Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-16
The National Crisis.
- or rus aovrp,op ny KENTUCKY.

which he deliberately considers the constitutional rea-
tons of the States and maintains the right OF secession
He then submits formidable array of grievances and
wrongs inflicted on the South by the North laying stress
on the notification of the Fugitive Slave Law, the unver-
sal spread of ansavery opinions, the crusade against
the South preached from Northern pulps the kndnap
ping and abduction of Southern property the abolition
raids in Kansas and John Brown foray in Virginia and
finally, the browning act Of insult and outrage the
election as President of an avowed advocate of the ire
pressble conflict doctrine Mr. Hale then points out
the consequences of the triumph of Lincoln, and con-
tends that the acquescence and submission OF the South
must inevitably secure her ultimate ruin and vassaage
He maintains that dsunion has now become an act OF
sefpreservaton Alabama he declares pledged to this
policy and urgently socits the cooperation and sympa-
| thy of Kentucky.
Governor Magonin, in his reply, comedies the neces+
sity for full and frank conference among the Southern
members of the Confederacy He acknowledges that Mr.
Hale has not exaggerated the geyous wrongs injuries
and indgnites which the people OF the South have
long submitted with so much patience and forbearance
on account of their devoted attachment to the Union
The people of Kentucky have suffered very severely from
these iutoerabe grievances and keeny alive to the
necessity of arrestng them They will demand the un-
qualified recognition of the right Of African slavery in
the United States and the relation of the Federal Gov
eminent to it. as an institution in the States and Terri
tories settlement upon basis of perfect security to
the South with ample power to slavery where
it now exists and to extend it under other restrictions
than such may be imposed by the laws OF nature, will
alone satisfy them. "0ur safety, our honor and our
sefpreservatiOn says the Governor "ake demand that
our interests be placed beyond the reach of further as
saut" "Kenucky would leave no effort untried to pre-
serve the Union of the States the basis Of the Con-
sution, as we consrue but Kentucky will never sub
NIT to wrong or dishonor let resistance cost what it
may" He then proceeds
Un0ualifed acquiescence in the administration OF the
government upon the Chicago platform, in view of the
movements already insugurated at the South and the
ayowed purposes of the representative men OF the Ke-
publican party would feel assured receive no favor III
this State whether her citizens SHALL in the last resort
throw themselves upon the right OF revolution a. the n-
heent right of free people, never surrendered or shall
assert the doctrine of secession be of little practical
import When the time of action comes-and 1t Is now
fearully near at hand-our people will be found rallied
as unit under the flag of resistance to intoerabe
wrong and being thus consolidated in feeling and ac-
ton NAV well forego any discussion OF the abstract
theories which party or another may hold TO COW
er their resistance.
Ii is true that as sovereign political communities the
States must determine each for ITSELF the grave issues
now presented and it may be that when driven TO The
dire extremity discovering their relations with the Federal
Government formal independent separate State acon
will be proper and necessary But resting, as do these
political communities, upon common social organi-
zation constituting the sole object OF attack and inva-
sion confronted by a common enemy encompassed by
common, peril in word involved in one common cause,
il does seem that the mode and manner OF defence
and redress should be determined in afu and free cone
III and
ty requires full cooperation in carrying out the measures
here agreed upon. The source whence oppression Is
now to be apprehended is an organized power poll
teal government in operation to which resistance though
ultimately successful-snd do not for moment ques'
ton the issue-might be costly and destructive. We
should look these facts in the face, close our eyes to
what we may reasonably expect to encounter. have
therefore thought that due regard to the opinions OF
all the saveholdng States would require that those mea
sures which concern all alike, and must ultimately involve
all should be agreed upon in common convention, and
sustained by united action.
The Governor does entirely abandon the hope that
the North will yield to the firm representations and ut
matum of the united South bu, if this hope should
fail he contends that our position would be far stronger
fortified as would be by the whole conservative sen
men of the country, and supported by host Of North
ern friends. lie suggests convention Of authorized
delegates from the several Southern States He refers
probability of the adoption by the President of the
policy of coercion in which event civil will assuredy
follow Il is of the utmost Importance that before such
policy attempted the voice of the South should be
heard in potential, official and united protest. II our
enemies be crazed with victory, and mady persist in
their purpose the South will then be better prepared to
resist The annexed passage comprehends in brief the
views embraced in the Governors letter: =
You ask the cooperation of the Southern States in Or
der to redress our wrongs; so do We. You have no
hope of redress in the Union We yet look hopefully
TO assurances that powerful reaction is going at the
North You seek a remedy in secession from the
Union We wish the united action of the slave States
assembled in convention within the Union. You would
act separately unitedly If Alabama and the other
slave States would meet in convention, say at Nash
yile or elsewhere early the 5h day of February
do not doubt that would agree in forty-eght hours
upon such reasonable guarantees by way OF amendment
20 the Constitution OF the United States would CON-
msnd at least the appreciation of our numerous friends
10 the free States and by Civ ng them time 10 make the
question with the people there, such reaction in public
opinion might yet take place as to secure US our rights
aud save the government If the effort failed the South
would be united TO man. the North divided, the hor
rors of civil war would be avered-if any thing
avert the calamity; and if that be not possible would
be in a better position to meet the dreadful COLLISION
By such action too if failed to preserve the Govern
ment the basis of another Confederacy would have been
mode be launched into operation much more speedily
and easily than by the action you propose.
The correspondence closes with short note from Mr.
Hale, assuring Gov. Magoiil that his communication
shall be promptly laid before the Executive of Alabama
and expressing his acknowledgements of the kindly vel
come with which he has been received.
1t will be remembered that Alabama in declaring her
severance from the Federal Government invited Con-
gress of all the Southern Sates-derng in this respect
from South Carolina, that proposed Congress of sece
ding States only
HOW The TEXANS PEEL.
A correspondent of tbs Petersburg Express, writing
from Waco, Texas Jan. Fad, says:
Gen. Houston addressed the people here yesterday
in a highly conservative speech. de declared that he
felt it TO be his solemn duty TO the people of his
State against the exremites into which the politicians of
South Carolina and other States would hurry them. He
declared emphatcaly that he would give his official
sanction to the call of convention except upon condi
ton that the people OF Texas should afterwards pass
judgment upon its action. lie was listened to with at
tention and respect while speaking but it perfectly
obvious that the crowd against him in SENTIMENT and
after the close of his remarks the voice of litter denun
citation heard in every private circle. His old CON-
panOns in arms, the early settlers" of Texas gene
rally with him on the absorbing issue of the day-at
least such is the with those have in this quar-
ter They say who lived under the "Lone Star"
they did; believe that it is best for Texas to
resume her former loneliness
repeat the prepOnderating voice OF the people of
Texas for secession but there to be consdera
BILE difference among them as whether they shall Join
new Coniederacy or run up the flag of the Lone
Star" again.
ANOTHER MAJOR ANDERSON.