Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-23

States nnncent II So would it not be disrespecuI 10
those States whose citizens have not conHn''a Suc "
fences open correspondence with their 'oVerhois
to learn what Legislative action was contemporaries WIFI
regard such supposed offences what punishment they
Intended provide for ,hcr citizens, for thus disturbing
our pcacc--wl.cn in fact their citizens were chNrry
gulLless. and ready to lrown upon SUCH attempts
from, other quarters And would It not DC UNJUST 10 SIN
gr out some one or more Of the States, whose czens
had been guilty Of couneLancng these OBNOXIOUS soce
ties and thus point them out 10 the Indignation o. 'e
South and tu omit or decline similar correspondence
with those whose citizens had been equally as guilty
Would it be respectful to foreign nation To SEND al
Ambassador 10 lis Court, or to open correspondence
with is authorities for the purpose OF leaning tlr!r IN
tcnion respecting the punishment Suppression at acts
supposed be committed by its citizens, hostile to our
welfare and rcpnsc, when in fact Sucu acts li been
committeeman Wien had it perfectly III our power
to have asccrtaned that Fact; Would rot such course
part be viewed by them indicating nsrust oi
their anty and coed will towards US: And IL 1t ought
thus Lt reasonably regarded by foreign nation, have
any right - anticipate that such course towards OUT
sister States; members of the Union; those who are
bound by the strongest ties o! interest and a1icctioh
would be regarded by the latter i'll an aspect more iaVos-
able;
But gentlemen may SAY, it is very easy for the Go.
vernon IL ascertain the particular States in which the as
suriali0ns have been forcdlat sg review OF the
public Journals would point them out-that It belongs 10
the history Of the times II So 1t IS also easy Tor lhis
body dcsg iatc them. And why ask, have The 90
vernon to ascertain facts winch we ourselves are cly
competent to learn and state:
But conceive that it is Important, that tie States
with whom this correspondence to be held should Dc
enumerated for other Suppose it 10 tc true that
the Governor BE- misrd in this particular, that
there is difficulty in learning and specifying all the
States in which such associations have been formed and
from within whose limits such inccnd:ary publications
have issurd-st think il desirable that tic names OF
tho States should be dcsgnard for one, would ieei
much disposed 10 Commences such correspondence
with those States where numerous associations al lslls
characc. had been formed and where's respectable por.
off hp had rnU
tile movements than would with those where but
handful oI AbulltunisIs had dared to raise their flag
It ME- be very proper Tor Virginia TO the stand
contemplated towards any particular S!:!: II the cvIl
OF great extent there whilst il might appear even
ludCrus for her TO commence such national orna!tirS
with poet others, where it of trivial extent and
met aud opposed by overwhelming majority ct Tie
people, Surprising that v the laws Of nations We should
have right thus IN State iur tie improper and
nscsreY"us acts Of sing individual some lew m
dviduAlS, receiving cUuncnancc from It's authorities
the great o its c2ensyct would it not be de.
tracing from the dignity Of the "OId Dominion =
would it not be giving ludlcrous Importance To trlte,
to embark her III solemn negotiation about lew Mise
rabls, Struggling fanatics III distant State: Whilst
therefore, the extent Of the eyi! in State, the
number Of these assocaliuns and the character, means
and influence OF the persons engaged IN these maj ana
nschcvous schemes to To he very proper cir
cunslanccs I" guide IN Judging OF the cXpcdIrcy and
pr"p!;cy of the proposed respecting such Sale,
dcrn important that he States, with whom the cor
rcsponrnce is contemplated should be named Nor can
see how: gentlemen can defend this omission to
and specify the noIslnvchoinr States, unless they
prepared To show that these associations exist III every
Of them 10 an extent alarming Us lo render II M
portan for this correspondence, with
view Of learning the intentions Of their Legislatures re-
speeding them.
But If the information sought by the proposed
pondcHce is necessary for before this sub
lcct, think there better calculated to obtain
such information than those pointed out III the resolution
BY appealing the best and must dgnitcd Of the pub
lie journals, and by opening correspondence with IN
tcigcnl citizens oithe States III which these associations
exist should, in all probability, obtain exact in
formation respecting tie true state Of public sentiment
in each State and the consequent action TO be cx
pcccd from the Legislatures, than could expect
to derive from formal and Diplomatic correspond-
ence with their Governors cannot conceive Of any
measure that would look more like executive dcIa.
ton, than for the Governor Of any State 10 ultimate
the future Of It's Legislature and Inns indirectly
10 pledge tie representatives, Of the people to any Parli-
cular In" Of conduct. To make such enquiry any
Governor. rs the resolution proposes, is 10 ask him to
DO that ::lc. lie has earthly light 10 do The just
Indignation OF the citizens and e." tie Legislature Of
any Stale, would be reused against any Governor who
would take upon himself to predict tie future ac-
Lion Of The State any subject wha:cycrl cannot be-
lIcvc therefore, that could obtain any satisfactory
information from enquiries, direct replies 10 which,
would in all probability, bring the G0vrrnnrs TO whom
they mim DC pr0yoUnCrd, i'll conflict with their COZ u-
cns But surprising that the Governors alluded 10,
disposed 10 rive all The information on the subject that
they could they could at best furnish hut very hllc6r
the Legislatures themselves cam apprchend scarcely
anticipate what will he their final action. Gentlemen
would conceive find great difficulty in predicting with
certainty what Will be The ultimate action OF this House
several subjects which have been the themes Of rbae
with the people for the last twelve months. liy attend
ing therefore, 10 the tone III the Governors Messages
in the different States: by watching the feeling with
which they received by the Legislatures. and by
strictly scanning IL! movements Ct tie people, We
shall BE- better enabled TO arrive at the information.
sought: than by The proposed correspondence The pco
pie OF the North already appscd, to certain extent,
Of The deep feeling Of Indignation which prEvadcs the
South account OF the movements Of the fanatics: and
will very probably indicate through their Legislatures
this winter Cat least many may actD what they
Intend doing in relation 10 this subject Before the Close
of the present session, the 81 Of these Lc
gslaturrs WILL in al probability, be before US; but gen
,lrnirn cannot ard will wait if they believe that
crisis is hand calling 60. imn!cdIae action, let them
proceed 10 adopt mode better calculated TO obtain
the information than that proposed by the resolution
II we wait longer would II NOT be better to send
agents TO visit c different States, authorized 10 com.
muncalc wrongs, and to ask redress than 10 conf
mencc this Gu5ernaloal corcSpOndence, which can: as
have attempted 10 shsw result III no conceivable g"nd:
said in ti7 Of the rcI"rkS submitted 10 the
House before. that, it il necessary or useiu! 10 e-
ploy agents for Tie purpose Of collecting information on
this srhj"ct from The NHrth should prefer selecting
some other person than the Governor. have already
in part developed for this opinion, by show
ing that private individuals would in ali probability gize
to private Individuals fuller information this subject,
than could reasonably expect to obtain from formal
correspondence between Governors. correspondence
between individuals who untralMniclcd Dy Of
flee and lis responsibilities, would DC less guarded, and
would give fuller information than any Official coi'nni-
cations also inaacd that objected 10 embark the
State in correspondence Of this character, because the
presrn; Governor WIS not The person whose agency
should desire in this delicate matter. Ibis last ci.aIk
has been mscuccivcd y gratiamen, aRd made the sub
icct Of severe rrProrf conceive that had perfect
riuht when il proposed 10 vest the Governor with
new powers, not necessarily belonging to his Office
object for 'a. that such powers would Ec dscrecy
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