prudcialy to the Confederate States especially
at Fort P,kens was in contemplation but that in the
event of any change Of intention the subject, notice
would be given to the Commissioners. The crooked
paths cf dipomscy can scarcely furnish example
wanting in courtesy in consarcy, in candor, and direct
ness as WAS the course Of the Uned States Government
towards ous Commissioners in Washington. For proo
| of this refer to the annexed documents marked -
taken 10 connection with further facts which pro
| ceed to relate:
Early in April the attention Of the whole country as