Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-17

Slayes might be constantiy diminished bythcir I
gradual removal 10 places where hbeIiy and
comfort would await them. In looking forward
tn the probable resalts OF AN eniars enent OF
slavery, what an awful picture is presented To |
the contemplation of thar American whose |
hoSonI giows aud expands with the generous
emotions OF patriotiSml Tie hcholds inttench- |
ed M the very citadel of her security and daily
in strength aud numbers n nost !
direiul enemy 10 the welfare aud safety OF his |
country. He knows that The po;entaies of
Europe have their ewes open 10 tins condition
of things, aud that when the foe ,rithiR the
bulwarks of this ratioH has become sufficiently
formidable 10 encourage the attempt; its in
dependence may be aSSailed by some iremer-
dons combination or foreign hostility; and
this lovely land covered with blood. mourning
aud desoiation. ] draw tine curtain far
Their. There are scenes behiGd IL which strike
the soul aghast which, mangle the heart
strings, and as,onize aud cruelty every fibre of
human svnsiolity These approximations are
not the phrenzies of imagination. Would TO
Heaven they were Hearkeut the solemn
holdings oil the philosophic Jefferson on this
branch OF our theme. Let them break like
thuuder-peals TIN ougho the nation--and let
the nation Join In his trembling. +" And can the
liberties OF nation be t.ought secure, when
we have removed their only basis, "a conviction
in the minds OF the people that these liberties
are the gifts of God' That they are not TO be
violated but with his wrath. Indeed tremble
fer my country, when reflect tia, God is just;
that his justice cannot sleep forever that,
considering numbers. nature aud naiuIa means
only, revelation of the wheel OF fortune, an
exchange OF situation is among possible events
that IL may become probable by supernatural
inieriereucel The Almighty has no attribute
which can take side with us in such contest"
These are points connected with the great
controversy under discussion. of most solemn
import; and would. IT occasion permitted, at
ford matter for much extended rem Ark The
subject. MIR. Speaker, TO which the Resolutions
refer, involves considerations most vitality in-
tertwined with the Interests and happiness of
poS,erity. The man no sincerely and ardenty
loves his country, extends his ken beyond the
marrow precincts OF his day and generation.
lie lives for ages yet unborn. While he gath
ers and enjoys the fair fruits Of the . tree of
Liberty" lie does not sefishly limit his views
TO his own qualifications. Although il might
live and flourish. and afford him shelter aud
| felicity during his life, without pruning and
nnrlnrng; yet lie thinks ofiis children aud his
| country-bis comprehensive affections stop not
| herr-tliey embrace all the generations that
| Slumber in the unpierced night of fnturity.
| He therefore guards the sacred plant with the
most careful vigilance; aud chershes. strength
| ems aud improves il until its roots have pene-
| trated beyond the reach OF ANNOYANCE and IL
| biuonlng mead has risen above the clouds and
teInpesis that once threatened TO lInrl its proud
honors TO the dust. hope in God this spirit
aminlaies the Congress of the United States
| That they love their country better than every
| 'hihS else on which the sun shines: That their
views are expanded and liberal: That The
genera and lasting reifare of the nation. is The
ending star which will lead them safely and
Sioriousiy through the gloomy contest in which
| they are now involved. However, sophistry
may attempt TO conceal il, still the question
before them is freedom or sldrery! The struggle
| on the one hand is for form of government.
which shall allow Que part of its subjects to
hoid IN ignominious unconditional bondage
another part of its subjects. And without this
| porer, 1T is contended the government would
| not be republican! The struggle OF the other
mana IS Tor a system of government which shall
nor permit one portion of its subjects TO retain
| IN degrading AFFECT slavery another portion of
lis subjects But this form of government be-
cause IL would take away the authority of exer.
cIsIhg over innocent human beings created free
Oy nature, the worst kind of tyranny, that oil an
unlimited control over both personal and poli.
teal freedom il is zealousiy asserted nv its
opposers, would be anti-repubHcan Most all
dand nonstrous doctrine! How incougenial
WIN tue sentiments which swelied the gene
rous bosoms of the founders of those liberties
we enjoy!
Conid those venerated sages who have gone
uo~h 10 The tomb, leaving their names inscrib-
of Tho j. ne base OF that iDperisbahlc monument
u9n OF American independence, be re-auimat-
ca anu VISIT their degenerate sons-how would
their noble breasts Ieave with anguish. IN find
tfose tTn'is they had so soIemnly sanctioned
thus perverted aud disgraced! How gladly
wou'd they return to the peaceful SILENCE Of
'"N SiaN again into f!loi n al
uust-"hiie Their spirits, soaring back TO the
enjoyment OF their celestial rewards, would he
happy III forgetting that all Ilen though so J1,
natnre' are not IN reality" free and equal %
MS hinch, Mr. Speaker, 1 have thought il
my uuty 10 say on tile subject matter Of the
preamble aud resolutions before u.s. Myoniu
ions IN relation 10 this question are influenced
ID! no sectional teelings-by 40 prejudices for
or o, against the East or the West, the North or
the S0uth. Though native OF Virginia and
foDdiy attached 10 the soil of my na,tyiiv-tb,t
sou ~ whose bosom are deposited tIle remains
OF many OF my dearest aud tenderest relatives
ana winch Is nourishIDg on its bouulles all nv
nearest living kindred-yet lose Si,ht of it
remember II not, when a question iuwoven
win the vital flores OF my conutrv's honor and
happiness, demands my decision The larmony
ol social lie, the smiles OF friendship. and the
h'nuheS7 OF man. are dear 10 me as The life that
thFobs III my heaTt-bni love IN; country her
ter than life. Columbia Queen of naiions
Protectress of Liberty If thou reouirestit ON
thy hallowed altar all these blessing, shall CON
sumo! Mr.. Speaker, / repeat that disc,ain,
every SOFT OF participation III any contracted
sehtiments-any uuSeuerOuS pTejudices against
Tue ciiizens OF any section of the republic I
regard them all as my brethren, ard The United
STATES as one great political family-as our
cohnon-our beloved couUtryl My hostility
10 SiareTy springs from INV attachment IN ;vslj.s
and freedom III my earl, habit, and assoc,a-
tons were calculated 10 bliud me with Dreoos-
sessions IN its favor but before passed The
liniis OF boyhood, read the history Of our
TevOTtiOn--the declaration of indeprHdenee
aud Tie Virginia bH Of rights, aud .e scales zen
from. my eyes. 80
WIN The opinions entertain on the subject
u ever ! give vote in behalf Of human bondage
I Iln. ne myself unworthy of freedom.
II Congress i'll her decision of The great oues.
ton before her, should sanctiOn the spread of
slavery; then TO be consistent, let her tear
down. and barry deep, deep, ia the earth, those
emnlems OF iISedom thai adorn the sublime
and, which, there no longer The temsie of
Liberty" no longer sacred TO the riirlfs Of nun
sue viii have dishOnoTed by all act, which mI,st
Iniuse scnSibiliiy, and arouse a sbudderiIic, in
dlrnaliOn through The reYtrcd norfrAifs tI,ai