Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-08


sure aud blood II would be too important an scquis
ton 10 give up the cotton state confederacy, without
desperate struggle. These are my spccuIatons as To
the results that are follow dissolution Of the Union
These results are bad enough, but may be much
Ii is not given to US to read the future. We may, how
ever, speculate about it.
When the Union was formed, il was not expected or
believed that the domestic institutions Of the states
should be alike. The institutions OF Maine and Loul-
sana intended to be the same. The people
of each were invested with full power 10 determine
whether slavery should exist and the former decided
against the institution; the latter decided in its favor
as each had the undoubted right To do.
In the list of grievances against the north, II ~ some
what remarkable that in state little has been
said regard to the conduct OF the governors of Iowa
and Ohio, in refusing 10 surrender iugtives from justice
who participated in the Harpers Ferry raid. They
regularly Indicted the governors OF those states
were applied 10 in due form 10 deliver them up; the
application was refused; and our people, instead Of
taking stand, and making issue upon this practical
question, inclined TO ignore II, and unite IN the
complaints of the cotton states. The complaints oil
those states are rather against the financial and COM
mercial policy of the federal government than any
ton or want of action on the subject Of slavery. The
slave owners Of Virginia have suffered seriously; the
wrongs inflicted upon by the conduct Of these
tyes have been great: STILL We have heard but little
| complaint in our own state. The grievances com
planned Of mainly are those which the cotton states
plead a justification for their action Would ii not
| be well for TO redress the wrongs our people
have suffered, before undertake TO redress the
wrongs of Others who have suffered much less far
as slavery is concerned, than have done Our
ton should be based upon the wrongs done TO
| people
The proposition for the call Of a state convention, TO
determine the position which Virginia shall take, in
view of passing events appears to have been received
with very general favor. As the subject has been
much discussed BY the people IN their primary meet
ngs il not only proper, but 1t is doubtless expected
that | shall refer to it in this communication. II is
pleasant alike the private citizen and the public Off
GER know that his views and opinions are endorsed
by those around him; that he is backed by the popular
sentiment of the day but there are times and occasions,
i'm the history of every man, when II Is imperative upon
him TO adhere to his convictions OF duty maintain his
opinions firmly but courteousy, even at the hazard of
being found in minority. have no hesitation IN eN-
pressing opinion upon this or any other question OF
public concern.
| have my convictions upon this question, and give
expression TO them, in declaring my opposition at this
time to the call of a state convention. see no ne
cessity for il at this time, nor do now see any good
practical result that can be accomplished by II. do
not consider this propous time to moot The question,
and apprehend, from indications that have been eN-
hibted, that serious difficulties and embarrassments
| will attend the movement. Subsequent events may
| show the necessity for it.
In 1893 and 1850, when the existence Of the Union
was seriously threatened, when the danger mml-
nent the legislature accomplished every thing deslret
In satisfactory as II would have been ac-
complishcd, if the mode suggested had been
adopted On neither occasion the legislature cho-
sen with reference TO the events which subsequently
occurred and which devolyed upon them the necessity
for such action taken, and which gave so much
satisfaction to the people of Virginia and the whole
country.
In my inaugural message made this recommended
tion which, if adopted would perhaps have relieved
Us, 10 some extent from the complications with which
nov embarrassed:
g also suggest that a commission, TO consist of two
of our most intelligent discreet and experienced states
men, shall be appointed, whose duty il shall be TO visit
the legislatures OF those states which have passed laws
to obstruct the execution Of the fugitive slave act and
insist in the name of Virginia upon their uncOndi
ti0nal repeal In support oi the suggestion OF the APP
pointment Of a commission; precedent Is 10 be found
in the history of state, in the appointment OF
the distinguished BENJAMIN Watkins Leigh, who was
commiss oned to visit the legislature Of South Carolina,
At the time of the controversy between that state and
the federal government. The existence OF the Union
was then greatly mperiled and the action of Virginia
exerted most happy influence m bringing about set
Element that aycred the danger and restored peace 10
the country That crisis in public affairs was almost
as serious and alarming the present
In renewing the recommendation at this time, annex
modification and that il, that commissioners shall not
be sent to either of the New England States. The oc
currences Of the last two months have satisfied me- that
New England puritnism has respect for human con-
s;rtions and so little regard Tor the Union, that they
would not sacrifice their preudces smother their re-
sentiments TO perpetuate 1t.
further recommend that commissioners be sent to
the legislatures conventions of all the slave holding
States TO confer with them, with view OF ascertaning
what demands in the nature Of amendments to the con-
sttution or otherwise, will be satisfactory in this eX
igencY Tie adoption of this plan will IN all probability
tend to secure harmony and produce unity OF action.
The controversy has reached a point when a
must be settled on fair just and permanent basis
# we are be reunited and peace quiet and order re-
stored TO the country. The excitement now existing is
runous TO the financial and commercial business and TO
the agricultural, planting, mechanical, mercantile and
nj
ment of the controversy shall be speedily effected every
species of property must fall TO merely nominal prices,
aud scene OF general and ruinOus bankruptcy, far
ceeding in extent and severity, any that has preceded
IT, must be the inevitable result Even now, hundreds
aud thousands have been thrown out OF employment,
and at this inclement season. poverty want and misery,
must be the portion of them and their dependent an
es Il time the conservative spirit Of the country was
aroused and stimulated to energetic action. No lime is
10 be lost in putting immediate requiston all fair
honorable and constitutional that promise TO
cure satisfactory and permanent adjustment
What, then, is Necessary u be done? The Northern
states must strike from their statute books their perso
nal liberty bills and fulfil their constitutional obligations
in regard to fugitive slaves and iugves from justice
IL our slaves escape into non-saveholdng states they
must be delivered up if Abandoned, depraved and
desperately wicked men come into slave states TO excite
Instructions 10 commit other crimes against our
laws and escape into free they must be given up
for trial and punishment, VIXEN lawfully demanded by
have been violated.
Second-.We must have proper and effective guaran-
tees for the protection of slavery in the district OF CO.
lumbia We can consent to the abolition OF sav
cry in the district until Maryland shall emancpse her
slaves and not them unless shall be demanded by the
citizens of the district.
7hrd-0ur equality in the States and territories
be fully recognized and rights Of person and prop
erty adequately protected and secured. We must have
guarantees that slavery shall not be nterdcted in
territory belonging to- or which may hereafter be
acquired by the general government either by the Con-
gress of the United States territorial Legislature;
that we shall be permitted pass through the free States
and territories without moestation; and if slave shall
he abducted that the State in which he she shall be
los shall pay the full value of such slave the
FUurth-Lke guarantees must be given, that the
transmission of slaves between the slaveholdng States
either by land or water shall not be interered with.
F6h-The passage and enforcement OF rigid laws for
the punishment OF such persons in the free States shall
organize aid and abet in organizing, either by the
contribution Of money arms, munitions Of war, or in
any other mode whatsoever companies OF men, with a
view to assa the savehodDg States and to excite slaves
to instruction
Sirth-That the general government shall be deprived
of the power of appointing TO local offices in the slave
holding States persons who hostile to their nstu
TONS or inmical to their rghtsthe object being pre-
vent the appointing power from using patronage to
the seeds Of strife and dSsenson between the avehod
ing and non-saveholdng classes in the Southern States.
These guarantees can be given without pre- udCe 10
the honor or rights and without sacrifice OF the inter-
ests of either of the non-sayeholding States We ask
nothing therefore, which is not clearly right and
sary to our protection. And surely when so much
stake it will be freely cheerfuy and promptly asseIted
TO- IL is the interest of the North and the South to
serve the from destruction and they should
omit the use of proper honorable avert
great calamity The public safety and welfare de-