Year: 1860

ADDRESS HON. WV. BALLARD PRESTON.


Hon. William Ballard Preston being on visit TO lis
farms in this county, the following letter was addressed
to him on the Of Court Yesterday, the publ
cation of which desire expressive, not merely OF
the Of those who subscribed it. but OF our county


MARrrxsviLLE, Jan 9TH, 1860.
DEAR SIR From recent Developments indicating the
of public sentiment in the Northern States OF this
cOufederaey towards the institution of domestic slavery
it exists in Virginia and the South and the deep and
intense Of public indignation which these develop
mens have naturally excited in the Southern mind, we
believe that the Union of these States seriously endan
gcred and think that the time has come, when the
citizens of the slavehoding States without distinction
of political party religious Sect should togeth-
in frateInal spirit I'VE will not say calculate the
value of the Union bat TO deliberate calmly and dspas-
sionaely the most efficient OF preserving it,
consistently with the constitutional rights the tranquil
y and safety of the South under these circumstances
and in view of the impending crisis in national his
tory, the undersigned request that you will favor the
people of Henry with your views 10 be presented in
public address, at Court Monday next, as TO the
line of policy which Virginia ought to preserve in this
emergency


Entertaining sentiments other than those Of filal
devotion to Virginia and of ardent attachment 10 the
Union it formed by the fathers have not been
Indifferent spectators TO passing events and 10 some
tent have formed our opinions 10 the best means Of
preserving the Union, and at the same time OF increas
ing the population augmentng the wealth and cOnsO,i-



the recommendation Of our late Executive whose term
Of Office has just expired, TO prepare for conflict Of
But, submit, the preparation most expedcnt
TO be made for the present at least is preparation not
tor against the lives of Northern citizens, but war
upon Northern commerce-againSt that trade and COM
merce which, flowing in a thousand streams from the
South has enriched the North to the detriment Of the
South


And sir, in this connection allow us to say that we
too highly commend the agacity and patriotism





y TO brave the pers OF the seas but TO encounter the
Jest aud derisiOn Of Southern and Virginans, in
your noble and patriotic efforts establish direct trade
between Norfolk and European ports Unfortunately,
yOuwere alike in advance of some, at least Of your
tempOraries But hater ourselves with the belief
that all Virginia is prepared TO second these efforts
emaucpate her and the South from their existing state
of commercial vaSSaage.


In our humble judgment, what now want in Nr-
giua is, formal and authOrtye declaration OF CONNER
cal independence and rigid and steady appliance Of
every constitutional means IN our power TO achieve 1t
Here, humbly conceive be laid the foundation
and cornerstone OF the future wealth. power and great
of this Commonwealth and her sister States Of the
South And Tor any SuperStructure to be reared on this
foundation, willing to suffer siuy priyaton and to
bear any which Virginia, through her Legislative
bodies, may deem it expedeut to impose. The trade
and commerce of the South ought and in opinion
can be diverted from the North But this We fear can
not be successfully accomplished without legislation
We anticipate but little permanent good from individual
resolve or the voluntary association of men,
tained and unsupported by law. \ few well directed
rounds in the form of Legislative enacments, broad
side from the Capitol OF Virginia into Northern com
are thsk urgently demanded by the occasion,
and will afford the surest if not the only certain guaran
tee for the ultimate commercial independence of be-
loved Commonwealth


But sir our object in thus extending this communi-
cation is much To present views this great
question: upon the occasion referred toto elicit yours
in return


We have the honor to be- DEAR SIR very respectfully


Your friends and Obedent servants