Year: 1860

The Legislature OF Virginia lately gave a
dinner to Ex-Governor Wise, at which he de-
livercd speech. The speech is excelent-iD
the main, truly Southcrn-but still misty about
the Union. With respect to South Carolina
and the Conference she has proposed to Vir-
ginia, there is, however, no mistiness. . His
language is bold and clear, and worthy Of the
emergencies which surround the South. II
Governor Wise was in South Carolina, he would
be foremost amongst Southern men, for measures
of Southern redress. As it is, his recommends
tions to Virginia are amongst the foremost.
Perhaps tits unreasonable to expect more. We
confess that his language towards South Carolina
is exceedingly complimentary and gratifying.
We commend it to our rcaders.--MtrcHry.


"Butvou must do more. A sister State, sut-
fcring under the same wrongs which aggrlcvc
YOU, requests conference with you. Then, l
urge you to accept her call. You owe it to
South Carolina. As l would preserve the
Union, as l would defend and guard it, as |
would arouse the conservative element Of the
North, as I would convince them that it is time
for them to he up and doing in behalf of the
Union-I advise, implorc the Legislature Of
Virginia to hcarkcn to the call of our sister
State, and meet her in council. You owe it, l
say, to South Carolina. You have once or twice
before adopted ultimate. You have once passed
"ast extremity resolution" which ran South
Carolina to much expense, and then you backed
out in the hour of extremity, when Congress
abolished the slave trade in the District of
Columbia, the very contingency Of secession
which yon resolved upon, and South Cardinals
expenditures were thrown away by her trust in
your resolves. You have now been invaded,
and she comes to offer you her sympathy and
tender YOU conference. Your refusal would
not fail to be regarded by her as discourtcsy.
Worse tllan tLat-it would probably drive her,
of necessity, to extreme action. Yon are not
to understand me as speaking for South Caro-
lima


Il only speak my own convictions, when / re-.
fer you to her probable action, in case you shall
refuse to meet her in conference. She e'will
have no alternative but TO take the remedy
into her own hands. If you refuse to enable
her to strive together with you by concerted
measures in the Union, and for the protection
of the Constitution, she will declare herself ont
Of the Union, and thus force you to the altcrna-
tive of rallying to her side; or uniting with the
North against her. Where will we stand then! I!
we lovers of the Union, indeed and protesting
against dissolution; but can we, in the last ex-
tlcmitv, leave a sister Southern State standing
alone to defend herself against the expressions
of which we complain as well as shea You
cannot then accuse her of wrong. You cannot
then say she has not just cause for her action.
You NAV differ With her about the extent OF
ultimate remedy, but You must admit to the
world that the condition OF things is such as to
obige lllr to take some step. Your refusal to
act with her will have rendered all other steps
difficult, if not impossible. In measure, you
will have forced her to the step Of secession.
What then? VIII YOU saye her standing
aloucl Sirs, if forced 70 It the State of South
Carolina cain take tic responsib bility of standing
ta I'm ii.:ate. lcr r9htsA- -Sh2 hos hean