Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-09-04
EsOy7 E.s'rHC.
From The Boston Centiaei.)
MIR. FLETCHERS SPEECH at the Great Meeting in

have been put into my hands which propose to offer
Tor considerations But before doing this would ask
DC indulged in stating very briefly my views in relation
to the object Of our meeting. The occurrences which
nave recently been passing before u.s. aud around us
and which have brought together this assembly this
time seem to sir, to demand the careful attention
and sober consideration Of every good citizen lover
oil ms country We see, sir i'll Will and contention stir
req up among ourselves TO unusual and unhappy
tent and ieverish excitement and alarm among our
orehreh oil the South, and jealousy and apprehension
regard 10 the North clearly porendnp disastrous re-
suits Strange and sad to TELL these things are the
work OF proiessed phanihropists
One would suppose that The witnessing such things as
tue fruits OF his Efforts would induce the jealous
pan.hrop'st to pause in his labors of love But,
happily such Is not the case-such is the charac-
Ter OF this most peculiar and extraordinary phan hropy
hese reormers announce 1t as their fixed intention and
hrin resolve to go on in their way reck OF
sequences They mind not, they not though anar-
chy confusion, and ruin follow in their spread
around them
In this state of things sir seems to me proper that
we should commune soherly together what becomes
US 10 40 these rcforncrs right, let Join them;
1T they wrong, let openly and distinctly dis.
countenance and adnonish them. They are tree with
Their opnlons--let clearly express ours With the
general subject OF slavery system, there
clslon at this time to deal The resolutions TO be laid
before you declare that there but opinion among
us on TINS point would not, SIR, would of US
lend any sanction, by word action, the morality
oil system which bound to recognize but are not
bound to approve. The purpose which brings W. toee-
ter is to form and express opinion upon the fitness
and Proprey of the conduct and of certain
combinations which have been formed among us,
discuss what 1T becomes brethren of the South 10 do
or not TO do, but what is proper and Deftting for
10 understand correctly what belongs as citizens
OIL me Norlh,n necessary that we should we'll under
stand what are the rights of the Sou Thcst. NAV be
very shortly stated Before our Con iton was form
Gu each state mad The sovereign, exclusive Jurisdictions
and control of slavery within its own limits The Con-
stution left the subject just found it, There was
no mistake or accidcntit was fully understood and
agreed.
We formed our compact with the South understand
lngiy ana intentionally upon this principles each State
We pledged our solemn faith that would not infringe
TINS right Upon this ground we understandingy bound
ourselves TO the compact, and connected with
the South in a sacred Union.
Under tins compact, by the blessing of heaven we
are what we are The in his circuit looks not on
land more blessed Happen what may happen in The
true spirit OF that compact the letter let us live
SIR, and let die In this view of the clear and uud
Puted rights OF the South, what duties aud are
the conduct and proceedings OF the aboltionsts in any
respects and what respects, inconsistent whhose du
ties! $50
shall endeavor to express my views in a spirit of
perfect kindness aud candOur. 1 would impeach 10
mans motives l shall speak only OF acts NYhat i
there then which can be objected heIn' Let us see
Inc North having solcnIny agreed leave the subject
OF slavery IN the South exclusively To the South.bv
what right, or with what propricy persons exclT-
siyely OF the North combine toi.lher tor tb. 49,,
purpose OF eiectng the abolition of that very slaverys
Slavery by compact is under the exclusive control of t
States where 1t exists Shall combine without their
concurrence or CONSENT 10 reform their institutions l.
that within the spirit of the compact
suppose the South should combine 10 reform o,r in,
slutiohs suppose citizens exclusively OF South
souu please 10 say mat permitting the blacks be edu
Gated among morally wrong and ought TO be re-
iormed-and should combine themselves together for
this purpose, would you resent it as gross ns, t
yourselves and to the community To- which you be
what can any expect that the South will saw 10 oo
Dhatons in the North to abolish their OF slavery
such combinations surely do good They must he
useless aud worse than useless They provoke een0s m
indignation and resentment They directly and of coors
excite spirit Ut opposition and resistance These effects
are already abundantiy manifested They can only re-
tad not defeat the object the abotonsls profess to
nave IN vIew and have already in all probability throws
back emancipation more than half century
The abolition SITS charge upon the present SHAREHOLDERS
OF the South the guilt OF the original kidnapper and man
s steaier SIR tins rs ennenty unchartable unjust
slavery was entailcd upon them. believe their pre-
valng sentiment is, that it is evil morally and no
lncaly-hat they would be rid of if they coudtbot
thelr hearts beat unison with on this subject
u e rms as u US to arfagn them in tins sort
is Inanifesty not within our compact Slavery il ne
WVse now than when VIC formed the Union with them
we theh agreed 10 jtthey into the Union on that
agreement With what grace, then can we nov, Quar-
rel with and rcproach them that account;
apoitonisis maintain and propagate the doctrine
at all laws sustaining slavery, are, a moral point Of
view, null and void Thus removing at once tie uori
foundation on which all civil authority rests SIR this IT,
not reform Ut is revolution 1t strikes at the existence
oi society But shall we, sir who have formed our POI
nucIl constitution with them she admission of their
rights 70 regulate this subject hold this doctrine Is it
what they nave right to expect at hands? L. il
consistent with our engagements aud our duty?
allow me- SIT, To refer TO oey measures and pro
ccedngs OF the abUltiOnistg They adont ana s.,,I
=
publications filed with the bitlcres ephcts of reproacI
remuneration and scorn towards the slav holder which
our language affords The natural and necessary i'm
dehcy and effect OF this alienate tho Sout fr,,
The North, aud the NOtth from tile South and TO xciin
ana hiamc the worst passions Of the master and slave
toward each other.
They say they do not address their publications TO the
saves sir they send tleme every wlcre-fliey arc scat
tercd-broadcast through h4 land in all its lgngtb 49,
DTeuuth-and VIII DO ali Le mischief they are calcuut
ed from their nature to do among the bond and i re-
Dut tey say, mean only to discuss the matter and
PERSUADE the Shareholder FINE discussion thist Dc
n""ncc, Witty, and abuse by way of persuasoni Sir II
Is inockery and insult the unde rstandin 20 eli
hong rs proposed for discussion No plan 10 effect lin
alleged object * offered. Nothing is said 10 enL,L,e
INC mud or improve the heart but every thing is said 10
Dhame ana only to inliame the passions. If these pu
i'ca!ioh' produce any effect II must be violence They
tend to nothing else. IL they to effect emanc;ns
uon, 1T must be by violence and blood she'd Such onv
Is their tendency.They have no tendency To pc If ~
persuasion aud peaceful means
These plilanthropss, by pictures Of every form and
device, aud by language the most violent and denunca
tory hold uP the slave holder 10 our view as an oie
Tor our deepest hatred and decstaton.
\" htnulc hatred rs "a and strange work of fove
Such feelings must lead directly lead TO tearing ason
der 'He bond Which binds these States together de-
pore very thing calculated to produce such feelings
lhey VIII never prevail among We will csrrv i'm ot,y
bosom no oter feelings toward brethren Of the South
than those which accord with pighted faith and lie
ties which bind us together
The hopes OF the slave and tle freeman the black and
we wm are bound Wy together ia tie Union Of these
states " That Union in tine Providence Of God
to be torn asnndern that day let it be ia our nocey
TO say that--we are guitess.
the glorious banner that waves over ns is ever Il, b
torn down, let ~ not be ty our hands
MR. SPRAGUES SPEECH
mr SPaguc regarded slavery great moral md po /
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