Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-01-11
Richmond correspondence.
RICHMOND. Jan. g, 1860.

| Editor indicator "A short note, in
addition to the newspaper accounts, win in
form you of the progress Of events at this
focus Of public feeling.
The most anxious interest pervades al
classes of people, whether resident or tenn
porarily in this Capital. Expectation is on
tiptoe, looking for news from Washington
and So. Ca, that acar has commenced =
The opinion prevails that not only is the T.
| MON dissolved, but that the danger OF civil
war is imminent, certainly on the 4th Of
March, if not sooner. Only kind Provi.
dence may IN mercy avert it.
The Legislature was constrained imme.
diately on its assemblage to adopt meas.
ures most portentous in themselves. The
air is rife with sensation fumors the hall:
and galleries ofthe Legislature are crowded
daily long before the hour of meeting, ano
throughout, with anxious spectators, Of
Whom the indications show that nine -tenths
are urgent for extreme measures, and it is
almost impossible for the officers Of the
House to repress the manifestations of ap-
plause Or Of censure upon the speeches Of
members There are, moreover, a number
OF persons here constantly pressing within
the bar Of the Honse, regardless OF the i'm
propriety, and urging their sentiments con-
tinually into the private ear Of the repre-
sentatives of the people. Under such cir
cumstances, healthy legislation can scarce
ly be expected. The resolutions adopted
on Monday in reference to coercion by the
General Government. wsfe sprung upon
the House without any previous general
consultation, but once being introduced had
to be voted on for better or worse. The on
ly representative from Augusta at that time
present, endeavored by every possible plan
to procure some little time for consultation
and the arrival of his colleagues, to act a.
was prudent on such critical question; bu
this was denied, and vote peremptorily
forced An explanation was obtained how
ever. limiting the meaning of the resolu
ton, IN effect, to opposition On the part o
Virginia TO any attempt by the Genera
Government to make war upon a seeding
State, Gas such) with view to keep her il
tie Union BY force-sayiog nothing as t.
the duty Of enforeinG the laws Of tie Unior
against sndsUtdua?s. Il was also Tepresen
ted that the prompt and unanimous passa e
Of such resolutions BY Inc Virginia Legis
tuFe would be q peace measure, by sustain
ling the President in he positions taken ii
his Message TO this effect: and by warning
Black Republicans against Any hostile at
tempt against the South. AS the rcsolu
tons were manifestly to pass at all events
the conservative members concluded to yott
for them, SO as to add the moral force Of u
nanimity, lest division itself might inyitf
hostility.
s The bill for Convention ia now under
/ going discussion. aud is pressed with . per
tinacity and precipitancy that would have
astonished the Fathers Of the Republic,
and only finds its parallel in the bier gar
dens" Of the political conventions of tht
day. Che fact, too, is. that often thest
precipitating notions are known at the tina,
to avail nothing 10 advance the bill really
but can have oulT sensation and bun
combe effect on he public.
The white basis Of representation had t
be conceded or she proposition would nav,
| bad no chance whatever. The election b
counties Gas provided for#he House OF Del
Iegates1 has, also, 50 far, bean yielded =
These points will secure an expression G.
The sentiment Of tho people. who viii hays
tho fighting to d., In the event the Con.
seassou issoolied opou 20 pfoclai:n disuniou
ard war. The Till will pass as large ma
ljority Of tie members are absolutely com.
faitted 10 it. L will 10 3onsoiiag AZ least
to know that tue Convention cannot surpas.
this Legislature in reckless and ipconsider-
ate action, and will almost necessarily be q
safer representative body.
AUG USTA.