Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-08
-->S-<1>-S-~---
The Frederick County Meetings,

The want of space has obliged us 10 exclude
a carefully prepared review OF the action Of
the Frederick County Meeting of December
l4th, to which Ex-Governor Wise's letter re-
(ers.
Fortunately, we have Il, hand q shorter and
much more telling criticism Of that document.
Ata crowded and enthusiastic mass meeting OF
the people of Frederick, held mt Winchester on
the 9lst Of December, the following preamble
and resolutions were adopted with but one
dissenting voice:
The people Of Frederick county, in county
meeting assembled, feel themselves called upon,
in common with their fellow.citzens OF the
State, to express their opinions, on the grave
and momcntous questions. which the late eec-
ton Of President Of the United States, by
purely sectional vote, has forced upon the
country.
They are well aware, that the principles upon
which the incoming administration las been
elevated to power, are such, AS when carried
into effect, will bc in violation t the Comstitu-
ton, subvcrsive Of their right "; citizens OF
free and sovereign State, ruin"'', to their hap'
pncss and prosperity, and g. ructlre OF the
very foundations Of great s. ca system, IN
heritcd of their fathers the growth oil more
than two centuries, and Which can, and should
tolerate, no foreign interference, from any
Quarter whatsoever.
In the magnitude Of the interest thus III
volyed, and so directly menarcd, they cannot
remain inscnsiblc to the alarming fact, that Tor
the first time since the :anizatinn OF the
Federal Government, it is ~ be administered
bv political party, that Exists only in one
section of the conicderacv, and in 4 majority
so overwhelming, that the l.'inorty section Is
excluded rs participant, il. every exercise OF
political power, except in forms of percmItory
submission.
Thus impressed, they were not unprepared,
for the excited and inla,nel condition Of the
public mind, in the section whose safety is
thus threatened; or for the natural aud lcgiti-
mate consequences to tlow from it, as evinced
in the lowering aspect OF public affairs, in all
tho States Of the minority section.
1t is idle and useless row, to discuss ques
tions OF abstract right, between the States and
the Federal power; when events Immediately
at hand, may, and probably will resolve them
once and forever One Of the States has
already, and by the unanimous vote Of her
puppy III SOhfCHlOHi oStddiis oSSSNSH '"'' Wv
Union Others are preparing 10 follow, as
speedily as conventions already called, ca1'
assemble.
The union Of the States thus in actual pro-
cess of dissolution, Virginia rs the largest,
oldest, and most popuous Of the minority Sec
ton, can remain neither passive or indifferent.
Resolved, Therefore, As the opinion Of this
meeting, that the Legislature, to assemble un-
der the late call of the Governor Of this Com
monwealth, should, as their first act, provide
by law, for general Convention Of the..state,
to assemble at The earliest day that may be
practicable.
/. I'd. Resolved, That in al questions to DC
presented to the Convention, touching the
great social interests Of the Southern Stales,
(now so ruthlessy assailed) and in all mea-
sures that NAV be devised, TO preserve, pro.
tect, or defend tbem Virginia has common
cause and must share common destiny with
them.