Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-15
For The ENQUIRER.
To tho Delegates OF the virginia C"hTeh-

interpreted anu lalo ao"u W tue iuuJoil'f on
ton, have ceased to afford safety to Virginia
or protection to her rights in the Union, ano
considering that she is i'll duty us in honor
bound to provide new guards to her future
safety, the first question is shall We seek
| those new guards IN the Union Or cut OF II =
Ii TIE UNloS by ALL MEANS. Failing there
she then can try the desperate work Of recon
struction," out Of it Failing in this again, she
can buckle on her oNn trusty armor AND stanU
for her rights like host
It becomes Virginia more than any. other
State to fight for the Constitution aud the
Union inch bv inch, defending them both like
an army besieged in its stronghold, which
abandons position after position, only alter II
has vainly essayed to make stand and at each
step been beaten back.
In the formation Of the Constitution and the
establishment Of this Union the sons OF Vlr
cinia-men who crowned her with honor ano
glory-were the master spirits. She owes II
to them, to her traditions, to the worla; nay
she owes it to the cause Of civil and religious
liberty, TO struggling freedom now, TO postefity
for all time, and to herself, not 10 consent tC
break up this glorious Union until she mas
first tried all fair and honorable means to pre-
serve it, Take, gentlemen, as alIesorica
Of her duty now, the lesson taught 10y tsis
history OF that gallant old bark, the irigatS
CONSTITUTION. She has given lustre 10 the
flag, glory TO the nation, and by her proves
enriched the legends Of the navy with oeauli
full traditions. Now aud then she has been
found out of order, unequal to the purposes
for which she was designed. Has the language
been, 6reaE her up ant reconstruct! NO
gentlemen; the voice Of the navy concerning
that man. of.war "Constitution, has been VIVA
the voice Of Virginia should be concerning tn;
her political bulw;rk. Every plank and tim
Der in that noble old structure M been con
secrated by the blood Of our comrades. licl
history is glorious Repair, but break not up
And each time, by removing the faulty pieces
replacing the decayed and Strengthening the
weak, the gallant old craft has gone io'll
lust as good as new" the pride OF the country
and boast of the navy.
The nation has seconded this sentiment, ant
in no Suite did it make All echo with more o
the true metal in its ring than that which start
ed I'D from tue mountains and the plains OF Soo1
old Vircinia--or brave old Nirginl&--of nobii
old Virginia 49,,
What is it Virginia would have: What art
the guarantees and guards which, in this new
phase of federal relations, her safety and hcI
honor in the Union require: Let her state
them, not to the politicians, and those men who
have "axes to grind upon this antason'sin IL
the North towards the South, but TO the pcoPft
of the North, and they are hers. She Is s.
right, so clear in her high em!nencc, that Sic
has but ITO ask and have.
The Constitution never contemplated tf'lS sec
tional division or fierce social antagonlsTn which
now diStractS the country, consequently the
Constitution made no provision tor any such
condition, and is ut fault Neither dld lh'
constructor OF the Constitution irlgatc DC
sign her for any such invention as steam, or the
Dahlcren gun. They, like this sectional! d.
vision, we're not in the mind OF the builder
when the keel was laid Shall it, therefore, be
taken for granted that she cannot be adapted
to this new arm and power, and therefore she
must be broken up: NJ. She Gun DC ALTERED
TO suit this change Of circumstances, and stu
challenge Jack tar S honeSt.hearted loyalty and
gallant admiration.
There are many true sons Of Virginia who
say all hopes of REIMBURSEMENT i'll the Union arc
gone. The only chance now is 70 break 1t up
and reconstruct.
PRAY, gentleman, allow NE to ask You a
question. Is it possible for two people to nc
gotiate or settle difficulty between them with
out proposition 2 Is it not the real difficulty
that affects the country, q difficulty between
the people Of the two sections Do they want
the Union broken up. Ask them, and lei
them speak for themselves and the nation, to'
they are sovereign.
Would Virginia be acting fairly and honora
bly,, or would she be true TO the Industrious
dead of the North vino have mingled Their
blood with the blood Of her own SONS in estab
fishing this Union, or would she be loyal te
the memory Of Washington and Jefferson ano
Madison and her glorious worthless 81 other
DAYS, i,without giving notice to the people OF the
North, or without atlOrding them an 0pportu'
nifty to be heard, she were to proceed to break
up and tear down
Since the work Of secession commenced, no
opportunity of being heard has been afforded
to the psopls Of a single Northern State. How
could thew he heard, but through the persons
of their representatives IN Contention Assem-
blsd, az YOU are about to be? Has such Con
vention been called in any Northern State, OF
have any of the aggrievcd States asked fer ole
Notions for Convention Of the people have
been made in Congress, but the politicians OF
the North have barricadcd of their people, and
the people Of the South speaking in their So7e
reignty. have made no demand upon the people
of the North, for any new guards Tor their III
ture security in the Union, or any re.adJust'
ment whatever of the federal machinery, or to1
anything. And why should the States OF tho
North cell Convention OF their people, unless
they had some proposition TO Submlt-and
whence should proposition come, but IRON the
people of Virginia, or some other Southern
State in Convention assembled. The people
and not the politicians, but the people and the
PEOPLE ulene, can settle this question, ind they
will settle it, if the Convention will only place
Virginia in communication with the people
Of the North, not through Congress, but direct
ly through their Governors and Legislatures
have conversed upon this point, not with
politicians, but with good many gentlemen
coming from among the people Of tue North.
As il, by previous agreement, the tone Of their
language has been We had 10 idea Of this
ice don't ecaat the Union broken up; but notc
that zee are IN this mass" re tcant u settle
ment that shall be permanent; ind to Sce"rc
this. aoiM all tie ne,o guards a'td guarantees
that Firginia ,cants, she les 1vt to let ~
Anop ,cAat they are, md they are Hers.
In my Judgment gentlemen, The true qucs
ton for yonr consideration in the Convention
is the terms and conditions upon which Eirg
MIA may, with honor and safety, Remain in tho
Union. Weigh them calmly, deliberately,
wisely; state them in the shape Of an ultima
tum Send to the Governors Of the Northern
States, and to the Legislatures Of such as may
DO in session, requesting that this, the ultima
tum of Virginia, may be submitted to the pco
ple in Convention assembled for rejection O,
adoption. Give them reasonable time fol-
consideration, and fix 4 day till whicl
Virginia will wait for an answer; nnd, II
the meantime, 70 on with your prepara
tons for going out, just as though Tho
rejection of the ultimatum were certain. Thu!
she will be ready for the worst--the Northern
mind will be impressed with the fact that !ir
GINA is in earnest, and means to act up to hc1
ultimatum.
But this, some may shy, will take US beyont
the 18th Of March. Certainly it will. Blu
what docs Virginia care for the 18th Of March
more than for the 18th Of July? And by tint