Wilmington Daily Herald, February 6, 1861

Persons who think that those who are called "Union" men in the telegraphic reports of the Virginia election are opposed to secession for existing causes, misapprehend the use of the word in this case. Virginia is committed to the Crittenden plan of adjustment if the Black Republicans will concede it, but if the Washington City Conference, now in session, shall fail to effect a settlement upon that, or some other basis, guaranteeing to the South full protection in all territory South of 36 degrees 3o minutes, with the right of transit, &c., Virginia will be as sure to secede as South Carolina was the day after Lincoln's election. Virginia loves the Union, but not with such intense affection as to give up all her rights to preserve it, and those who suppose that she will not demand all of them in the Washington City Conference, or that she will temporize, and try to patch up the Union on terms dishonorable to herself or the South is, in our judgment, vastly mistaken.

And this is what satisfied us that the Peace Conference will accomplish nothing. Nothing but a clear back down from the Chicago platform, and an amendment to the Constitution, as demanded by the South, will satisfy the Border States, or ought to satisfy them. Is it reasonable, is it not madness to suppose that the Black Republican party will do this? Does it not shock common sense, and violate all experience, and is it not contrary to human nature to believe that a party which has for twenty-five years been struggling with fanatical zeal for the establishment of a principle, upon which to administer the government, will, in the very moment of victory, and when the sweets of power, long untasted, are within its grasp, surrender that principle which is its life, and suffer those sweets to turn to ashes on its lips? Is not Mr. Lincoln sacredly pledged to administer the government upon the principles of the Chicago platform and has he not very recently authoritatively denied any intention to compromise those principles?—How can he and his party give the lie to the whole of their lives, and agree to protect slavery in any territory North or South, when the one idea upon which he was elected is the restriction of slavery to its present limits? And this with them is not, like ordinary political questions, a mere matter of expediency, or economy. It is a religion, a matter of education from earliest infancy with them which they cannot surrender with honor, or the least degree of self respect.

This, together with the evident determination of the seceding States not to return to the Union must satisfy any reasonable man of the utter hopelessness of preserving the Union.