Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-01
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA-RESTORATIO
WITH GUARANTEES AGAINST DISSOLUTION
AND RECONSTRUCTION.

AND RECONSTRUCTION.
TO hs Editor of the Wig:
To the people of Virginia. in the alternative presented
above, is submitted the most vital and momentous
question that has claimed their consideration since
the foundation of the Government Unless a Justly Of
Tended Creator has doomed national ruin as pun
ishment for SINS the Border States especially Vir
gina and Maryland to hold in their hands the fu
ure destiny OF our great and late happy and prosperous
counry-"Nqn proposes 6m God disposes." Let US
reyerenty hope that may be His gracious purpose to
grant to restoration and continuance vet longer of
the peace and security which, favored People We
have so long enjoyed
The present seems to be the first suspicious moment I'm
the national crisis for sober deberaton BY mutual con-
sent thu begerent spirit lately fearfuy imminent of
danger is hushed for season. and at length def
mite line OF policy tangible scheme of accommoda-
ton seems hopefully to loom up in our horizon.
The Union, was, exists Shall that Union
be restored before further breach is effected Or must
We await more extended disintegration and then at
tempt a reconstruction?
The position of the great State of Virginia in respect
to these qucs ions is imposing in the extreme. The
mother of this COnfederacy of States, the bountful
Creator Of many Of them and the generous Benefact0r
Of al-the birth pace-the home and the grave of the
Father of his Counyher voice awaited in listening
silence. lt possesses traditional and historic power
which will prove almost decisive of the issue. The largest
OF the slavehodng States in the Union, she holds the
destiny OF that institution in her hands II she wills the
not perish Ii she yields her strong tower of defence and
safety at this crisis weakly confdes its keeping other
and feebler hands, no human power preserve our
national heritage or avert the calamity Of civil war.
How vitalS important then, that reason not passion
prudence, not pride moderation not violence should die
tate her decision
The Issue is Restoration and Peace or Dissolution and
Var winch wH she chOo,cg If Virginia and Mary.
aud remain in the Union fair can doubt they will
be able to secure the Crittenden Resolutions some
iuIl4 MI pf hi
country and avert war.
The opposite policy of immediate secessioa-so I'M
wi-ey commended to the people of Virginia in the late
address OF her Senators and of her Representa-
lives, can only preciptate fearful sectional collision
and defeat the last hope Of peaceful solution of the
crisis Dissolution Is revolutionary and reconstruction
Afterwards Is hopeless if impossible. Who can see
in chaos and anarchy the road to peace and ORDER
Who will learn amid the shock Of and the storm
OF war; the patience orbearance and moderation in |
dspensable 10 the work of reconstruction What ma
ton ever demolished their government in haste and |
rebuilt II at leisure Tis said "in peace prepare for |
war But Virginia is advised to reverse the maxim |
aud in war TO do the work OF peace We know too |
well that many Of those who counsel immediate dl'ou-
ton no longer wish hut dread reunion. With them Sc
cHssOn IS not a ans but md Let the people of |
Virginia beware of this Grecan horse. 1t is filled with
armed men-oDce in the Disunon camp all power of re-
ssance 10 the domination of treacherous allies ia
gone To e5dicate impregnable position OF neutra.
~ and mediation and merge ones self in the swelling tide
of dsaecton and dsunon, in the vain hope of arrestng
the current IS as wise TO out TO brok-
en- plank and trust in miracles for safety
II the border Stats remain 10 the Union until after
the Inauguration, peace will be secured and they can
then demand with confidence Of the North the requisite
guarantees and there the best believe their
wishes will be granted. IT, on the contrary they should
be denied they have in their hands the of
redress to which they eagerly urged and if
they forced to try the arbtrament of war they
will stand justified to their consciences, and will
claim and receive the sympathy aud support OF the civil
lied world.
The uueXamped blessings we have so long enjoyed as
people under present goyerument-the costly price
paid for them in the heroic struggles and suiengs of
Jur fathers II e glowing memory of our common dan
gers aud deed3-of our priyatisns and triumphs-aId
he hopes and the fortunes of our great destiny in the
plead, trumpet-tongued against the madness
md folly, the sin and shame Of threatened national
gicidc. COMMON SENSE.