Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-20
Letter from an anti-Sscession member or
Ii ConYcnttUn.

-. sH
LETTER from an anti-sscession n.mber or
tho Convention.
We comply with the request OF DE-
Patrick for, as appears below, tho double
purpose Of placing him fairly on the re-
cord, and Of satisfying the readers Of the
the Enquirer Of the justice Of the structures in
which we INDUCED upon 1.-THE paper signed
by l.. Ruffner, S. Patrick and others" We
arc perfectly willing to let the paper pass
without further comment. Our only surprise
is that Dr.. Patrick should desire to give any
further publicity to a document which rejects
20 severely upon his own manhood and upon
his loyalty to Virginia. Tho South, acco I'd
ing to the address Of Rufner, Patrick and
Company, is all wrong, criminally wrong,
while the course of the Yankee Government is
"uuuiss aud impolitic'-nothing more!!!
But we are glad to learn that DR.. P. is now
ready to defend the soil Of Virginia and We
hope hs will be able 10 convince the citizens Of
the Kauawha Valley who may volunteer or
enlist as soldiers for the defence Of the Com
monwealth, that tho cause for which they
fight is not SO bad rs represented in his ad.
dress:
KASAwHA c. H., June S, 1861.
MEssRs EplToRS The comments of the
En- euirer Of the 3lst ult., on a paper signed
by L. Ruffaer, S. Patrick and others, may
hive been penncd with 4 usual regard for
| courtesy, yet I must in justice and lair dealing
| ask ycu to give the Circular o place IN -FOUR
Ecolumns.
No matter how mach we may have dill
| fered with other portions # the State on the
questions lately voted upon, kanawha will be
| found true 10 the Commonwealth and ready to
! defend her soil from all enemies, whether from
the camp Of the McClellan's or other com
nands Of the Lincoln government.
Your out servant,
| S. PATalck.
The following is the circular referred to
above:
To ,he Voters of Kaua.vla.
The people Of Virgins, at the election In
February lust, by u majority 81 more IMAM
| fifty thousand votes, required tha: any Scccs-
sion ordinance which the Convention might
pass, or any other act changing the relation OF
i,irpinia 70 the United States. should be sub.
mitted to the people for ratification or rcJec'
ton, and until so ratified should have no force
or binding effect II pursuance OF TINS re-
ouirement The ordinance OF secession IS 10 be
voted on at the election on the fourth thurs
day in this month.
How we should vote on this most solemn
and responsible occasion, IS , matter o. more
than ordinary interest and solcItude.
We have carefully and earnestly considered
the subject, and in answer to the enquiry SO
often mace Of US for our opinion IN the prem
; ises. take this occasion 10 state tie conclusions
at which we have arrived.
Is. That the doctrine Of secession is a polit.
ical heresy, wrong in itself, and not cniy des.
t~ructive of the Union and Constitution OF our
country, but Of all permanent government
We cannot therefore conscicntiously vote fer
the ordinance Of secession, but must, under u
solemn sense Of duty, vote against 1t.
end. The inevitable consequences OF ratity-
ing the ordinance Of Secession are
FIRST, To involve Us, as we believe, IN the
most terrible and destructive civil war that The
! world has ever witnessed.
Second. To fix and bind US hand and foot
! without cur consent 10 the Confederate States.
Third, To subject lis 10 the control and bur-
| thens of a gove:umont wtilca we had no agency
| in making and whose officers we have had no
| part or opportunity of elcc.ing.
Fourth, To transfer The sea: Of tho war from
the territories Of The beiligerent parties TO the
| fields and hearths,ones O: our own people.
| Fifth, To sacrifice the happiness, fortunes,
and lives OF our people in the quarrelS CT others,
| where We have nothing to gain and everything
to lose.
If the Union shall be maintained and peace
i restored, the evils that threaten will soon dis.
appear.
We are advised that our gallant sister State
CT kentucky, By an overwhelming vote OF her
| people, n few days since, nas declared Tor Inc
| Union, and has received assurances from the
Administration a. Washington, that if she CD
| serves a position OF neutrality she will not be
/ invaded OF the Government CT the United
States, nor required to furnish troops 10 that
government. Thus her interests and honor
| are secured against the calanitics that must
! follow secession.
There is strong reason to believe that Mis-.
| souri, and Maryland viii pursue the saue pol
| icy and avoid the same evils.
Il seems to US, therefore, !bat duty, patriot.
! ism, and policy, all require o united Tots bJ
| the people OF Virginia, and Of the West eSpe'
| cially, AGAIN.: this Ordinance Of secession,
however much We rcprcbatc, as unwise and in
polite, the warl.ke policy OF the President.
Nor should any freeulun be intimidated by
false reports from going to the polls on the day
of election, ard casting mis- vote as his Judgment;
and conscience may approve.
| I. RUrrSER,
JcnS D.. LEWIS,
SpicsR PATRIcE,
Jon. SLACK,
~. L NlSDNAH,
JAMES ATKINSON,