New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-23

party IN to6 SKATE, anu cs eoou 40 hioAAfA
had crowned the efforts Of the party IN
the Preside ntial election, confidence was given
to tho Republicans m Virginia, and this
first election after the success of Mr.. Lincoln
has placed those in power who, in the course OF
few years will be acknowledged among the
leaders of the Republican party in the Union.
Shall thi. confidence be increased by firm and
decided course of policy at Washington, or
chilled and cowed by timid compromise If the
former course il pursued, the Virginia Repubil-
can rarty will grow aud increase in strength;
taki.e courage by the 6rmness of Northern men,
il will boldly and manfully breast the storm that
must soon rise upon it in Virginia, and it VIII
snally triumph. But If tImid compromise pre-
walls, disbeartened by an unexpected abandon
mept, it must succumb in conflict where It ls
discouraged by its friends, whose course of policy
will have strengthened the arm Of IA enemy.
Az TO Virginia seeding, that need not be
thouobt of in any event. There are 100 men in
the Convention who will vote TO remain with The
North and 80 who prefer tire Southern Con-
(ederacy. There is no event that could induce
this Convention to secede, unless it were some
foolsh effort Of Congress to abolish Slavery,
which nobody expects. Nor will this Convention
attempt its extinction in that mode, bet 1t VIII
tear away every species of protection thrown
around il by the Constitution, and instead OF ita
being the protected aristOcratic power in tho
State. il viii be placed under the ban OF
heavy ta1atioo, and iaany dollars Of taxes msRie
ont of it as long as it remains III 'hs State Bot
this may be checked and defeated ~ tim,a
policy of compromise. II triumphant RtPuhl'csn-
ism can be backed down by bol.ying, blustcr'Ug
Secession how can weak, struggling RePosli-
canism IN Virginia be expected 10 wage sue
ce.sful fight with powerful and heretofore
Dominant interest, possessed Ct all the wealth
and Influence, and installed in power Help
inc friends seem never 10 have entered
into the philosophy Of compromising Repub-
Gcnss. And what can be gained by such a
poIeyi Will it win back the Cotton States 7
Certainly not, The very .timidity 1t evibces Will
encourage them in Secession, for when once
power trucses 70 rebellion its moral Force %
| gone, and the traitors increase their demands.
| Exhibit the manhood that the recent election Tor
President has ehcited show a determination "
| use the power eous6tutionally conferred, and
treason shrinks back APPALLED,, and rebe Hon quail
before its certain Punishment The prompt pas
| .age Of force bin would do more to restore
peace than all the Conferences or National Con-
yentions that eonld b. assembled. The mere
| calling Of National Convention is an adm's1on
of Justice in the Cause Of the seeded States and
aeakens if not paralyses the arm Of Virginia
Republcanisn. Every step backward is hoes
Of ground, and every compromise a concession
10 treason.
The Virginia Convention has for the last two
days been listening to three Commissioner from
the Confederated States-one from Mississippi,
one from Georgia, and one from South Carolina
ali able AID eloquent men. But 1t has been
Loves labor lost" The Virginia people have
shown that they will not be " dragged" and
this Convention will prove that It cannot be
coaxed into treason More depends on frmnes'
| at the North than on weakness IN virginia.