The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-26
THE STATE CONVENTION.
For other "Coarentioa'' Notices, see LIST Pace. ]

| FL TO MESSRS. PALMER. PUTNEY.
ss>Sa DAEENPoRT, RICHARDSON, GARD
! NER,, ANDI OTHERS. -GENTIEME Your letter
| inviting ME TO become candidate for the Con-
vention, to be held next month, has been read by
me with feelings OF great personal qualification.
| The number Of persons by whom il is subscribed
| is a pleasing evidence of the kind feelings which
! the people of Richmond have for me. Besides
the persons who are subscribers TO your letter, a
great many have solicited me to be a candidate for
| the Convention, and | cordially make my
| Acknowledgements for such manifestation of con-
sign me is one of the gravest and most fearful re-
sPonsibiity; and as you think may be Of service
| in the deliberations Of the State You welcome
| to my name a candidate for the Convention.
1t is proper however, that ! should communi-
to vote for me or against me under false i'm pres
! sion. Letters and speeches are nova DAYS 20
long and so numerous that they are not apt to be
carefully read or considered: but, being candi-
date for your sufragcs, deem 1t proper TO give
you some indication Of my views.
The Government of the United States is yet in
the infancy of its existence. In the lifetime of
nations, it has lived scarcely day. In growth
and power it has no parallel in history. To our
shores we have wec0mcd the sons OF every cline,
and in every cline our flag has been recognized
as the representative of a great and powerful peo-
Pile. At home hare been united. prosperous and
happy nolc are divided, distressed and un-
happy. Evil times betide Us. The Government,
which was formed by our foretathers, is threat
cnei with destruction. At the very prospect of
this. you have already realized a sad experience.
prospect of Many of You have occupa-
lion, because the times will not horize your en-
credit is impaired and the people generally. with,
regard to party classes really feel distressed
and unhappy i'll the present condition of the
We Know that this is owing to the agitation o.
the question of slavery This is an institution
which We believe to be not only lawful in the
sight of man, but God. Its existence has been a
source of violent contention with the politicians
of the country for d long time. Its agitation has
not only disturbed the harmony of the COnfedera-
ton and the peace of the country, but has already
in part broken up the Government
A mad and infatuated feeling the of the
thev know nothing has caused them TO dcny the
Southern people rights which are plainly guaran-
teed to them by the Constitution. elimination has
begoten elimination Abuse on one side has been
returned with abuse on the other. Excitement
all sides thus run high, and we all, therefore,
find it difficult to consider with sufficient clnness
do in u moment of impetuosty what we may
never be able 10 undo; and therefore If wish
to act wisely, we ought to think we'll.
have given to the present condition of affairs a
great deal of consideration, and my opinion is,
once and forever. We know that we are entitled
to its unmOlested enjoyment, and | think we
ought to demand its unmole,ted enjoyment If
the Worth will give us this guarantee, to put
the future agitation Of slavery at rest, in plain aud
unmistakable terms, | think we ought to remain
in the Uuion. think So because fear civil war:
aud if bloody revolution once begins in this coun-
laiiou, will perhaps .presen? 10 the world the
"bloodiest picture IN the book of time
Whether we eau have these guarantees, We do
just delegated five able Commissioners to go to
Washington for the purpose OF comforting with the
representatives OF other States, and Of ascertainng
what, ii anything, can be done to save the cOun-
try. They will not assemble until the 18th of Feb
ruary, aud We OF course, therefore, cannot hear !
from them until after that time.
If, after having exhausted these honorable |
means to save the country and its peace fail to
do so, my opinion is that we should say to the |
Northern people You have refused 10 live with /
us ON terms OF equality, and we will not live with
you upon any other terms; ours is therefore an un
5 suitable and an insuherable connection we will |
part from you peaceably II we can but forciby if |
we must To the doctrine OF coercion am unaI- |
terably opposed, because 10 government which is
sustained by force can be the government OF a |
free, republican people.
These are. briefly, my views. They seem to me
to be reasonable. They may be modified to-m0r-
row or next day, according 10 the events Of the
day, aud if it be the pleasure of the people Of
ton, can only promise to do my best TO maintain
the honor, and TO advance the interests of Vir-
ginia.
/ have deemed it proper to say this much to Won
because desire you to know what views | eptpr-
tain, and, further, because have seen this morn
ing that one OF the leading journals of the day,
the kichmOnd Enquirer, has assaled my claims
to the sufraSes Of the people OF Richmond upon
the ground that have 'avowed coercion in It's
most odous form, and Tor this relies upon an
isolated sentence extracted from dinner speech,
o clock in the morning Now, on this occasion, |
did not discuss or alude to the question of coer-
cion, and it does so happen that the subject Of
any canvass in which | have been engaged
Those. however who have ever heard ME speak
upon the subject in private, know that it is doc
Irine 10 which have always been opposed, as /
am now. Why 1t Is that am one of the first to be
assaulted, do not know. Whether ! will make for
you a proper representative, leave to my fellow
citizens Of Richmond.
MARMADUKE JOHNSON
Richmond, Jan 70, IsUl. ia Potts