The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-08

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| 'auon, ana 10 continue their aggressions upoi
us IL the Convention shall meet. and th
| questioa cannot be satisfactorily ad JUS ted, 1
| Will furnish evidence equally conclusive, o
| ueiT aetermipation. In either event. the peo
| PIE OF the south Will clearly understand wha
thsy are to expect in the future"
Inc article Of the CSnsti i,ution, 10 which
| reference is here made, is In the following
| words, ana quote IL, inasmuch as 1t will b.
| referred to hereafter ia this commu n niaoiion ::
"The Congress, whenever two-thirds Of both
| houses shall deem ii necessary, shall propose
amendments to this Constitution, or on ths
| applications of the Legislatures, OF two-third:
| of the several States, shall call Convention
| for proposing amendments, which, in either
case, shall be valid TO all intents and purposes
/ as part of this Consultation, when ratified by
| the Legislatures of three fourths OF the se1e.
| raj States, or by Conventions in three -fourths
| thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi-
cation may be proposed by the Congress"
Under this article, the Constitution OF the
| United States has been amended on three
| several occasions in our history, aud those
| amendments have all been exceedingly yalua-
| bic and important The first ten amendmen Is
| were ratified by some OF the States in 1889, by
| others in 1900, and by the residue in 1901
Another amendment was proposed in 1874,
which the President Of the United States an
| nounced in his Message TO both Houses, dated
| January Sth, I79s, as having b)en adopted by
| the constitutional number of States. The last
| amendment was proposed In 1863, and adopted
by the constitu tionai number OF States In 1901
These amendments were proposed and adopted
at periods less alarming perhaps, than at the
| present day. Still, their adoption was neces-
| sary to insure peace and quiet to our country,
| and were demanded by proper Difference 10
public opinion.
| In the present condition of public affairs
| why cannot such additional amendments as
| the circumstances now existing require, be
proposed for ratification and ad dUptlon The
necessity is manifest, and the du'y 10 adopt all
| constitutional measures before we resort TO the
Ultimate remedy OF secession, Is imperative
| Is il not monstrous to see Government like
/ ours destroyed, merely because men cannot
| agree about domestic institution, which ex-
| sted a the formation Of the Government, and
| which is now recognized by fifteen out of the
| thirty three States composing the UuIon!
| In support of my position, quote from the
| Message of Governor John Flo, d, dated jan
nary 25th, 1888, He WAS one OF the abiest and
most reliable of the State X gbts men OF Vir-
ginia. Though he has been taken from amongst
us, he has left behind him Il record as enduring
as time:
"But the call of a general con vention of the
States brings at once full before ali the parties
to the compact. every doubtful or disputed
power OF the Federal Government in the mode
pointed out by the instrument ITSELF " here all
amendments could be made. and disputed
powers settled in a spirit of kindness much
more congenial TO the harmony OF our institu
tions than that which now seems in contem
pIatiDn. This course ought 10 be accep able 10
all, As II gives full assurance of Leaceful days
hereafter, and VIII restore confidence the
mind of the patriot, already too long agitated
with The toreseen disasters of the Coming con-
flict."
This recommendation was made at period
| in our history not unlike the present. II was
| made by u statesman OF great practical wis
| dom, and OF large political ex perience. He was
a rue Nlrginian, ia feeling, sentiment and
principle, jealous of her honor, true TO her ia
terests faithful to her rights and institutions.
cool, calm aud sagacious.
1t becomes our State TO be mindful of her
own Interests, In the present deranged and
unsettled condition OF public affairs. The
cotton States seem 10 be looking 10 their own
interests alone, and why should We not look
To ours Virginia has immense interests,
valuable and important, AT stake, and ii be-
comes us to see mat those interests are ade-
quately protected. She occupies a position
now, as she did i'll 1888 when she can media e
between the contendlng parties, North and
SJuth aud see that some fair settlement aud
arrangement OF existing differences shall bt
agreed upon. While l wonid not have her
occupy position that would require the
slightest sacrifice of her honor, her rights or
her institutions, she must see tnal in all her
future movements and associations these are
securely pro ected. Now, that guarante
are The order of the day. and each State
is earnestly and anxiously inquiriLg what
guaran tees are required tor her protec ton,
it becomes us TO secure such will pro-
tect and preserve the rights of persons and
property of our own citlZens. disruption
of the Union is inevitable; and it new con-
| federacies are to be formed, We must have the
best guarantees before We can attach our State
to either OF them.
Tue late Executive of South Carolina, in his
| message to the Legislature, deyotes a conside
rabe space to a commentary upon your action
| respecting "a conference OF the Southern
| States" That reference does not appear 10
| HE to be dictated by a kind spirit. 1t wears
| the aspect of dissatisfaction with your deci-
sion and, in connection with other portions
of the message, indicates distrust of, and hos
tility on his part, towards this Common
wealth. The duty which / owe to Virginia
demands a notice OF so much of this commu-
nication as relates 10 our Stale, and the ction
of her Legislature
Why Virginia alone, of all the Southern
States, should have been singled out for com-
ment, IS TO me unaccountable. The resolu-
| tions of the South Carolina Legislature, ask
ing the conference, were transmitted to all the
Southern States, an0 none of those States re-
sponded except Mississippi and Alabama
Why no complaint of the other States who
declined to accede to the proposal After
4 careful examination of your resolutions,
since the perusal of the Governors Mes
sage, l see nothing that could have en-
titled them TO the special notice that has
been bestowed upon them. They declare
" That the General Assembly OF Virginia, re-
cogni1ing in our present relations with the
non-slayehoiding States an imperative neces-
sity for decisive measures, does not yet dis
trust the capacity OF the Southern States, by a
wise and firm exercise of their reserved DOW
ers, to protect the rights and liberties of the
people, and TO preserve the Federal Union
For this purpose, We earnestly desire the con-
current acton of the Southern States" The au-
thorities OF Virginia acted with kindness and
courtesy towards the State of South Carolina
and her estimable Commissioner, and in de-
clining 10 go into aSouthern Con ference at IN at
time, they intended no dIsrespect to that State.
South Carolina having determined upon her
future course. without consultation with any
one of her slaveholding sister States, her late
Executive announces in his Message" 1t
is too late TO receive propositions for a
aud -flt hA Ant
ing 10 self-respect, after having deiiDe-
rateiy decided on her course, 10 enter tain
any proposition looking to a continuance
of the present Union. We can get M safer or
better guarantee than he present ConstItu-
ton, and that has proved impotent 10 protect
| us against the fanatlcism OF the North" 1t
may be too late, now. To confer with her sister
| States but there was time wnen she could
| have Conferred with them with great pro-
priety, and perhaps advantage, 10 herself aud
| Them. The Governor states that Col. Mem
| Munger was not sent TO Virginia " TO plan d
| dissolution OF the Union, but to save il, If
possioie" Before she determined to precipi-
| tate dissolution, would IL not ha I'VE been w Ise
| 10 let us Know what was her deterrni u alton,
| ana 10 nave made an effort TO secure "ths con-
chTrta action 81 the Southern STATE, ?" As II is,
her movement takes her Southern sisters by
surprise.
The financial and commercial policy of the
| Federal Government in past years has have
no doubt, In great degree determined her ac.
| ton. The only speeifie allegation in regard TO
| the slavery question, SO far as have observed
is the condu ucL OF the Northern States in passing
Personal Liberty bills, designed to obstruct
| the execution OF the Fugitive Slave law. Tue
action of the Northern States ia gard 10 ms
| law, is. hey ond all question, just aud proper
subject OF complaint and denunciation on the
| part of all slaveholdiDg States, ana especially
| the border States.
The faithful, p -ompt ana Just execution OF
ali the provisions Of the present Constitution
will not prove satisfactory to South Carolina
| Believing she can get nothing more tbaa th'
Constitution accords to her, without even
n t,Uh nf a