Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-05
POLITICAL.
SOUTH CAROTJNA

nlfD1-
ranmousty adopted by the Legislature of South Caro-
REPORT of the Joint Committee of Federal Relations.
on so much of the Governors Message as relates IN the
Institution of Domestic Slavery and the ineendiarv
Proceedings of the Abolitioniss in the non, slave.
holding States
Mr. Hamilton, of the Senate from the Committee of
federai Relations, submitted the following report
The JOINT Committee of Federal Relations to whom
referred much Of His Excellency the Covernor
Message as relates TO the Institution of Domestic Sia
very and Tie lncendary proceedings the Abotonisl
In the non slave holding States, beg leave to report
That they have given to this subject the deem and an
ious consideration which both from its intrinsic inor,
ance and from the profound and patriotic reflections of
the Executive, II so obviously demands
They desire to respond in of the most or,nhatic
concurrence and appreciation to the which his FIX
ceency rs pleased to present Of the mild and
character OF the Institution of Domestic Slavery in The
Southern States its influence national character and
civil liberty, and the of those obioaons result
ing from our constitutional compact and the principIes
oil international law, upon which our tenure to this spe
cies of property so inviolably rests ~
The present condition of the slave ouestiop j., ,ho
States OF this confederacy presents one of The mos, ~
aordlnary spectacles which, your committee will ven
lure 70 asseIl' mas ever challenged the notice of the
cNl"zed world we see sovereign States united by n
common league, in about half of which states Tho
nsuuuon oil slavery not only exists, but its legal
is'ehce Is soemny recognized and guaranteed by their
compact OF union Yet in the face of this conpact md
the clear and distinct admission, that the non-save
holding States have the slightest RIGHT either
additionally otherwise to interfere with tb;s ;ns,;,
ton, the most ncendary associations are tolerated or
Pered 10 exist within their limits the object and ends
(which not only strike the prosperity and hannnesS
OF eleven States in the confederacy but at their very
cia existence. ' ~ 81
Painful as it may be- it is impossible TO DISGUISE The
iact that this is condition of things which cannot in
the long rum be permitted exist Every wise instinct
oil sePreservatIon fobds it. Let it be admitted that
he three millions OF free white inhabitants in the slave.
holding States, amply competent TO hold in secure
and pacific subsection the two millions of slaves which
by the inscruabe dispensatons of Providence ba
placed under dominion Let il be admitted Thai b,
reason of an efficient police and iudicous internal Ie;s
ation we may render aborve the designs of the fana
-
rent OF pamphlets and tracts which the Abolition
OF the north are pouring forth with inc xhausle CO.
Piousness is arrested the reaches our from
yer, are we TO wait until our enemies have built up
by the grossest misrepresentation and faIsehoods n
pooy OF Puoc opinion against us, which would be aI
most impossible TO resist, without separating ourseI
from the social system Of the rest of the civilized world
OI are we TO SIT down content because from our own vi
glance ana courage the torch Of the ncendarv and ,
dagger OF the midnight assassin may meyer h.. anns
Inns IS Impossible NC people live in a stale of Nor
eHc'gInenI and apprehension, although dan
ger may DC long deferred Such condition of the nub
c mind IS destructive of all social happiness and
sequenty must prove essentially injurious to The
perity OF community that has the weakness TO sfr
uhoer perpetual panic. This would be true if the
causes OF this excitement proceeded from the v,erai
hostiity OF foreign nation. But how infinitely inte
tssng ana Woinenous the consideration becomes &C. hen
they now from the acts and doings of citizens of States
win whom we are not only in amity, but to whom we
nre bound by the strongest bonds of conmon n,,;,',
which was framed TO promote the happness reaca si
'curlty, and protection of all r' 90
=, we nave, therefore, claim the Governments of
IA
out OF indispensable constitutional obIigation tint ru,
H0IsAEcE SHALL BE- ABArED. They not only owe IL 10
U.s. Uu' ey owe 70 themselves, to that Union at whose
Shrine they have so often offered up the highest pedos
by which man can plight his temporal faith
your Ccmnittee would be inclined 10 recommend IN
TINS Legislature 10 make explicit demand on The non
fayeholdIng States, for the passage Of peool lave b
ther Legislature, providing for the punishment Of he
incendafies within their limits who are enoaged H.;
stfoeions conspiracy against right of pTopertv nd
me- But cordial confidence fraternaJ feline I'D
te comfy which belongs to social and political rela
tohs, i0foid US Tor one momont to doubt that evetv
fort viii be made by the States 10 whom fIs-e ef-
saieraele 70 nees not ony st Is
but every emergency which be gs to This cris
% pubic peru. Indeed, when remember The sitooo
Recommendations Of public opinion which we're nrese,5
et various gratifying public meetings which were hId
throughou the non slave. boJ;n,
States, denooncingas 0ItSoeal and unconstitutional
the proceedings OF t4e fanatics 15d incendafies when
we remember, too the avOwal uniyersaynpade by the
pubic press, IN those States that vast and ovey,ss,s,
ing majority Of their people viewed sucb ,,recoa;
with horror and detcstaton, cannot but believe ff
every rational expectation, which the sl,ve.boldin
yates can cherish on this vital question will be- ebeet
n'et 1nG responded TO by those on whom we have
We concur entirely in the view which our owo r,s
ouuVe .akes OF inc grounds which our rights 10 de-
mand the enactment Of such Conservative ieo{ation
rests. 'N 's'h+a''Vn
Apart from oil ihose obligations resulting fro,, a,s
constitutional compact, which upites tbeso 49,, Wy
which make il the imperative doty of on. $3.50, -''u
Of ths eonederacy, not 70 allow its citjzsus ~ III,
against the peace, property osd happnees Of snofbrr
tabished than that even among foreign nston 100
atr0cious abuses not 10 be Tolerated erocn, 49,
and free people vindicate their rights lave
your committee are aware, that 10 has been ss;d a. -,
10 iegisiaon can be adapted to arrest the -
the AbolItonists by ie non .bold,no S,s, Oh
violating the great principle Of the bpsto ~ ~ ,oui
We consider that this objection rests on ~ g.; f.es'
tSn mere ns s certainly some difference between tbe
IseoSm o discussion, and the liberty to deIuge froud
y eno c0'ermlRous State With seditovs add inecndiarv