Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-03


section OF the fourth article OF the Constitution the IT,
States was bound to protect each of them from inya-
SON. and upon the application of the Legislature or the
executive, (whcn the Legislature cannot be convened)
from domestic violence" In the event then Of SER
vile insurreciion in slave holding State brought abou,
BY the ncendary efforts of the citizens OF other States
the General Government is authorised and under
some circumstances il might be the dnty 10 bring
from the States Of these deluded fanatics the
force which might be necessary to suppress the
n,utiny The ctzens of New York, PennsyIva-
MIA, or Ohio. are much bound By the terms of
.ho consultation, when required (and he hoped they
nver would be) TO repair to the aid of State the con
don supposed, as they would be TO march to the dc.
renee OF post assaulted threatened by foreign enc
my, in time OF open war lie feared not that n thnt
state of things should come the Southern States would
oe aoie to meet tue crisis unaded They lie said would
always be ready To take care of themselves. But the
constitutional obligations of the other States and CT the
czens thereof, remained the sane and il was i'm that
point of view he adverted TO the case supposed -
FMS Is certainly new doctrine, said Mr.. S. which
ieaus gentlemen 10 Imagine, that citizens, either in
their individual character or combined in societies
Tor improper and unlawful purposes are incapable
OF committing violations of the Constitution but
that IL had been seriously and EARNESTLY maintain
Ca IN debate 1T would scarcely deserve refutation
Inc objections which have been taken go release any
extent oil association from censure, however vile
lhelr designs or potent their means of mischief SO
mat they have not the of qovernne ntu
sanc'loh. That IS, although five thousand or any
larger number OF the citizens Of non holding
State confederate together, and by means of money
ana presses, Hood contiguous slave. holding State
win publications and pictorial representations di.
recy calculated and designed TO enpender and foster
discomfort among the slaves and endanger the lives
ana property Of the white popuation:-nay, although
These ianatics after thus exciting spirit of
nation, should furnish to the slaves arms and ammun
uon TO carry out their purposes such conduct on their
par. Is not 10 be regarded as in conflict with the rights
secured to us by the Constitution, the ground that
The acts complained of proceed from the cfisess of mo-
dner Government, but not from the Gorcramcnf itself
me Oohsutntion he said, made express provision for
the apprehension of persons escaping from service into
other States and declared that persons should not
thereby be discharged from such service or labour
on els
such service labour may be due in violation of this
distinct stpuaton, individuals societies i'm the non
holding States not only gave protection and con-
ceamen to fugitive slaves their discovery and
apprehension in many impractcablc but not nm
frequently when such discovery has been made, prevent
oy force the e-takng of such slave. In this however
they commit no violation of the Constitution according
10 the argument the other side because they are act
ing without the authority and sanction Of the State 10
which they belong!
Mr. S. said the resolution was utterly worthless. de-
PriVed OF mat portion which the substitute omits and
upon winch he had commented. The States as States
nave mol acted upon this subject; but example could
not be adduced of single State who had as such even
expressed an opinion, in reference to this question:
There is probability that they will act in violation IN
II at all, until the citizens thereof who entertain
mons adverse to interests licensed and ENCOURAGED
oy the terms OF your resolutions, have by abolition soc
cues ana alter forms OF combination them
selves and enlarged their influence and their numbers
SO as TO constitute the majority in State then md
not unt then, VIII they speak and act States What
ne asked gave rise TO the animated and general acton
OF our people, in reference to this subject durnq the
last summer? What the origin of ali these ,nh
nc meetings, where proceedings have been colIec,ed
ny the committee and commenced on here /? Had mn;
Oh The States varied upon our interests s-None /,
was AGAINST he dangerous sentiments and purposes of
te numerous societies sprnging up through the nom
slave-hoidng States and of individuals who held Tho
same opinions, and advocated the same measures tba,
the aroused Indignation of the people of Virginia was
iecicd They did hesitate to speak oftese iana,;
single or associated they deserved and 10
Them and their measures incompatible with the safe
~ oil the Union, and as papably in conflict with our
constitutional rights. Nor did they hesitate To asser,
what is claimed in the fourth resolution of the renor,
ana which has been strongly assailed the other
sac, our right to call the " States in which smell,
are formed or projected suppress and pre-.
vent them. by laws, inficng adequate penalties on
among the people of Virginia upon this question
throughout all her borders she had spoken as will,
the voice OF one man. The gentleman from the CT
OF richmond, (Alr. Stanard,) said Mr.. S. has ex.
ahmed IN detail the proceedings of the people in their
primary assemblies, and has shewn most conclusyeiv
from those proceedings themselves that The senI;,n,
OF the consituen body the whole ground taken D
The resolutions, which here warmly oDnosedba,
the people themselves, for whose wishes some gentle
men profess so much regard have instructed their re-
representatives. To assert this right and TO make this
demand In this field, that gentleman he said had pro-
ceeded with master hand and had lett nothing even
10 cleaner Mr. >. SAID however, he would beg leave
TO add TO the list Of which had acted upon tb
subject, the county of Kanawha. The proceedings Of
The people of that county, had found place in The
compilation made by the committee and he had bmsaIc
examined the files of the principal paoers of ths
Guy without being able to obtain them, though he was
quested to republish them He regretted that he bad
not been able to procure copy OF them as he would
nave been pleased 10 exhibit them, evidence If
any were wantg that the people of the Western coun-
lies concured heartily with their Eastern brethren i'm
their views upon this vital question In the absence of
ule resolutions themselves, which his constituents had
adopted, he would take It upon himself say that in
the rm and dignified assertion of our common rights
they had not been behind any portion of the people Of
Virginia nor would they be found behind in the defence
oil those rights, whenever however assaed He be.
eyea hat one common feeling upon the subject perva-
ded the whole Western portion of the Stale IIovev,r
divided IN opinion, may sometimes be upon questions
OF domestic policy said MIR s., there can be no division
when the integrity of the State, and the safety of our
iyes our families and homes, threatened or
III Tins course oil foreign Interference persisted in
the crisis must come, Virginia, come when il NAV will
be found united man, from the banks of The OHM
To the shores of the Chesapeake
Allusions, he said, had been made TO debate which
had taken place in this Hail. four years ago upon
scheme then proposed for gradual aud prospecive
emancipation. within own limils-Why such allu
sons were made, he had been able 10 perceive
less was, that those who them were desro,s f
exhibiting to the people of the holding States
seeming division among ourselves for their ENCOURAGE
ment, ia the work which they had commenced IN,
would not say that such the intention but such
certainly was the effect and he would leave to those
VINO INDUCED in such remarks the business ~ =,
concilng that course TO their own comscienees and
10 the duties which they owed to Virginia The dis
cussi0n referred TO, illustration of TINT rpbt
Claimed md asserted in both sets Of resolutions and
maintained by all, the ''s0Ie md ercps;ye g;,L, -
own borders and JgrIsdicton-a domestic conference
aong ourselves, upon Important question of domestic
Pohey we had looked into the evil compl aimed of
LOT ourselves, as we alone had the ryhf to do and t
result OF the examination had satisfied The neo,le
OF virginia, that any change of that uoliev Vac
mpracucablc. 1t ought so 10 have satisfied fboss
VINO having no other interest in the question: than
That begotten by sickly and misappled obiIanihro
should have been content 10 have eii lie lss; -,