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

I events un0fesc ncies
connected with the proceedings in other States the
subject of the Abolitionss Tile Committee is not in
the nature of Legislative body, with general discre
uonary powers but Is simply executive ministerial
body whose sphere of action is confined to certain geo
graphical limits The object in creating this Commit
tee obviously To guard against the and
circulation oil incendiary publications within the limits
oil ienreo, and the city Of Richmond and u discover
ana hring to condigu punish aiy agents aud ennis
s"'es"i the aboon:sts who be found lui king with
IN tnr same The power of pubshin, declarations aud
recommending measures of very comprehensive imp r.
,ance, Is no where given to the Committee The people
du themselves IN Their prinuy assembly already made
an appeal fully decaratory Of their sentiments any
thinS should occur to make it necessary give further
express,h OF public sentiment, il should cDaaate from
'heniseVes Inc only authority conferred this COM
mec is derived from its acting the Represcnative
VI ue people who appointed them. If not appointed
ey would nave had to act at ALL IL they act on
SUBJECTS not delegated teni their proceedings would
DC entitled to no more weight than would those Of
any equal number of respectable persons i'm the commu-
my III The declarations OF this committee contain only
what was before embraced in the PROCEEDINGS of the
meeung OF citizens, they give additional force To ny
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 con-
'ec derives It's existence II the declarations OF this
committee embrace the enuncation of principles the
recommendation ola system Of measures not con-
aned IN The proceedings OF the citizens their primry
aSeoy, ,ien TINS committee cannot be considered in
as acting as the representatives of the body
appointing them. since they would be acting without the
sphere OF their delegated authority From This view of
tne subject and believing that The Preamble and Resnu.
uons ofered are without the scope of the powers con.
ered on ths committee and that they present very i'm
portant subjects which the People ofhe CITY of Rich
iond, and county of ilcnrco have not and
nave nad no opportunity Ia express their Wishes this
committee cannot comfortably their so of
give their sanction to the same
nut, II be conceded that this committee was not
ased as body auxiliary to- and for the purpose OF Civ
ing Vgor To the police, which its name imports but
conservative body, with large, underlined and discre
uohary powers to the in the
preamble aud resolutions. yetit il by means convnc
co OF TIC ropriety cxpedcncy of its giving its appro
paon to the statements and Recommendations contain
cd tnerein. Amongst the resolutions adopted by the
constituent body, from which this committee l. an
emanation the 9Th is in the following words. Reso,cJ
mat we hold in great respect and entertain cordial
ana isaerna regard for the great body OF Northern
ana Eastern brethren; that confidently believe that
the indignant sentiments have expressed towards the
deiuded fanatics, who are the advocates of immediate
patton will be rcciprocated by the great mass of
engntehed citizens OF the nonslave-hoding States-
III is pain from this resolution and from various parts of
me preamble adopted by the meeting of the citizens
.at hrm reliance was had the good sense and yir-
tuous and patriotic feeling of our fellow in the
oer states to put down aboltionism This meeting was
hcd on the 4th of Aug 1885 and il is matter of surprise
.a' committee deriving its existence ind its whole au.
thory from IT. should have called upon at as early
Jay as I'm oil Sept to adopt resolutions tone and
TENOR which are IN direct conflict with those of the meet
ing oil The citizens If any thing had occurred TO CHANGE
e aspect OF affairs, to sentiments of kindness
ano eonhdence into those of GOODNESS and alienation to-
"arus our ieowcitizens in other States, it would be
respectful and proper to leave TO our constituents TO
wesn the circumstances which had INTERVIEWED and to
modify their declarations according TO existing facts
IL would not be proper in mere executive cou;,,ac
whose functions intended TO be ministerial who
are bouna by the sentiments of the constituent bod as
expressed by IL, TO publish declarations the world d.
ccty contrary 10 those of the body which created il
The meeting at the capital urged upon our sister States
~ pass Avs 10 repress the publication of ncendary
winnings AZ the North, and requested the Legislature of
our own State earnestly press this upon those of our
slster states From the time of the adoption of the
resolutions at our general meeting this time meet
ngs have been held in the Northern States at which
some oil the most enlightened citizens without dstinc
uon OF party, or religious Sect attended, which the
have haon
people OF the South the full admission of the con
stitutonal right of the Southern people in their slave
property their exclusive right to regulate the cues.
u1h OF domestic slavery, and denying the right of the
oer states or Congress 10 interfere any manner with
IT. ~ these meetings, strong dsaPprobaton is express
Gu Oh lhe conduct oil e Abolitoniss These meetings
are now going daily at the North and to JUDGE from
tue sentiments expressed at them and by the concurrent
testimony of citizens, who have RECENTLY re-
tut ned from those States have rght To calcu lie ON
me most beneficial effects resulting from the strong
uuy OF pubic sentiment running in favor of rights
ahu interests And 1t would surely be unvvse and i'm
polite IN us at this time by the expression of want of
confidence IN the great body of fellow citizens at
the NORTH TO damp their ardor in our behalf and t
convert them from warm friends to a cold neutrality
ereoy strengthening the hands, aud eevating the hopes
oil inc aooonists Nothing is CALLING to generous
minds, as to find their expressions Of rcndso and re-
ardreceved with dstrus and their oc of treat
cd as hearess and insucere Not great deal more tIan
month had elapsed from the time of the meeting in Rich
ond TO That at which the preamble and resolutions were
laid on the table of this committee Meanwhile none
be legislatures of The North have had time to act if
Va nave convened Our own legislature.
10 whom we reterre for its cooperation, within sAe
more than two months will be in session and this com
miltee deem III would be do any act which
might enlist public sentmentin any degree against us
III VIII be time enough to to other and stronger
measures, when those pointed the meeting of our
constituent body shall have failed of success Time
should be allowed for those measures to be tested and
no step Should be taken interfere with or arrest
them, IN their progress These would seem to be the
uictates oil WISDOM indeed Of ordinary discretion, in u
conJuncture like the present.
The preamble and resolutions with the execution of
the last cOntn the declaration of certain opinions mere
W these precede the sixth and last resolution and would
appear 10 be the assignment OF why that should
be adopted In other words the sixth and last resolu
uon (which is the only practical thing suggested) APP
pears TO be meant corollary from the preamble and
preceding resolutions 1t is important to advert to the
specific terms in which that resolution is couched IL is
thus: That the merchants Of this city be- and they are
hereby requested to take into their consideration the
proPrety OF assembling Convention Of the merchants
OF TIE south, Tor the purpose of dcvsng the best plan
Tor supplying the South its necessary merchandise and
That they communicate their views the public" This
resolution, taken without reference to the context or
adVertug oethc place where it is offered would amount
to nothing than Recommendation To ret M CON
venon purely mercantile in its character and parcu
arly TO improve the Southern importing trade Consi-
dered merely IN this light it might safely be admitted
at II is desirable TO improve that trade tho great doubt
may DC entertained whether IL be better 10 leave
uaue Tree To seek It's proper level and whether il
might not be more advisable to depend On individual
enterprise and sagacty take os the mercantile
interests than to resort 10 Southern Convention to i'm
pose shaekles on commercial intercourse, which may !
Hhu 10 inc creation OF monoPolics and TO cnhance the
price OF goods, by combining the supply limited chan
nes II VIII not, probably, be denied, a general pro.
poson that II is best to leave commerce as air
and to allow both merchants and agrcutursts to man
age ther own concerns, To buy where they do so
cheapest, and to sell where they can obtain The hest
in gDu he tvi,c II l..