Year: 1860

We find in the Richmond papers of Mon
day the first message of Gov. Lctchcr. 1t is
entirely devoted to Federal affairs and the
excitement now abroad in the country.


After alluding to these, and referring to
the offensive laws passed by many of the non
holding States, and the other causes
which have brought the Union into peril, he
concludes as follows:


In this deplorablc condition of thugs with
all the evils incident to Il dissolution of the
Union prominently before us, the inquiry
presents itself-what can be done to avert the
danger? The Supreme Court cannot settle
tins question of construction, because it is
not recognized by the parties as an arbiter-
This has been but too palpably manifested in
the utter rcpudiation of the bred Scott dccis-
ion by the Republican party


The only mode, therefore, of rcmcdyng
the evil that occurs to me, under the Consti-
tuition, is provided in the fifth article thereof
Summon Il Convention of all the States, that
full and free conference may be had between
the Representatives of the people, elected for
this purpose, and thus ascertain whether
the question in controversy cannot be settled
upon some basis naturally satisfactory to both
sessions. If such convention shall assemble
and, after free and full consultation and com
parlson of opinions, they shall find that the
differences between the slave holding and
non-slavcholdng States are irreconciable, let
them consider the question of pcaceable sep
aratlon and the adjustment of all questions
relating to the disposition of the common prop
erty between the two sections. If thcy can
be reconciled let them adjust the terms and
give them such sanctions as will render them
effective.





suggest, therefore, that you adopt rcsolu-
tlons in favor of the call of such Convcn-
tlon, and appeal to the Legislatures of the
several States to unite in the application pro.
posed to be made to Congress, in pursuance
of the provisions of the article aforesaid. IF
the non'slave holding States shall fail or re-
fuse to unite in the application, such failure
or refusal will furnish conclusive evidence of
determination on their part to keep up the
agitation, and 10 continue their aggressi0ns
upon MS. If the Convention shall meet, and
the question cannot be satisfactorily adjusted
it will furnish evidence equally conclusive of
their determination. In either event the
people of the South will clearly understand
what they are to expect in the future. 8E


1t will, doubtless, be objected to this sug
gestlon that it looks to disunion Grant it if
you please Is not the danger of dsunon
imminent no' and is not tho public mind,
North and South, deeply agtated by the ap-
prehenslon that the days of tho Union are
numbered Disunon speeches are the order
OF the day in debcrative bodies, State and
National, and the press teems with the same
matter, editorial, communicated and selected
Southern Legislatures are employed ia cam
sidering the best modes of protecting tho hon
or and rights of their States, and are makiae
provision for arming and disciplinsg the mill
tia with sole reference to their projection and
defence, either in or out of the Union. Every
man sees and feels that dangers are impend-
ing over us, and that dsunion is not only a
possible but highly probable cycnt, and at
no distant day. When these things are So
surely the country can look upon disuuon
from the stand point which I occupy. If
men cannot calmly look upon it at this dis
tancc, they ought to cease the utterancc of
disunion sentiments, and permit the pnblie
mind to settle down, preparatory to submis
sion, on the part of the South.


also suggest, that a commission, to con-
sist of two Of our most Intelligent, discreet
and experienced statesmen shall be appointed
whose duty it shall be to visit the legislatures
of those States which have passed laws to
obstruct the execution of the Fugitive Slave
act, and insist, in the name of Virginia, upon
their unconditional repeal. In support of
the suggestion'of the appointment of aeon.
mission, o precedent Is to be found in the
history of our own State, in the appointment
of the distinguished Benjamin Watkins leigh,
who was commissioned to visit the Legislature
Of South Carolina, at the time Of the contro