The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-12

The National Tafeiiiuencer, which, under
ita new Northern editor, has exhibited. per-
eistent desire to smooth over the faults and
defornities Of Black RepubiicAnism, long
since had an elaborate article on the policy Of
the Government relative to the seeded States,
which, It was rumored, had been read and
approved by that arch traitor SEWARD. This
article, while urging very pacific policy gen
orally, started new Idea with reference to
the Florida forts. 1t drew n distinc ton be-
tween those forts and others, declaring them
to have been built with especial reference to
national commerce and important for the pro.
lection Of the national trade In the Gulf
Florida, II said, was small State, and had
no commerce Of consequence to protect, and
therefore ought to consent to the holding Of
those forts by the Federal Government. A
more sophistical argument could not have
been urged, and We had not supposed 1t could
possibly find favor in Virginia. But we live
in an age Of surprises, and it has turned out
that the State Convention now in session in
this city has ex tended the list of its own as
tonishing achievements by adopting this sug-
gestion from the InteuiSencer, and incorpora-
ting il in the ragout of resolutions they have
been SO long cooking and stirring in the caul-
dron of Federalism.
Ii Florida is small State. are not her rights
and immunites co-equal with those OF the
largest of States under the Federative system
Then by what right is it demanded that she
shall yield her territory occupied by forts any
more than Georgia and NJ ississippif But,
pray, is not Florida member Of the Southern
Confederacy, and has not that Confederaey
commerce--aye, a national comnerce-to he
protected? Indeed, the commerce Of the
Southern Confederacy TO be protected by those
Gulf forts is ont Of all comparison greater
than that of LIScoLys Conlederacy. If the
rights OF States and Confederaeies are TO be
settled by this cunnipsly devised rule, origi
mated By the ia.te3ljge9tcer and approved by
our doGbie.deaiins Convention, to which
Confederacy ought Tor'ugas and Key West
be awarded Clearly to the Southern.
We confess OR deep modification al the
adoption of this sophisdcal and untenable
dtS&inction by the Virginia Convention. 1t is
unworthy of that body, as much rs il has
faltered in Il double sense, leaving the world
in doubt whether il inclined most to the Nor tn
or the South.
Do the conference.-the distinguished leaders
Of the Conyen.ion--who single out hese forts
as forts that ABRAHAM LINcoLs ought to hold,
suppose, tor a moment, that their sophistica
argument viii have any weight with the Sc.
coded States? DO they suppose those States
wilsyer rest while they are held by the North
ern Government? Would they, indeed, respect
those States if they did ? To fight for others
and yield these Florida forts, would be as in
consistent as to propose 10 surrender the others
and to hold on 10 these. When the Virginia
Convention proposes this, it proposes to Bs-
TABLIsH A WAR; war that will not end while
the Florida forts are held by the Yankees -
Aud does the Virginia Cow ention desire such
a war, and does il harbor a secret wish in
that war to place the South Confederacy
in advance in the wrong, in order that the
army of Virginia may be mustered under
LIScoLS to make war upon our Southern
brethren2 The act would suggest the infer
ence, and although we believe there are men
in that body who would rejoice could such a
thing be brought about, we will not for a mo-
ment believe that such is the sentiment of
the majority of its members.
But the Convention has committed gross
inconsis tency. There is no greater reason
why any one Southern fort should be surren-
dered or held by LINCOLN than another. They
have outraged justice to the Sou thern Confed-
eracy and the public sentiment of Virginia.
This State will never Justify the holding or
reinforcing any Southern fort, and she will
never join LISCoLN's nnyrmidons and wide
Awakes'' in a war that may grow out of an
attempt to reinforce any Southern fort held
by him, or an attempt by the Southern Con-
federacy to take such fort. Whenever that
war comes, whatever the Convention may
say, Virginia will rally 10 the aid of her own
true brothers Of the South. Their enemies
will most assuredly be her enemies, whether
they be North or South of Mason and Dixon,
or even in the Convention itself, as time will
show