The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-26
- MY FELLOW.CITiZENS |

Re-. MY FELLOW-CITiZENS: | am
Sc greatly honored by being proposed by
many of You for the approaching Convention, and
pray You to accept my grateful aeknow Judgments
would not unsolicited aspire, nor can | decline
to serve therein should it please city to elect
me | know of no higher aud more solemn trust
than the Convention will be charged with. Our
Constitution, Union the peace OF our country, and
free institutions, in the end, may rise fall with
whether our Government, which has attested the
wisdom of its founders by matchless benefits and
which, even now is admitted to lack nothing, ex
cept the obedience and respect due TO It's Just anu
impartial requirements, shall be abandoned for
another, differing from it III essential particu-
lar save in being adjusted TO a smaller area.
We have been wronged-greatly wronged.-
Wicked attempts upon our rights and peace, in,
stigated by sectional and fanatica conspiracy, land
growing, as such things do, by the law of their
corrupt nature, have brought the country to its
convulsed condition Nothing should content the
South but an explicit and comprehensive rec0gni-
ton Of their rights. Issue being joined with the
North, any slight, inadequate, temporary adjust
ment would be submission That is not to be
thought of, nor will be. The equal rights of the
their fugitive slaves. are neither to be waived nor
modified.
our grievances proceed from the fanatics of the
offending States and the factions aud corrupt pub
lie men, who abuse their stations to toInent sec
tional alterations and hostility. Politicians by
occupation are incapable Of bringing the cOntro-
versy to Il peaceful termination, il Providence has
in reserve for Us so signal a blessing The pco-
trious yeomanrv--they Who would be victims of
"a revolution. can alone avoid 1t. In their midst
are nnItltudcS Uf loyal and intrepid men, pre-
pared to unite in measures for Cancellation and ad
Justment: Let there be a Convention OF the peo-
pie of the Northern and Western States--let
there be at least effort to ascertain il they VIII
meet, to redress and satisfy the South. Above
all, let there be Convention of all the border
the course of proceeding, and the guarantees de
manded by the eXigency. They united IN
sentiment and policy, i'll principle and Impulse
our LeglS lature has wisely Instituted Commits
sion, to inquire how far It's within the range Of
peaceful remedies to restore and pcrpetuate the
Union. Let the issue of these pacific means be
all honorable eXpedients 10 continue the
Union be tried before 1t be given up and aban-
doned. 1t consists with her high position. and is
the truest dignity and manlincss for Virginia |
so to act. And if the North should prove intract-
able, the cooperation of the border States in their
demand Of Southern rights, in pOrti0ning the pro-
perry, forces and muniments OF the Government |
would be a tower OF strength.
Ii force be employed against the States who have
gone out of the Union, it should and must be resist
ed. Force Is not among the means of compos- |
Ing the controversy. 1t is not appropriate or ade
quate TO any legitimate or desirable end. Should |
Of shearing the wolf would fully illustrate the |
folly and wantopueSs OF her counsels The states |
should be brought back If haply' they may, by |
alone; aud these being yielded in the |
proper quarter an appeal to them from the border |
States, wherein Virginia, | hope, would be con- |
spicuous, could not fail of conciliating influence |
have thus, in haste, referred to the points |
presume, You might desire my Opin-
ions, and these, as they may be modified by su-
peryeung events should carry to the Conven-
ton. il so high an honor be in reserve for me,
with an expressing sOlicitude TO respond TO my
solemn duties as may be best for the honor pro-
gress, glory of the Commonwealth.
Again thanking you for your friendly considera-
ton, am, very respectfully, yours,
WM. IL. MCFARLAND.
Richmond, Jan. IS, 1851. ia 26--It