Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-09-29

az ."natsoeVef II has no authority conferred on
to express, from time to time, the sentiments Of the
people on growing events and unforeseen contingencies
connected with the proceedings in other States on the
suoJecto the Abolitsoniss. The Committee is not in
the nature of Legislative body, with general discre.
honary powers bat is simply executive or ministerial
BODY whose sphere of action is confined certain geo.
graphical limits The object in creating this Commit
tee obviously was TO guard against the introduction and
circulation OF incendary publications within the limits
OF hsnrco ana the city OF Richmond and to discover
ana orlnE 10 condgn PUNISHMENT any agru!S aud ennis
saries OF the uo!,tiniss who may be uid lurking with,
III The sane The power d" publishing declarations and
recommending measures OF very comprehensive imp r
,a"ct Is no where given to the Committee Tnc people
ha' themselves IN their primary assembly already made
an appeal fully dpclaratory of their sentiments If auy
lg should occur to make it necessary give further
expression Of public sentiment it should cInanatc from
themselves The only authority conferred this
m!ttfc Is derived from its acting the Representatives
OF the people who appointed them If not appointed,
they would have had right to act at all. iftcy act on
subjects not delegated to them their proceedings would
oe emitted to no more weight than would those OF
any equal number of respectable persons in the comu
nifty If the declarations of this committee contain only
what was before cmbaced in the proceedings OF the
meeting OF citizens. they additional orce u any
recommendations made, because they have already the
weight OF much higher authority than ours, that OF the
People in their primary assembly, from whom this
nce derives its existence. If the declarations OF this
committee embrace the enumeration of principles TIE
recommendation ola new system of measures not con-
assembly, ten this nttce cannot be considered in
that regard as acting the representatives Of the body
appointing them since they would be acting without the
sphere of their delegated authority From this view Of
the subject and believing that the Preamble and Rcsolu
tons offered without the scope of the powers
ered this committee, aad that they prc~c1 very i
Portnn subjects which the People the city of Rich
mond and county Of icnr:co have moi expressed and
nave had no opportunity t., express their wishes, this
committee cannut contornlb their Of proprety
give their sanction to the same.
but, if it be conceded that this committee was not
raised as b,dy auxiliary and for The purpose Of Civ
ing Vsor to the police which its very imports but
conservative body, with large, underlined and discre-
hon1ry powers to act on the high subjects discussed the
preamble and resolutions yet is by no means convinc
ca OF the proPrey or expectancy of its giving its appro
baton to the statements and Communications contain.
cd therein. Amongst the resolutions adopted by the
constituent b"dy, from which this committee is an
etianaon, the 9TH is in the following words: Rcsolrrd
That wc hold in great respect and entertain cordial
ana ratefnal regard for the great body our Northern
and Eastern brethren that confidently bell We that
the indignant sentiments have expressed towards the
deuded fanatics, who the advocates Of Immediate
emancipation Will be rec proca.ed BY the great mass Of
enlightened citizens Of the non w holding Statcs
1t plain from this resolution and from various parts of
the preamble adopted by the meeting of the citizens
that Tn reliance was had the good and viz.
tuous and patriotic feeling of our fellow citizens in the
other States to put down abolitious This meeting
held on the 9TH of Aug 1885, and it matter Of surprise
that committee deriving its existence and its whole
thory from it, should have been called upon early
DAY us the 18th OF Sept to adopt resolutions the and
tenor of which in direct conflict with those the meet
ing OF the citizens. lfany thing had occurred 10 change
the aspect OF affairs to convert sentiments of kindness
and confluence into those Of GOODNESS and alienation
wards our tellowcitzens in other States would be
respectful and proper to leave 10 constituents to
weigh the circumstances which had interviewed, and to
modify their declarations according to existing facts
1t would not be proper in executive committee,
whose functions were intended to be ministerial who
O "a
expressed by H. TO publish declarations the world d.
recty contrary to those Of the body which created it,
The meeting at the capital urged upon sister States
to pass laws to represS the publication Of ncendary
writings at the North and equcsted the Legislature Of
our own State earnestly to press this upon those of
sister States From the time of the adoption of the
resolutions at our general meeting up to this time, meet
ings have been held in the Northern States at which
some of the most enlightened citizens without dslinc-
ton OF party, religious sect, attended, which the
most fratcrual feelings have been expressed for the
people OF the South, the most full admission of the
stilullonal ght of the Southern people in their slave
property their exclusive right T., regulate the cues.
ton of domestic slavery, and denying the right Of the
other States or Congress 10 interfere in any with
1T At these meetings, strong disapprobaton is express
ed Of the conduct of the Aboonsts. These meetings
are going daily at the North and to Judge from
the sentiments expressed at tcm and by the
testimony OF our own citizens, who have recently
TUNED from those States we have right to calculate
the most beneficial effects, resulting from the strong
tide OF public sentiment running in favor OF rights
and interests. And it would surely be unwse and i'm.
putc in us at this time, by the expression of want Of
confidence in the great body of ellowcitizcns at
the Morrill, to damp their ardor in behalf, and to
Convert them from warm friends to cold neutrality,
thereby Strengthening the hands, and eevatng the hopes
OF the aboionsts. Nothing is CALLING to generous
minds to find their expressions of friendship and re
gard received with disrust an their offers of treat
ed as hearrss and iasinccre Noa great deal than
month had elapsed from the time Of the meeting in Rich
mnnd to that which the preamble and resolutions
la on t1hln of
Of the legislatures Of The North have had time act il
indeed any of them have convened Our legislature,
to whom we rcfcrre for its cooperation, within little
than two months will be in session. and this
mtee deem it would be unwisc 10 do any act which
nigh. enlist public sentiment in any degree against
sit will be time enough to resort to other and stronger
measures when those pointed out at the meeting of
constituent body shall have failed Of Success Time
should be allowed for those to be tested, and
step should be taken to Interfere WITH arrest
them, in their progress. These would to be the
dictates of wisdom, indeed OF ordinary discretion, in
con- unctuIe like the present.
'he preamble and resolutions with the exception Of
the last contain the declaration of certain opinions
U these precede the sixth and last resolution, and would
appear To be the assignment of reasons why that should
be adopted In other words, the sixth and last resolu
ton (Which is the only practical thing suggestcd ap
pears to be meant corollary from the preamble and
preceding buttons 1t is important 10 advert to the
specific terms in which that resolution is couched. 1t is
thus THAT the merchants of this city be, and they are
hereby requested to take into their consideration, the
propriey Of assembling Convention Of the merchants
Of the South for the purpose of devisng the best plan
for supplying the Snuh its necessary merchandise, and
that they communicate their views to the public" This
resolution taken without reference the context
advertng the place where it is offered would amour.
to nothing more than recommendation to get up con-
venton purely mercantile in its character, and partcu
arly to improve the Southern importing trade. Cons
dered merely in this light, it might safely be admitted
that desirable TO improve thai trade tho great doubt
may be entertained whether it be not better TO leave
trade free to seek its proper level and whether il
might not be more advisable to depend individual
enterprise and sagacty to take of the mercantile
tn IN Snnthern