Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-13
10 CORRKNPONpENTs.
The Convention.

Capitol to-day viii be looked TO with deep interest not
only by the people Of Virginia, but throughout the
Caion Ii is charged with high and responsible trusts.
twill represent the emphatic and intelligent CV-
preston of the public sentiment of the Commonwealth
that We have ever witnessed in all observation Of
pubEc affairs The people 20 have fully understood
the true character and gnude Of the issues involved
and therefore although the notice Of the election
Short and the day particularly incement they turned
out In full force and which believe will be
little short Of that cast in the Presidential election. The
ms Ortes, toe, we're uDprecedentedy large. Another
significant fact is that the seem, in great mca
sure to have ignored old party divisions and TO have
emancipated themselves from the thradom Of party lead
ers Hence, the strongest Wing counties found
eecting men Of Democratic antecedents, and, on the
other hand the staunches Democratic counties have re-
turned men who have heretofore voted with the Wings
There deep meaning in all this Il shows that the
people are devoted to the Government which was be-
queathed to them By their fathers Il shows that they
are ardenty attached to the niOn It shows that there
Is patriotic chord in the popular heart which needs only
to be touched produce vibration from the banks Of
the Oaio to the seabOard. As the people were
satisfied the country in danger they rose in the
majesty of their strength snapped the pack threads ct
conspatOs who had brought the evils upon the country
The result Of the recent election full Of meaning in
other respects The Legislature, wisely rejecting the
counsels Of extreme men, who, under the disguise of de-
votion 20 Southern rights medated the overthrow of
the Government hsd initiated line Of policy having for
its object the restoration OF peace and harmony
distracted country Rejecting the proposition TO hitch
Virginia OF 10 the car OF South Carolina that body pr
IDENTIFY determined decline the sntanglng alliance
10 place the proud old Commonwealth in the attitude of
NEDIAroR staying the hands OF the bellgerents and
rendering the olive branch Of peace To give effect to
this policy 50 worthy OF her ancient renOwn Virginia il
Vted Der sister States meet Der in conference when
all matters Of difficulty could be calmly considered and
wisely decided The invitation had hardly been giycr
before our Senators and large majority Of our Repre-
sentatves In Congress it TO defeat the cherished Pur
pose OF the Legislature Issued manifesto to the people
Of Virginia assuring them there hope o. peace
ful adjustment and urg2g them 90 on; Of the Unon
at as early a day as practicable. An issue was thus
joinei between the Legislature and the Senators and
Congressmeu. The Congressional manifesto could te
regarded in no other light than appeal from the
Legislature the people themselves. That appeal
fairly tried on the 4h instant the polls and the Leg
isature has the satisfaction TO know tina. it, judgment
has been affirmed, with costs ard damages against he
appellants, Execution on this Judgment may be &C.
layed for a time, but is inevitable. Al as early da
as the Constitution aud laws viii allow reribution, swf
and sure viii oyertske the athess dynasty which
abuses the confidence OF Virginia.
No rejecting mind can fail observe, also, that the
recent elections have auuihia:ed all existing party
ganizltious The Democracy are irredeemably iunct
The Wing and Douglas organizations have shared tie
same fate. And think that the signs Of tie tines s
indicate the disruption Of the Republican organization.
The process OF dSintegraton has already commenced,
and must continue TO progress Everything iniicat,s
the tendency TO new organizations. Il is in the po
tica A. in the physical world that when the principal
of coheson-cO Of thought and purpose-ceases
TO exist parties must resolve themselves into their Or
nal elements which viii await the action OF some new
mower of attraction unite them in combination
The slavery question aud the spells have heretofore
been the cohesive poVer which kept the Democracy 10
gether and the sntisayery feeling and the greed fer
Office have caused the Republican organization to sprr
Up. ike a fungus in q single night The Punishment of
the slavery question from the balls of Congress will be
deathboE 10 both these organizations The discourage
ment which the recent troubles have given to slavery
Riu be death.
New organizations must then be formed, and these
examinations must refer to living questions The
salvation or destruction OF the UuOn is the great
question Of the day and the new organization must
range themselves with regard 20 that vital issue Old
things have passed away, aud all things must become
new "UN1oS or "DIsUNi0Nn is the issue, snd "UNIoN
rsrs or "DIsrIoSsrs must be the party organizations
and designations. The conservative Wings s1d Demo
erats Of the South and the conservative Republicans Of
the North, must u0its in forming new Union party
bii the destructves Of sShades OF opinion by differ
sut modes must cooperate for common obiect-Dk-
union
We predict that before the 4h OF July this will be the
arrangement of parties The Republican organization
cannot exist on rs present basis Lincoln and SswaId
viii have the sagaeity this ami they will promptly
give the cold shoulder the Of their party
and try to establish a national party, which will repu
date tie wild absurdiues Of the Abolition school, po
Htes necessity will eonstran them abandon not only
the extreme dognas OF their party, but to adopt
name significant Of the policy OF The party and this
name must be the UNJoS PARrY.
All these things have been brought sbou. by the Nir
gnia elections The msjestc attitude in vhich she
stands commands the respect and admiration OF the
ton she has STAYED the torrent Of secessOu and she
has caused Northern sectionasm pause in its mad
reer Her mild but firm remoastrances, have brought
the country to its senses. Madness longer rules
the hour The sober secoad thought has begun ops
rate and il IS 20 be hoped that wisdom and Justice and
moderation viii henceiOrth guide the p4oEe councils
A sectionasm and violence side beget section
ssm and violence the other prudeace and orbear
ance on the part Of the South Will beget similar qualities
ia the North. We already have the most abundant ey
dsnces Of this truth in the marked change that has come
over the Northern mind since the Virginia election. Be
fore hat election every thing looked dark and gloomy
Within oAe Eeek after il happened the ranbOw OF Hope
spaRned the political sky.
IL nov remains fos the Convention TO finish the work
that has been so auspiciousy begun Let is motto be-
10 asa nothing but What is right AID to submit to nc
thing that = wrong Ermness is not Incompatible SiIh
Cancellation Be jus, and fear not Assert the nights OF
Virginia wih dignity, but without menace or buster.
Reason and justice sword and shield. L Us
leave the vulgar weapons Of vtuperaton and gAseonade
70 those Who fitted BY and them.
Should the Convention act doubt il will, in
this high sprt-blending courtesy With determination
cannot doubt that is labors will be crowned with sig
nal success
Weare grAthed tono;e the PERSONAL Of the Convention
large portion Of the talent and patriotism Of the State
has been called into the public service. Many eminent
men, Who have long been withdraw from the dusty
arena Of politics have been summoned BY their fellow