Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-26
Mr.. Rives


We take the responsibility Of publishing Mr.. Rives'
Letter precisely Z; reached Us; that suppose he
or his friends need auy yiadca:ou Il Is no, only 9
clear and manly exposition Of higb-;Oued and loyal
ooGlao. bit r. refers the condition Of public senti
m,u, in this STATE sudNo.,h Carolina aud all the border
slave States rgb; have been ueudelJ which condition
wise politician would DO well not to forget. IN jan
Gtry 1851, a., Of Is not Isces'ioai'i' For the
twenty years preceding November 1860, Judge Wilson
Of Lyuchblrs Judge Tucker and half dozen more
OF u.s. composed the whole body OF sccesso6ts in the
state A hamper would have held the entire party
" we're secessionsts for long years from the deep
v,don that Yaakeeisms gradually undermining the
adm ri5,e Republican Institutions which Inherited
f,on our English ancestors and would sooner later
sweep them from existence The Constitution Of 1851
br Introducing universal suffrage and the election Of al
officers directly by the people and for short terms, a.
mos, realized orr worst fears We spared only
one evil The Yankee system of free schools, by which
all ia liviIus;y Is destroyed and made
Gc,ly ALIKE az gross of wooden uutmegs, alone was
vsuag to cap the climax Of misortunes and fetei
or Minds as well as our bodies We regarded the eec
llu Of Lincoln by a sectional majority revolution.
the virtual slhyersi1n Of the Constitution and we
thought the duty Of the Southern States to take steps
al once TO prevent JAe common Government, with lis
o-Eazsd ARMY and navy from passing quietly into the
h1lls OF our sworrenemies.
Et s1.l vas nor the sentiment of in five Of the
po O.. II Virginia in January 'dl They for olit
5y: .oas TO maze preparations FOR resistance somcir
Ire oDs that FAR and honorable adj Isment might be
eE..rej aud still Others with the hope Of recon.
s,-as.5p 5u, nearly ali concued in awaiting the action
OF tie new Administration The Legislature OF Virginia
yls chen in session, aud Inclined b. Overwhelming
majority 10 this polic-. The Convention, which
5000 after elected contained among its $50 members,
lees ue belevr than 80 secessionists, and many OF
,5sn verv tsrtec-iootei and mcaly-Eouthet Just
a55a, the same tine our President himself is reported
in the papers 10 have she'd abundant tears on the oces-
sion Of takiug biz, departure from me Senate Cham.
be, ia Washington.
Secession was aot hen what ii ninety days after.
Yards. when tbs Proclamation OF Lincoln denounced
.ibuss.,a or vor. That document reused every true
aad loyal heart 10 tho Southland more promptly
or inspired wi,a loitier courag, than that of NJ
Riyes
WJ have ever lei that it was no. more the dictate OF
ia,l,e than Of policy to regard every man, who
t-ls in that emergency a. worthy brother and de-
voted Patriot And ue tell our original secession con-
fs-,s if they prescribe all who desired preserve the
@ non preyou. 70 the Proclamation they will have
hall enough 10 f the snug and safe aud profitable
bsr.as in the Commi,ssry aud Quar,ermasters Depart
suts % say nothing OF the forces requisite 70 confront
rae enemy in ,be GeL If their rule of iatoerauceand
prescription had been adopted in the beginning, where
would they have found the men fight the battles
za..h stoueRaIs u,on cohorts have been fighting for
the s, eighteen months Better not touch that branch
OF tue subject I NAV remind the minority Of their
power and eagouder the spirit Of feud which we see
rising 10 North Caro.as aud scatter H broadcast
the Coufederacg.
81, want Of ioyl.,y sss 70: NT. R7es ofeaesA No
uaa had au7 dis,-1gt Of his deePOo;sd attachment and
uadyins devotion 70 Tirg;2ia. TIE feeling which in
pred the obscure Aihs1ia. whsa he Inscribed on tie
sell the name Of Ars;dec, because he Vas ti-ed Of
bearing hin called ;le Just; akin % that ~hich vic
tnzsd NJ. R'ss. It really painful 20 witness the
coa.oT,ioas Of gca.iomen a; the contemplation Of supe
rc. merit, though they were scorehed by Il, Ike
worms writing ia DO: ember5 Crif s1ile fiagors
szq A-,eus PEI gdises ;he memory pas. though not
forgotten party contests NAV have contributed % sggra.
vl,s the ..sl.rs. G-s envy, Val. d rD.ersal passion
Is often strange o1c in is manifestations. Unlike
most uozocs veeds IL, growth is most luxuriln in the
most barren soils. Horace who loved 70 nngle phi
losophy With poetry, undertook to explain the modas
cgsruHGi OF this unamiabls passion and tells that
nothing but death ca9 subdue ii. But Churchhi with
4ster appreciation Of human nature proclsims it i'm
mortal;
Worth may be hcarsed, bat envy cannot die,
Immortal, uuimpared, she rears her head
AID damns alike the living and the dead