Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-09
VOLUME X4XIy.---No. az.

| come 10 the rescue, TO take The front rank and Tile, lnC
to act unitedly in one solid phalaax.
MIR. Strange of ~. C., said he wanted words 10 eS.
press The feelings which ugilnted his boaom when thtse
resolutions were introduced, and he still felt painful.
y upon the subject: How could it be otherwise p
There was no chila's play in any measure adopted in
relation to ii. To those who resided in the Southern
portion of this country, every thing dear 10 the hui
man heart, our Property-our wiVes-our children
our lives-our country, were staked upon the issue
He (Mr. Strange) regretted that these resolutions had
been introduced he had been privately consulted, It
was true, revious 10 their introduction, but the advice
he had felt it his duty to give bad been disregarded-
He did not know that they contained any maxim or
sentiment which be Gid nt heartily approve, but 10 The
fact Of introduction Ire was altogether opposed, because
it must inevitably produce discussion and agitation
This, from the bottom Of bis soul, he wished 10 avoid,
and what tie aboItiouists most ardently coveted. IL
was a gone in which the South might lose, and could
not possibly gnin. So much opposed had he been to any
agitation Of the subject, that ut a former session, on a
motion 10 Print a most respectful memorial from many
highly respectable citizens of this District against the
abolition Of snvery within il, he had voted in the mega.
tive. With what consistency can we complain Of the
abolitionists circulating their pamphlets and speeches,
when we ourselves shall have set the example? And
just as sure as these resolutions were pressed, they
would, in his (Mr. 5. 81 opinion, lead 10 discussion-d dis.
cussion, agitaliDn--ag citation, IN endless succession.-
what, he would ask, was 10 be accomplished by their
adoption: They asserted a series of abstract principles
which he believed fully entitled 10 assent. bu: The same
were asserted in a more imposing and efeclual form
in the Constitution. Was il intended 10 increase the
rigor of that instrument by reassertng its principles
in this form? Such an expectation was altogether
delusive. II that compact WINS now to be formed, it
would not be so %iavOrably modelled for US upon this
subject. and We cannot hope for amendments 10 il rem.
deriDg it more comfortable to our views. IF, then,
that sacred charter does not secure Us against the
assaults Of aboliliunists, no legislative action can; and
these resolutions would prove worse than Intellectual.
Nor did he (Mr. Strange) agree with the other Senator
from South Carolina, that some measure more vigorous
than The adoption of these resolutions was wanting on
onr part He believed The proper course was not 10 agi-
tate the question at all. Our strength said MI. s in
the language Of Scripture is to sit s,iil. He belle we'd the
mass OF the Northern people To be sound, and that few
were against Us except those whose brains were added
with the spirit Of ianalicism. Why, then, invite n dis.
cussion Of this subject; There are some dangers whch
are most safely encountered by rushing 10 meet them
others are most successfully overcome by calmly waiting
their approach, and with dignity presenting a manly DO.
som. The danger before US II nj the latter kind. Who
would seek to stay the waves Of the advancing ocean by
rushing 10 meet them; None but q maniac would dream
of such a course. What we now haTe 10 encounter is
a vast moral current which has overilnwed England, and
coming impetuously across the Atlantic has already. it
seems, swept away one Of the sisters Of our Con!ede-
racv, and God knows how many more il may yet sweep
away. The barriers OF The Constitution ore all which
we have to oppose lie advance, behind them we must
calmly await OUT drssiay. We shaA dnG safety there
or we shall find it nowhere. When those barriers are
broken down or overIeaped, nathlng will remain to W.
but To use the physical force which God has given us
for the defence OF our rights; then | shall be for resort
ing 10 il, and not till then.
In the mean lime my course shall be as it always has
been, to avoid agitation upon this subject, and, when pc
tlions are presented TO this body, quietly, dis passionately,
aud without discussion, to lay upon the tabS- the motion
to receive them. tcaTe not whether these petitions come
from individuals, collections OF individuals or sovereign.
States. Wha'cy yer respect upon other subjects a sovereign
State may be entitled to receive, when she forgets the
delicate nature of the present subject, and the deep and
vital interests which her sister States have in connection
with it, and rasIIy brings il into public discussion, not u
.,..-l. 10000. ,y ,,ol rs 10 tha rnnft,ap ,uhIn, ~
petition from her to this body is entitled 10 receive. |
should vote to reject it. That is my opinion in relation
10 all such petitions, as the most quick and yet tEe most
decided action.
MIR Swift remarked that he had no desire 10 parlici-
pate in the debate growing nut Of The resolutions pre-
spnted by the honorable Senator from South Carolina,
(Mr. Calhoun J bel allusisns had been made by gentle.
men, in the course Of the debate, 10 certain resolutions
adopted by his State Legislature, which he deemed un-
just and improper. Those resolutions, though hey had
been presented by him on q former occasion, were not
now before the Senate ; and inasmucb os he had given
notice 10 the Senate of his purpose TO present them
again. at an early day, he should not now notice those
remarks, or enter into any vintication Of his Legislature
in adopting those resolutions. He must, however, pro.
les. ugninst any farther illusions of the kind TO those re-.
sclstions, Gu THIS op any other occasion, until they were
presented TO the Senate, when gentlemen would have q
full opportunity of discussing the merits Of said reso.
!ullons. and of expressing such sentiments respecting
then as they moy think proper.
Mr.. Calhoun said that he agreed with the Senator
lrnin SOTtn SlfOliIld, WI. SlIaU8eD III OuJeCunR I'd INC
agltaiinW Of this question; hut he ought 10 urge his OBJ
ieciions against the fanatics and those who sountenance
Them here, and not those who repealed their assaults.-
They were the agitators; not we, who stand detrnsiVely
OH our rights. So long as they continued 10 agitate and
have the right OF reception here, it was impossible 10
avoid the question. If these resolutions were with
drawn, the subject would come up, in q shape far more
favorable to the ugitators and embarrassing 10 10, with
The Vermont resolutions.
The Senator said ne sat entrenched quietly behind TIE
ramparts Of the Constitutes. against these assaults on
our property and security. H, Too, relied on the Con-
sltulion; and in presenting, in the shape of general pro-
positions, the principles Of lhs Constitution on which we
relied, and which went CLEARLY 10 establish our rights,
and to show the utter violation of That ins,remenl, on
the part of our assailants, SO far from abandoning, or
weakening our constitutional basis, we greatly strength
en- them. /. is The mode which has always been adopt
cd to repel nggressions, and among the many remurka-
bic examples, he might cite the case Of tue Alien and
SedItion laws. Did the opponents OF these unconstItu-
tional measures sit quietly behind the CONSTITUTIONS,
holding il up as their shield, as, the Senator advises
No They adopted the cou1ss that he has followed
They presented the in|ract:ons Of the Constitution
in general and comprehensive propositions, backed by
the authority Of two powerful States, and gloriously trl-
umphed in their opposition. In like manner, he has pre-
scented similar propositions against this infinitely more
outrageous and dangerous infracton, and has asked the
Senate, as the particular representative OF The States, IN
their corporate capacity, 10 odd ta, them The sanction Of
their authority. he hoped that they would receive, not
only the sanaiion Of the Southern and Western MEM
beers, but those from other sections; and he trusted that
the Senator from North Carolina himself, when be hnc
reflected more maturely Or the subject, would not be
found among those who would endeavor 10 give the re-
solutions the go.by.
MIR. Strange replied tha. he had already said he would
vote for the resolutions if they should be pressed upon
the consideration of the Senale-a measure 10 which he
was altogether opposed, because Of the discussion and
ogitation it must necessarily create. The Senator from
South Carolina, had complained Of his dissuading his
friends from stirring this subject, and advised him 10
preach his doctrines 10 the abollionists. VI, said Mr.. S.
i may be said to preach upon this subject at all, I preach
10 both parties he considered the discussions and agita-
lion OF This subject ,oa either side, equally mischievous.
The Senator had asked him If, as the subject was press
ed upon US, il were not better to meet our adyersaries q
little off nsiveIy? He answered no emphutically. AS
he had already said, our strongest position il TO stand