Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-09-30

ibts! Which shall go upderi Let true
Democrats answer the question.
Lorenzo SHERWOOD,
HBsRY 0'RElLLY.
CHAs. P. KIRKLAND,
. THoMAs ERBASK,
GEO. r, NELSON,
JOHN j. SPEED,
HENRY O.. GARDINER,
Cor. Com. of the Democratic League.
NEW YORK, Sept, 20, 1862. ass4
IErrER PROM Ma. eARxErr, OF vrReRIA 10
M. TREscorT, OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Va. CONVENTION, May 3, 1851.
Ny DEAR Sin ;-You misunderstood my
last letter if you supposed that intended
to visit South Carolina this spring, am
exceedingly Obliged to you for your kind
invitation, aud il would afford mo the high
est pleasure to interchange, in person, SEN.
timents, with a friend whose manner of
thinking SO closely agrees with my own.-.
| But my engagements here closely confine
me TO this city, AMI deny me such a graft
fcation.
would be especially glad to be in
Charleston next week, and witness your
Convention of Delegates from the Southern
Rights Associations. The condition OF
things in Your State deeply interests me !;
her wise foresight and manly independence
have placed her at the head of the South,
to whom alone true-hearted men can look
L With any hope or pleasure. Momentous
are the Consequences which depend upon
Jour action. Which party will prevail 2
the Immediate Secessionists, or those who
are opposed to separate State action at this
timer For my part, forbear to form a
wish. Were l CarolinianI would be very
different; but when / consider the serious
effects the decision may have on your flu ,
ture veal or wo, feel that citizen of
State which has acted as Virginia, has no
right to interferei even by wish. If the
General Government allows you peaceably
and freely to secede, neither Virginia nor
any other Southern State, would, in my
| opinion, follow you at present, But what
would be the effect upon South Carolina (?
Some or our best friends here suppose that
It would cut off Charleston from the great
Western trade which she is now striking
for, and would retard very greatly the
progress of your State. / confess that 1
think differently. believe thoroughly
in our own theories, that if Charleston did
not grow quite as fast in her trade with
other States, yet the relief from Federal
taxation would vastly stimulate your
prosperity. II so, the presttge of the Union
would be destroyed, and you would be the
Il uuSleuS lOT u OVukuGEn confederation at
no distant day. But do not doubt from
all that | have been able to learn, that the
Federal Government would use force, be.
ginning with the form most embarrassing
TO you, and least calculated to excite SYM
pnthy; mean a naval blockade, In that
event, could you Withstand the reaction OF
feeling, which the suffering commerce OF
Charleston would probably manifest 2
Would you not lose that IN which your
, strength consists, the union of your PEG.
pie do not mean to imply an opinion.
= only ask the question. II you could force
this blockade, and bring the Government
to direct, force, the feeling in Virginia
would be very great. l trust in God il
would bring her to, your aid. Butt would
be wrong in me to deceive you by speak
ing certainly. / cannot express the deep
modification have felt at her course this
winter But do not believe that the
course of heLegislature is a fair expression
of the popular feeling. In the east, at Leaf.
the great majority believe In the right Of
secession, and feel the deepest sympathy
with Caroline in opposition to measures
which they regard as she does. But the
west-Wester YirginiR-there is the rub I
Il Only $4,000 slaTes to 494 900 whites.-
4 When consider these facts, aud tue kind
4 of argument which we have heard in this
body, cannot but regard with the great
est fear the question whether Virginia
Wonld assist Carolina in such an issue.
Unjust acknowledge, my dear Sir. that
l look to the future with almost as nuch
apprehension as hope. You will object
to the term Democrat. Democracy. in its
original philosophical sense, is, indeed.
incompatible with Slavery, and thewhole
system of Southern society. Yet, five
look back, what change will you find made
in any of our State Constitutions, or in
our legislation, in its general course for
the last fifty years, which was not in the
direction of Democracy? Do not its prince
pies and theories become daily more fixed
in our practice? / had almost said in the
opinion of our people did not remember
with pleasure the great improvement of
opinion in regard to the abstract cues.
ton of Slavery.-And if such is the case.
what have we to hope for in the future
do, not hesitate to say that ifthe cues
ton is raised between Carolina and the
Federal Government, aud the latter pre-
wales the last hope of Republican govern
ment, and fear Of Southern Civilization.
is gone. Russia will then be better
government than ours
1 fear that the confusion and interrup-
ton under which 1 write-may have made
this rambling letter. Do you visit the
North in the Summer2 should be happy
to welcome you TO the Old Dominion.
am much obliged to you for the offer
to sendm Hammond s Eulogy on Calhoun
but l am indebted to the author for a COPY.
With esteem and friendship yours truly.
NJ. R. II. GARSErr.