Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-21
MP RAPRnlk,S EErLE-

BAtEoURSyiLtE. Jan. II, 1861.
Gentlemen II sm very grateful Tor your kind re-
usst thai should become can ttc, m the counties
Of Green, and Orange for scat In approaching
State Convention Lu. decline IT, for the simple reas N
th,t am well essured could no, command the COT IL
( dc1ce OF a su.iaCu number t my countymeu 10 Sc
cure 10Y c,tci0u. tl- you % believe however that
share vour -)S,tuc Tor the weii.e Of OCr country,
and that am profoundly iGpse-scG ny the terrible
/ dc,l through which 10 is passing.
Pardon rue for availug myself of the opportunity OF
adlir that utterly opposed TO any rash or prcclp-
sre ou in this momcntOus crisis Of ,uOual at-
fairs The condition OF country emiuenily demands
canton f5rbearauee and that cool deberstiOu which
| should always preside the counSsls Of freer en-
Every true Southern must regard the triumph Of
tie s,lf~vled Republicans in the last Presidential eec-
ton a- national and porteutou caimity but Ter US not
mistake the drftat ct Pa-ty lo- the ruin of the
country Amid all the eXcCments and rriIatonS OF
the moment lei ua sill bear in mind the value of the
Union the cost of it, COOstucton the Soemnity OF itS
conservation and the splendid iUtre which hangs upon
H.. rre.,rystion Especially should toe citizens of
Orange remember that her soil contains the ashes OF the
Father Of the Cou>tuon and that they at least should
not be foremost in striking down that grand temple
which i the monument OF his fame and the pledge OF
/ his immortality.
have not been able 10 argue myself into the belief
hA, it .he duty of Virginia TO secede from the Union
bv the fourth OF March The month itself is suggestive
OF cCnp tacv snd perceive magic virtue m the Sc
lection Of that particular LAY Tor tatonal suicide.
the ne j. Garceiy drawn between the North and South
What hope remains Of paacegl reunion. What quar-
rel was ever vet adjusted without mediaIorf
II Won tell that Union il gone, answer; No!
While Virginia remains firm still have the soul OF the
lion, though its body Is 'curtaed OF ITS iar proper
ii ms" Wi bout submission TO the North or desc lioh oil
South Virginia has that moral position rh'h hs O"h
which will give her power arbtrae between the sec
tons Il is her bourdeu duty TO employ that power
lie, her stand uudismayCd by menaces and unsedrc d
by premature persasopslet her mlinain that ati ude
OF serene intrr ply for which she has ever oeeh Cls
eui.hed-et her show her determination 10 repress all
us.less agitation and to resist every sggresson upon
Southern rights and again il will be her proud privilege
70 saw that she has saved the Union which she made
Whilst thus counsel caution calmnesa aud delioera
ton am not nseusble 10 the fact that the point mas
been reached when the disturbing questions IN our cou
try must be settled fully finally and forever How TINS
NAV be accomplished do not undertake TO suggest
The present difficulty exists in the muitudnous propo
sitions Of individuals and different communlles Even
South Carolina in solemn convention assembled, Is IN
doubt a. TO the actual list Of grievances she sha
as her warrant tor the important sep she mas taken Let
Virgins AZ least avoid this painful position; let her ex
h,ust every constitutional remedy before she takes con
se from sp,r and grant TO her citizens that mOurnIu
consolation Which animated the patriotic lueius Let
Heaven and Earth Witness Rome must iai tha' we al
least, are innocent -,
results OF Southern Middle or Northern Conted@races-
in other words when the earthquake come. do no ua
de-ake to say what fabrics viii stand or what WI ia-
might Is well enquire how much vitality would DC iei
IN the quiverrg timb rhen severed from the parent
trunk or how the fragments YOU'D spae when the dia
mond had been shattered | know that ProPhs's haYe
been found cou6ent enough predict that the sun OF
ropsrty will rise with healing in its wings, over he
r4s Of Conlederacy bu unless all history Is lie
shall Soy hsve the bloody dawn OF an uncertain cay
have abiding sGpe that our Convention will de-
wise some pan for the restofaiSn Of harmony to our
country but falling in this should not abOs myself 70
despaF have not los, an confidence in the inteh'-
genee patriotism and Discriminating justice Of the Amer
lean peOnleP believe there is siil enough Of eonsefS
Atsm left TO rePress ke co,hict Ehi=h aracsm p'oPos