Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-06-21
PDElE'EEGAHss


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POEEFAGlA1..
Rrponr on Domestic SLAcERy-We publish to da y
the report submitted the close Of the late session o
the Legislature Of this State, of the olnt committee on
80 much Of the Governors message as 7eaed 70 comes
tic slavery abolition, and the constitutional rights OF the
States II will receive the approval we"venture, say
Of nineteen neths OF the entire Ner&esn population
This question of interference with the domestic etsaen
md rights Of the States may be regarded asuTing oee
put at rest the spontaneous exPcescur oi the sen
.ment of the NORTH VITA eoch Signfeancy to leave nc
for doubt and hope for the authors OF ag'ta"n
The resolutions accompanying the report, it will lie re
collected passed the Legislature by vote neatly nan
ous-entireiy ~ tie Senate, a;1 py Sese Oh s. u
= in tine House.-Ribany .7rgus.
UNCONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND
... SAFETY OF THE STATES:
Report mad. 10 the Senate, May 18th, 1891
Mr Mack from the iointconnrt.-e o: the Senate anu
Assembly, 70 who, referred SO mnc! CT the %
vernore message relates to the CONVERSATIONAL Tghss
and the safety of the States Save
ry, and sundry communications from TIE Stace CT
ina, Ohio Maine &c upon ne subject reported:
:ConcGrrEg IL tEc'7e~s and sentiments wltc' were
80 fully aad ably expressed iponths subject in the mes
sage Of his Exceency the Governor, ard eessng tie
salutary influence which the patriotic stand thus taken
by Chief Magistrate, and other causes, we're exert
Rng the public mind to arrest the progress o ADO
1ton doctrines and efforts, Tie coHEneeEaVe uot deen
ed it incumbent upon them 10 report at an earlier PERIOD
of the session. Nor do they consider teiT duty
and disturb that hcalthfu state of
public sentiment upon hitherto exciting topic, which
seems SO happily TO exist.
Ike committee may repeat Speculiay applicable to
hhe present tine the declarations of his Excelency the
Governor that 'our constituents have expressed their
enlightened and deliberate Judgment rpon the subject
under consideration > tket @'witk earnectness and
1nanuty aeVeT before witnessed suong u.s. they have,
without distinction Of sect party, in their primary
sembles and in various ether expressed their at
aacLment 10 TIE Constitution Of the Fedesal Government,
their determination 10 maintain rs guarantees; hslf dis
appreciation Il the whole srste2 Of operatoa set osrIoot
ythe aboonists; their affection for their brethren of
the South and their fixed purpose 10 do all that in them
lies, consistently with the law and justice, to render
these sen:e:s efectca and that a IS not TO bc de-
isred tux these manifestations public ssrtisaess iare
ecE or ,c be disregarded by those sao haze bee. en-
gagged in, siren countenGnee to- the aSoI'Al pro-
csedinrs"
81 em fully persuaded, observes his Excelleneythst
ehepoe.fu energies of public opinion, has heen call
ed forth til.oghost te woeS State, have already PRO
.dece n.ost sanitary effects in disabusiag many persons
who had concurred IN the visionary views
Of the abolitionis:s
And he adds "Relvng on the influence of sound
and enlightened public opinion to restrain and control
the misconduct of the citizens of fee Hent es
ecally when directed, 1t has been in this case, with
unexamped energy and unannity to the particular eFs
nder consideration, and perceivDg thatits operations
ave been thus "a. salusry,{ entertain the best hopes
that this remedy OF itself, sill remove these evils, or
zender them comparatively harmless
The result has demonstrated every impartial OBJ
server that this reliance upon the virtue, intelligence
and patriotism of The people of this State, 7rss founded
xlpon a iust estimation Of their character.
Public opinion-"enlighte ned public opinion is the
conservative princ pie Of Tree government Without
its sus,aneg power tie pToRGest and psre constitution
which the wisdom Of could doTise, woud de as in
definite and unstable oral compact and the strong
est and rigid laws that could be framed in accosa-
viii, its restrictions aud obligations, would be weak
and fragile sriccrs weIG To this tribunal uasy be
appropriately and safely referred oil and differences
- nnto nd 1isc,c cb
Involve rel gous creeds abstract political gsts,
cures, of, pube,Policy.
But a lust, liberal and an heightened roudilion CT
public opinions be produced snsta'acd except
where free press recognised and cherished in haso-
r1ious alliance with The Constitution and the laws 'she
"lbery of speech and Of the press Is guaranteed BY
the Constitution of this State and that or the.
and is most delicate aud difficult tnsE OF discIsnna-
dion for Legislators toIeermne at aat point tins ration
al md constutonallbrry terminates, and Venay and
ltcentousness begin. 1t is indeed more safe TO tolerate
the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the press than to abrdge lis flee
DOM for corrective of the evil will be generally found
In the force Of truth and the influence Of those moral
principles and energies which nnresrained discussion
yedonl fails 10 e!Scit.
Of the committee do they believe itvolld comport
with the v;ewso any member Of the government 10
SecomElend the adoption Of any measure which s4ec!d
]res1ain abridge the liberty OF speech of lie press"
as secured by the Constitution and deeply Interviewer
with the institutions and habits Of the people. They
well persuaded TINT the efforts of designing faction of
administered AMBITION OF false philanthropy and mis-.
guided zeal 10 disturb the peace and eudanger the safe
ty Of our sister States Of the South and involve US in
serious difficulties with ,hem have so far Welded to ra
tional reflection und the force Of public sentiment as 70
render legislation upon this subject unnecessary ard in
eSpeGient,
But in justice &c. themselves and to the occasion The
committee must express their accordance Sh Tie u,:
on Of his Excellency the Governor 'that The legisa
ture the power to such penal laws as will
have the effect of preventing the citizens OF this State
and residents within it, from availing themselves, with
mpuny of the protection of its sovereignty and laws
while tiey are actually employed in exciting insurrec.
ton and sedton in sister State engaged in easoaa
bic enterprises intended TO be executed theSein."
What poB. Of obligation, what degree Of danger or
of necessity may justify te exescse of lhis power and
to what it may be carried consistently with the
letter OF spirit Of the Constellation the comistee no.:
now called pyou 20 determine. The crisis which may
demand end justify its exercise they trust is far dists
most ferven,ly do they hope il may never arEsge.
The ople Of this Stne, by their ready and
manifestations upon the subject under consideration,
have furnished renewed end honorable evidence Of their
sttachmen. to the Union. They have Crowned indg-
nantly upon the first dawnings Of insidous attempt
10 separate them from those with whom their welfare
and prosperity are Identified They haze without re-
eious or political distinction, declared their readiness to
oteco and to dscoupenance the exercise Of abstract
rights and the discussion Of speculative doctrines which
are calculated TO disturb those domestic relations Of other
States that are recognized and guaranteed by the Con-
su,on and to endanger the peace the prosperity, and
tho lives Of their citizens And should occasion require