Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-09
R,nsctlon.rer the Nnrth


the civilized world an intense interest is felt in the revO
lion which convuses this nation. Events occurring
il rapid succession which shake to their foundations the
institutions Of our Government State and national and
NAV shake those Of others as we'll We are in the midst
Of a revolution call by what name we may-Secesson
dsu1ion dissolution, abolition, but other names for
revolution. We in state of revolution, North and
South Every act OF the Northern people and States
sgainst the institution Of savery-an institution recOg
nzsd and intended to be protected by the Constitution
is much revolution the ordinance of secession in
South Carolina Il is bloOdlezs revolution vet except
the preludes Kansas and at Hsrpers Ferry but how
long be bloOdcss how it may precpitate Us
into the bloody and relentless Of all wArs-a civil
wAr-God only knows. So far az human agency can
control events the question Of peace depends
upon the wisdom prudence and patriotism, not only Of
the men in power, but Of the people themselves the
source Of power. We no longer ask can the Union be
preserved The Union is gone. Can it be restored -
Can We form a reunion VIII it be a reunion of the
whole or of dismembered fragments Can civil war be
avered' Can be saved from the fate of all Republics
that have risen, fourisbed and fallen These momeutous
questions interest every citizen because they involve II.
the rights dear to free peope-the rights Of life liberty
and propcIty-to secure which governments are i1si
suited At such time the voice Of the people should be
heard and the sentiment of the people should be felt
II ours 8 aud IL 70 be- government Of the people the
views and opinions of intelligent private citzens calmly
expressed will form embodiment OF public sentiment
shst must at last rule in a Republic.
To the Tinted States has been committed the great
mission Of testing the capabilities Of men in society to
govern themselves The wise men sho framed the Con-
suou Of the oted States and the people of the States
ho ratified e. supposed they had successfully solved the
problem Of mans capacity to govern himself without
any other sovereign head except that of The sovereign
people. They thought they had devised veil balanced
system of government for the security and perpe,uy OF
civil liberty. They yainly imagined that all the various
conflicting interests Of the several Stat hsd been bar
monled and secured by the Constitution, and tbs, it
would form a more perfect Caion establish lsce, in
domestic trauq nifty pro.iie for taa common de-
fence and the blessing Of liberty themselves
and their oster.ty How soon aui bow sigpally has &c
failed in all these 90 ecr' That Uuon Is dissolved
justice denied, domestic tranquility converted into wild
passion and d,scord The provided for the common
defence are about 20 be turned, with suicidal madless
g secoa agaius; section aud brother against brother
IN a var OF mutual determination. The general welfare
and the blessings Of liberty intended by fathers 30
transmitted the remotest posteuty, an TO De
Isopirjzsd, perhaps lcr.cei 10 such ratrcital war
Viii Intelligent people so blessed SO prospercd, as
have been, allow sectional .rle ana dscori to trans
form them into maalcs and to SO ioila,e them that
SAnpsoulke, they viii bInd.y rear down the pillars G.
the temple and crush all iu one common ruin
The founders CT this Government designed IL as a
model Government whose dgl-ou should not be limited
by periods which had marked the rise progress decline
and RUIN o. other empires, tu should be eternal and
vet It has scarcely attained the age allotted to mau
The DAYS Of bis years Are three score yea,s and ten
aud by reason OF strength they b. orr score ycars
We. is his strength labor aud sorrow The Consultation
dates from the l7th Of September 1887, when it
-saed by Washington, Madison Hamilton, Fraukliu and
their comparo,5 Seventy hre years have expired and
nov before it has attained TO four score years the
strength Of the Government in labor and sorrow in the
decrepude iuarmity and imbeciy OF age, has failed,
aud the Government isef is disrupted and in fragments
Seven States have dissolved taer connection with the
other States Sooner later the otaes Southern States
either in Ia rapid succession will sever le-
nccton with the Uliou unless the Northern people and
States change their policy their sggressions upon
the Constitutional rights Of the South anG IN good faith
MT ouly accord 10 rights but fulfill their Corsti,
oual obligations. If the present representation in Con-
gress from the North be exponent Of Northern sent
meut. then indeed the hopes OF the Union gone
We have deprecated sece sion, disunOu, revolution
With al their train Of evils aud have cherished an abiding
love Of The Union but dear is that Union be
maintained at e sacrifice Of interest and our honor
We know We express Virginia sentiment, when We say
,hatuuss the North recede Jc South will secede We do
not mean that the Southern States s Withdraw so OUT
and leave rights behind bu, that thog will gt5n separa
zion, carry With them al their rights. We presgls the
cedug States DO propose abandon their Rights in
the common treasure territories and property OF the
Jui,ed States but utead assert and maintain those
rights Every slave Stale will be impsed to make com
mon cause in self defence upon the 6rst movement Of
she Northern States TO coerce n.on or to compel sub
mission. Tie Union vas one Of common interest and
common consent u cannot be preserved by force against
ouriuterest and consent Such a Union would be the
worst Of tyrannics AL Government derives its Just
poEer from the governed. A Governments OF force
against the consent Of the governed despolsm TO
which no free or brave people will submit Let
us rather initiate the example OF Abraham and Lot
When their substance was so great that the sad was
not able to bear them that they could not dwell to-
eher aud there was strife between their herdmen Abra
ham ucbly said to Lot "Let there be suife, pray
thee, between me and thee and between herdmen
and Thy herdmsn for be brethren. Il not the whole
and before thee Separate myself pray thee, from
me thou wilt take she lef. hard, then will go to the
right or Il thou depart the right hand viii go TO the
Left" If prosperous That Nc clunot live to-
gether Il our substance De great that the land cannot
bear u.s. let there De strife between U.s. loF are
brethren but let separate in peace. The whole land
q before US Leo US separately pursue the destiny wAioh
waits US If together cannot go onward and upward
& the march towards manifest DESTINY Of greatness and
glory
Some other mode besides force must be devised for
preserving or restoring the UniOR The cause OF discon-
cent and disruption must be removed Public sentiment
tie foundation OF government must be reformed. fhs
reformation must begin thNorh. The northern Peo-
Pc should and We trus: will put down abolitionisin =,
home They should aud trus. will repeal their per
slaAl liberty laws fbsy ought to attend TO their own
b suess and let the affairs Of the sogth alone. They
should remember that slavery existed "a lie Colonies,
thai il existed ~Lsn the Constitution formed that ID
recognized aud detected BY the Constitution and thai
they sold their slaves the people the South. They
have been msei and deceived by fanatics aud JENA
g5gues The most absurd iasebOOds have been imp0s-
eI upon them truths. Abolition sentiments have been
caught them from the stump anG tSR pulpit with pert-
cy which bad il been directed 70 the proz odon OF tie
mace and prosperity OF the country would have made d.
~, ...,atr.f irstaad IL l. said n