Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-23
.J.g.YU.gFs y. 23, 1876.

rs,
to learn what legislative action contemplated, with
regard 10 such supposed offences what punsmc mt they
intended TO provide for their citizens for thus disturbing
our peace-when in fact their citizens entirely
gutess and ready 10 frown upon such attempts
from other quarters? And would il not be unjust sin
gle out of the States whose citizens
had been guilty Of countehancing these obnoxious socc
ties, and thus point them to the indignation Of the
South and TO omit decline similar correspondence
WIN those whose citizens had been equally guilty
Would II be respectful foreign nation send
Ambassador TO its Court open n correspondence
with its authorities, for the purpose of earning their in
tenon respecting the punishment suppression of
supposed to be committed by its citizens, hostile TO
welfare and reposc when ia fact such had been
coinmited-and when we had it perfectly in power
to have asccraincd that fact, Would such
on our part be viewed by them indicating dslrust of
their amity and good will towards us And if il ought
thus to be reasonably regarded by foreign nation have
we any right Ia anticipate that such towards
sister States members of the Union those who
bound 10 us by the strongest ties of interest and affection
able:
But gentlemen may say it is very easy for the Co
vernon to ascertain the particular States in which
socations have been ormedtat slight review of the
public journals would point them ou-ihat it belongs
the history of the times If il is also easy for this
body TO designate them And why, ask, have the Co
vernon TO ascertain ucts which ourselves are equally
competent TO learn and state.
But conceive that il is important that the States
WIN whom this correspondence is be held should be
enumerated for other Suppose it 10 be that
The Governor cannot be mised in this particular that
mere is no difficulty in learning and specifying all the
States in which such associations have been formed and
rom WITHIN whose limits such incendiary publications
nave ssred-stll think il desirable that the names of
the States should be designated for one would feel
hiuch more disposed to commence such correspondence
with those States where numerous associations of this
character had been formed and where respectable por-
ton OF the people had been found engaged in these hos
tile movements. than would with those where but
nandlnl OF Aboitionists had dared to raise their flag
IL might be very proper for Virginia To the
contemplated towards any particular State, if the evil
was oil great extent there whilst it might appear
ludicrous for her TO commence such national iornaes
win respect to Others where il of trivial extent and
met and opposed by an overwhelming majority of the
people Surprising that by the laws nations we should
have right thus arTaign for the impropcr and
nlscheyous acts Of a single individual, some few in
diydnals receiving no counienance from its authorities
or the great mass of its czensyet would not be do.
tracing from the dignity of the "Old Dominion" p
would 1t not be giving lndicrous Importance 10 rine
10 embark her IN solemn negotiation about few mise
rabie, struggling fanatics in distant State: Whilst
therefore, the extent of the evil in any one State the
number OF these associations and the character
ana nhuence oil the persons engaged in these mad and
mischevous schemes TO be very proper cir
cumslances TO guide us in judging of the expedcncy
proPriey of the proposed respecpg such State
deem II important that the States with whom the cor.
respondence contemplated, should be named Nor can
see how gentlemen can defend this omission to name
ana specify the nonsavchoding States unless they are
prepared TO show that these associations exist in every
one OF them to extent alarming as 10 re Dde il inn
or us 10 commence tins correspondence, with
w oi learning the inIcntons of their Legislatures
speeding them.
But If the information sought by the proposed cores
pondence is necessary for before we act on This sb
Jcct think there better calculated TO obtain
such information than those led in The resolution
ny appealing to the best and most digncd of the pub
nc journals, and by opening correspondence with in.
egent citizens the States in which these associations
exist, we should, in all probability obtain more exact in.
formation respecting the true state OF public sentiment
III eacn oiate, ana The consequent action TO be ex
pected from the Legislatures, than we coud EXPECT
TO GeriVe from formal and diplomatic correspond
ence with their Governors / cannot conceive of anv
measure that would look like executive d;cta-
tion than tor the Governor of any State to intimate
the future of lis Legislature and thus indirectly
of The n1c
cuiar line OF conduct. To make such an enquiry ofanv
Governor as the resolution proposes TO ask him to
DO that winch he has no earthly right do. The Just
indignation of the citizens and of the Legislature of
aQy state, would be reused against any Governor who
would Take upon himself 10 predict the future ac-
ZION oil the State on any subject whateverI cannot be-
eve therefore, that could obtain any satisfactory
information from enquiries, direct replies TO which,
would IN all probability, bring the Governors to whom
ents But supposng that the Governors alluded TO were
disposed to give us all the information the subject that
tney could they could at best furnish but very efor
The Legislatures themselves can apprehend scarcely
anticipate what will be their final action Gentlemen
wouio CONCEIVE lind great difficulty in predicting with
certainty what Will DC The ultimate action of this House
on several Subjects which have the themes of debate
with The people for the last twelve months BY attend
lng therefore, to the Of the Governors MESSAGES
in the different States, by watching The feeling viii
winch they are received by the legislatures and bv
strictly scanning all movements Of the people, we
shall be better enabled to arrive at the information
sought IMAM by the proposed pondcnce The peo
PIE oil the North are already apprsed a certnn xten
VI the oeeP leehng OF indignation which perYades the
SCUM on account OF The movements Of the fanatics and
VIII very probably indicate through their Legislatures
Tins WINTER Cat least many may actO what the
INTEND dong IN eOton 10 this subject Before the close
OF the present session. The Of some of these I
gsltures viii in all probability be before US; but if pe
"tmen cannot, and VIII not wait; il they believe that
crisis at hand calling for immediate action let them
proceed TO adopt mode better calculated TO obtain
lhe information than that proposed by lie resolution
IL we can wait no longer, would il be better 10 send
agents 10 visit the different States authorized TO com
municale our wrongs, and to ask redress than TO COM
ehcc ths OnbernatOral correspondence which ca H. as
nave attempted to shew, result in conceivable rood
said IN the course Of the remarks submitted 10 Tho
House before, That, IT U useful TO em
poy agents Tor tue purpose Of collecting information on
tins subject from ihe North should prefer selecting
some other person than the Governor ! have already
IN part developed my for this opinion hy show
lng hat private individuals would in all probability OF ve
to private individuals fuller information on this subject
tan We could reasonably expect to obtain from formal
correspondence iTtween Governors. a correspondence
between individuals, who untrnrnmclled by Of
hce and its responsibilities would be less guarded and
would give fuller information than any Official cent,n
cations also intmated, that objected 10 embark The
State ~ correspondence Of this character because the
present Gofcrnor was not fhe person whose agency
should desire in this delicate matter This last remark
mas peen msconeeiyed by gentcmen and made the sub
Ject OF severe rfpro0t conceive that / had peTcct
right, when II was proposed to vest the Governor with
new powers, not necessarily belonging his Office 10
object for fear That such powers would be discreev
exercised In 50 doing, IL seems however shat have
offered very great negnty TO the highest officer Of the
State.
II will be ecolleeicd dat preiaced my remarks on
TINS branch OF the subject by saying that entertained
high respect for The talents and character Of the Cover
nor, and that IT was not my purpose in unywige 70
detract from his wcilcarncd reputation and ! said
what felt. 1 had no bitter ireIinos to,o,rds bi,,,
L "A. vouf i ,-4a ntfa 80 II l. &