Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-28


Mr. Gouds respectful sre" 10 be serv.ceable in any
manner whatever Who is Mr. Gould?
The Attorney General speaks Friday ard judgment
viii thea doubtless be rendered without further delay.
LETTER To A DEFEATED CANDIDATE FOR THE
CONVENTION-THE TRUE POLICY OF vIRGI-
MA
WASHINGTON, l4th February, 1861
DsAR II did not know that you candi
date for the Virginia ClnventOn and sorry that you
we're 'thmbl la-rigged' out Of place in it.
We want men there With fair minds aud clear heads.
think the quiet OF the country can never be placed
on a sure foundation until We introduce amendments to
the Constitution which will at least give the South power
project herself IN the Union against any unfriendly
legislation that Northern faction" may hereafter at
tempt against it, also partition of the Territories be
tween the sections with power to each Of managing ts
own in It's own WY. 1t least this MUCH Is necessary
give the country peace Anything less will be only patch
work.
Ar such amendments the Constitution practicable
just think they not, simply because the people
OF VI giuid not prepared TO demand them, with Sc
c SSjon as the alternative.
Experience is dear school but its lessons if we will
only heed them, are invaluable. From them learn
that the Federal machinery is out OF adjustment that
the Cons tuton it Is no longer answers the purposes
n
safety Of the South under it absolutely necessary
aud, will We, nil We, Indispensable.
Now, among those who will co1cur with me in these
premises there Is grea. diversity OF homes; and OF pat
riotc opinion among the Southern people. Some hol
that 10 is utterly useless and vain seek this safety az
the Union-that the path of wisdom lies directly aud
straight out of it, being out the path forks and here
the iusiJe seces-Onsts separate, one class taking
the roa 10 Reconstruction the other to complete, per
uetutl aud irreyocible separation.
k,rA ff,f IFnfpu Aaar1v ThaV
say u Is easier 10 repair and amend than break up and
reconstruct constitutions that they will contend for the
Cuon and their safety in it by fair peaceful and reason
able means that they will try for their rights in It that,
Ike mea ceneuing brayely for thiHgs that a'e DEAR
thew will only give way inch by inch and it they are
driven by the force OF HnbeFs from the hope Of safety
in the CaiOn they will ry the work OF reconstruct on
out Of t. knowing full well if they ai here GkeSae, the
road TO complete and absolute secession is always open
TO them aud that it, after coneudug they be forced
into il, there will not be single Lots wife among
them.
The people Of the four "Jarricr States as Virginia.
North Carolina Tennessee aud Kentucky have been cli
ed are divided chiefly into these two classes, namely
those for immediate secession aad those for new guar
antees in the Union.
Tn Sc plrties are pretty nearly equally divided. Un
der hi, state Of things let us cOnste the line OF policy
which craftsmanship requires OF the Virginia Con
yeuOn taking i- for gran ed that the remaining slave
States that have not seeded will be guided by lt It
on secession by bare majority Tor she would then 90
out Of tie Union in the category of house divided
against ITSELF whereas by brst making every fair and hon
orahe effort 70 protect her honor her safety and
save the Union and falling, will be open to her
then A now and her people will resort to with unsniu
ity.
Fortunately for or for you, IN no politician.
can change nv wOuldbe course o. treatment in case
OF national disorder like the before US to suit the
new svmpoms as they arise without being charged with
If tha eha
rapidly: daily there s some new Development with It's
comp ton aud the question is not what the course
of treatment should have been az earlier stage Of the
disease, but what is best to be done now.
This | think would be wisest and bsst:-
As have said do not think it possible for Virginia.
Al ,esen 20 obtain in the Union the guards which
the honor and safety Of the sayehoing States require
L. is impossible for her do this present simply be-
clue the minds OF her people not vet made up TO
the precise character OF these new guards.
Tine subject, except in its vague and general outline is
new TO m The various plans for securing their safe
" in the Union and Of amending the Constitution
10 give them the power Of seprotecton the event Of
an attempt by the free State maores at untriendly leg
slatOn in Congress, have not been sucenty discussed
TO satisfy the people.
In other words think it is evident that the peo
pie of Virginia are not this time prepared for ulti-
matum. That they should take nothing which would fail
to place their honor aud safety IN the UnOn III their
own hands al all times is clear. But ask them what that
something is and they themselves not so clear
If thev take something less than is required for radical
cure there will be no radical cure, aud present Difficult
ties will be simply suspended not settled They will be
hung up to be let loose upon in little while with
doubled vrulence and trouble. Moreover, the mind OF
he country not in the mood for the proper ADJUST
ment Of difficulties of this sort. Reason seems TO have
lost its sway to have divided It's rule glth asslou
and therefore the people not so much IN the vein
TODAY" as in little while and after cooling time
they will be throughout the land they have been, and
still very much excited and aroused as wei they
might be.
Moreover as between the two sections the sympathies
of Virginia are with the slave States She Will not allow
them 70 be cOerced Upon this point her people are
unanimous and that as far they prepared 70 60
at present Even the Crtenden proposition would not
satisfy the seeded States would IL satisfy the dls-
content OF the people in the barrier States and we ought
not be committed to it in any way, for II cannot
cure our troubles
Virginia is in no hurry It becomes her to act with
dignity and with deberaton and to display now some
thing OF that courageous wisdom" which sWayed her
councils in days Of old
She wants TO save the Union she wants to serve all
her sister States she wants to be true to herself and
mindful Of her traditions.
Hence the question where, az present, Is the true
place for Virginia. Answer. IL rHE UNION!
In the Union because The mind of her people Is not
made up 70 20 out of it. In the Unon because she can
keep the peace among brethren In the Union because
be can best subserye her sister States that have seee
ed because she can lead in the work OF reconstruction
and hasten il on and in the Union for the present be-
cause she can there best advance the cause OF sell gov
ernmenL
II the Convention will decline to enter INTO any at
tempt 20 reAdast the federal machinery while tue pnohc
mind is in such feyersh and unsettled state but post
pone the subject OF her unstum until some future out
not distant day; lift will direct the State IN the event
Of attempt cOercon be declared out oil the UNI
on and the Legislature be immediately convened tnee
after in short the Convention will pass its sntieoercioa
resolutions and 20 home then it appears TO my limited
sagaeity she will leave open to herself role and hne oi
policy Of this She will then be sure to Obtain such
guarantees the seeded States may, with honor and
at the proper tme accept She will be able to have their
Independence acknowledged without bloodshe1, and
without further arrangement between the two sections
Il Is not take il rational 10 suppose that the Conied'
crate States would consent 10 break up and come back
into the Cul00 just nov, any terms. But have pa
nd xuvt1 In all