The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-08

vate citizen and the public officer, TO know
tnat his views and opinions are endorsed b,
these around him {; that be is backed by tn
popular sen ntiment of the day but there arr
times and occasions, in the history of ever,
man, when it is imperative to him 10 adher
10 ms convictions OF duty. maintain his orin
IONS nrmiy, but courteously, even at the haZ
ard OF being found In minority. / have M
hesitation in expressing my opinion upon thi
or any other question Of public concern.
nave my convictions upon this gu estioD
ana give expression to them, in declaring my
oppositlon at this time to the call of Statt
Convention. see no necessity for it al this
Ime, nor DO now see any good practical re-
SUIT mat can be accom- piished by it. do not
coHsioer thIs propitious time to moot the
question, and apprehend, from indica ,ious
that have been exhibited. that serious difficul.
lIes ana EN- oarrassments will attend the move.
meht. Suoseq uent events may show the ne.
cesSity for it,
La 1888 and 1856, when the exi istence of the
Union was seriously threatened, when the
Danger was imminent, the Legislature accom-
pilshed every thing desired III a manner as sat
isiac 'ory as IL would have been accomplished
II tue mode now sugges ted had been adopted
Oh neither occasion was the LEGISLATURE chu-
sen with reference to the events which subse-
queRtiy occurred, and which de solyed upon
mem the necessity for such action as was
taKen, and which gave so much satisfaction
10 the people OF Virginia and the whole coun-
try.
In my inaugural message ! made this re-
com mmendation. which, if adopted, would per-
maps nave relieved us, TO some extent, fru m
Tue computations with which we are now
embarrassed:
=" also suggest that a commission, to con-
s.o, VI Two OF our most Intelligent. discreet
ana experienced statesmen, shall be appoint
Gu, whose duty 1t shall be To visit the Legisla-
lures OF those States which have passed laws
10 oostrnct the execution of the fugitive sla ye
act, aid insist, in the name of Virginia, upon
laeir anconditional repeal. In sups ort OF the
nf thA
sion, precedent is To he found in the history
oi our own State. IN the appoin tCnent of the
distinguished Baujamin Watkins Leigh. who
vas commissioned 10 visit the Legislature OF
South Carolina, at the time of the controyersy v
between that State and the Federal Govern.
ment. The exis ence of the Uniou was then
greatly imperiied, and the action of Virginia
exerted INST happy influence in bringing
restored peace 10 the country. That crisis In
pubic affairs was almost as serious and
alarming as The pr, sent"
In renewing the accommodation at this time
l annex modiilcation, aud that is, that g m
mlssioners shall not be sent to either of the
New England States The occurrences of the
last two mouths have satisfied me that New
England purItanlsm has no respect for human
constitutions, and so little regard tor the
Union that they would not sacrifice their
preJudlces, or smother their resentments TO
perpetuateit.
further recommend, that Commissioners
De sent To the legislatures or Conventions of
all the slayehoiding States to- confer Wifb
sntm, Win view OF ascertaing what de-
naEds, IN the nature Of amendments to the
or other Wise, Will be sati>ftc
tory In TINS exigeucy. The adoption of This
plan Will In All probability tend 10 secure har-
Inony an produce unity of action.
Tne controversy nov has reached point
Wheh ~ mhSf be Ssttted on some fair. Just and
PEI inahent basis, II We are TO be ted, and
peace, quiet ana order restored 10 the c,,un.
L put ;S
10 tne financial aud comma cial business and
10 tiie agricultural, planting mechanical, mer-
cantlie aud manufacturing lii teres s Of aii Sec
tlons. u Hiess a settle .1eat OF the controversy
snail De speedily ehec 'ed, every species OF pro.
i'erty must fail To merely nominal prices AID
Il sceue OF general At q rulnous bankruptcy
Iar exceeding, in extou aud sevefity auy that
nts preceded 1t, must be the inevitable res uit
Even now, hundreds and thousands baye been
ihfo"n out OF en pioy meat, aud at this incle-
Iueut season poverty, want aud misery mus
ue The portion OF tnem and their dependent
families 1t l. Time tue Conservative spirlI OF
the country WAS aroused ana stimulated To
energetic acLlon. Nd lime Is To bS loSI IN out
ting To Immediate requisitiun ali Jair hon-
oraoie ana cons stitu tionai medns tnat promise
u secure satisfactory and permanent ad
lu> iIneLt.
What, then, is necessary to be dcneq The
Northern States must strike trcn their STA
tute Docks their Personal Llb-rIy bills and
iuihu their constitutional obliEatiOns iu re-
gard 10 fugitive slaves and fugitiyes Irom jus-
tice. Ii our slaves escape 10 20 non n-slayr,oid.
ing States, they must be delivered mn: il a han
doned, deprayed and desperately wicked men
come iut 10 slave States 10 iucite Instructions
or To commit other crimes against our laws
ana escape In to free States they must he given
up for trial and punishment waen lawfully
ueIndndSd by The conSu "a led authorities of
those States whose laws have been violated
Secohd-We must have proper and effective
guarantees for the protection OF slavery ia the
4 = % pa.1
TO the abolition of slavery in the District nm.
I'll Mary land snail emancipate her slaves and
not then, unless IL shall be demanded by the
cluZenS of the District.
Ihtrd-Our equality in the Sta res and Ter
rltories must De fully recognized and our
rIzhts OF person and properly adeQ ua ely pro.
tee ted and secured. We must have guarantees
that slavery shall not be in terdicted in any
territory now belonging To, or which NAV
hereafter be acquired by the General Govern.
ment; either by the Congress OF the United
States or d Territorial Legislature: that we
snail be permitted TO pass through the free
states ahd territories without moles tation :;
ana II slave snail be abducted, that the S tate
III which he or she shall be lost, snail pay the
fuli value of such slave TO the owner
F0hrth-Like guarantees must be given, that
The Transmission OF slaves between the slave
holding States, either by land or water shall
not be iniertered with.
FJta-The passage and enforcement of rigid
laws for the punishment of such persons In
the ffee States as sEall organize, or aid and
abet in organizing. either by the contribu tiop
OF money, arms, munitons of war, or in any
other mode whatsoever, companies Of meD
with view to assaii the slavenoldIng States,
and 10 excite slaves TO insurrec, lon.
Strih-That the general government shall be
deprived OF Inc power OF appointing to local
offices In the slaveholding States, persons who
are hostile TO their insttu lions, or inimical to
their rights-the object being to prevent the
appointing power from osing patronage to sow
hA nAd- tfa. - "a
slaveholding and non-slayeholding classes In
the Southern States
These guaran tees can be given without pre-
Juuice 10 the nonor or rights, and without a
sacrince CT the interests, OF either OF the non-
sidVeholdIng States. We ask nothing, there
fore, which Is not clearly right, and necessary
To our protection And, surely, when SO IN ucn
Is a. stake, IL Will be freely, cheeriuliy, al d
promptly assented to-. l is The IN Lerest ot the
North aud the South to preserve the Govern.
Inent from destruction; aud they should omil
the use OF NO proper or honorable means t.
avert SO great Calamity. The public safety
ana welfare demand Instant ac ion.
Many of the fanatics in the Northern States
are constan tiy calling attention 10 the fac {
that the un Der VI slave-owners, as compared
with the w nIte population In the slave States
is small aud hence The Inference tnaL the non
Shareholder is not llyai TO Lhe STATE. anC
would not willingly defend the iLsLitutiou.-
This is a most serious mistake and is wei
calculated To make an erroneous impression
upon the Northern mind Such representa-
ton does serious Injustice " tnat loyal anC
patriotic class OF our citlzens. II is u refi-c
tion upon them, not warranted by their con
duct, now or heretofore.
The lumber OF persons in this State in thi
year 1869, charged with taxes on slaves wal
53,SH. The number of persons charged will
taxes on lands IN the same year, Was i59 U.s.
Most of the persons Charged Win taxes OF
slaves, are the owners OF lands also; aud otn
ers who own lands, own no slaves. The mum
Der OF persons Charged with taxes, oIner tina,
owners OF lands and slaves, is 2Ol 900. Al
protection OF persons and property, aua eaci
feels that IN pro teciing he rigi&1s and proper
~ OF the others, ne Is securing And proIscLnI
his own, whether OF little Or great value. A