Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-11-20


they pa in their dull and exhausted realities, upon
cxcitable and ambitious temperament it is surprising
that the esher excitement Of abolitionsm is entered
upon with kecner RELISH the disa ppontncnts ofthe
past arc recoected and the hopes of the FUTURE through
temppstuous agitation and sectional conflict, Swallowed
forth
We would no, do Mr.. Smith injustice. We award to
him talents and private worth-Wc respect him for the
moderation, tho liberal spirit and the sound phlanhro-
py with which he advocated and advanced the cause OF
colonization, so long he adhered to that cause. But
bound to speak of him with freedom, and with all
planncss Of speech Casting aside the only feasible mode
Of ultimate emancipation he has thrown the weight Of
his name and the force of his eloquence, into the scale
of the ncendary agators Of the day. he has abandoned
strong, impregnabe, constitutional ground for danger
ous mpractcabc and abstract specuations hnrtf alike
to the public veal and to the welfare Of the slave; and
shall not scrure to his motives and purpose IN
doing So We shall be the less scrupulous, since in
sketcng the individual describe class. From Ma.
homet to Cromwell: from the Fifth-Monarchy-nen Of
England TO the ultraists of our mes-in all ages
fanatcsm and the love of power aud notoriey. have
rushed uo all of excuses, under tho pretcnce
of philanthropy and the garb Of religion.
The ostsnsiGc cause of this sudden and excessive ma
nestaou of the ultra spirit of Abo;,ionsm, is the al!
legged obligation to vindcac and sustain the right Of
free discussion But is this the true causco Is it ina
gined for moment, that Abolition State Convention
vas started and urged onward to its climax this State
at this time for the purpose Of sustaining 'he right Of
free dscusson?" Will such pretencc deceive any
familiar with the springs and motives which govern hu-
man conduct What care Alvan Stewart and Arthur
rappan fr The right Of free discussion, except far
restriction may be supposed to conflict with their designs
of personal and political ambiton' Was not this con.
venton started for the purpose of hiding abettng and
organising unconditional aboitionsm' Was not uncon-
donal abotonsm the staking-horse upon which visi-
onary theorists and broken-down politicians sought the
qualification OF their ruling pasSon-nooriety and pow
err And was not the convention called at this time with
view to political well personal considerations and
with the sinister hope that, insignificant it really
would be, something might grow out Of it injurious 10
Mr.. Van Buren-that the South might be cxasperated
into hostility, and the North agitated into controversy
and dvlsion-a chance in which the agitators having
nothing to lose, could put nothing at hazard?
Look, for moment at the circumstances under which
the convention was proposed and attempted be
yened. The lncendiary movements of the Abotionsts
had excited every where throughout the country, the
strongest expressions of hostility to their designs and
proceedings. The South, exasperaed by the unieel.
ing and audacious interference in their domestic policy
and looking to the consequences of insurrecton mas.
and violation with instructive apprehension and
horror, had risen as one man, breathing vengeance
against the incendiaries, and appealing to their brcth
the North to restrain the evil propenses of those
among them who were thus bent upon enkindlinr the
fires of servile war. The North responded to the
South In every quarter the people with one impulse,