Year: 1860

sent US the Constitutional Union Convention OF IT.
ginia proposed to held at the city of Richmond, on
the 22nd of February ins and to consult together in
reference to duty Virginia, and to the Union-
Living, do, under free representative govern
ment which has derived both its existence and powers
from the people by whom it created TO secure their
happiness and welfare held by our allegiance, to
the duty OF dilgeu exemuation OF public affairs, that
we may exercise the elective franchise with prudence
and discretion anG by that and other means make known
opinions upon all questions affecting the administra-
ton OF the power Of the government The periodical re-
curreuce the drrs appeals to the people IN the selec
ton of those TO whom to be entrusted the admins
traion Of public affairs, justly exctes US TO the discharge
OF this duty and must proceed to lis tuhilmeut
with that dspaSionate calmneSs and careful deberauon
demanded by the magnitude and Importance OF the occa-
sion.


The election of President ofthe United States, always
Of great Importance the ratification OF past policy and
measures the Inauguration ola ne~ theory OF plan oi
administration has acquired fearful interest III the Just
estimation of all true patriots both from the current
events which have heraded its approach upon this occa-
sion and the peculiar position and relations OF the TWO
most prominent parties TO the contest On the one hand
the socaled Democratic party claims the continued cou-
troll of the governments and on the Other new party
arrOgatug and apptOpatug TO ITSELF the title oil RepuO-
Ecan with equal carnestne.s and ZEAL calls upon Us TO
aid in placing lis nominees ana leaders III power. II
therefore behooycs diligently 10 scrUtuize the claims
of these respective parties aud whilst dong SO with tt
| freedom which is our incou,roycrube right we shall
i
ten ignored in political discussions Freedom OF speech
and The PRESS restrained only from sediton and een-
ousresS Is guaranteed U.s. aud we prize too high
M not to recognize the right in those from whom We may
! differ.


brief review of some Of the prominent political
events OF the last ten years will best exhibit the attitude
OF the parties whom have referred As wei TO
each other the country at large No otherwise can
We clearly understand how it has been brought about,
that the one is chiefly predominant in the Southern or
alto1li Df
North or nonsaychOdiug States Never before, has so
complete a geographical division OF prominent parties
occurred political history and II Is tins which mas
given fearful interest to the approaching election
of President of the United States. BY most uniOr-
unac succession OF events, this dangerous division OF
parties has been produced by the question OF slavery and
20 quote the language of Of the abcs and purest o
Virginia statesmen whom we ever delight to honor
"a that organized sectional parties, founded
upon "A question sensitive this IN all ITS relations
| are a standing meuauce 10 the Union. They hang over
the country like dark and angry clouds which threaten
hy their Ouburs to carry devastation TO tue lace ol
nature and all the bOuntcs of providence What Is to
control these great repulsye masses from awful shocks
against each other, which may shake the Union to Is
| centre If not reud the government in twain


For many yeas prior the wear 1880 the subject OF


slavery was agtated in the Northern States by what was
known as the Abolition Party, more TO be condemned
for the atrocy Of the proposed for the accom-
pshmcu OF its object than To be desplsed Tor Its pauct
~ Of numbers ard want OF political influence Nearly
allied with this the party with the less significant
name of AuSHyery, more dangerous from It's greater
numbers and their more covert mode OF proceeding In
popular assemblies the press and the pulpit the nstitu-
ton Of domestic slavery made the topic OF ncesSant
discussion as vtueut and oHeu i've 1t iguorant
aud unwisc Gradually, this agitation extended to the
halls of the Congress OF the ulted States and IN various
forms compelled legislative action There were then wise
.ud good in control who, Tor the time, forgetting
other differences united in tie maintenance OF the Tn
ION in the spirit of mutual confidence aud affection IN
which &c founded by our fathers by passing those
act. of Congress known as the compromise measures OF
1850 Upon the just demand OF the southland III iahtul
obedience TO the requirement OF the Constitution OF the
United States they passed the commonly called the
fugitive slave law and upon the demand OF the North,
bv passed the several acts abOlshing the slave trade
in the District Of Columbia aud requiring and affirming
the right OF the people OF any portion OF the territories
when framing a constitution preparatory for their ad-
mission into Union State TO establish or to pro-
hbii slavery "a them might seem best. In this wise
and patriotic adjustment the whole country acquicScod,
and an true lovers Of the Union reasonably hoped and
believed that the whole subject OF slavery was excluded
forever from the Congress OF the Union. As federal
constitution was the result OF a compromise amongst
conflicting inter, sts has its preservation through
red trial, at different epochs OF history been
cured by the same trateual spirit of concession. hat
was known aB the Missouri Compromise, contained IN
the act of 1920 whereby slavery aai involuntary servi
tude otherwise than in the punishment of crimes was
| forever prohibited, eminent instance. For up
wards OF thirty year, it had remained upon the statute
book uuquestiOued when without any previous warning,
in the organization of the territorial governments for
the territories of Kansas aud Nebraska, this provision OF
the act for the admission Of Missouri repealed and
the slavery question again dragged into the arena OF
| national politics. We believe this q movement OF
the Democratic party OF the North or OF It's leaders, to
concentrate the votes OF the saye-holdug States
The repeal Of the Fugitive Slave Law had been asitated
i'm some sections OF the North but it was clearly and
manifesy within the requirements Of the Constitution,
and formed material part o.! the compromise adjust
ment that the agitation would have soon ceased without
any material disturbance OF the peace OF the county


Unfortunately the Southern Democracy yielded to the
offer OF their Northern allies, hoping thereby to acquire
territory for the formation Of slave States aud thus
secure their former ascendancy in the Senate OF the nj
led States; and the whole subject Of slavery again
opened up Or discussion, and the two parties were at
once fercey arrayed upon geographical lines The ter
rOry of Kansas Immediately became the scene OF strife;
and fora time civil war and all its pains and horrors
ed 30 imminent rs scarcely be avoided The executive
branch OF the Federal Government them under the con-
tol of the Democratic party by all its power and niu-
euce endeayOred TO deprive the people OF Kansas the
actual citizens and residents of the territory OF the right
guaranteed them by the organic law, to form such
constitution for their government with or without sla
very, as to them might seem best


Hence has arisen the present array Of sectional parties
On the one hand find the Democratic party proposing


slave code for the territories, and on the other the Re
DubiCAu party luslstluE upon OI
in the territories by poSge enactment o Congress. all
other questions are, overlooked aud that slavery
ded on all hands belong solely and exclusively to the


several states where it exists domestic institution is
now the all eugrossing topic of excited debate For par
tisan purposes trading politicians are industrou'ly
widening the breach which has been unfortunately Great
ca in the mode we have prescribed and unless the
.ervatye Uuion-oyng portion OF the people can be
aroused TO jealous and active participation in the en-
-uiup Presidential canvass the most depOyabe results
may follow the collision OF these two parties. Whilst they
are narhaing their forces the Constitutional Union Par


y must also actively nterpoSe 10 prevent the conflict


Under these circumstances are called upon to form
and announce those opinions which will govern our
course in the pending contest We are firm and unwa-
yering in our allegiance to the Constitution OF the Uni
ted States and the laws passed by Congress in conform
ity Herewith and equally loyal 10 the COnSu-


ton laws and institutions Of State Of Virginia.
We earnestly desire and will ever strive for the malnte
nance OF the Constitution Of the Union, the palladium
of our civil and religious liberties and with equal fer
yency and zeal will we maintain and support the Cons


tuition of our own State We deprecate the ascendency
or the Democratic party, with their ayowed plans aud
purnoses as tending prong andinensily the present


unfortunate controversy, and thus hurry the Southern
portion of the country into secession and dsunion.


They seek TO obtain further legislation in Congress upon
This subject of slavery under the threat Of secession
disupon should it be denied Already has the
been made TO Virginia and other Southern States by
Soub Carolina for the ayOwed object TO take the initia
tory stems for secession and the formation OF separate
confederacy We charge this design upon the leaders
of the Democratic party in our own STATE whilst we con
6Jently hope for its defeat by the overwhelming oppoS


ton of our people uninuenced by their party affiliations
with eoua earuestness We deprecate the ascendency OF
the Repubican party as likely to produce equally dsas
irons results Opposition TO slavery and prohibition o
its existence in the Territories OF the Union, the common
property of the whole OF the States is the only article OF
IL fg .1.t,.n ..taly,r fftaV