Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-25

WHICH 49,
iutrrcrc-tal it is deeply incumbent on the people o.
the North to crush the traitorous designs Vi le aooi
tioniss aud that look with confidence L" s"ch o'e
mems Oh their part. will erciuailY put an rhu u
impairment, nnacu and disoyal inter efehce WIFI '"'
tiers settled by the Constitution
I,h EcsOiccd Tha, hail tie sentiments expressed
hv the resolutions "i sol!e OF Tie rcce'it ~ LIE
Norb upon the subject Of abolition, lis Inc evidence {"
the existence of right spirit among the great mass OF
our Northern brethren, ats: determination on 'cIr part
10 DISCHARGE the duties imposed upon lhei ny Tue Coh
s,tuon OF their country, and tile ex'gences OF Tie
times. -. cr,,. ,,
vr,l lrrri,orcs OF the United States the
nr,nrrlv of the people of these Stacs-lat the right Of
exclusive legislation in the former, and the power 10
maxi, all pecdul rules and regulations tor the govern
,ncnt of the latter which are vested IN the C"ngHsS OF
the United States, derived from the Constitution,
which recognizes and guarantees the rights resulting
from domestic slavery, and that any interference by that
body with those rights, will br unauthorized by, and
contrary to the spirit OF that sacred character oil mcr
can liberty.
9TH Rrsolrcd, That copies Of the foregoing preamble
and resolutions be transmitted by his Excelency TO the
President of the United Slacs the Governors of The
sprclre States and to the Senators and Repcsen
OF this State in Congress-
They take the dlgniiied ground that the people of
Georgia are prepared protect themselves. They make
no appeals either to the Moth or 10 The South They
usk Legislation the part Of our Northern brc.
tren but express every confidence that they will do all
PRECISION Of the schemes that threaten the safety Of
Institutions Were 10 consult my own views and wish
the subject, should prefer that Virginia should
the dIgnird and exalted stand taken by Georgia.
think such sland TO be more in accordance with her
character than that which it is proposed she should
cupy, by adopting either the resolutions ofthc committee
or vi The substitute.
ami inclined to believe that it would be best for us to
make no appeals either to the North to the South
That we should best guard and protect interests by
sbptyi fOt tho m
ability to do My own reading and experience have
taught to believe that Fanatcsm delights in agita
tion that it glurcs in cummoon; and much fear, that
.herc is nothing which the slavehoidng States could co.
better calculated stimulate the eXerlIon OF such men
as Garrison and Thompson, than to show to them thus
plainly that they had it in their power TO destroy
eacc,-that there is nothing which could better fiaer
their vanity give them satlsactlon add more fuel
the anutcism that stimulates their wicked designs
than the idcu that their schemes should in few months
have agilacd the whole of this widespread republic
have started the independent and sovereign states OF
the South from their rcpusc, and united them IN COIN
appeal to the North for Legislative protection. Its
much be feared, too that the passage Of severe laws
the Northern States would have the effect OF exciting
the ympathes OF great portion OF the people, IN behalf
of the Abuitioniss They may cry out, that the freedom
of speech, the liberty of the press, lnradcd anc II
that CRY finds listening in the multitude IT the
sympa,hies Of the mass arc made TO lean to them
as prosecuted patriots, who falling martyrs III the
defence of these great rights: farewell to our peace and
safety Much doubtless may be done by wholesome and
suiulary laws but much must also he left to the .c OF
public opinion. And we should cautiously abstain from
tho adoption of any violent in their charac
ter weaken that force turn it against
IT, therefore, steps had heen taken by the people in
their primary assemblies, indicating the must
pursue; if | felt myself wholly untramnrllcd, by the
measures which the People Of Virginia. and Among the
rest respectable portion of my constituents recon-
mend adoption, should prefer 10 adopt resolutions
somewhat similar to those passed hy Georgia, in prefer
In
tule But rs the people have acted ina orIty u 'he
Legislature prefer something like the resolutions last
mentioned, obedience to TIC wishes OF the people and
with desire preserving something like unanmlty IN
whatever may be our tina! action, had determined to
vote either for the resolutions the sustnte-And Tor
some of the already mentioned, and for others
which shall proceed presently to devcupc, shall give
preference 10 the substitute.
| know Of no parliamentary rule that would compel
this House 10 adopt Tie report OF the COMMITTEE IN pre-
ference the substitute, though the srntIHIcntS rN
pressed each similar. ii the language OF lie
substitute preferred. better expressing The srn
menls intended TO be conveyed, 1t would he legitimate II
would be proper for the House to express that preference
by It's vote | can:t SEE now this House would de-
grade" itself by such vote but can sre how members
would degrade themselves II. by such arguncmis-li,
Nv being told they suffered themselves 10 be alarmed
into the support Of any measures which did not meet with
their entire APPRECIATION. The substitute is, NV up
nIon better State paper than the report ut Tie Com
Iniller expresses Tie sentiments that each seeks
utter, better lcfs ll"!c col;sS,
ambiguous. less liable 10 Misconceptions But IL IS Hu
only IN the language that The substitute POSSESSES de-
cIdrd advantage tie opposing resolutions OF The
Committee The gentlemen who advocate the latter
present 10 mos, conclusive reason why should re-
ect il, when they show that 1t gu'' further tlan tic
substitute, asinuct as have shown that that gocs fur
thcr than do either Of sister StaeS who have acted
on the subject with the feelings IL prompt them
that should guide our deliberations.
There two Objectionable features, however, 10 be
t;,upd in the rrynutipus of the committee and from
which the substitute is free, which, IN the absence OF all
other considerations would decide in CASTING my vote
tor The latter
The resolutions ask Of the Northern States the pas
uu& If In~s suppress The abolition societies within
their limits whilst substitute asks OF them tho adDp
lien OF such rW cGcctuaily suppress Mtm-
There is it is true. no very great apparent difference
between tic denands-but whilst the latter gives 10
the Northern States discretion IN The use OF tic means
10 suppress these obnoxious societies, by the former ali
ruci discretion Is taken away: and penal Inhibition IL
Dictated The only means OF satisfaction. prefer That
Ike means should hc left rntlrcy to the discretion OF those
who to them l care not what means they think
proper to adopt provided they attain the end, The sup
prrsslon vi these far making tie de-
Inand at all; but think they may well look upon our
coursc dIsrspecttul, when We undertake to dictate
the means, the only means by which tic demand can be
satisfied. III laws bccLle necessary tor the attainment
of the end proposed, trust that laws will be cnacted
but it, by the force OF public opinion or any other means
our Northern friends may think proper to adopt, they
can effect the end proposed, respect to them, our own
interest demands That they should be left free 10 use
them.
The second objection that TO my mind, is to he
found in the second resolution Of the committee. That
resolution, among other things, declares "llIatalll-
reference with the subject of domestic slavery by
the General Government, the other States or the
citizens thereof, is invasive Of the rights OF the
States, AMI violates the obligations OF Tie CoIstu-
{! ton. | have already attempted to show TO the
House, in 4 few remarks submitted days ago,
that this resolution objectionable i'll grouping the
Federal Government the States and The citizens thereof
in tho clause-thal, whilst the citizens might be
guilty Of violating the obligations Of the Constitution, y
an Improper interference with this suhec yet that the
violations by the "olhcr States, the Federal Go
hu citi