Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-13

news he called it, from Governor Marcy's messasse
aud what was the good news; Why, That if public /
opinion was found insufficient 10 put down the Abolition
% II would be necessary to enquire what else could be
done to arrest their proceedings Why not enquire
now Was not the danger staring them in the face ?;
IL Tue North was disposed To do what right, they
wond do it at They knew the injury their citi-
zens were doing us, aud if they really, gentle
men said they were, our friends and allies, they would
exert themselves at They could not be blind to
the state of things caused by the practices of these
fanatics--yet Governor Marcy talked of public opi.
MON putting them down Had not public opinion
been already cxered against them to the fullest extent
ana mad 1t IN any way arrested their proceedings =;
NO! lhey had gained additional srength--from $50,
their associations had increased $50 Wus posi-.
Ole Tor public opinion 60 be strongly cvnced than
u already had been! Had the Postmaster enc raj
been obliged to violate the of the land to arrest the
circulation OF incendary pamphlets, and did public
opinion sustain him in that And the same
course pursued and sustained throughout the country
ANA yet, IN the face OF all thsin the face of state of
things which rendered necessary for the Postmaster 10
set the laws at deEancewe told our rights to
slave property were better Understood and secured than
they had ever been Why, if gentlemen believed there
was no danger, did they come forth at the primary
assemblies aud tell the people instead of drafting
voting Tor resolutions OF directly contrary character
Why did they not tell the people then, there was
hoing 10 all the alarm occasioned by the
naneuvrcs of the Wing party, to enable them to ac
conIpsh selfish ends' Gentlemen did not say this then
for obvious reasons The people are the politicians al
inc polls Give the politician chance of deccving
and ne will avail himself of III but this chance was moi
open to gentlemen at the pollsBrng them directly in
contact with the people like this and they
fierce as lions ' W
Mr. WATKINS said he should not attemp. 10 go ovor
the ground which the gentleman from Psyvenia had
rayersed, as that gentleman had not during half the
ume ne had been occupied in speaking confined him
sell to the question before the House With concia.
tory spirit and an anxious desire TO haronise all par
ties which seemed conceded be interest of Vir
gnia MT W. said he had asked of the courtesy of the
House limited time 10 bring about result so desira
blc These cOncilaory efforts however so far from be-
my amlcaby met bad been repealed by the whole Wing
party, together with fragment of those gentlemen
with whom had heretofore been his pleasure to act
and, nlr, w SAID rs he left without any hone
of ecctnga reconciliation it only remained for him 10
place his views this question in a proper nsnect
they had been frequently alluded TO and
ed in this debate. Ii had been said tha, he denied he
right oil Virginia TO claim of her sister States any ea
OF redress for the wrongs inflicted on her peace
and security by their citizens AS good luck would have
1t, the printer had that morning out with his
spceeh aud he would now tell the House what he did saw
MIR WATKINS here read from the Enquirer the re-.
marks on this subject made by him on a former occa.
sion, sto show what his views We're
Mr. WITCHES said he had understood the gentleman
10 deny The right OF the States 10 pass penal laws in
connection with this subject and had stated his be-
liet on previous occasion, when it not denied
MIR WATKINS said, he did not believe in the dangers
predicted from the efforts of the aboonisls The o5ol
ton cause, said he dying and will die unless re yiyed
ny ndiscrect legislation aud ndiscreet demands on be
North lie had every confidence in the lberality JUS
tce magnanimty and brollicry affection of the North
ern States. Mr. w. here related fact already alluded
to by MIR. Garland of NJ oGan individual being candi
GATE or The magsracy IN Fayete county, OHIO and of
ms being Immediately deserted by his supporters when
1t was discovered that he was aboonistl Mr. w
contended That the subject of slavery better under
stood now than 1t had been, because public atten
ton had been reused and directed TO it, II would there
tore have seemed sufficient him that there should have
been by this General Assembly sitnplv declara,;o IS
our rights in relation to this abolition queston-rights
guaranteed TO us by the Constitution the VALIDITY of
which, Virginia ought not to eondrscend discuss with
any foreign State and which she would defend n, nj, M
yards ~ -
would protest most solemnly against the abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia by Congress as
migrant outrage on the slave holdng States wanon
usurpation the rights of the citizens of the District
ana as evincng reckless disregard of the blessings of
TIE Union OF these States. He would express The con
ndehce ne eit the justice and raerna affection of the
Northern States and the belief which he did
that they would properly meet every emergency which
the abolition question could present. so as to give quiet
ude and security TO the slave holding States If a man
owed MN |oOo and he knew The indy dua coming
20 pay hlm would 1T be right of him 90 him and e
nm lac would sue him if he did come! And when
he saw the attention of the North drawn this subject
when he saw them disposed do all they could he
was hot ior unnecessarily urging or threatening them
After he had done what he had stated Mr. w said bs
Wouic uheh pass such penal enactmenis would dof
ne heads OF every ianatlcal Preacher, Psain
fiactcdrrer, and Pictorial exhibitor or any other who
might be found within boundaries stirring up our
slaves To- muuny and nsurrectiOn, whether bv IN.
natical preaching, psalm singing, tract carrying
pictorial exhibition, otherwise. This is what he
would have been content now 10 do and beino, enid
Mr.. Watkins, perfectly satisfied with the alliance
formed by the Constitution, le would form none other
now by resolution either with the North South They
might IN the sequel prove cntangling alliances; but
relying on the justice of cause and the ord of
Hosts he would patiently the day ofraI if il ever
CONT conndenl assurance, that,
aids' "a. would be onnipotant He had expressed no
disrust OF our sister States; M felt nonche th
were operated on by elevated feelings of patrioti s
we are lie had read that ming, feelings of de-
light; yes, with unboundcd adnlration the elogueut
message OF Gov Marcy. 1t did, in truth come to us
the herald OF glad tdgs IL comes with ,aI
breathe, and with words that burn"
How Illuminating, SAID MIR. w, how deeply humot-
ing, The contrast between its boundless philanthropy lis
elevated patrlotsn and haowed devotion to the Union
OF .hese otaesi and The narrow contracted suspicious
and llOCral sentiments expressed on this floor IIc
deeply regretted the expression such sentiments hero
not because OF the persons who uttered theni-for in
the great scale OF human events personal raons
weighed with him not leathcr,-bus he regretted
uen because he felt for the reputation and ancient
discussion could not proceed, without IugginG MIR
van Buren INTO 1T and the member from PiuyI.
wanna mad pursued the extraordinary course Of n,
plying to the Message of Gov Marcy without Ina vino
read IT. This reminded him of what happened here
some short Tune ago, when gentleman reuled 10 n
speech before it uttcred.-ihe gentleman had mot
represented Gov. Marcy fairly Mr.. w here read from
Gov Marcy Message, and concluded by saying that the
Governor had gone much farther than was stated by l
member from flttsylvanIa, and had fully admitted the
luton associations.
Mr.. Berry said, he had all along been i'm favor Of the
report OF The majority, with single exception and that
related to the clause which denied tie right of Compress
TO Interfere with slavery in the District of Columbia
~ nder his constitutional oath Mr. r. could moi brne
himself TO vote against this right in CONGRESS But ne
man in THIS House could be thoroughly con Vnced
lah e was, OF the danger which would arise out of the
exercise OF this power aud in giving his vote against the
portion OF the Committees Report embracing That uues.
gress taking any step in matter aug with danger
TO The peace and safety of the Southern States and the
integrity OF the Union.
Mr.. GILMER said perceive the House is inpationt