The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-02
0Are the Rordep States Leynl ~

sAre the Border states Legal :"
This question Is gravsly discussed by that
moderate Republican journal, the New York
Commercial Advertiser. We have observed
that other Northern journals of the same
stamp are distracted with serious doubts OF
the sincerity Of Firginia's present position. A.
They cannot conceive of such sublime disin-
terestedness. They cannot understand that
Virginia can in good faith sacrifice herself
upon the altar of the GLORIOUS Union" Is
1t possible to conceive anything more impu-
dent than the following extract from the Com
merciars articles
There have been great anxiety and cores
ponding effort to ensure the fidelity OF the Dor
voices Of their Senators and Representatives
the summons issued by Virginia for a Conven-
ton OF Commissioners from the several States
was promptly and favorably responded to; time,
labor and patience were bestowed In that Conven-
ton upon every proposition that seemed likely to
find favor with the border States and the conser-
vative portion of the Republican press bespoke
favorable regard for their deliberations. As a
reason or MOTIVE for this conciliatory course to-
wards these states, 1t was earnestly and persist
entity alledged that their people were at heart
loyal, that they needed only an assurance that
their rights would be protected under the new
order OF things, to declare boldly uvocally,
and without further condition, their determine
ton to stand forth friends and defenders OF the
Union, and Of the authority of the Federal Gov
ernment. That assurance being given, not, We
are free to say, so much by the citizens of the
border States themselves, as by others in their
name and behalf. was the reason that their allie
glance was so persistently labored for"
As a contemporary justly observes, If the
| language had been designed to infict mockery
and insult upon the border States it could
scarcely have been better chosen, for while Of
that character, it is disguised by an assump-
ton Of consideration and tolerance which we
had no right TO expect, and should be duly
thankful for 1t is pretended that the PROPOSE
ton of Virginia which resulted in the "Psace
Conference so called, was promptly and
(arorabty responded to that ''labor and pa
thence were BESTOWED upon every proposition
| that seemed likely to find favor with the bor-
der States" &c. but the fact is quietly ig-
| nored that no one proposition securing any
| right or tending to any equi cable adjustment
of the difficulty was approved by the Republi-
| cans. The Commercial goes on to say:
by loyalty to the Union We understand the
impair ed the perpetuity of the Confederacy of the
| States, and the support OF the Federal Govern
ment in the enforcement of the Federal authority
and laws and Of the obligations individual States
owe TO the COnfederaCy."
That is to say, the test of loyalty in the Dor
der States consists in adopting the coerciye
policy of the Republican party with respect
to the seeded States, and at once giving an
unqualified allegiance to the LINCOLN Admin
istration. And this, after having been treated
with disdain, and suffering the rejection of
their moderate demands III the Peace Confer
ence and by Congress.
The Commercial also observes that "until
better mind comes over the people of the Bor-
der States, it is useless to look for their
sistance in the preservation Of the Union, and
the feeling will grow in the public mind that
they are playing false to their friends at the
North, and only gaining time TO join the re-
bells of the Gulf States
What a charge! Will nothing but drawing
the sword upon the ''bone of our bone and
flesh of our flesh satisfy the exacting love
and jealousy of our Republican lords and
masters