Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-05-04

out by many OF the newspapers of Virginia i'm relation t
ne rights and Characters OF slave holders as well a 10
me peace, safety and happiness OF the Commonwealth
We portion OF the people of Essex having ossen,hIo
10 on The subjects above stated and having be-
stow ed OH them all the attention TO which their vita, inn
porance so justly entities them-now beg leave br;,lv
TO explain the grounds of utter reproba,on of such
proceedings: ard to invite orr fellow citizens i'm every
county OF the State TO cooperate with us,hat not oven
the SHADOW Of prctext may be left for any thing similar
at the meeting OF our next Legislature.
The abuses OF speech 10 which we particularly aludc
OH inc part oil portion OF our Legislature 1--WE cannot
say Representatives, are, the uncalcd for official
ana at such time, highly dangerous discussion of the
abstract question, 10 the right of holding slaves thc
uncaed Tor extra official, and all times highly dan
oDoquy cast upon class of citizens being under
the same Government; the uncaled for official and
at an times highly dangerous attempt TO disturb rght
OF property, which has been acknowledged settled and
sahcuoned by cur laws not only since tho existence
o our presen, Government, but while were colonies
oil another We consider the discussion t,coed far since
nave never seen the slightest evidence TO prove that
the people oil Virginia had the distant expcctaon of
any such discussions indeed, that more Legislative ac-
uo was expected IN consequence OF the Southampton
instruction, which The sole prcex than some ji
u0na ponce regulations in regard our slaves and pos
siDy some practicable project removing the free nc
groes out oil hc Satei which measure believe would
DC approved by all We consider the discussion ertra-
oDtcdi-snce none of the duties of an ordinary eciso
ture IN relation either TO slaves free can b any
% aole possibility require il for their proper fulfill
men ana we look upon il as highly dan geros at such
"e because nothing could be better calculated espe-
cdly when we consider the infammatory language used
on te occasion, TO produce repetition of the atrocities
s,ich as were perpeirated in Souhampon We consider
The gross abuse of slave holders and the orapes o,temn
@ asis, lhcir rights, as aneoHedcr, since those who
were guilty oil this most unusable conduct had not so
nuc as the pretext of instructions to authorize NJ even
PponS 'hat any portion of fellow citizens could be
SO utterly regardless OF the characters and rights of others
as 10 attempt such lawess, desperate delegation of pow
CIR. we consider this abuse extra official since the a
u II ieer rare nor can acquire the right to per-
peuate such acts And we deem such conduct at alt
t0nes highly dangerous since iealousies anmoses and
lasting enmes must inevitably grow out of any Legis-
iavc speeches, whose manifest tendency IL is o ALLEVIATE
nj
same State from another portion.
ne attempt TO disturb the right of property in our
saves we consider as ncaledfor since not shadow OF
testimony even OF so little authority as ahercss newspa
per limitations had been seen in It's favour We view il
as eTLaCgcal, since no representative body with less
uhdh ,he pehary powers OF Convention, TO make or
amend Constitutions had could have the SLIGHTEST nre
.ence OIL authority even to NEEDLE with this ght in any
such way as 10 nvaidate III still less had thew
or could they have authority assert the right of aboga
ing II altogether And consider such attempt 10 dis
turb this right of property in slaves howover rrcnt we
neieve the evil OF slavery be at all times hglJ
dangerous because tho right dependent FOR its stability
%" P,Vei.ey lie same sanction with all other consti-
oy mat instrument which none can alter or jnyalidate
people themselves in their highest sovereign cana
rnS ne nsnt 10 each thing acknowledged be pro-
N's sayeS nnqucSiionably arc must be the same
n"St DC eid equally invoabc or the right TO all 1yoer
~ WIN De entirely insecure, will depend on the mere
oreah OF every ordinary Legislature. We nre perfcc,l
wiling TO accord TO the members whom we most condemn
INC merit oil good Intentions; but merit we can never
deem suiicicnt 10 shield our LEGISLATORS from severe
sure for acts which, in all their aspects bear uneonvoc
evidence oil The most disastrous tendency The sufferers
Vor eNanpe) by arson MURDER could not raicnav be
expected 10 derive either redress consola ton for the
burning of their houses over their heads or for M
cry oil their families, from the most ncrlo., ae,n
"Uh OF te Iact' that these ircmedaLe caamities had
M brought upon tein ny as sincere lovers of mankind
as ever the world produced Yet such ,,,,sf be IN. I;ni
81 pnd.eat'on, if any, and such the kind of erculpa-
rory pea, on the part OF those who have becn The IN
provoked authors OF all this incalcuIable mischief
AS 10 the course pursued by many Of our Newspapers
ae So 10 nGse SUBJECTS we have viewed it with de-
VI pam only 10 be equalled by the Indignation and
disgust which it was powerfully calculated to cxc;te
III our view, II has been marked by the most unqualified
OF the feelings OF the parties chiefly nteyesed
oy e'ueG determination TO excite odum and dcesta:;oly
oil their principles and characters both of Which hov
oeeh ourageously msreprescnted by frantic daring of
every such danger, as SOBER reiecng men would antc
pate, from the public agitation of suc6 nuesiors al -
Jects as our last legislature brought forth: and bv m n
tgeNeSsncss oil consequences TO The peace safety and
happiness oil the whole comnuny. Much no vre ,,aIu.
me iOery OF speech aud of the press and decidedly on
posed as we are TO all attempts by law such as were once
urea 10 RESTRAIN It's Righteousness we feel the deepes
e convection mat the evils which the latter has Jrought
ana as noo bringing, only upon Virginia bt on ill.,,
mnoe haio WIZ utterly destroy all the blessings here
"o'c acheVeu by me JOTmer unless this iceniousncss
ne restrained by the only proucr corrective ,,b; o
ion-and That the only certain fair mode of ascerai,n
this opinion, is by public meencs of the roooIo ; II
nc uereht counties OF the State: That neither is nor
can Oe expressed by anonymous writers for newsnoncrs
or The Editors themselves Who claim 10 be its organs i've
Know not on what ground)--is almost seif.evidcnt
p.IPosiiohj lor mfy' as well as the countless multi
tudes to whom they address themselves knoy ra,fo,
~, 'hat inc number oil those who neither cou nor
WH "l'e or newspapers, Is, 10 the number of thosa
VINO 40 0Tte or them including the Editors theusc
rs the drops OF water in the ocean arc TO the ocean eI
ana That the silence of this immense multitude should no
yer ue construed into an approval of opinions and doc
trnes, which have other foundation no o,ber Sanction
than the iPsl dreTln they have said H. Of tho neys
paper Esitors and their Dameless CORRESPONDENTS
L. IhcTg0re reSovcd, That the abstract RIGHT IN hold
saves was IN no Imaginable way involved i'm the discus
son OF any subject which could rightly come before
our last Legislatures; and that tho late introduction of 4.
mo mat body was not only utterly needless hut altoce
Unauthorized and dangerous the and safety of
the community. ' ~
2 'eSolred, That will delegate no man TO represeps
us VINO wli not to the extent OF his power oppose anv
attempt either direct Indirect 10 abroeae ths rgbi.
which, being right of property cannot DO taken away
even Tor public uses, without ample compensation from,
other public funds than such as accrue from t prorer,
itself. Wv P'oPV'J
b. Resotred, That the Legislative remedies prescribed
by That portion OF the Assembly called Abolonsts Cd
Peciay when considered in connection with the angg,
oil INC Prescrbcrs themselves for the alleged evils of M
gro slavery wefet possible than the evil ITSELF
sore and sreyous as admit that to be.
A. Hes0fred, That for the members OF the IccisIaro
10 deIame or calumniao any class classes Of our ci
zens as was done in last Assembly with respect 10 e
save holders among us, was not only fragrant usurpa-
ton OF power buta proceeding almost irresstby tending
to make bitter mpacabe enemies of those who ought H
be friends, as well as TO distract and finally divide the
State. WV
D. Resolced, If there be any thing bot impiov in the
adage that the voice Of the people is the voice of God
or any truth IN the MAXIM that thc safety Of the people
The supreme law'the first can never he raised in
better causc--nor The last consulted in a more SOLITARY
eectud manner than in reprobang with the utmost