The national Republican., 1861-01-19

much sooner than anybody could have supposed
to be possible two months ago.
UNION IN vIRGINIA-THE ALEXAN-
DRIA GAZETTE.
Some friends of the Alexandria Gazette claim
that it is opposed to secession, and that we did
wrong in characterizing itas a "disunion" news.
paper. We are willing to admit, that we have
seen enough of the folly of Virginia politicians,
to conceive it to be possible that the managers
of the Gazette would prefer to avoid a dissolu.
ton of the Union, but we certainly know that
they are pursuing exactly the course to bring
it about.
Thus in yesterdays issue, we find, in what
appears to be editorial correspondence from
this city, the following:
"The slaveholding States see nothing in
this, 1.-THE substitution, in the Senate, OF Mr..
Clark's resolutions for Mr.. Crittenden's) nor in
the action Of the non.saveholding States on
the floor of Congress, up to the present date,
but solid and unwavering disposition to ap.
ply the bloody dogma of coercion to the people
of the South. Unless some active measure is
adopted within the next few days, we are of
the decided opinion the character of legislation
| nltneTtO uuOpttu ny tuC hSpuoiSoh pni'y
unite the entire Southern States before the
meeting of the first of those series Of POPULAR
Conventions on the eve of assembling in the
border States"
And the following "special" dispatch from
this city:
"The friends of peace and constitutional
Union are still untirng in their efforts, unsub-
dued by reverses, and patiently and trusttully
waiting for the sober second thought of the
people. Hon. William G. Rives, of Virginia,
is foremost among them. His efforts and those
of his compatriots in the cause of their country
deserve the admiration of every true patriot
Although the Republican Senators yester.
day voted against the Crittenden compromise,
their chief objection was to that part which
proposed to divide the territory which may
hereafter be acquired; but measure of that
character, confined to the present territory,
meets with some degree of favor from the Re-
pubcans in both branches of Congress"
Nor can we find, upon careful scrutiny of
this number Of the Gazette, single argument
or suggestion tending to convince its readers
that the Union, as it stands, and the Consttu-
ton, as it stands, are worth preserving.
The utmost which the Gazette can make up
its mind to intimate its adherence to, is con.
stitutional" Union, meaning by that, a Union
with the Constitution construed to suit certain
ATTITUDES, or amended to suit them.
And the Gazette's pattern of a patriot is Will
liam C. Rives, who, in December, issued a de-
liberate manifesto, in which he urged the over
throw Of the Government, unless all the guar
antics of slavery in the Territories now de-
manded by jeff Davis and Mr. Toombs, and
some that even they never demanded, were
unconditionally granted.
Less mischief to the cause of the Union in Vir
ginia, has been done by avowed enemies, thar
by weak minded friends, who have done every
thing in their power to render Union impossi
sible, by seconding all the claims of the seces
sionists.
1t is not here, or by such men as William
Rives that the Union is to be preserved, so fa
, as Virginia is concerned. That is to be dont
at the polls on the 4th of February, and by thu
people of Virginia themselves. And, to insure
such result as patriots desire, they must have
urged upon them, not the illusory advantages o
schemes of freconsructing the Government, anG
} of changing the Constitution, but the solid anG
inestimable blessings which flow from the
, Union and the Constitution as they exist. 1
is these last points which the Gazette mus
press every day, if it would desire the reputa
ton OF being in favor of the Union.
4 There is no possible grievance to Virgins
!. connected with slavery, which would not b
: aggravated by disunion, and the real question
/. is, whether they will sacrifice peace and pros
perity to crafty demagogues, who wish to re
e venge the loss of an election, and escape it
4 personal consequences to themselves by revt
e luton. Men of property in Virginia, who hav
1t already lost half the price of their negroes
must see that they will lose the balance by 8
cession, and that if they once let the mob &c
the ascendency, property, in all its form
l. ceases to be valuable, by ceasing to be secure
7, Revolution is not thing to be played will
r Mr. Rives dreams of reconstructng the Go,
r ernment, but it is not to him, or to such q
IS him, that the control of affairs will be intrus
ed, if revolution gets fairly under way. H
1t can have no assurance of stopping it, at tn
s, point where he may desire to stop it.
a. 1t is not the Republicans who can save vi
r ginia. That if done at all, must be done /
Virginians on the 4th of February. Let the
lie elect men to the State Convention, who are o
lie posed to revolution, and especially, let them i
s. sist upon final submission to themselves
i'll any act of secession which may be framed.
"A FRIGHrFUL TRAGEDY.-On Sunday, the 30
=. pltimo, William English, wealthy planter
u Monroe county, Alabama, in fit Of insanit
OF cut the throats of three of his children, al
ar then killed himself in the same manner.
ct fourth child was saved by negro girl snatc
~ : IL thn ID.