Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-28
A CARD.
p,nnunxn January oath. IL

JANrs, MARrN BURToS, SAMUEL PUTSET and several
hundred others.
Gentlemen:
have seen your card in the Wig of this morning,
addressed to Mr. mcfarland, Mr.. johnson and myself
asking that will represent you If elected to the Con-
vention soon to be held in this State.
So far as nv name is concerned, have TO say, that
have neither sought nor desired to occupy the position,
which, regard OF far more responsibility ana I'M
porance than any with which my name has ever oeen
or can ever hereafter be associated for as far as the In
Aueuce of Virginia control it. single vote IN that
Convention may destroy Empire in the future,
such as the world has and never will behold again.
Yet Richmond has always been true to me, and shall
be false to my own name when ! prove false to Rich
mond and therefore shrink from no responsibility
that it may be the pleasure of her citizens to besow upon
me- Still cannot accept this important trust without
first enabling you 70 understand distinctly IN advance
what line of policy should pursue and recommend for
YOUR adoption; and then if defeated, | shall have no
cause for regret my account shall be relieved
of very responsible labor and it will require less time
than did in '545 and g. to find out who has consult
ed your interests most faithfully.
The absence of all right the part Of one State TO
separate herself from the other hrytwo, when no pre-
tense set up that there correaye right on the part
of the thrtytwo to separate themselves from the one Is
TO my mipd an incomprehensbe logical absurdty that
have already argued in your presence during the late
canvass and which need not be repeated here.
That the time has arrived when the public voice, and
satisfactory and final adjustment of all questions of dis
cord between the sections Of the country, in order
that may live in peace hereafter no one will dispute
The question is what ought 10 be satisfactory to u.s. the
Southern section constituting, as we CO. the complaining
| party in the case?
For myself am prepared to insist upon every ot or
title of right that the security the honor of Virginia
will ene her to claim under the Constitution as it Is.
am willing to vote for and take as much more as the
North may be disposed to yield if have not heretofore
/ nm.
willing thew should obtain and enjoy it, but because did
not believe that would be granted that we were
titled demand it Of right, and, therefore, never
have and never pi consent to make the existence or
the destruction of this government dependent upon any
abstract or impraccabe question that may or may not
arise outside of the Constitution such as is now popos-
ed of guaranteeing slavery, by constitutional amend
ment in all territories hereafter to be acquired south
of So degrees 80 min whether in Mexico, South Amer
ca or the Sandwich Islands.
There is nothing that CAN do that will not do to
avert the utter desoaton that will sssuredy follow in the
train of Dsunion rebellion and civil war. will so as
far as any nan alive will can CO. to settleby compro-
mise and Cancellation, every question OF disturbance in
our national councils free to say that there
is no compromise that has been or can te proposed,
that will prove satisfactory to the North and South and
restore harmony TO the country that will not meet with
my cordial support and except matter OF curiosity
would agree never to inquire what compromise had
been adopted for have interests in this government
ever will satisfy them will satisfy me. do not set my
self up as maker OF laws or maker of Constitutions
10 which all others must bend and yield nevertheless,
am not without nv own views to the proper mode Of
adjustment of all ques iors Of Constitutional interpeta-
tiOn which could be done by making case on each dis
pued point for the immediate decision of the Supreme
Court which the tribunal established by the COnsttu
ton for that purpose and then could what parry
il is that is not willing live under the present form Of
government fairly and properly administered.
do not believe that since the world was in state
of chaos there was that there will be again.
so general and universal upheavng of society, SO
ruiuous and desolaGng disurbanc, of all the social
moral political and Industrial elements Of people for
such slight and insufficient cause, as this country now
exhibits 10 the gaze Of the astourded nations OF the
EARTH every one of which causes by prudence, dscre-
ton and forbearance i taken out Of the hands of sell
Ash and aspiring or disappointed politicians and enrus.
ed 10 the people the polls is proposed by the
Citteuden and Bigcr resolutions, may be settled AMIGA
bly, tremendously and satisfactorily IN The Union, and
under the Constitution, within the next sixty days
Whilst there not one, that will not be thoGsandiold
aggravated when 60 ont OF the Union leaving the
Constitution the Laws, the whole organization Of the
government the army the navy, the treasury, the pub
lie lands in MI the States well rs all the territories
IN the full possession Of the Republican party, from
y hose apprehended designs the Scccssioniss for
| running of and leaving behind them III lhcy claim.
After the events Of the John Brown affair ue one year
ago. aud the scenes through which We are passing
1T us never again have word 10 say about the eXca
biGy of the French-who compared with US, an i'm
movable and urimptcssibe of people
Now believe constitute fair type specimen Of
what is the actual condition Of every in the South
eru States in legal political, and constitutional sense
and ud myself in the g free and periec; exercise of
every blessing and CT eveey night Of personal nature,
that have enOyed since came into the world | am
also in the possession and enjoyment OF whatever prop
cry may own; and nobody far as know, proposes
TO disturb or dispossess Of It any human
being thus dspossss me, except by due course oil law
How long this state OF things may continue, Omnscience
IL can tell But is there any one in these particulars
in worse condition than ann If there is,-If the
Instance be presented Of any man. out of the
10 100000 Of the white population in the Southern
States who is leborng uuder any oppression, wrong IN
Justice or grievance that cannot be redressed in the
Union and which be redressed out OF the Union,
then will pledge myself to vote for Dsunion, whenever
the question comes up; but if no such person can be
found will never consent to give ~ this government,
the work OF men, "ehose like zee atr shall iOok upon
again" for any other government which the destroyer
of this likely TO substitute in its stead. will not
destroy the house in which live and which protects me
from the blasts and storms Of winter when not one
brick is burnt, stick of timber cut with which to
erect another will not tear DOM the works of Wash
iugton OF Madison of FRANKLIN Of Carroll, of Morris
and Of Pinckney take Up0n trust the clumsy ma
chnery OF lancey and Rhett, and fckens, and ToomLs
and of Davis will not surrender this government un
When see in the distance the rghtlul and appalling
consequences OF dissolution aud civil war, which many
will not see until the reality is brought TO their own
6resides and hearthstones, where our wives and our
daughters and all that il cherished earth is clustered
cannot but persuade myself that both parties will shud
der and reco at its approach, and come TO honorable
terms Of settlement For one shall neUer despair Of
| tho Republic.
When see that upon the secession of any, all the
Southern States-the President left alternative and
TO dscretOnbut is solemnly sworn before his God tC
PRESERVE protect and defead the Constitution and that
thd. Constitution declares 1.-THE laws OF the United States
TO be the supreme law of the land" which he "Shdi
take care to see fdhfy erecsd" and place the Army
and Navy of the United States under his CONTROL and
provides for calling forth the Mill to enable him etc
execute the laws and suppress Instructions, | cannot
doubt that the declaration of secession however much
may be deplored will necessarily impose upon the Govern
ment the obligation Of resortng to such measures,
will enable him to the laws faithfully executed the
right to do which, too firmly established in the days
of President Jackson by the legislation of 1882, TO
be overthrow whilst the Government endures. orly
speak of this as an existing fact which is likely and
hardly possible to be changed. IL it can be avoided
shall be roced to see IT, aud, whilst cannot doubt the
power, would, your representative in Convention
cheerfuy unite in any recommendation or remonstranct
| against the exercise Of the power.
When see too, that without the power to strike
blow in resis or defense without the means to win
dictate herself the State may be humbed and subdueC
land all the gasconGde and bravado of ght-headed auC
Hppant would-be patriots cannot prevent it, when
see that single ship of war; stationed the Capes OF
Virginia will eiIectually block up, and destroy thu
entire of Virginia, and Maryland, as if they
| were surrounded by icebuTgs in the ocean, whilst
We have no naval force with which to dslodge or
move the blockade when see that the commerce O