Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-17

., ,r;ebad The contest has been removed rom 10
uroner ground Instead ola struggle for the slave has
hcen s,rurn,e for The right OF petition. ana ihs'c'u
&c Tho question of slavery being brought up Oh ~
merits and bearing on The inntaa' iel''on |
STATES The discussion has been too mnch tra'hu''""
in,I,,,cs We submit whether the new d'fecuoh pro-
noscu to be given to peInning ciofts: WIZ "' Pc ~
p,ov.mes in regurd 10 Congress, on hIshef anu "
d.r basis We need not discontinue our usuai Pet't'''
l a., mich; Law out the greatest effort on The atemp
,or~c , rcncai Of the provision alldcdto Petitions
a. ,, propnscd amendment could not be rcjcctca-
The clause n.cntcd on IS Que OF those parts OF Tue
Constitution for The amendment "i witch express pro-
vision is made. TO petition for IT'S amendment Cannot
he any constructions be made appear unconstltuti'n
i 10 member of Congress would be Shameless
enough, unless he designed TO subvert the In,oh u
oncc TO make the slightest movement towards tic re-
lection of such petitions. Congress would be Compel
i IN entertain them Another advantage would De,
Ina, no questions with regard TO constitutional power
cnrJ arse TO inysty debate and sursede other ac-
t,on The whole subject OF slavery, III lis influences
on the Government and the rights ana institutions 81
in, States would necessarily come "p 1t would not
do for s!avrhniders 10 inlrench themselves on the
around Of no d:scussion IL would bc TOO obviously az
ura lot thcir rights would na! be assl:icd The sole
object in view wond be 10 obtain once more mut'ai
investigation Of til" conditions OF our Unton-ol tue
terms of our nut:oaal partnership. No lndircctncss
could be charged upon such movement. IL "oud DC
orcn fair, manly, constitutional
= The resolutions OF the Legislature q! Georgia,
lately passed relation to her difficulties with Name
and the suggestions made III the annual message Of
the Governor Of Virginia, in connection wI'h s expo
s,tion of the controversy between that State and Ne"
York rive strong counenancc 10 s,;ch measure AZ we
ronosC # will be- rccolccted that The Governor OF
Vrou;a declared that il was the duty of Congress ito
rcovc any ambiguity, if there be any, IN the laws
made 20 carry into effect the provisions OF the Constr
luton for the surrender Of iugvcs from justice; and
Il there be no defect ambiguity in these laws, +"
provide for the prompt and faithful execution OF thrni
bv cundinw the execution Ia th":" whose ln'crpfc'a-
ton Of their dutv is consistent with our rights ana
the bclcSs of the Constitution. The Legislature
of GeorTia resolved that the statutes of the United
STATES, enacted 10 carry INTO effect the latter clause of
the second OF the fourth article OF the ConSttu-
ton viz the clause relating 20 the recovery ofiugve
slaves were inadequate to the object. They also re-
solved that several amendments, which they specified,
should be made the statutes, enacted to carry mo
effect the clause Of the section, relating 10 ugitves
from justice: and directed that their Senators ana he
representatives ia Congress b. requested to procure,
! II possible, such amendments. The strong probable
;y thea il that Congress vii soon be called upon
lc act anew and efficiently, IN behalf OF slave
ry: and ii il quite possible, that amendment to the
Constitution, having in view the object, may b.
ATTEMPTED Would It not be wise, therefore 10 ancI
pate the Slaycholdim- interests by moving Congress 10
entertain propositions for amendments the ConS;itl-
ton IN favor liberty. The changes We suggest are
demanded b. ~. spirit Of the are, while those desired
hy shareholders are hostile 10 this spirit, they ar"
fcstrncty" nthc RIGHTS OF the free States and dsonor-
able TO The nation.
/ 4 Such petitions would serve to keep continually
before tn, people Of the North their political response
+, Uili,;cs u: The matter OF slavery.
4 : Although .. object sOuE h. in them n!!ght not be
gained, still they E:igt prepare the way tor what, rs
quite possible the country may ycGcmand--a National
ConvrntIon-Such formed our Constitution, TO deli
bcratc once more the great question oi slavery.
with view 10 It's final settlement. Every can
see that slavery is becoming the question OF questions
feeling of insecurity with respect 10 ii, and of dIssa
tisact,ou viii, The conduct oil Tn" North is increasing
every day al the South; while the sentiment of t!lc
North is bccuinin. every day more adverse 10 the
systcin and less disposed 10 perform The stipula.
tons relating 10 IT IN the present compact II Is
fact. which no deny, that IT." expectations
Of our fathers have been disappointed, and That The
. friends Vi liberty ;his country. have been deceived
This has resulted not much from M G!irina', de-
bcrair purpose the part ofour Southern friends, As
from cIrcums unforeseen the date "thr lorna
ton Of the Constitution, which have naturally LED the
South - take rs present attitude Such have been the
influences OF. those CIRCUMSTANCES (w" uilndc par
tcuarT 10 the purchase of LOUISIANA and those events
which have so greatly enhanced Tic profits Of cotton
and sugar cuvalIon as TO involve III" North almost
equally with the South in the wrong and sin oi up
holding slavery. Northern sentiment has been cor.
rlptcd. Northern commerce enriched, S"r.hcr; com
forts multiplied, By connection with States IN
which the only system Of labor is that Of slave labor
Tlu. ,rhoo nation has been robbing the slaves III its
midst.
In view Of these facts, may it not become proper 10
ask for national conference more his subject
~ sag Southern brethren, times have changed
since the formation OF the Constitution. Circnmstan-
ccs now surround u which not !orcsccn then
The terms ofonr union with you becoming @r"vous
10 us We feel that in the matter of slavery We have
done wrong and we wish to do right. Slavery, III our
opinion is The one dStuTber of domestic peace dis
graceful To the nation in whose fame we have inter
bearing more and progressively upon urrghts
and the only which threatens the pcr.na-
: nencc Of our Union. We cannot see that you reap
from ii any advantages, which are an equivalent
10 our disadvantages. On the contrary, we belize
tina, lis abolition would promote your interests even
more than cur own. Besides, wiling since we
have done wrong with you, 10 bear proportion oi
any losses which NAV he consequent nnGoinm tn.
wrong. Is equal partners therefore, in the
4 pact ask you 10 meet lis in national convention,
,Ial may, N ttaernal spirit c"nlcr on tins mat
ter
Such contention, we say, may yet bc demanded;
and does not the mode oi pctttiOnng We have sGg-
gesied promise 10 prepare the way for 1t;
Oh! that the spirit of wisdom aud love for the
interests Of the whole country, which filed he breasts
of the fathers might rule in the hearts of their chill
Idren Then, instructed b. the experience" Of fifty
wears and in view of The new lights afforded Us by the
more recent movements in r"sp"c. 70 emancipation, II
all parts Of the world. we might justly hope 10 10
!. decision the subject, winch world redeem our be-
loved country from dshom"r, maintain lis Liberties
iulpai-cd, and pcrpcuatc the nina
| i've throw out these suggestions, more with : view
at tbs time of exciting reflection, than any action dur
n.. the present Congress We shall Ike to hear what
on, brethren Of the press think d: the matter
Correspondence from .lihn"y.
\ MARcn I'll, $40.
Aside from the important bill the subject of the
currency this has been an interesting week III the
sessions o tie Senate The propriccs Of debate the
dpCpru:n of the Senate nav, the common corescs OF