Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-09-03
r.is a. un,sl na:len, is Strange, is mort III

R,-,nre.
Yet such things anl i i mol time that We devd"
ourselves To examination, That upon this solemn esn
val when we iars celebrate the RETURNING annNr-
aasv Of our c""n'ys ndepr ndeuce. inquire no. syn
p'y how ih9i Independence gained but no" ''p
been sscnird' Thai wc examne cnret"up me 49,
oil the ,rma,ion oF onr CONSTITUTION and "hr
learn thence our duties IN both, that "e may "
our successors IN; paired and pure and f'rc 40 my
have come down - rs from tie sam"s ~ "u' "e'"
tianary fathers. those richest "i clV't u',ss'"eS
The field follow zsns. is too broad tor your snenem
or rcpr pa,ience The general history connected vi"
the formation Of cur constitutional government ~"
covered 100 much space I" allow of comments upon
the Immensely importan, topics which nearly every
s,ep has pres nled: A single instance single topic.
a. being Of present agitation. and Of oerp III
TO the whole country. hiss ca'ieo he'" '' per-
k,a. obtuereIy; certairly 10 the CONSUMPTION o to
much of the time allotted this address Yet the opH
seemed TO command the notice which has ben given 70
il, The compomspa Of The Constitution are directly
involved in il, ard The only topic Of present aga
ton IN which The pillars Of that chatter OF humon liberty
are directly a.saed, II is too heal. geographical
controversy and snnsh be mude Of passion ano
eympathy rather than of reason and Judgment
In this aspect, il is mos; alarming most deirter'ons,
hn here the speaker will not attempt I" characerlz" The
efforts Of The agitanrs in his language. but VIII use
that Of the snint.d Washington the father ct his c"un
try his farewell address his last grea, gHcy To those
for whom he had 81 svshy pered his he. his fortune
ED ha honor in the Geld IN their ,n"s difficult cnun
ellis and finally fret administration OF the E1'cn
tive power nf that Government the value OF when
ia on
Speaking of the value OF the Union, General Wash.
ins'on says:
THE unity OF Government which constitutes you one
people il dear 10 you: IL is justly so Tor u -
main pillar in The pdifce Of your real independence
the support OF your tranquility at h"nr y"nr peace
abroad Of your safety al prosperity; "t mat very
lrhrrry which you So highly P'ze But as u is'asy
to that from different causes and j'"m "0'''"
quarters much pains will be taken. many nrhcrs ~"
pnved 10 weaken in your minds the c"nvc'inn '" M
truth; as this is the point IN yonr r"i'''cs' ea,
against which the batteries OF internal a,a tI'
ensmes will be most constantly snd aciiVeiy Vno"g"
often coy.r,Iy and n>dinusy) direcedj u rs OF w."
mite moment, that you should property 'S" "
p,o,pnse value uf your national union 10 your COZ
ecYe and individual happtn'ss mat you sn'"io Wv
rish cordial, habual and mmovah'' a''nchh'sn. :"
H. occastornp Yourselves 10 think and SPEAK III " az
the palladium Of your political safety aho P'ospy
watching for its preservation WIN jealous "n'rN' S
6 ccun,e nspcing ha,ever may suggest even snspch
,b,, il csn i'm aEy event. he shsndoneo; ana mag
napy frowninr upon the first dawn'ng OF every s''
tempt 10 ALLEVIATE any portion Of out country nom inc
rest, 10 enfeebe The sacred ues "hic" W" ''"" "
r.,her The vsrous parts II
Again, speaking ON the same SUBJECT uie 'a'ue y
The Union, he says:
.ln contemplating the causes which may disturb our
Unnn II occurs matter 81 serions concern ihai any
o-,npd should have been furnished Tor choracerizng
parties by geographical NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. nno
Southern Iiunic and WesteTn; whence des'gn"g men
end-avor to excite belief That mere IS teai ol'-
ference Of local intesste AMI VIEWS One OF Tue eA
ce6enis Of por,y 10 acquire influence within rar'cu'
lar dstricts to m.represent The Opinions ano aims
of other districts You cannot shield yourselves 100
much against the ieaiuuses and heart burnings which
spring from these Misrepresentation They tend 10
render alien 10 each other those who ought to be bound
together by !raternal efection
Are these remarks prophetic OF come OF inc agta'i"hs
OF tie present day in country, If 80, IL, US NOR"
at,entiypIy review this advice nttrnnrsy examine
our obligations tn. Constitution and The unl"n, and
more stlensey guard ourselves against any 'nfuencss
foreign domestic. OPEN or covert, which may have
tendency 10 draw from duty as faithful cz"ns q"
the splSlc, to briug danger upon our country aho
its free institutions
MANY other passages Of this invaluable addr would
be ocoted you bu, time does nj, permit Many n'sf
n,n,s which have been brough, mind by the review
We have tskpn would be gladly discussed but the same
necessity compels me TO pass them can, therefore
ons from the danger which surrounds the passion
agitation of Of The compromises upon which me
Constitution rests, should lake waning os to oil mat
remain. Any Jp.oach change OF that cnnsecra'ed
instrument should only be made IN CONFORMITY WIN s
own PROVISIONS and wien It mas seem To ns that
such change is desirable, our Whole ground should be
carefully surveyed The rights ard Interests and feelings
Of every Stae and Il the people in every secil"n 81 me
Union should be folly considered and justly appreciated
our requests shoud be calmly and mads
and the results Of the ri tho constituted auth"n
ties br borne that spirit and with tha temper WHEN
gave I, the Constitution and The Uninn ihrn
snel example N political brethren OF the
Other States which NAV invite them 10 t"i"" ara
aiyr evidence of attachment 20 the coniedeTacy,
which should command their confidence
Finally. fellow citizens, let Us cling 10 The Cnns'i'n.
ton and The Unnn the surest md most hcent mode
OF prnmang the Of liberty IN our own c"nnity
and larnup huu, The world Let every obligation 10
both be discharged with wakrul vigilance. street hd.li
" 81 pst,o,ic dsvotp: Let remember, WHEN the
troubles have reviewed were met. encountered AND
overcome that but thirteen independent States we're TO
be consulted and cnncilaIsd but three or four mil
lions OF people united end rec"ncilsd; that halt cen
tury n the workings of glorious sysit m
has doubled The uun.ber Of States and s~e'lrd our 20
puia"n 10 s"me sixteen or seventeen m''' rs ''n'
with this 1T States aud population and "i con-
srquent wealth and prwer l"cn and c"ih c'ing inter-
css sectional lal"us.s, rival feelings and oil ihr I'M
pednenls the urR,s,l"n at efficient government
and perfect unnn, Vi eh n'erp"srd themselves and
almost the resolution. and patience and hope
Of our revolutionary Fathers must have pr"pnTionahy
increased Ard let these rensmhrances strengthen "ir
zeal aud iorlii9 determination 10 preserve the Con-
aiiluon and the Un"n They formed. to" te increased
millions whom the blessings II h"ta are daily and
hourly dffnsed and 10 transmit them nnmpaarrd, To
the s increasing millions OF teemen, who will SO
soon succeed us
If there be those among us. whn mislcd by mis'a
ken sympathy, by sudden excitement. upon nny sub
jpc are forgetting their obligations TO The whole c"un'
lry 10 the Constitution and the Union, let every
effort Of persuasion and example 10 awaken them To
of their dangerous If those, who tor The
sake Of private interest personal ambition, or momen
tory political success are willing 10 experiment up"n
the public passions To treat lightly their constitutional
obligations 10 ionent sectional slouses ard raise up
geographical distinctions within the Mon, let the ah.
of our countenance and support convince such.
tina, the personal qualification, public services ut any
living objects Of sufficient magnitude 10 De
gained at the expense Of the harmony Of the country.
the peace Of the Union single letter in the list OF
our constitutional duties If among us there be any,
which Heaven forbid who prepaed for any earthly
object, d;sniembpr contderacy and destroy that
Constitution which binds together, IL, the fate of an
Arnold be theirs, and let the detestaton and scorn of
every American he their constant companions until,
like him. they shall abandon country whose rich bless
iogs they are m longer worthy 10 enjoy
Towards foreigners, and foreign nations, let our con-
duct be governed by the strict rule Of right: Let our
every Duty arising under the laws of nations or the
obligations Of treaties be promptly and puncicusly
performed; aud then, neither claiming MOI attempting
TO exercise right to interfere IN their internal asr
control their civil and political institutions let Us