Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-02

circumstances and throughout all time l know there
ere many persons who deny this right, and yst admit
that of revolution. Now, cannot too earnestly Insist
that the right of secession practically recognized and
admitted 10 the guaranty OF peace while the right Of
revolution necessarily eads 70 civil Ono applies
to Confederation of States and cannot be politically
wrong; the other acts within Nation, and ia rarely
right It Is rue the power of the parts Is not equal to
the power of the whole; but what of thAti Govern
ments are not instituted for aggression but for the SCI
curty of the rights Of life liberty, and the pursuit Of
| happiness"
| have heretofore remarked upon the peculiar lam
guags Of General Washington, in his letter communi-
eating the Constitution as agreed upon In Convention,
to the old Congress. IL was, he says, "ks result Of
spirit Of Gmy Gndof that mutual difference and con-
esssioa vhieh the popularity of political situation
rendered indispensable" Wi,nout the nfuence Of euch
considerations would not have been adopted by the
Convention. Wide and dsep-rosted oppSoiion to !.
was found to peryade tho public mind throughout tie
Confsderacy Three OF tho most powerful minds Of the
day. in series Of numbers, now known as the Federal
s undertook the task of reconcnng the people TO It's
adoption Many of the States yielded their assent TO 1t
with extreme reluctance. Virginia, after formidable op-
position headed BY Patrick Henry, sent her ratification
Of it. with number OF amendments, designed to
guard against certain constructions of which it Waa
suscepsibe and which, with Others were subsequently
adopted And it certain that the States would
have adopted this untried and much doubted expert
mont had ahere been any question of their right to
form.
When the Constitution was however, adopted, il was
obvious TO the most ordinary sigaciy that unless 10
Was construed and it admitted powers exercised
in the spirit to which the Constitution was indebted for
its existence the Government authorized hsrehy could
notlAst Yetisa WeknoTn historical fact thai great
party speedily formed to change abe whole char
acter OF the Government and through the agency OF
the implied powers thereof utterly subveft ths reserved
powers of the States This was the more remarkable
as the powers OF the Federal Government were exolu.
Gyey of q delegated character and thai powers not
granted we're denied The evidences on this subject
might be multiplied the leaves OF autumn, is me-
ceaarJ but refer to 1t only for the purpose of point
ing the fountain of bitter waters, may be .pred
further specification and be allowed TO follow its flow to
that greai ocean, the storms Of which have carried
and death into the bosom Of almost every family in
the land shall con6ne myself to one subject only ss
illustrative Of that want of amty, and of that mutual
Difference and concession which the peculiarly OF our
political situation render Indispensable"
One Of the great interests 10 be protested in the
Constitution the institution Of slavery. That in
erest we'll knew that great efforts would be made for
its overthrow and although, at the adoption OF the
Constitution slavery existed in s the States but one
We. the unerr1g law OF race allowed no doubt that its
final resting place would be in the Southern States. To
provide for lie safety and protection 4 plain and
obvious duty Provisions accordingly inserted in
the Constitution which were deemed AMPLE and sufi-
cient ana the price for them cheerfuly paid in the
power over commerce and navigation. Notwithe.and-
ing all which at tho fret Congress agitation began
The act Of 1898, known as the fugitive slave act was
passed TO vitazs the clause Of the Constitution autho-
rig nR the return of fugitive slaves General WashiDg
toa was the fret to claim the benefit of IL but he give
mn his claim sooner than provoke the howl which WAS
ab out 10 be raised by the fanatics of Massachusetts
And he, the Father Of his Country and the President
of the United States denied the benefit Of clause
of the Constitution and of act Of Congress intended
A afsifa
ed increasing in strength and volume, until in the
great struggle Of 1920, it was openly proclaimed by
the NORTH In debate that the admission Of Missouri
wa question OF power and SUCH overfods all other
considerations Il ia well known that this question al
the time seriously endangered the Union. Upon its
unfortunate adjustment did agitation cease itB efforts
No its work only partially accomplished, and agi
ation was resumed with increased activity, In utter dis
regard of that faterna spirit without which the cry
Union was nothing moro than an empty sound. II
again eliminated in $50 upon the territorial question and
the Union onos more rembled to s base But the wisdom
of Congress effected truce and, by series of mea-
snres postponed the impending blow This adjustment
however gave no peace, reposs. Fsnatcsm, baked
of s entire purpose red0uhled It's ehorts-it gave
warning on the floor Of the Senate that agitation should
never coase until its designs should be fully accomplish
edit entered the halls of State legislation, and OBJ
tanned the passage of personal liberty bills; laws de-
nouncng citizens in pursuit of their property, guilty
of crime punishable by confinement in the peniiena
~; laws for removing judges who proved too honest
and independent TO become the tool OF its Willard ell
intended 10 nuy clause of the Constitution and acts
nasaed In pursuance lhereoft melted mob1 to do the
work of death upon respectable citizens in pursuit Of
their lawful and constitutional rghts. And, finally, in
disregard Of all precedent-to that "spirit Of dhaity
and of that mutual Difference aud concession" 10
Thich have 30 fequenuy referred-dared to run an
entirely sectional ticket for the highest offices Of the
countty declaring that would no longer be dependent
.ia Qfatp IN
This position thus taken and successfully maintained by
Northern fanatcsm in the election of its candidates
alled the hearts of the Southern States With deepon-
denoy aud gloom; and impressed them with the melAn-
choly convection that there was no longer hope of
living in the Union in the enjoyment OF the rights it
Was designed TO secure, and that the time bad come
when the existing form Of Government having be-
come destructive of those ends for which il in
stituted it was their right rs it was their duty in the
language of the Declaration Of Independence, to
alter or 10 abolish it, laying its foundation suob
principles and organizing lie powers in guch form as TO
them shall seem most likely TO affect their safety and
happiness"
Injuries which the South had sustained at the hands OF
the nonslaveholdng North most Of the Southern States
still chung with fond enacty to the work Of fathers
and essayed in various ways to Ieadust the disturbed
relations OF the States Our dear old Virginia made
traordiuary efforts % well betsd her. for adjustment
and for peace but all in vain. The North stimulated
by her hate OF the South and the consciousness of her
strength, and believing unhsppily that would not
dare to the last extremity turned deaf ear to every
overture and resolved force. On the 18th day OF
April 1861, President Lincoln issued his proclamation
for seyenty-ve thousand men to put down the insur
rection as be pleased 10 term it. Virginia was called
upon for her quota to dragon her Southern sisters into
admission aud che responded by passing, the 18th
OF April, 1861, her ordinance Of Secession uniting her
fate to theirs 1t was under this conduct the part
of the non-savehodng Staes and after every effort to
preserye the Union which ancestors had formed,
had failed that Convention fel. itself constrained to
take this organic and final step "whch de- ounces cur
and hold them, a. hold the rest Of
kind enemies in war; in peace friends" This ordinance
was also submitted to vote of the people, Hhs, with
rare and noble unanimity, approved it. and in support
Of il pledged to each other our lives our fortunes
and our scored honor"
have thus referred to one Of the great causes of