Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-19

for hereafter to be admitted Of Of the territories
or the District Of Columbia, shall regaid such inter-
encc as a signal for the dissolution Of tic Cnion
FairfarS And sincerely devoted to the Union, 1t Is
but due to truthand fraternity 10 declare our belief an1
we think we speak the sentiments ct the UNDIVIDED
South that The Union cannot be Prcsfreed, except ny tue
snsedy adoption and eficacious enforcement OF SUCH
laws as will silence the presses aud shield us oh Tue
| the sinister II achinations of the incendlaFrs
Lonisn--" insructs her Congressman and requests
other Southern members 10 vacate their seats upon as
cussion of the slave that The course oil 't
Northern Aboonisls is calculated with unerrng Ger
lainty, if speedily checked to result in dlsunion
| UenrY-" That in the event Of discussion OF Inc
Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia or The
Territories being pressed by majority OF Congress, our
Representative is hereby instructed 10 return forthwith
| 10 his constituents
| ifddlesez.-"Thn while We are ardeny attached TO
the Union and enerta great regard for the great mass
Of our Northern brethren, yet we arc compelled by a
sense Of candour 10 declare that ii the mschlcrous sp
rit of fanaticisn is permitted 10 continue its opeatIo
unchecked and unreslrancd, shall h. ultimately fore
ed TO break off all connection with them"
You see, sir, said Mr. P, that they do not conine
themselves requesting the Legislature act upon
this subject but they go further, and request not only
the members Of Congress from, Virginia. but every men
Der from the Southern States, TO leave their seats and
return to their constituents, in case the Abolition OF
Slavery should be insisted Sir, said MIR. p, have
always understood that one Of the means by which the
Union might be dissolved, by the members Of Con-
gress from section Of the country refusing 10 retain
but should suppose it formal act Of secession.
slider this call for Tic members to Leave their seats
proposition for the dissolution Of the Union by act Of
peaceful secession. Ii has been said by high func
tionnry OF the General Govcrnment-the gentleman
from Goochland, and you too, Mr. Speaker sure,
know who mean-hat secession by military force is
treason This retiring OF the members OF Congress from
their seats although peaceful in It's origin must be
tanned by military force the end And should like
TO the doctrine that It is treason, sustained against
Virginia any other of The States which should fit
to withdraw lis members from Congress. The county Of
MiddIcsex recommends the proprrly of So disposng of
the military and other Of the State, 10 be
prepared for any emergency that may alse: and the
county of Goochand and some others have also made
the Communications. 1t is impossible that all
this preparation should refer 10 any danger to be feared
from insulrcconury movements amongst lie slaves,
for the ordinary OF the State would be sufficient
| trus to keep down any such outbreak IL cannot be
from any fear OF servie war, that these important pre-
partitions demanded. They must look TO n
awful conflict consequent upon secession OF the South
ern States from the Union; an event which must newt
ably involve resort 10 force. trust that event is far
distant.
Mr. Speaker, this is no new question. 1 was MANI
years since actor in a which shook, than
any other occurrence Ut my life my affection for
Northern brethren. actor in the struggle upon
the Missouri QuestioE-and remember well the pic.
lures which then drawn OF Southern slavery, the
ISLANDERS upon the South calculated TO work the pas
sions Of tho Northern people, which then put in
circulation. a dissolution of the Union was then spo-
grcss by Northern member,-that if separation took
place, the old banner OF the stars and the eagle would
still be the standard Of the Morrill, while the emblem Of
that of the South would be manaclcd slave And re-
collect the answer given TO him BY Southern States
man and orator more, in strain Of such cutting
SARCASM that presume the gentleman to whom it
addressed still bears it in remembrance. have
tract from letter Mr. Jefferson upon this subject
individual whose authority, presume, will be received
by the Democratic Republican party 1t is lolows:
This lnomenleus question, kea lircbc in the night
awakened and filled with terror considered 1t at
once the kncll ofthe Union 1t is husled indeed for
the moment; bu, this is repreyc only, not final
tencc. geographical line colncldlng with marked
principle, moral and political, once conceived and held
up the angry passions Of men, will never be oblerat
cd; and every new irritation will mark it deeper and
deeper
What Mr.. Speaker, was the great geographical line
then drawn; Ii line created by desire to retain
power. Its object was 10 prevent the increase Of the
power Of the Southern States. The Northern pot
clans would not attempt an amendment Of the Consttu
ton Of the United States to deprive The Southern
States OF their present representative weight and intu
ence in the House of Representatives, because that
would have resulted ia breaking up the Conicdcracy
But the admission OF Missouri into the Union offered
favorable opportunity to prevent its future increase,
f.r as regarded slave representation. Permit 10 read
an extract from of the speeches Of Judge Baldwin
If Pennsy lvanIa on that questions:
g. hope this may be the last time this nation
shall be agluted by the discussion Of implied powers
The consequences Of this have become serious and will
not soon subsde 1t is not confined to the admission of
Missouri but has led to the most dangerous of all de-
cisions-local The question has, in the public
mind become one, involving not much slavery, but
slave representation Even here the prnc pies contend
cd for lead to emancipation, though their application to
the old States is dgcalmcd But in the papers in Iegs-
atve bodies the ground is openly and publicly taken
that there is slavery in the United States. Eminent
members of Tue New York Legislature have declared all
the blacks free; that the Supreme Court would declare
them These gentlemen have been distinguished
members Of this House, and may be again. The Lcgis
ature of New jersey have, in their Instructions their
delegates here, declared, that Congress has general
power the subject Of slavery, and that too, under
the clause Of the Constitution relative TO ngraon &C.
which has been abandoned in this discussion, not au
horising this restriction. What security, what PLEDGE
be given, that these doctrines will not be advocated
within these walls? 1t requires but election to pro-
cure such change will make the question not
stricon, but emancipation. Once begin 10 lcgislac
this subject, like all constructive powers, they will be
progressive. Implied powers never retrograde. Once
break through the Constitution and resort to abstract
principles for rules Of construction and the boundaries
which separate the powers of government, and there
is no safety or security. Foundations broken up
the common bond which unites Us is dissolved
when the Constitution ceases 10 be law for us
when laws no pledge Of security Be as
sured, cannot stand many such shocks us this
that this Government can continue if this doctrine
of construction is established; the precedent once
made the series of Legislation begun the subject
of slavery in old State an organized Territory, you
will not stop short of universal emancipation. The
greatest danger fcderatiye Government is from the
growth of power-the effects Of consolidation by the
! gradual extinction OF State Rights and Sovereignty
empha,colly So when the apology for their assumption
is tho cause of humanity. When this subject which
now agtates and convuscs the country started by
men whose objects ayowcdy political, it caused
excitcment-it put down by the almost unanimous
voice Of the people: it is renewed with other agowed
motives and one half Of the Union is arrAyed against
the other. Constitutions necessary 10 restrain bad
in bad times; the good, The vlTuous, may follow inc
| impulse of bcncicencc-But who are bad men, what
are bad times? History tells that all nations have
seen then-bu it is after the actors hive passed away;
those who administer government, never acknowledge
thens:!--s bad, the period of their dominion bad