Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-18
Compromise md CIti,natum.

A1t 49, 1901
Compromisc md Clti,natum.
The Legislatures Of New York, Pennsy lrana,
aid Ohio, have rendered men and money to the
General Government, to coercc and subugate
Virginia, should the Convention Of her sove-
reign people determine that secession is the
only safety Of the State. The action Of these
States, intended to be offensive and degrading,
was deliberately and de,ermincdiy made at the
very moment Of intenscst excitement to show
the authorities Of VirEinia' that they contemn
and dcspise the slave States und are deternln-
ed to degrade them into conquered provinces
! The unnecessary and wicked action Of these
States should open the eyes Of the people Of
! Virginia, 10 the purpose and disposition OF the
three largest Northern States. This tender OF
| men and lno,.cv 10 coe! &C and Subjugate sorc-
/ reign States, has increased the difficulties ad
! iustment, aud should cause the manhood o! Viz
sinia 20 shrink from the drbascmcnt of offer
! in. any compromise, or even inlaatng will
! lipgnrss 70 compromise with States that sra.
tui;ously offer the Southern States another III
suit The Legislature Of Virginia having call
Cd the people of the State together m ConVen
;ion. are, US to all matters Of compromise anu
ultmatum, functus o1icio-thc people in Con-
vcntion assembled, are the only power author
ICED TO submit any ultimatuu. The Legislature
has no power, and vii, be treated with contempt
by the Rcpubhcans-whichw will only aggravatc
aud intensity the feeling in Virginia We have
no idea tha; the Convention OF Virginia will
ever agree 10 ans compromise that has not
been previously adopted by the Northern
States in an authoritative and binding manner.
Virginia will never tic herself to n Northern
Con:eteracy, which may be rejected by her
So,ithern sisters Tho North must hrst
adopt snch amendments us they are
willing 10 abide by, and these being submit
ted to all the Southern States must be
agreed 10 by all Of them. Virginia will patch
up no compromise and sgrce to no amendments
as LONG US the Northern States, by such action as
that taken by New York, Pennsylvania and
Ohio. deny the Fundamental principle OF con
sent Of the gorerned TO the government upon
which this Union WAS formed. The sovereign
" Of the States, the rights o! the States
and tie rea,cdieS Of the States, have
been assailed and denied, and all must
DO admitted and provided for in any
amendments that Virginia can agree to-
She will compromise into the Constitution
no precedent which may, at some future day.
arise in judgment against her people, or some
other Stale The tender Of men and money 10
coercc and suljuga,e sovereign States IS con-
sojiia,ior and federalism more odious than
alien AID sedition laws. because directed not
ou,y arains, individual liberty, but is subver-
sivc Of the Sovereignty Of the States
Virginia ca!uo,, and will not, agree 70 any
suc!. compromise Us the Crittenden amend
ne.., because i: IS not one that, Of 't'eT and
5y its o.cr. slfection, protects and guarantees
,ho S,r+h.ro Statas in the rIGnYmcn' "' thor
constitutional rights. The following, from re-
spcctcd correspondent, gives the true and only
basis Of compromise:
For The Enquirer.
Atthis time when there is SC much absurd talk
Of Constitutional amendments and addItlonal
guarantees for the safety OF the South the Hollow
;r., ey,rsct from Lord Bacon's Works, may bc
well worthy Of consideration. In the article
headed '.S;yy or Treaties" he says
This fable seems to have been invented In
..aiusion TO treaties and compacts OF princes,
"ia respect Of which, it is but too true that
..whatever be the solemnity and sanctty oi the
"oa,h they are confirmed with, yet they are
'l,.lc TO bc depended on; insomuch that they
+ Il, oy,p n H.
"ta,;on and fame and ceremony, than for cont-
"dence and security and effect. And even
when the ties Of relationship (Which arc
..as the sacraments Of nature) or OF rnu-
..tual rood services come into aid, yet,
..in mos, cases. ali are too reak for an
.6itiou and interest and the license Of po9-
ser The rather because princes can alpdyS
find plcaty of plausible preterts (not teang
.accoun table to any arJiter) arhereaciM 10 3Wstt
"fy and cell their cupidity and badta There
is adopted, therefore, but one true md proper
..oledoe Of mith: and IL is no celestial dirini.
"tv. This is NECESSITY (the great God Of inc
"DoueryuN md peril ct State and communion
"of interest. Now, necessity is elegantly re-
"prcsen,ed under the figure Of Styx, the fatal
sriver across which no man can return
This is the deity which lphicrates the Athe,
nnian invoked 10 witness treaties; anu
.siuce he was one that spoke out plainly
"sfla, most men think and keep to themselves,
..hs words are worth quoting. Finding that
..,he Lacedamon;ans were devisng and pro.
"poundinc various cautions and sanctions ana
SECURITIES and bonds to hold the treaty last
s:TAereis cnly one bond and security, (sald he
"in,er-upting them,) that can hoIa os'''eeA
"yOu and us:-Yor MUST PROVE THAT YOU HAVE
YIELDED 50 MUCH INTO dta HANDS, THAT YOU
! cannot urHr rs II YOU WOULD. And so itis,
"tlla. if the means Of hurting be taken away
cor if breach Of the treaty wouia ehuaheeI
'';he existence or the integrity OF the state ana
! "rerenue--then the treaty may be CONSIDERED
! .sto he ratified aud sanctioned and confirmed
las by the oath of Styx: for then, it is upon
"per!i OF being nterdicted from tue oanquets
.nf the Gods; which was the ancient exI r.
.spressioa for the rights and prerosa'i'eS oi
,.emuirc, and wealth, and felicity.
: Now, the only safe and stable treaty thnt tEe
South can make with the North, must be oaseo
ON that maxim of Iphicrates. "I"u MUST PROVE
ru,rYur HAVE YIELDED so MUCH INTO ocH HANDS,
FIAT YOU CANNOT HURT Us IF lou WOULD.
THAI wv G. ".
-rh. Counissioncrs from AiaDHt""