Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-02-01
Correspondence of the Delaware Gazette.

sts Correspondence OF the Delaware Gazette-
.sisa CoLUxBUs, O., Jan. 80, 1861.
MR. THOMSON
The all absorbing theme here,
both in and out of the Legislature, is that of
secession aad the various plans and move
ments Of the seceders as they are developed
from day to day. The particular subject Of
agitation Just now, is that of the conference
Of Commissioners at Washington, proposed
by the State of Virginia, to meet on Monday
next, Feb. 4th. There is considerable differ
-el ence of opinion as to the real motive in invi-
s. ting the conference, and the propriety of res
ponding to it. 1t may be in good faith on
ass the part Of Virginia, bHt looks a little as
= though the main object be different one from
that of promoting union The desire to Sc
cure a concert of action on the part Of GER
tain Slave States prior to the fourth of March
next may be stronger that the expectation of
any adjustment of the grievances complained
or
After setting forth in whereas" that
lit is the deliberate opinion Of the General
Assembly Of Virginia, that unless the unhap-
py controversy which now divides the States
Of this confederacy shall be satisfactorily ad-
juded, permanent dissolution Of the Union
bsis inevitable she then invites q all such
States, whether slavehulding non-savehod-
ing, as are willing to unite with Virginia in
an earnest effort TO adjust the present I'M
happy controversies SO as to afford
To the people Of the Siauetoldmg States ade
quite guarantees for the security Of LIe'r
rights to meet in the City OF Washington
on the fourth day of February next, &c.
She then gives the basis of what would be
q satisfactory adjustment, which is the " Crit
&C I 1. Il
lisI and " egecfuaRy protect Slavery in al the
territories which shall ever hereafter be acqpi-
rcd, say all, because there is scarcely pos
sbiity that more territory will bc acqui-
ryyl except in the direction Of Mexico and the
C3CehtFsll American States, and south Of lati-
tu,le thirty-six degrees thirty minutcs) And
also that SHAREHOLDERS shall have the right Of
transit with their slaves, between aud thro'
the non-slavcholding States aud territories
which simply means that the STAKEHOLDER may
20 where he pIeasys. and stay as long he
ss chooses, with his slaves, and hold them with
impunity, 50 that be continues to be citizen
of Slave State, aud his abode in Free
State be but temporary.
The general feeling among Republicans par
ticularly, is that the Constitution is very
COED instrument as it is, an.l that we had bet |
.ur ascertain whether conadHionuHy e'ected /
President can be constitutionally nauguraed, /
even though the selection don't happen to ex- /
nctly please the slave power, before we go to
tinkering to amend it.
At all events If Commissioners are to be
chosen to represent Ohio in any such conven-
tion il should by no means be holden until af- |
ter the inauguration, and till such time that
all the states may be represented therein, !
which could not be the case next Monday [
Notwithstanding a joint resolution, was on
yesterday, after two days struggle passed
through the house. by the combined votes Of
the Democrats and some haf-lozen conSsrUa-
fire Republicans. such as Nigh of Lawrence, |
Ceilings Of SciotO, Parrott and Coover of /
Montgomery &c, TO appoint a commission to |
consist Of w S. Grosebeek, John McLane- /
sThos Ewing, Jos. R. Swan and Ruben Hitch |
cock to meet Virginia as she proposes. The |
Democrats in exstacics ard the Republi-
cans fesl hnmiliated The resolution viii pro- |
badly, however, not pass the Senate without
material modification. Fortunately there is a
clear Republican majority there over Demo
Gratis and Boilers combined
Ohio desires no change of the Constitution. |
She has ever been loyal to it, and has fulfilled |
all her obligations under it. She proposes to
continue to do so. At the same time she de- |
mands that the rights of her citizens, guaran-
teed by it, shall be also respected and that it |
shall be obeyed by her sister States. and she
Is not inclined to purchase peace with rebels |
and traitors by surrender of her rights
The Republican party have carried the cleo
tion of Mr.. Lincoln, not simply as a combina- |
tion against the Democratic party but as the |
representatives Of the principles enunciatcd |
in the Chicago platform. And after those
principles have been SO fully endorsed and |
sustained by the people = the PROPOSE
tion that they shall now, Immediately, |
before they shall have the control of any
one branch of the Government, make an
unconstitutional surrender of everything for |
which they have contended, and not only adopt |
the Breckenridge platform, but that revised |
and intensified, it shall be made u part of the |
Constitution of the United States, it is, to say
the least, a cool proposition.
The only alternative rendered by the South
Is concession secession. Six States al /
ready in position of rebellion and hostility
against the government, and are defying its
power What is before us God only knows. |
but may He so control the warng elements |
that right may prevail, and His viii be accom-.
plished.
Ny time is spent and must close. More
anon. B.