Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-22

while dissolution of the Union would not remove the
free State upon which be gazes from his door, one 1907
further from him. that t would instantly terminate the
ovisicn Of the Constitution for the rendition OF flgl-
ves from labor passed by Congress 10 carry
out that provision and the duty Of the President 70 see
the Law executed. lie nav well conclude, that H. under
he Constitution and the Union, he can barely retain
slave labor on the border he must abandon the effort al
together when the nOn-save holding State IN bis negh-
borhood shall have become, TO him, foreign govern
meut When Pennsylvania and Ohio shall have become
10 Us what Canada nov is, how can Western virginia
retain slaves at ALL Can hope TO obtain, by treaty
stipuations with foreign governments what We IAN TO
receive from these communities as sister States
So far then as the restoration of fugitive slaves con-
csrned can not be assumed that any part oil the slave
holding States would be benefited by going out OF the
Union.
How would Il be as to our rights in the Territories =
As we now stand in the Union have the decision OF
the Supreme Court affirming that the Territories are the
common property Of the people of the United States to
be administered 10y the Federal Government as trustee
for the common benefit and that neither Congress or
territorial legislature has authority to prohibit slavery, or
impair the rights Of slave therein. This decision
il binding upon every department Of the government
and upon every citizen Of the United States. Congress
has passed no law in conflict with this decision since II
was rendered and should any such law be enacted, II
would be null and void being pronounced UNCONSTITUTIONAL
BY the Supreme Court.
Now, so far from secession being restoration to
rights denied US the territories it is an abandonment
BY the seeding States, Of all such rights The terrific
RES belong 20 the people Of the United States when
State secede she ceases to be member OF the United
States and becomes according to the theory OF the adj
yocaes Of secession separate Independents sovereign
~ The only modes by which seeding States could set
I'D rights in the territories would be by negotiation and
treaty or by war Is it better so far as the territorial
question is Concerned TO remain IN the Union, and de-
mand that our rights be acknowledged and protected I'M
der the Constitution and the decision OF the Supreme
Court or Weld up our claim member of the Union,
trusting 20 the precaTous issues OF International dp0-
macv or the casualties of war, Tor the establishment OF
those rights after shall have become an indepen-
dent State or a member Of new Confederacys Shall
we run from our property and our rights now conceded
10 be ours by the judgement of the highest tribunal OF
the land for the purpose OF asserting them in some
new ard doubtful mode Shall we yield up our just
demands in adyauce from fear that the legislative and
judicial departments of the government may sooner or
later PASS into the bands OF the Republican party Does
IL NOT better become brave and determined people, 10
hold on 20 the rights which they may be entitled,
with al the nstrumentltes which they possess for their
assertion and vindcaon than withdraw from the con-
test leaving the 70 which those rights pertain In
the hands Of the adversary
We are Invoked resist the encroachments OF Northern
lnatcsm and the domination Of Northern rulers. This
we should DO and this we are prepared to do But how
IS this resistance 70 be accomplished BY State seeding
fo.n the Union and leaving the territories and other
tri navy, all the machinery OF government and the
Ulion itself with the remaining States Who IS the
sonistg' He who fees at the very fret victory
Obtained by the enemy and seeking safety in new or
ganZa ion leaves everything which he had Claimed IN
the hands Of the vctCrs; he Who rising from the a
news the Ggh. on the btttet Id, and, with IN
conquerabe will, determines to fight on TO the astr
Is too il might be asked that spirit Of ianatcism
prevailing the North 70 be pursed away by separation
Or is abolition hostility 10 be exchanged for iraterns
I'D .fnAS f4+n int fn-p irrs.
nauOnss
Again in contemplating the dissolution Of the present
Union il IS the part Of wisdom to consider what Is 70 be
substituted in its stead 1t is much easier to destroy
than 70 reconstruct.
Suppose the fifteen slayeholdng States should deter
mine 10 90 together L. Is easy TO fcresee that the
gavest Obstacles would arise in the formation and ad
mnisraton OF any gOvernmeE. for the new Republic
Twothrds of the exports Of the United States fur
she'd by tire cotoa growing Sta'es. l. IS this excess Of
exaor.abe production that lies az the bottom Of ceitai
claims Of quasi superiority sometimes manifested BY
those States under various forms.
The .re,. need O Zoe Co-On States Is cheap labor an
free pOrts The probability Is taIt they would demand
tas e-openug # the African Slave trade aud that the
N5to.aI Government be sustained by dice, taxes, l.:
scii o. by duties on foreign goods Virginia Is say
selling Siitn ard would Dc materially Injured, Il mo-
ruined by the rlesiso-hment % the slave radeto say
nothing Of -er opposition 10 the trc o.aer grounds
AID against which she is committed by all her aniece-
dents AS well Jy her present opinions She too, In
cormoa with Others o. the Northern slave States
would De compelled 10 embark TO considerable extent
m mauaacures Tor ghcd she possesses great resources
ss we'll of material % motive power There Is every
re son 10 autc pate that the commercial policy OF Sout-
ern couleieracy would present continual topics OF dis
easor These with numerous other subjects Of oppcs-
m interest and opinion would make their app arauce in
be formation and administration q the rev government
Even the nature Of the governmcn; Itself Nigh. become
,hzme OF debate since that mixed monarchy aud
strong Infusion Of the military element are not without
their Advocates.
But who shall say, when once the golden bowl shall
have been broken the fountain into how mani irag
merits il may be sundered Who predict the dura-
ton of another coNleleacy, if shall be formed -
Founded 10 would tee doctrine Of peaceabe seces
-or would carry with it the ready means OF disruption
What guarantee would have tina; the Cotton States
would long continue in any Couiederacy Union which
Virginia might form with them? South Carolina, with
su gular p-ccpitancy has adopted separate State action
She has refused 70 consult act in concert with her
sister States OF the SoUh the question Of her with
drawal, and has manifested towards Virginia and the
Other border slave States Interested than she car
be in all the subjects Of interstate controversy, temper
and tone but i,tle calculated to induce them TO follow
her example or 70 hope for quiet and peace in South
era Coufederacy, oC which she would claim TO be the
founder and Of whose destiny she might aspire t. become
the guardian aud leader.
IL disunon once begins none can tOresee where il
VII end Mr. jefferson, who combined, in remarkable
degree kuGgledge Of human nature with the science
OF government has left his reprOblou Of such
smple Ia letter John Taylor in 1928, and which
h,4 been often referred TO- he SAYS an every FREQ aud
celebrating s0c.etY there must from the Of man.
be cppOss parties ana violent discussions and discOds
and one Of these tor the part, must prevail over
the other for longer shorter time. Perhaps this
.rty division necessary 10 induce each 70 watch aud
debate 20 the people the proceedings OF the other But
10 o. temporary superiority Of the party, the other
fsrf = he FgrTI Fyu-
sEs cara sgsr ers! IT to Ill ourselves Of the present
,uls Of Massachusetts, and Connecticut break the
Union will the evil stop there Suppose the New Eng
land States alone cut OF, will our natures be changed.
Are We not STILL TO the South of that, with all The
MISSIONS % llens Immediately shall Penns VI
ynia aud Yrgua party arise in the residuary con,de
r,ey and the pubEc mind will he distracted by the me
party spirit What game, too, will one party have in
lti- hands by eterGay threatening each other that
less they do so and So they will join their Northern neigh
b5rs. Ii we reduce Unou to Virginia and North
Carolina Immediately the conflict viii be established be-
tween the representatives of these two States and they
viii end, by breaking into their simple units Seeing
therefore that association Of men, who will not quar-
ri wish one another is thing that nsyer yet existed
from the greatest cOuiederacy down 20 the town lee
ug or vcsFy; seeing that We must have some body to
sllrrel WITH had rather Keep Nso EHg'Gnd assoc
,ss Ja that purpose, than TO oar chickering's trans
a .e patience, ard Ne shall see the reign of witches
pass over their spells dissolved and the people
ing their sight, restoring their government to i
true principle"
Strange and forcble then as the causes of the present
excited condition OF the public mind undoubtedly are
vet every thoughtful must regard dissolution o.
t-e American Uuion destined 10 bring With it meal
cgate mischief ucCdiug in It's train OF caAmites, the
Destruction Of the best government on earth the chance
and hazards Of new political structures; the probabilities
of frequent and deso!luC wars Or the from whcl
I ~, int