Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-15
Tho State Convention,

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Tho State Convention.
The assemblage Of the State Convention r
this city to-day may be said to mark the most
important crisis which has occurred in the
course of exciting events which have accumu.
lated with such unparalleled rapidity during the
past few months.
The secession Of the Gulf States and the
formation Of q Southern Confederacy have fail,
ed to shake the steady front and apparent self
confidence Of the Black Republican majority
at the North. Indeed, according to the opin-
ion of some acute observers and able thinkers,
the action Of the Gulf States has only graft.
fed large portion Of the Black Republican
party by leading them step nearer to the
consummation Of a cherished desire, openly
avowed by some Of their leaders, for the form.
alton of Northern Confedcracy, including Ca,
NADIA, to be established under British protec,
torate. At all events, the movements made by
the Gulf States have failed to make any i'm
preston on the dominant party in the North,
ern States. 1t now remains TO be seen whe
ther the action Of Virginia will be equally dis.
regarded by our Northern confederates.
That the present Convention will bend all its
endeavors towards the restoration Of the integ.
rity Of the Union, is what We have never ceased
to desire. That any concession whatever to
Black Republican sentiment, any attempt at the
patchwork of compromise" will only tend to
widen the breach already made, is what we
havo never ceased to believe with an unshaken
confidence.
The true position to be assumed by the Con-
vention, is that Of an earnest effort to secure
Yirginia's rights, ALL her rights and all the
rights Of her Southern confederates in the
Union, so fully and requivocally, and so well
guarded against the recurrence Of aggression,
as to invite and induce the return of the sove-
reign States, which have separated themselves
from the Confederacy.
TO efectuate this, we must assume posi-
ton Of determination and self-confdence,
coupled with faithful warning to tue North
and loyal pledge to the South, that if our ut
most endeayors to restore the Union on u hrm
basis of equality and strict justice shall full,
if final and permanent separation is inevitable,
then our lot is cast with the Southern States.
Let the Convention do this Let it assure the
South that we are their faithful allies; let it
recommend to the acceptance Of the Southern
States no measures Of adjustment Incompatible
with the full measure of their rights, their
lfety and dignity; let it assure the South that
we stand ready to draw Virginias sword
against the first act Of coercion directed
against any Southern State; let the Convention
place Virginia in position which will enable
her to maintain her own dignity and protect
her Southern sisters from invasion while nego-
tiation is pending; let it be known to the
Southern States, that whatever may be the
terms of adjustment which We shall recon-
mend for their acceptance, we are still deter.
mined finally to accept no terms which they
shall finally reject; such is the only course Of
negotiation which can secure for US either the
respect of the North or the confidence of the
South. This confidence and this respect are
indispensably requisite to successful negotis-
tion for the restoration Of the Union.
AS earnest advocates of Union and Southern
rights we submit to theShembers Of the Con-
rention this view of tlee heavy responsibility of
the position which they have accepted. The
question Us to whether Virginia shall be the
tail of Northern Contederacy or the head OF
Southern Confederacy is one to which our
reason, our loyalty and our sympathy recog-
nize but one reply Yet this question is not
now before the Convention for practical action.
Another question precedcs it viz: Does the
Convention possess the courage to take the
bold stand now required for the restoration Of
the Union; or will the Convention, by tenn
porzng policy Of apparent compromise, cou'
pled with actual concession and submission to
Northern aggression strike the last blow for the
severance Of the bond Of Union, rendering dis
solution final and irreyocable!
The fate not only Of Virginia, but Of two
Confoderacies, now hangs upon the brain, the
LOYALTY and the courage of the men who COM
pos. the present State Convention. The re-
sponsibity is so heavy, and poor human na-
ture is so weak, that We would never willingly
have invested such body with such power for
good or evil, had not events rendered the step
Indispensable and inevitable. May the same
overruliug Power, whose wisdom has shaped
the events which have assembled this ConVen-
t;on. control its deliberations and direct them
to the maintenance Of our liberties. With the
bated breath of intense anxiety, hushed to
murmur Of reverence, We can do little more
than utter the fervent prayer :--"God save the
Commonwealth J"
--<S~SN-H~---
Mr.. Lincoln has Spoken.