Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-26

existence has been of violent contention with
the politicians of the country for long time Its agita
ton has not only disturbed the harmony of the coned
Grafton and the peace Of the country but has already
in part, broken up the government
mad and infatuated feeling on the part of the North
ern people, against ins tuition of which they know
nothing has caused them to deny the Southern people
rights which plainly guaranteed TO them by the Con-
situton. elimination has begoten elimination. Abuse
on side has been returned with abuse the other
Excitement on all sides has thus high and we all,
therefore, find il difficult to consider with sufficient calm
ness the present troubles which surround and disturb
Under such circumstances, all apt to do in mo-
ment Of mpetuosy what may never be able to undo;
and therefore we wish to act wisely ought to think
well.
have given to the present condition of affairs great
deal of consideration and my opinion is that the SUBJ
ect of slavery ought to be settled for and forever
We know that entitled to its unmoested enjoy
ment and think ought to demand its unmoested en-
oyment If the North will give this guarantee so as
put the future agitation OF slavery rest in plain and
uumistakabe terms think we ought to remain in the
Union. think because fear civil war, and bloody
revolution begins in this country, its history Its
woes its gloom and its desolaon will perhaps present TO
the world the "bloodies picture in the book OF time
Whether have these guarantees, we do not yet
positively know. Our Legislature has just delegated five
able Commissioners to 60 to Washington, for the
purpose Of comforting with the representatives OF other
States and of ascertaning what if anything can be done
to save the country They will not assemble until the
4th of February and we of course cannot hear from
them until after that time IT, after having exhausted
these honorable the country and its peace
we fail to do So my opinion is that should say to the
Northern people, You have refused to live with US on
terms of equality, and will not live with you ON any
other terms is therefore, unsuitable and an in
siderable connection. We will part from you, peaceaby
if we can but forciby If must" To the doctrine OF
coercion unalterable opposed because no govern
ment which is sustained by force be thegovernment
of free republican people.
These are briefly my views They seem to me TO be
reasonable They may be modified tomorrow or next
day, according the of the day and if be the
pleasure of the people of Richmond to honor me with
in the Convention, only promise to do my best
to maintain the honor and to advance the interests OF
Virginia.
have deemed it proper to say this much to you be-
cause desire you to know what views | entertain,
and further because have this morning that one
of the leading journals of the city, the Richmond Enqui
rer has assaed my claims the surages OF the peo
pie Of Richmond upon the ground that have "avowed
coercion in its most odous FORM, and for this relies
upon an isolated sentence, extracted from dinner
speech made on social OCCASION at the hour of three
o'clock in the morning.
Now, on this occasion, did not discuss allude
to the question Of coercion and it does happen that
the subject of coercion has been issue OF dis
cusson in any canvass in which have been engaged.
Those, however, who have ever heard me speak upon
the subject in private know that it is doctrine TO which
| have always been opposed as / am now. Why 1t Is
that am Of the first to be assaed do not know.
Whether will make for you proper representative
leave to my felow-citizen of Richmond
Very respectfully,
MARMADIJKE JOHNSON.