Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-10
FHECOESFITUFIOK-sTATE RIGHTS.
RICHMOND WHlG..
TUESDAY MORNING, NOV. 10. lsss.E<H
nanaral s0olt and the war.


ing: "On hesubiect of the the General is retcent
It gives him pain. To question in esardtO it he shook
his head replying: THAT'S matter do not talk upon
il subject for others TO discuss and not for me to
dwell upon in my old age. It is in other hands, and
must nov engage the attention Of other heads" We
draw from this language the pleasing conclusion that the
pangs of guilty conscience have seized the old wretch,
and that he only endeavOrng to sae the fortunes of
rsmOrse by avoiding topics that suggest the memory OF
his great crime raising parricda hand against the
State that gave him birth The war is indeed subject
for him to avoid IL has been dreful thing to him,
playing havoc with his reputation both as man and a
soldier. Ia the former chIracter, it has shown the
wicked ambition and base venay that ruled his nature,
causing him forget his duty citizsn and his faith
and honor as gentleman while in the latter It has eX-
posed the haloBness of his pretensons, his lack OF
skill prescanse and comprehension. by the failure Of
his plans and predictions, to this war, and by en-
tightening the public mad to the dimnutive character
OF those transactions in other upon which his
blOaled reputation rested Well may he feel that the
war is not sebject for him to dwell in his old age.
The following paper, which has lately been handed to
US by friend, and which think was not, az the time
Of its first appearance before toe public copied in the
Who possesses sufficient interest to justify its insertion
this morning. in the lack Of important matter. It
bstrays the views aud extent the feelings Of this
unhappy old man before his treason cOnsummated
or perhaps determined Il bears date, will be OBJ
served few days before the election of Lincoln. At that
time General Scott was Of opinion that the unopposed
dissolution OF the Uuon would be smaller evil than
".he liberation and despotism of the sword" which
alone could prevent remedy il. He seems, too, TO
have held that f the anticipated secession did not make
gap in the Union, by interpreting seeded States
between thoss that had seeded there would be no
right resort to force His prophecy to subdivisions
amolg the States, should first division of the Union
occur, will yet be realized far the States still ad.
herring to the Rump concerned though the boundary
ines indicated by him will be only partially followed;
Vfsss suggested By the imminent drugel (OctoJor 90
1861 of dI7p,ioaof the Union by III, secession Of
one Or more If the Sosther,, States.
To save time the right of secession may be conceded,
and instantly balanced by the t~rrelAtive right on the
part of the Federal Government against an interior
Sae or States TO re-estaBlsh by force if necessary its
former continuity of territory Paleys Moral and PO-
itical Pbilos Opby, Last chapter.
But break this glorious Union by whatever line or
lines that political madness may cOntriVe, add there
would be hope OF reuItng the fragments except by
he liberation and despOtism of the sSOid. To eff ct
such results the intestine of our Mexican neighborS
would 10 comparison with OuS, snk into mere childs
play.
smsllcr evil would be TO allow th, fragments Of the
great Republics to form themselves into new Confede-
races, probably four.
All tie lines Of demsrcatOn between the new Unions
canno be accurately draFn in advance, but many of
them approximately may. Thus, looking 10 natural
boundaries and commercial athnities OF the fol-
lowing frontiers alter many waverings and conflicts
might perhaps become acknowledged aud fixed
l. The Potomac river and the Chesapeake Bay to the
Atlantic. =. From Maryland along the crest o. the Al
eghany 10, rnaps the Bue RIDGE range OF mountains,
point The coast OF Florida s. TIE line from
say tue head OF the Potomac TO the northwest,
which will &c mos. dlfcult to settle. 4 The crest of
the Rocky Mountains.
The SOut u COnledcracy would 10 all human pro-
liability IN lees than years after ruoure find it
self bounded by the first and second lines indicated
above, the Atlantic aud the Gull OF Mexico with its
capital at say Columbia, South Carolina. The country
between the second third and fourth OF hose lines would
beyond doubt, IN about the same time constitute
another Coniederacy with its capital probably at Alton
Quincy Illinois The boundaries Of the Pacific Union
are the most definite ~ all and the remaining States
would cOnsatute the Northeast Coniederacy with the
capital at Albany.
L. at the first thought will be considered strange that
seven slGvehcldiUg States and parts of Virginia and
Florida should be paced (abOve the Lev Conlederaey
With Ohio Indiana Illinois, &c. but when the over
whelmug weight OF the greaC Northwest is taken in Goa
ntcUOn With the laws OF rade cOnuguiy Of territory
and the comparative ind ference TO ree-sO doctrines
On the part Of Western Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee
aud Missouri It ID evident that little If any, coercion
coed moral force would be needed embrace them
and | have omjtted the temptation OF the unwasted
public lands which would fail entire to this Conedc.
LaCy-an appanage (well husbanded) sufficient for
many gensraliOns. AS to Missouri Arkansas and
Mississippi, they would Lot stand out month Louis
lana WOrd cOaegce without much solicitation, and Ala
bama with West FLORIDA, would be conquered the first
winter from the absolute need Of Pensacola for naval
depot
IL night presume to address the South aud plrticu-
Lar IL dear Virginiabeng nalvs here and to the
uer born would aiieotiOnately ask, will your
slaves be less secure and their labor less profitable
der the new order of things than under the Oldy Could
you employ probably hundred slaves in all Nebras
ka or five hundred in all New Mexico The right them
to take them thither would be barren right And is
4 not wise TO
"RatEer bear the ills We have
Than fly to others that we know not OFF,"
The Declaration of Independence proclaims aad con-
socrates the same maxm Prudence, indeed, will die
tate that Governments eug established should not be
changed for light and transient causes" Aud Paley,
too laws down as a fundamental maxim of staesman-
ship, "neVer TO pursue national honor as distinct from
national interest" but adds "This rule acknowledges
thatt is often necessary assert the honor OF nation
for the sake OF its interests"
TIE excitement that threatens secession is caused by
the near prospect Of Republicans election to the
Presidency. From selse OF propriety, asa soldier
have taken part in the pending canvass, and, as
always heretofore to stay away from the polls.
Ny ynpathies however, with the Bell and Everett
ticket With Mr. Lincoln / have had no communication
whatever, direct or indirect and have recollection
of having his person. but cannot believe any
unconstitutional violence breach oflaW is to be ap-
pretended from his Administration pi the Federal Gov
erhment
Ernn knowledge Of orr Southern population IL Ia |
NV solemn conYieuon that there is danger Of an
-. n.-,.n.r- .acna..an wig Lha /