Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1861-02-21
THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 2l, 1851.


Mr.. w. q wickham. nember Of the State
Senate from abe Hanover di.trlcs. lrn which
Henry Clay was born,l and member elect Of
the State Convention. in an addrr.s TO his con-
s,i,osnts. gi,ss tbs following anoag other sound
views,
.Ir~se disuniouists detian,iy declare that
Virginia will aud shall be out of the Union on
the ith Of March and il WAS only after = de-
perate struggle that they were compelled 60
weld TO tbe leople the humble boon of deciiins
ut the polls whether the action OF the Conren-
ton should be scbmitsed Go those who are it,
masters for their approval or rejection. 80 fear
ful were they that the sober sound sense OF the
people would fru.uae their rash and neonsid-
crate purposes
This Onion in which we have. with rapid
ity unequalled in the history Of the world. st-
tanned position Of national grandeur that
places 'n amongst the FIRST nations OF the earth;
this mon. whose blessings have bestowed up
ON its citizens an amount of personal prosp.ri-
" and happiness that IL unsurpassed; this
Union. which, u our internal di-scnsion- can be
aiiayed, is destined in glory, in wealth and in
power, 10 outstrip all other Governments, can
be preserved inlsct-ean be maintainei with
equal rights TO all the parties To IL. if Virginia
viii pursue determined but yet consideraie
course.
Then, let her give but reasonable time for
the people not the politicians. OF the North 10
rcsponl. and all viii be we'll. They will see
that justice is done Us, and this noble countr,
will again bound forward in its onward march
To greatness.
'Disunion is remedy for none Of the Ills
Virginia has 10 deal with; its effects on her anil
the other Border States would be- particularly
disastrous it would. as IL were, bring the Can
ada line directly to their borders: IL would be
followed by thu imposition of the heaviest bur.
N.asa- l.,
the insecurity Of slave property would be- 80
/ great that. in sclfd.fencc, Shareholders would
he Obliged 20 remove their slaves To a more satc
distance from the harbor. IL would drpletc
Virginia Of her laboring class. and would tend
more rapidly 10 produce the ultimate exiinr-
tiou of slavery" in the State than the machina-
tons OF all the abOliiiou-ts III the North eoald
to. But n few yesrs would elap,e before eur
people would awaken to the fact that in seizin.
nj the shadow they had lost the substance.
The idea that Virginia must be declared out
Of the Union, that Il NAV be- the more easily re-
constructed j. one al the many devices rrsort,-l
10 by the di-unionists with which to mislead
the people into the act of scc--rion. Their pur-
pose j., if once Virginia il ogt ~ the Union
never TO let her get back again. Virginia will
be far more potent To reconstruct the Onion.
and obtain n setiiement of all differences. IL shu
remains ia the Union than IL she goes out. Ii
she withdraws sho loses tbs povSr which sic
now possesses TO influence alike tie South and
the General Government.
But sboald we fail in this nttempt, should
they refuse 10 acccde 20 our Just and Temperate
requests, We will be in worse position than
now. Virginia can resume her sovereignty as
easily on the ith Of July on the ath of Nareh;
IL is the voice Of the craven that denies it,
Again. standing thus in the character of medi.
at0T. she can, II need lie. procure peaceable
separation Of the States. and thus only can u be
brought about. Respect for the position she had
assumed would ensurv IL. But let her bc mad.
~ carried OFF into the vortex OF passionate dis
union. and we will have war-dirvful war. frat.
ricidal war. lasting for long. long years with
its carnage. with i,s slaughter. with its widows
and its orphans. with It's burdens ON the people.
and It's disastrous Influences upon every inter
est IN the country, and despots and tyrants
wonld laugh with febdish JOY Mt the downfall
of freedom. Believe not those who talk 90 you
Of 'peao,ssble secession ! there can ba no such
iaing."