The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-08

THE REAL Position OF THE BORDER STATES
In last Saturdays session Of the Virginia Con-
vention q test vote was finally arrived at. The
strength Of the extreme Uniolists, as compared
to that of the secessionists immediate and in flu
tuIe, was in the ratio of one to fve--the Union
figures being twenty-five, the disahected one
hundred and fourteen. 1t has been supposed
all along that Because Virginia voted to in
struct the delegates in her Convention to refer
their acts to the final decision of popular
vote and that u majority Of the delegates were
avowed enemies to the doctrine of immediate
secession, the State was safe for the Union.
we have taken some pains to get at the facts in
the case-the struggle in Virginia has been
narrowed down to fine point. The
question is not, now, shall Virginia remain in
the Union or 60 out of 1t? but, when shall she
20 out? To put the matter plainly before our
readers, we must first premise that in the West
ern part of Virginia, including what is called
the Panhandle there are very few slaves, and
the people generally are strong emancipation
lists. They are determined to remain in the
Union so long as peace is preserved. In
Eastern Virginia the negro Interest predomi-
mates and immediate secession is the cry. Be
tween these extremists there stands conserva-
tive party, headed by Bolts, Ridgway and
others. and asking for time, in order that the
policy Of both confederacies may be more fully
developed Neither the abstract right of Sc.
cession, nor the probability that Virginia will
exercise that right at no distant day. is denied
by any of her public men, The only point of
difference is this: whether or not in the case of
immediate secession Western Virginia would
not 90 with the Northern confederacy, and
thereby complicate matters still further. Vir-
ginia does not hesitate because she sympathizes
with the North, but because one section of her
people cannot rely upon the fidelity of the
of the South.
The same struggle is going Oh in Kentucky
The Legislature has just been treated to q
speech from Mr. Breckenridge, embodying his
views upon the ali important question. Mr..
breckenridge fav0rs secession He sees no
| hope for the restoration of the Union He
| does not believe that the States which have
seeded would accept such COMPROMISES as
could be offered by Border State Convention.
He believes that the seeded States never can
| be brought back, and that Kentucky ought TO
| go with them Mr.. Breckinridge's speech is
long and not very strong. One point, how
ever. is worth attention. After stating the
case az regards Kentucky in the Union. the
Senator says:-
Then comes upon smmediaey. insanity, the ques
ton of eWaL,iustoB, The soutn is haf then
and tper. aveno1tog States 70 ak or
siavehoid State--the government practically
administered VT bout constitutional limitations, in
spirit II auti slavery fsosucm for what ioyai North
couA ana up Ia the North when half OF the
south goDe oefbce o. thu nstutiona rights OF
poor "A II remain We would fan be-
peath he aRgr essve power OF overwhemns party
IL would become iostant aqueeton Of emancipation in
kentu ky. powerful y would r-e here pur.
of carry for satd such movement Nr peaKer,
IL w,u1 II il horrible TO contemplate ana no.
thlog than cesion ana courage will prevent from
sesuR these fpectres tn tue future powerful
realities part 10 Kentucky wf be raised
put IN prsctc the workings o, emancipation whether
with without compen3 ason cannot say n with IN
per cation, 1t will pr,b4by be a mere ,pinai n. after
But th.ie is higher question than that Of pecuni
AIRY n'e est involved I have sad that me Southern
mil nd oltow he lava carried there me
Nand atd ut ooao hrn a. b. into ,hesr nsida
aside then from the question Of property yu will have
quarter Of nton of saves thrown upon the soil OF
/
vii see ouble u the site ia a social question: AZ
well n poI,cal one II 10 which every wnite
n,an IN Kentucky has an interest ~ aiioncd,
think ud undertake. 10 shoo that he n-sla~hoLdsn
trhue p Tspaf,o- y Kentnoks hdce de~p an
any ether reoJl IN rtSi 'tn9 ont ererng
Icy Wh,ch - to t'p rnciplsi tto thu counry
10 roo tDo hu7ofed AID fry thcpnd nepses the DO
Of scc,efy.
] This is the root Of the difficulty in the border
States. If they 20 out they Can still MAINTAIN
their negro trade with the South. II they re-
main true to the North whs, is to become of
their negroesf As Mr.. Breckenridge says, this
is question Of vital importance TO every white
man, Shareholder or not, in all of these States
The border States have to choose between Sc
cession and abolition, and that they will accept
the former az the Lesser of two evils admits OF
no reasonable doubt.