Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-20

any interest which cxcites selfish feeling and which
does not, in fact, touch the Union, or threaten II.
The worst ,hen which can be said o! '"eh'' " '"eN
btterest enemies iy yha, actually said ihey are oe
luded misguided pilanihropss, fanaucs-hea.eo WIN
an unbecomins zeal These and such oPproorious cpl
thets, have been applied to them: hui no one athrms
that they aim at disunon, nor 10 MINK any one Cd"
impute to them any corrupt purpose. DO not mean 10
touch the question of the expedency OF thrir course 10
n,kinp for immediate abolition in this District mat
will meet whenever the Senate will open ii by receiving
their petitions but not until then; for the right OF pel
ton is the higher right, and must first be vndcaed.
SHALL however, at all times 90 tor The union ana Inc
whole Union; and against the aboltionisis hey pro-
pose interfere with constitutional rights or guarantees
But again return the inquiry, who IS to dissolve
the Union There cannot trust be such purpose mere
for every day hear the thought deprecated ana Inc
depreciation mingled with the most ardent Patrluc pro-
LESSONS of love snd attachment TO the Constitution
Is the great slave interest 10 do 1t: appear agah 20
your recoections and TO those OF the Senator from o.
Carolina and ask you whether interest," so powetoi
as to have major,es in both Houses, and 10 MAINTAIN
it's ascendancy in the Government, Is key 10 hafe w.
cason to secede from the Union through iear or oPpts
sion. Sir this interest has ruled the oes'shles VI Tue
republic For forty years out OF tortyeigh years mas
given US President from lis own territory anu Oh us
own selection do not advert to this IN lhe zone OF
complaint for it has been done at the ballot box out as
proof of it's great strength TACT and skili ano o! ne
extraordinary pedominauce it holds over all other nte'
rests bending and shaping them to its purposes Du'
ring oil this time it has not only had president
him has held and used, in its own way, the whole orga
nization Of all the Departments and all the vast ana
controlling patronage incident TO that once &c 10 9a
carry its views and poIcy as wen DIS " P'o'ee
and secure to it every advantage
Let US xpore little further, Sir, and see how Inc
Houses of Congress have been organized. I am sorty
that rely on memory alone for may possibly ia INTO
error; but shall be, think right as far as e.; nol
the records can easily be had 10 correct me- For thry
out of thirty years. that interest has placed Its
own Speaker in Chair of The other House, thus Sc
curing The organization OF committees aho Tue erta. ~
uence of that station. And, Sir, while all other inter
ests have during part Of the time had the Chair IN @ch
YOU preside assigned to them, as an or ese
great concessions, yet in each year. when p'esioe P
tenn is elected who, upon the contingencies mentioned
in the Constitution will be the President OF the u 81 thaI
interest has inv araby given US this officer LooS De-
seech you through all the places OF honor OF pfon OF
privilege, and there you Will and Inc representatives
f ibis interest in numbers that indicate lis influence
Does not then this interest hold the destnies OF s re-
public in its own hands? Does ir not rule gude and
adapt public policy its views, and al TO SUIT the
action and products Of It's own labor: Sir know tna
the politicians of the slave country sometimes disagree
pbont men and of minor considerations out on
the great interest Of slave labor and The protection oil
slave property they stand firmly together, and like
Macedonian phaanx shoulder to shoulder gamer ouh
4, and by mighty and concerted eurs, give 1t the lead
in public affairs against all opposition or, no" can
better explain its apervadng influence than 70 declare
npan that it moves this Government over hieen mil
lions of souls grea, and energetic rs s and
tonae as is the holding population to that OF the
free States :, =
With this mighty power in your hands, with proof at
every vote taken in this Capitol oil your ability 10 con-
tinue it, can you Of this interest entertain nPpehens'on
for YOUR safety? What more do you claim: what more
can YOU have? How can those who hold power be OPP
pressed by those who have none: How can those VINO
hold the power of this Government tear It: cannot
believe there 10 occasion in the mind OF any belong
ing to this interest for dissolution OF the Union, unless
he be ambitious unprnciped, and without hope OF ad-
yancement. 1t will be reasonable enough to meet dan
= ~ hi,.F- -
But Mr. President must not omit some other proofs OF
the towering magnitude of the slave interest here IL
claims 70 itself and its exerlon whatever OF merit there
is in the overthrow Of the policy of internal improve
ments and of having broken down and rendered unpo.
pular the policy of assessing and collecting the public
revenue as to project and encourage Tree labor over
this last great interest it claims signal triumph for
having defeated It.
singular success of those who this interest The
integrity Of the Union is probably quite Important 10
the slave territory the free. cannot, therefore,
credit the suggestion that the people OF the South are so
blinded their interests to court so calamIlous re-
suit What then is it that shakes this great republic
so that it reels upon its foundations? So that we are
brought solemn pause here In the public business
and grsvely aad soeInnly devis'ng remedies 10 re-
deem US from threatened ruin Sir, we have a set oil
resolutions nearly concoced, that are to 60 forth with
healing power to calm the public mind, to aay the out
breakugs Of fanatcisn, and 10 tranqnze lie raging
elements The opinion of the majority OF the Senate s
what it is that we conending with? What that
threatens calamity, and thus easily to be subdued 1t
is the abo,ioRss who here IN no very alarming
numbers hoog, the pursued here hos increased
the ayprepste not threaten The government TO me-
nuce The Union; no. sir not at u but humby to nlreat
and pray you abolish slavery in The District Of Co'un
bia where believe, there about 4O OOO people OF all
coors Sir they have claimed nothing but The right to
BEG and pray Of the Senate its power for this pur
pose. What humble and less objectionable right
can be claimed by than the rig bit OF respectfully en-
treating: Yet, sir the exercise OF this poor privilege,
by persons mostly females too us brought US into grove
deliberaton the Union from impending dlsso-
luton Sir participate in these fears, nor per-
suade myself that such will produce such results,
or The Union will be attacked unless the proVocaon
is given here.
These abollonists are in the free States 1t has often
been said and day two past reiterated by the
Senator from Missouri {lr Benton) that their books, pu
pers prints &c. cannot enter the slave country, and
therefore would do harm there, the slaves could
read as they never reach them il seemed also to
70 be admitted by the Senator from Virginia alr Rves
that there objection the discussion vi the sub
iect in State that permits it 10 be agItaed Where,
then is the alarming mischief? What creates the great
excitement spoken OF existing in the slave territory,
and which doubt not does exist The exciting matter
is the debates published from this Capitol The cxagger-
sted and highly ccored pictures Of danger drawn here
The evil is hurgeabe home here and the responsibility
rests here The effect clearly toreseen, and the
sui, foretold 1t but the natural progress of events
that the excitement of the People should react upon
Congress; and agree to the sentiment often expressed
here this topc agtated in this place in the manner
it is dislurbs the public tranquy-and the practice
ought to subside unless the matter be treated more
temporarily. There would probably be no excitement
among the slave holders if was not reused here;
and there would be less here if the flame kndled else
where by the breath of these Halls did not mPat its
warmth 10 this body.
But Sir return 10 the inquiry, what is to be hoped
from these resolutions? Where are their healing pro-
peres their power assuage esenmens, and 10 allny
irrtated passions? ATE we now agitang the matter TO
any useful purpose? read he and while part oflhen
seemed 10 me contain certain doctrines on slavery
according with the sentiments OF the the residue
seemed to be avowal of political creed. Not
being quite certain that right in the natter was
comlored when my friend from Delaware (Mr. Bayard)
rose and ex messed the same sentiment They profess.