Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-09
TO CORRESPONDENCE.
The Position OF neutrality-suspicious. for
War.

the Fositioh "
War.
The action Of the Virginia House of Delegates Of
Monday the first day Of the session, in passing resOi
tons by an almost unanimous vote, depSecatng and de
poluciur any attempt st the coercion Of seeding
State on the part Of the General Government Indicate
the position OF Virginia in the present unfortunate con
troversy between the two sections Of the Union. Will
the construction put upon those resolutions by all I'M
members Of that body with whom we have had an op
portunity Of conversng accord 70 them our heart.
and emphatic endorsements We think, too, that The
prompt and decided action Of the Legislature on thi
grave and important subject, will exert happy inhu
eace on the course Of the Northern States and people
t. is clear that this is 10 time for misunderstanding be
tween the North and the South among our own PEG
pie And the only objection urged against the resolu
tons in question, so far have heard IS that they
are susceptible Of different constructions, and NAV, there
fore. mised portion of the people, The explanation
made however by the Chairman of the Committee that
reportsd these resolutions, 10 their meaning and
zone should serve to quiet an apprehensons on the sub
ct The simple and single idea is that any effort by
the General Government "to any State into re-
goa or submission, viii be resisted by the Common
wealth and the people of Virginia
Il will thus be seen that the Legislature Of the State
has taken most serious and important step, and one
that should be followed by immediate and ample preps-
raons for resistance and defence For upon the hap
p,pi1e Of particular eyeut-an event highly probable
the representatives have soemny pledged the people to
r' We accordingly approve the spirit and object OF
the resolution offered by Mr. Keen Of Psyyania look
ing to immediate and comprehensive Preparations for
resistance These preparations should not be delayed
single moment The whole time and thought Of the
Legislature should be sedulc sly devoted to this subject
20 the entire exclusion Of the consideration Of any other
question.
In our Judgment, unless speedy and satisfactory
settlement Of the existing sectional controversy be
eascted-and the Immediate SecessOnists tell there
c,n be no such settement-we shall be involved in al
the terrible realities Of u less than sixty days TIE
idea of peaceaUe secession IS delusion and suare-a
aid and ridiculous absurdity-aud the people should
paw 10 attention TO those Who would delude them with
tb belief that war viii not result from the secession Of
the Southern States from the Union. Il is inevitable
it must come-there is no earthly power that pre-
y,atit In word et-the people understand in advance
and AZ once that Secession involves certainly
that the sun will rise tomorrow; and let them prepare
and prepare without moments unnecessary delay, and
prre In the ampest and most aieut manner for that
so-rowfu and calmitous event. Those who, while
sein, extreme and hasty measures, cry peace when
there can be no peace in the event Of secession and
dissolution. but deceive and mis,ead the people, and
o,i receive the peoples prompt and emphatic rebuke
And ve undertake say that any man, whether in pri-
WI, life or i'm public and responsible position, who would
willingly misead or deceive the people under existing
circumstances is worse than traitor aud should receive
A worse than traitors doom. As for ourselves, We
desire 10 speak to the people eve to eve and face
70 f,ce-;o communicate to them our honest i'm
p-essous and convictions and tell them the whole truth
I'm rel ton 20 an On, aspects tendencies and results OF
tie present unnatural and deporable controversy Aud
"a mean thus TO act however unpaaable 70 the people
.t,.ly. the actual facts NAV be- For above an thing,
ND. l-i-. the psope to act understaudinsv-to con-
.4- ,b,t tt,v are doing and the effect of what they
AZ. and no. 20 plunge beadonr into any course OF
zion rp,.soey.r The times are 900 serious and fan
or Dsrl for b,s.e and iadscretion Let us know fully
. ,s,rr what safety. interest honor aud duty demand
and then We can meet the responsibilities OF the crisis
with sprit and frmuess.
q, view then. Of the probabilities Of war and Of our
rsssrt dferes,,s cor ion the Legislature Of Virgin
tll o., once 4,yse measures for raising the pecesss-
- -,,.,, 20 .,--v ON tbewsrt We are clearly Of the
80, los .b,p Ave millions Of dollars ts5 600
. -to,lj no voted immediately for L. tary prepare
.. How This slr NAV POI, raised with the least in
-.,;.r,r, 70 the r,ople We leave to the wisdom Of
t,e General Assembly to determine. Il is obvious, how
ever TO our Own mind tha, direct taxation is The on
feasible and elective method OF providing the means
which the emergency requires Aud let the people no;
rrmble in view of the unpleasant proSpect-iOrf war
0e iac'i.e''e' as We o'''o'' " - " 'l-''
without money. I'M" l's--S' I''" "o'0. A1" ''e