New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-21
EROM VIRGINIA.
GLOOMY PROSPECT FOR THE UNION

GLOOMY PROSPECT FOR THE UNION.
i'Jum Oar DIVA Correspondent.
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. IL, lc1i.
Things lock gloomy enough here Tor the Union.
Both brauclc. OF tie Legislature have passe tia
bill cnllinr Convention, and that body is b
meet m the 18th instead Of the 18th Of February,
as nj first proposed. The clause making a nen-
her of the General Assembly ineligible to the
Convention was stricken from the bill by The
Senate, the HnGse agreeing TO their aeuou' ana
thus the probability Of adding number OF Sc
cessiouists is Gxeaty increased. II tho provision
had been allowed To remain in the bill, While ~
ccnld not have controlled the action OF the people,
IL world have been deemed expressive OF the DIS
inclination of the Legislature 10 have delegates
chosen from that body, and served to keep out
thosc frc.paI.rs who are striving ~ precipitnte
Djsulion. As il is, the only hope remaining 10
ibe conservative men is in the people to whom
tle action Of tie Convention must be submitted
for ratification. How far the lcayen of Disunion
bps spread among them remains yet 70 he seen;
hut il is certain that the public sentiment of this
State does not now retain the equipOse WHICH
characterized it snly few weeks ago.
South Carolina has managed the affair with
dcqrce orskill and shrcwjncss worthy of far brtcr
cause. Knowing the sJl!tGde and untenabI.ty Of
her position, when The true causes of her disat-
6ciion came 10 he onalizcd and disclosed, and
having no confidence in the sympathy and sup
port of the South in such movement as The
dissolution Of the Union on tho ground of mere
local policy, subyersive ol the purposes tor which
the Federal Government Was established, and
indicative Of intensity Of scllshness and disrc-
gard OF the pubic tranquility, she waived al
appeal 70 the justice OF her cause, Affected injn-
ference to the opinions Of her sister Southern
States, assumed an attitude OF independence
which Sic knew she couil not, unaided, main
tain, and while getting NJ show Of ptomptness
20 act aud determination 70 resist, silently but
surely gathered to her support those most power
tul, to her, Of all Guxiiayies-the sectional
preiudices and aninOsit.ls Of the South.
Tie events of each day are tending TO rouse
those passions still further, and, without some
unlooked.for interpoition, The popular excitement
even p tins conservative old Commonwealth,
must continue to increase until reason shall bo
blinded and appeals 20 judgment shall be vain.
Al tie DoUgks men, a large proportion Of
them Irish are most determined aud bitter IN
their opposition TO any move tending TO break up
the Government. The latter urge that they have
sworn allegiance to tie United States, and have,
in return, the pledge OF protection. II the con-
ftderacy is dismcmbeTed, where is the protecting
powerl They are most violent end vehement IN
their denunciAtion Of Soaih Carolina, and are
ready Co resort 20 arms "a enforce the Federal
lave OF course they ere coercionsi4 and loud
in The appreciation Of ,hc course OF Gen. Scott
and Major Anderson.
Mr. Stewards speech vas most anSiously
looked for here. and. wien il came, excited
general - se; and far as the speech it'clf
is concerned, ELECTS general commentator. TIE
prevalent opinion il, however, that il comes t0o
tate. Those who do not tINk The day for COM
promise is past, think it is only trsk, oil hollow
prole sson, Culy intended 10 lull the South into
false senfe OF security, until the Alb OF March.
Yesterday the Alabama Commissioners were
formally received by the Legislature ia the BIN
Of the House OF Delegates. Judge Hopkins d.
liyered AN address setting forth the reasons of
Alabama for seeding from the snlea. He OF
tempted to yindicatc the right Of secession, hnd
gave summary Of the wrongs which his State
r ought had been inflicted upon the South. lis
speech was q very duh and lame affair, and
elected rot one round of aplaulc Mr.. Gilmer,
bis colleague, did not deliver a speech, bal
simply returned hrs thanks for the manner in
which the Embassy had been received There Is
singular disparity between these two gentle
men sent ur0n the same mission--in appearance
and years, | mean. Judge Hopkins is a iEe
specimen Of hale old sge, very pleasant IN coun-
teDance, and rotund ia figure. Mr.. Gilmcr il
quite the reverse, being very youthful in appear
ance, bloOdless in face, aud lean in person, In
one respect, they do mol diler--neither of item
is good sTeaker
Busincfs is very dull here. | never saw so
little activity in the city. There is much suffer
ing among The laboIing classes, and no prospect
of o speedy renef. What q change in ies
short mOnlhs-and what an incalculable wrong
has been inflicted upon the country and it, citi-
2cus by fcs selfish and scbemng politicians.
FROM MASSACHUSETTS.