Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-04

,triotIc letter from Hon. 4. 6. Jenkins

Patriotic letter from Hon. A.G. Jenkins
To Tie Editors eJ'the WuShiagto" Constellation;
WAsulSGroS, Dec. -, lSGN.
GENTLEMEN II have observed for some time
the persistent endcavors OF Il part OF the Press
to create the impression that an extensive ice!.
ing of disatfection and dislovaIty TO the State
of Virginia prevails in the Trans-Alleghany
section; and in case Virginia should Unite with
the rest Of the Southern States iii vlnGIcatlnS
her rights br the formation OLA Southern Con-
federacy, when no longer possible i'll tilcprcscnt
Union, tAGt Traas--iMrg*nag Virginia. mH!
sscede from tie STATE.
| have not felt myself called upon 10 correct
these Misrepresentation i'll ANY pubic manner,
contenting myself with giving them an indiG-
nant denial whenever the topic has been breach
ed in conversation with my friends. But Two
recent editorials Of your paper-thc last oi'c
in this mornings isSue-al!uding distinctly to
the county of Richie, and stating that the dis
affection extended to "a revolutionary agitation
brewing in that quarter. aud having for its
avowed object the assembling Of a convention
of the people to take into consideration the en-
pediency of separating from Virginia in case
Of her accession to the proposed Southern Con-
federacy," arc so unjust, 50 untrc, so lihcilonS
upon the character of the people OF Il county
who form a part Of my constituency, that |
feel myself constrained to give the whole thing
a public denial. UfcourSe | DO not charge yUn
with Intentionally making such miSreprcScnti-
lions. You have doubtless been mislcd by
your inforIuants. Let NE, then, assure ron
that Of the scvcn or eight thousand population
Of Richie county, there are not over Il dozen
individuals who Sympathizc with tic idea oil
seeding from Virginia. | will concede there
are L dozen, rs that is just the number OF
votes that Mr.. Lincoln received in the coun-
tv. How that number is 10 carry on a lcroiu'
ton, divide the State. &c, | cannot conceive,
unless indeed they have better success than
the illustrious I'D they seem to emulate: |
mean the three tailors OF London, who from q
garnet issued their famous manifesto, beginning
with We tie people IF EngLand."
Now. when ! further state that the grand
jury of this very county presented, with entire
unanimity, the circulation of the New York
Tribune us an offence against the laws and
good order of the State, YOU will perceive how
little foundation there is for the assertion that
any considerable disatitction exists in that
Quarter towards the State. What | have said
of the sound sentiment Of Richie county is
equally true Of all the counties in that Goa.
vressional district, and of some Of them i'll 4
more eminent degree. In many Of those corn'
ties, large and populous, and having but irw
slaves, III. Lincoln dill rot rtcetcs a $iag(.
cote. And, indeed, Of the small number Of
votes he received in the State, it would be sale
to estimate that not onc-tenth were native-born
Virginians. For my own part | do not know
throughout all TranS-Alleshauy Virginia II sin,
gle native Firginian who Is O Rcpub!icar-n"i
one who would aid Mr.. Lincoln in 'coercins' 4
Southern State, nor one whoisin favor oIdiviGing
the State in the contingency referred TO in your
editorial. No, sirs; the people Of IfanS-AlIe'
chany Virginia share that sentiment OF loyalty
and devotion to the old Commonwealth which
is the characteristic Of all her sons. We shall
not give up our inheritance in the pride and
glory of the past, nor sacrifice our Investment
in the hopes of the future. All that we have,
all that we are, all that We hope, are inllSsolu'
bly, bound up in the fate .! The Old Dominion.
TO her we owe allegiance, and only M'vagh
her to the Federal Government. We will fol-
low her flag wherever it may wave. Should il
float over the camp Of rebellion, We will be re-
bells! Should it countenancc revolution, w
will be rcvolutionistS! Should il lead lis ont,
side the pale Of the present Confcderacy, VI
will still follow il with the same alacrity will
which VIC were wont to march when we kept
step to the music Of the Union"
a.. G.. JENKINS.