Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-09-11


those provisions They have been acted wherever
aud whenever they have been required. The system
hes become perfectly established and understood and its
theory and exercise Qke axioms in mathematical
scieDce,) no longer to be questioned.
Notwithstanding this long course of comparatively
tranquil and from
excessive ociousness and interference from agitation
and alarm, it that at the end of nearly half
tury this topic is be made the fatal messenger of dis
cord and disonion II reserved for this l-sarrcd
dlya day of general excitement for the fires Of ultra
abolition to be stirred up and its pernicious flames to
be spread abroad Such is at length the mourniu fact
The unhappy conflict be longer summed and
ALL however reluctantly they may the lists
must be parties 10 1t on the right side the wrong
If the Jeo will raise disturbances it is for the
To put them down. If the few fasfy the charac
guous or decetnl Voices SANDER their neighbours by
procainng the sentiments of ALL the sentiments of
handful is for the many forth in the majesty
OF truth and the bodness of indignant patriotism, and
redeem themselves and all about them, (a except u dis
contentcd and misudgng few from the reproach and
degradation Who will silently submit, TO be falsely con
sdered volator OF the lawsa promoter Of civil dis
cord-a stimuator of rapine and havoc-of bloodshcd
and massacre' No that has heart in his bosom
prompt his feelings, and head upon his shoulders
govern his actions. do not say that the men
who have given birth these unhappy proceedings have
been actuated by the base and malignant motives TO
which their conduct might be taken for index But
when they the appearance of nccndares and do
their deeds they must be content 10 bear the opprobun
When they utter from the midst of u community senti-
nens which the OF that community INNS they
must be content TO listen TO the condemnation though
II speak in voice of thunder If fire brands have been
scattered, il is not by hands If death blows have
been inflicted, il is with weapons Shall we can
TO be the passive spectators and supposed
promoters of those atrocious consequences whether the
motives from which they spring, the individuals who
gave them notion the causes in which they originated
| be good or evil?
An occasion thus, unfortunately is forced upon us
upon which ii has become delicate and just descani
ON the subject OF domestic slavery. II has become So
because the topic, ordinarily dangerous, and always to
be cautiously approached has been already tortured
prominent notice, with all the dangers of kindly dis
posed, but ofcious attention. and with of the con-
solutions which such state of things might possibly
have possessed Are they who really attached othe
Union, who uphold and venerae the Constitution-who
truly estimate the blessings and advantages enjoyed i'm
the existence and prosperity of country, and
who feel and desire practice the duties they owe to il
and TO every part of are they stand by and aInely
| see these fair works mutilated and DESTROYED?
Inc discussion has become especially proper, however,
heard these things and will inevitably draw erroneous
conclusions from them if they not put the way
drawing Just ones Unless better informed, they will
conceive-hey have already conceived that the whole
North is united in one array against them their inter
ests characters and lives. They this very
ment abouring under the (unquestionaby NATURALLY delu
sion, that the notions avowcd, gated, and acted
on among by misguided individuals, the prevail
ing and universal sentiments of the whole Northern
part of the Confederacy My fellow citizens they sos
venture to maintain, that in the present controversy
between the scattered agitators of the North and our
Southern brethren, the South in their complaints are
rIght,-and they who agitate and nhame, are wrong
They wrong because their tend to rouse
slumbefing lion, and lash him into MADNESS: because
although they may stand aloof from personal and
mediate agency they provoke the ncendary light his
GER because they invite, foolishy at least and inhu-
manly perhaps, to deeds that would dcuge large por-
ton of the country with the blood of its citizens
What pretex have they for this inatuaton' Do they
not know that they acting against the Constitution?
Perhaps not God grant that they do not and that thus
far they sin in ignorance of established rights So let
them be now told with emphasis of their fatal miscon
cePtion:
The Constitution is contract as much SO as any that
was ever framed. 1t has been truly said hundred
times that il formed of reciprocal concessions and
'compromses. Our fathers weighed their relative inn
mn nliv
6eei occSs6H 6ssae uGee ab1Ii Jl 5Ys raised has
hrmiy amidst the Tudes shocksand proved the wisdom
oil It's trainers Are about to be wiser moro vir-
tuous an they! to burst asunder the holy mystery in
which they almost every of them enshrined-to
cali their sainted spirits from the trembling hopes of an
eternal world and arragn them before ated tr
bunal here for of the best of human works. What
part OF their valuable legacy will be safe if this is to be
violated If set Of individuals choose To ou,rre
with domestic slavery another may refuse submission to
the extent of the Judicial power; third insist upon
throwing off the limitations of the Executive New fea-
lures Will he given TO the Constitution caprice or va
nifty, or interest, o malice may devise
Will 1t be said that these do not involve questions of
conscience Any thing may be made the stalking horse
OF sicky conscience Many excellent individuals dis
approve conscientiousy of judicial oahs some of cant
TAI Punishments and not few of Imprisonment for debt
All nave been made at times the subject of conscientious
anmadversion. But the aniable individuals who en-.
terrain these sentiments and far they influence
heir own practice act TO them in their personal and
private dongs never have attempted to PROSTATE by
force or fraud the laws which opposite sentiment has
created much less palm or impose upon whole com
munity their peculiar doctrines. No man has right to
be the guide of another's conscience He who under
takes to prescribe toEhe Southern population course of
duty that happens to conform to his particular SEN
tnent and TO insist upon their conformity TO it, is him
SELL while he believes that he is promoting the cause of
liberty he most arbitrary of tyrants, and would make
| OF others the most abject Of slaves
rejoice TO find among the resolutions offered one
winch draws distinction between the legitimate
genuine friends Of abolition-those who have become
members of the society hearing that name and the
ultra devotees OF the cause, who determined to
effect their object at every hazard do so though
the victims of their delusive pity should perish or
deserve TO perish IN the attempt The Abolition Society
contains upon ITS rolls in its first establishment and sub
sequent history, names oil individuals among the most
onored and distinguished of this and other But
in conserving attach themselves to that society and in
gIvingt the advantage aud influence of their counsel
and Their names they had in view and intended to abide
by and sustain, the Constitution. BENJAMIN franklin
was their President and his stands the head
ofthe long list OF worthy who composed il when
It was chartered in 1850. Benjamin Franklin stands
also at The head of the Pennsylvania delegation which
IN general convention aided in forming and actually
subscribed te Constitution of the United States in 1S
Two short years had not eaccd its provisions from his
recollection, or rendered lis sanctions insignificant i'm his
eye Few OF US have not in some shape oc-
casioD, soiemny sworn to support that instrument Let
Us MOI lightly foregO the duty thus iearfully assumed
For myself, csed have been by your SURFACES to
post where duty and inclination, seconded by rcpeti-
uon OF that solemn sanction, would lead to give
every effort OF my soul to its support, should deem
myself unworthy OF your confidence, If did not here
stand forward, and availing myself of the occasion
when it threatened and asailcd pledge for it the hum
bic but honest aud unhestang assistance aud protec
ton of this feeble arm
II not for us to settle the question of the relatve bap
Piness and hopes of The slave in country of religou