Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-08

tCralS, local Intelligence, &C. y ~
= peace between the North and the South had
= continued up 70 this tiue what has lately hap
pened in tine United States Congress would have
been enough to produce Wal. Wax for sovereign
al inareuable rights not only threatened, but as
sailed; not only assaulted, but DESTROYED, unless
saved by a vigorous and rssOlute defence. If the
Union had remained, the recent legislation OF the
Federal Congress would have ruptured It beyond
hone Of repair Il the South had tolerated the cleo
tion ofLincold-had submitted quietly to the rule
oftbe dominant sectional majority, had forgiven
the wrongs the iusultsand the conumely OF seventy
vesrs-this GROWING outrage would have driven her
20 the assertion OF hr independence and the re-
sumption Of her sovereign rights. In 1861 there
were still left in the South some conhding and
eredulous people who deplored the separation as
ha,tv aud ill-sdyised and who, while they yielded
their private opinions at the demand OF their re-
sDsstjve States, taucied that Northern aggression
-rorld never be carried to that extreme point,
Which al IA indicated as the utmost limit OF for
besrance Even after the u ukess had shown that
Hhev were utterly incapable Of understanding the
principles on which the Government was formed after
rtcv had mantle sted their intention 10 dIuteln their
ascarI1ucy. by force, and had waged upon rs bit
ter, urselentiug and gigantic war; characterised BY
al the ambition Of conquest. aud all the maiguuy
Of hate there we're some among rs who dreamed
Of such .hiug as reccnstruotioa-a restoration OF
the Caicn with adequate promises and guarantees.
II IS well tia, all these delusioss have been die
pelisd and that tie naked issue IS az least pre-
scented % MS au such a form that insanity itself
could not iisrurt or even idi0cy mistake It. The
issue is exactly independence or humiliation By
the grace OF the uouqueror, should We submit OF
be subirg.ted. our miserable lives might be spared,
because. perhaps it would be incouy,nieatto dis
Pose OF ave or SIX millions Of people by the gallows
or the gu.Ilo,iue. Perhaps even We might, did We
i-nplore forgiveness in time, DC permitted TO live
n our owohouses, and till on, own land, and wear
our own clothes but this would be con-
siderel an act OF supereuineut mercy As
q people we should absolutely cease 10 exist
Virginia would be no longer Virginia, nor would
Georgia be known a Georgia. The whole South
would De as to the Yankees exactly what Poland is
. Russia and as to the rest of the world precisely
VIA. s., Domingo is. This is no mere deduction
no srp1osit9u based c,niectur0l premises. Il is
~ha, lincoln and Seward distinctly told our Com
niss:oucrs at Fortress Monroe, and what the Van
kee Congress by solemn act otlegisl9tion, has de-
Nberately prepared tor us in anticipation Of that
,rful time when the South shall be given over 10
the mercy OF her enemies. There can be no mis-
conception now. There is nothing before Us but
degradation spoliatiou and death if we submit 10
our enemies. The only possible chance for honor,
life and liberty lies in continuance of that stern
aud desperate resistance with which VIC
hsyc hitherto met and defeated the tremendous ct
forts that have been made 70 compass our destruc-
ton.
Those people who vaiuly fabcicd that in some
iaexpHcalie way thS rights of tbe South aud ofthe
States nal ght De- secured by reconstructioua are now
entirely uudeceived. The adoption by the Federal
Congress Of tae Constitutional amendment abolish
ing slavery shows plainly tbas the Northern majority
viii stop az nothing IN the contamination O.
their design to convert their Government into
vast consolidated de-pcUsm. The Onion ot four
years age no longer exist, even IN theory
The / cdCrai Congress, ami Lincoln are now SUI
preme within the so-eslisd loyal States and 60
back % q union with them would DC simply to share
their seryi,uis sui iguomiuy. II would be, indeed
20 share n deep, ig1omiuy and tSser servitude
The sacrifice which tie Northern States have mad,
OF their independent, and their sovereignty, by
insisting or the binding toree of constitutional
amendments which affect tue relations OF society
within ,ly S,ai-s is made In order TO subject the
SortDto a jeaiI;or revenge aud more bitter hu-
initiation Tue Yankees viii not suffer at home by
what would, among them, he only theoretical
equality with negroes but the proud Southern
people would have 90 submit, 70 the social equality,
and perhaps the political superiority, Of their re-
cen. sl~rcs would have TO receive them as judges
as taz-gatherers, as collectors perhaps even a,
Governors Forit would be tine especial care OF
the.North TO eyalt their black proteges, both to
justly their acts and 10 satisfy their hate to-
wards toe rebellious South. Il any citizen OF this
Coufederaey, amer the developments of the last
week, is willing 20 submit to the Yankees, we ven
turo to say that he has always been atraitor and is
f, only TO be a slave. OF all such, the sooner We
nd ourselves the better for them and for us.