Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-09

''f 'S''N'"f hNN ~ 'N' '- 1850 N'N~
resolutions in the Globe this morning. If he would cast
his eyes "yertle papers on his desk, he would find them
among The printed documents, in conformity of the or.
der to pint them, passed yesterday. Here Dir. T. rose
and remarked he hud since seen them
His colleague next Remarked That he had but little in.
clinalIon 10 Affirm abstract propositions. as experience
had taught him that they were usually but little regard
ed IN practice. II was but too true that they were often
disregaIdcd in the midst of party excitement and strug.
giles, nt which We had, he acknowledged, many and la
In'nlable examples Of late but so far from rendering
The reiieratinn Of great abstract truths useless, he con-
celVed that The very ground on which his colleague CD.
/ jecifd, is The very one which called for their frequent
reIteratlon. TIE very-Sesrhat We are apt 70 forget ibe
great principles of morals or religion, in Tie midst ofthe
many temptations that daily surround US, is the reason
why Their frequent repetition is enlpined and IT, even
with this precaution to keep them continually present in
our mind, they are often violated. how much more ire-
qnently would they be without it:
In like manner, all wise people who have proved
themselves worthy of liberty, have acted in reference to
great political princi pies. The great charter oil BRUSH
liberty is but a collection OF abstract principles, which
became firmly established in the minds and affections oil
the People by being It. affirmed again and again. II
his mcmary served him, Magma Charta was rccounted
more than twenty times. Such, in fact, is the import.
ance attached to the frequent recurrence to great tunda,
mental Truths, that some Of the State Constitutions hold
that il is Indispensable 10 the preservation OF liberty
and all The memorable struggles for constitutional siber-
ty, would seem 10 confirm lis truth.
The general principles comprised in the resolutions
were, in his opinion, clearly dra"n from the character
OF our political system, anu lOrineQ the ony slIpHR
ground on which there was any hope Of ~rallying a ma
jnrIty in support of Southern institutions. They show
clearly that The movements and designs "f these !anat.
les are rot only unconstitutional but bitterly subversire OF
the fundamental principles Ut our political system, ana
a ~paIpabIe violation Of good faith. lie deemed The DC.
casion one of sufficient magnitude 10 recur 10 those
fundamental principles.
His colleague also objected that the lime for resolving
is past, and That for action has arrived. MIR. G.. hoped
that his colleague was prepared, with some definite and
strong proposition, 10 meet the danger. He (Mr. C)
would not be found wanting, whenever such Il one may
be brought forward. In The mean time, there was no.
thing in the resolutions which le Ind offered that could
stand in The way Of action. They were intended 10
present in the cIcarest and most conclusive manner, the
strength Of our cause, and the weakness of that Of our
Gssailanls; aud if they should BE- sustained by the Senate
as he trusted they would. il would give us the most SO.
lid ground FROM which 10 operate. that could be INA
ginrd. 1t is time for the South and West to come fnr.
ward and lake their stand, and 10 assume the high ground
which the Constitution and their rights Clearly give
them. The disease il in progress: and advances from
day to day. Tomorrow II viii be "orse than to-day, and
on the succeeding worse than 10 morrow. But n short
time since. there was but Il handful OF fanatics asking
10 abolish slavery in This District, and now we have re.
solutions from one of the States of the Union going far
be ,nd: asking to abolish sla avery in The Territories, as
well as the District; TO prohibit the purchase and sales OF
slaves between the States, and ohjrctng TO the annexa.
lion OF Texas, on the ground that II would extend aud
strengthen The institutions Of nearly one. half Of the
States of this Union. The next step will be TO abolish
slavery in the States, and then to put The two races on
an equality "a proposition Os mnnstrois and unconstiln-
tional as il may be, not more so than some already adj
vanCed.
Tie understood his colleague 10 object 10 the ~u5su:diiy
Of attempting 10 rally all oD any general resolutions on
this subject. He could not be more deeply impressed
than he (Mr. c. was Of the folly of any such attempt;
and his colleague greatly misunderstood him in suppo.
sing him capable OF committing such an act Of folly.
So lar from attempting ~ rally abolitieaIsts aud oil. he
expressly confned himself in his remarks TO the sound
portion vi this body aud the community. His object
was 10 afford them some common ground on which to
stand in opposition TO The wild and dangerous spirit now
abroad, and which ikreate ms The Uniun and institutions
of the country with SD much danger.
His colleague had compared these resolutions to those
that were offered in the other House snEle years since by
Mr.. P%inckney, in order 10 show that they were similar;
and has inferred, as. the one has had no good effect, the
other will not probably have. lie must be permitted, in
reply, to say, that there is not a single poiat Of analogy
between The two. These make 10 concessions. On the
contrary, they take The highest constitutional ground.
The others made, in his opinun, tand he thinks exPeEi-
ence has proven tito be corrccl.) mpDrtantnrd dangerous
concessions. They yield The right of PETITION directly,
and, by inference. the power Of Congress over The sub
jet in this District. The Object of one was concilla-
ton; Of the other. The affirmation OF our rights ia the
highest and most solemn manner, and 4 denuncIatIon,
IN like manner, Of any attempt TO vi"late them.
Mr.. C.. concluded by expressing his hope that when
his colleague came to re5rct on the subject, he would
waive his objections and unite in aiding 10 pass the re-
solutions.
Mr.. Preston in reply, observed ;hal his colleague had
lulillJ f'S'tSE b'hI S''-i - So
opposed to abstract principles. On the contrary, Mr.. +.
fully assented To the proposition that it was ni the high
est Importance That frs, principles should be we'll unter'
stood. lie did not dispute thr proprieiy o! these resolu-
tions; he did not dispute the propriety of declaring and
asserting these principles, which were dear To his heart.
10 all This he concurrsd with lis colleague; but the point
on which h. differed with hiur-thal which he denied
was The propriety, the utility, the wisdom ct o.IerIng re-.
solutions and distractions such as these as he REMEDY
for The in iuries and insults inflicted upon the Soulh:-
His colleague had dweli upon the necessity Of teaching
and repeatedly intoxicating mora. truths Tor the preseffa-
ton of morals. Bet is that enough: do We go no fur.
Their than that in asserting moral dulles? Dr. we content
ourselves with merely saying 10 the tibet, thou shalt
not steaI:' Do we think such moral declarations OF The
mere abstraction enough TO prevent theil, and render
our property scare DO we not rather resort 10 legls.
lative measures? Do we not enf0rcc iDstend OF preach?
Are we satisfied with hearing. every Sabbath, the dcca-
ration, sthuu shalt moi steal = Do we depend on that
aInue as a profession for our pnclsctbopks Far from II.
We pass laws, and we hang the nan who violates the
priocip!e /" thou shalt not do no murder. Our princI-
pies are as true Us these, and, therefore, are not 10 he
llt for their enforcement 10 mere declarations and resnln.
tinns. The empty assertion Of undoubted truths will only
fall like trutum ~flimen, and will result, as 1t has already
done, in exacer5a,ing the disease. TO look To such IT.
ritating applications for c remedy, after already so.
completely experiencing their utter inetsciency, is TO
abandon our cause.
As TO the idea presented of finding a commend ground,
one on which there may be a general agreement, plausI-
BILE and captivating IA the idea may appear TO some,
when first broached, the least reflection will show that
it is Elusive. If he (Mr. P) should ever hind himself
placed on such common ground: he confessed lie should
begin TO look around him with alarm and suspicion at
the company which surrounded him. Let US only ar.
rive at this common groand-this field of quiet compro.
mise-and the South is lost.
MIR. Calhoun said he did no. intend 10 propose these
resolutions rs a cure; he intended them only as a test. IN
order 10 lest the feeling Of the Senate. it was equally
far from his contemplation 10 propose a common ground
on which all might agree: far was he from uttering such
a proposition. As 10 The result of former resolutions, no
III t. --,., LII, a-1lnI,nn lront
upon higher ground; they would place these who opPos-
ed abolition in a higher region than any former resoIu-
tons had done. He only rose to cnrrec, the misappre-
her sion Of his vie VS. into which it appeared to him his
n-.--> lIf ILL.,