Year: 1860




tive Slave States.


While secessionism is running wild in
some of the extreme Southern States, the
position of the more conservative slave
States bordering on the free, becomes a
matter of considerable interest and impor-
lance. Dispatches from Virginia say that
that State will act as a mediator between
the extreme South and the North, and en-
deavor to bring about stttlement Of the
anticipated difficulties. An idea Of the po-
sition assumed by Virginia and other bor-
der slave States may be inferred from the
following dispatch, which was telegraphed
from Richmond to the New York associated
press. It was dated November 18th, but
from what source it eminated is not stated


'The purpose Of Virginia Is to maintain
position of armed neutrality until she is pre-
pared to tender her services as mediator, under
the official sanction of the Legislature, or Con-
vention called by its authority. She will, mean
while, prepare for the worst; for If the States
now threatening to secede shall adopt her pro-
gramme, and that shall fail to be carried out
uy nOU-COIlDildnCt OI tHC pdhS VI thS ANOAhht
Virginia win unite in the secession mOSement.
She will ask the Southern States to go into
Southern Conference with her, and it is under
stood that they will go, provided she lays down
beforehand the programme which shall form
the basis Of action, which will embrace: First
"A repeal of the statutes nullifying the fug-
tive slave law by those States which have pass
ed such statutes, with guarantee OF faithful
enforcement Of that law in the future. Second
That the Constitution authorizes the carry
ing of slaves into the common territories, and
consequently protection of slave property there
in. Third-That Congress nor the Executive
shall not interfere except for its protection in
the latter when necessary"


If this is the position of Virginia she may
as we'll join the rampant secession States at
once. The citizens of the border slave
States have just reason to complain Of the
distractions thrown in the way of the exc
ecution of the fugitive slave law in some of
the Northern States and this is about the
only cause which the South has to complain
against the North But the General Gov
ernment has no control over the legislation
of the several States, nor can any men or
set of men guarantee that certain statutes
Of some of the States shall be repealed. II
there are any means at the disposal of the
General Government to enforce more
strict observance of the act for the rendi.
tion Of fugitives they should be adopted !;
but none of the Northern States will re-
peal their nulllfying statutes under threat
Of secession.


The second and third propositions, If they
mean anything, amount TO this: That the
Constitution carries the institution of slav-
cry into the Territories, and it is the duty
Of Congress TO protect Ii therein. This is
the very question which divided the Demo
ocratic party and when we take into cen
slderaton the fact that over two.thirds of
the Democratic voters have repudiated the
doctrine, the absurdity of asking Congress
to force slavery upon an unwilling people
becomes apparent. Such demand if made
by the South, would be unjust, and could
not honOrably be conceded by the North.


Should the programme indicated above
be inaugurated by Virginia and other con-
servative States, it would exhibit on inten-
ton of uniting the South in grand seces-
sion movement such as was recently en-
acted at Baltimore on small scale.