Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-09-08
J. a. BYSrM, Secretary.

| C.4irmG4
! J. a. BYxrM, Secretary.
To THE PEOPLE OF THE SLAvEHoLnrNG STATES.
/ 1t is not members of political party that we now
address you. has arrived the affairs OF This
country, which, with Southern men, makes The inter
cSts OF party, Important as they are, secondary
sderatron. The current of events IS fast fastening Il
| the point where II must be determined, whether
the country shall he governed according 10 the primer
| pies of the Federal or Democratic creed, but whether
large portion of the unlon society shall exist al
| all IN rs present organization.
/ 1t is established principle with the whole human
family, that association, society, cannot Justly IN.
tcrirre with another reference TO the institutions
der which II chooses to be governed, and that this
| particular, each is sovereIg and independent Much
less society, the individuals OF one society
responsible Heaven Earth for the Justice or rxpc-
d"ncy ot the institutions oi another In Europe. the
right Of foreign intervention has been for years The d..
yIdng question between the friends 81 freedom and the
advocates al hereditary kings and absolute powtr To
MAINTAIN the right Ut interference and urcc uuwn.
nations, hereditary domrn'on under the OF cgItt,
macy the grand object OF the Holy Alliance. h.
combined m"narchS denied To the people rights
wh,c we're obtained from the voluntary CONCESSIONS
Of kings aud princes and undertook Ia put down, by
ed intervention, ali uprsnTs al the great 81
", with modify the Government conformity
wrth the general will The friends If freedom on III,
unr hand, manaturd that Tho people of each nation
hay. rl9ht L. change ttrr institutions al will! thai
has right, respect To interfere wltllan"-
Their and that absolute independence each natnn,
Of all foreign lntrrposton aud control, is the sonl,
safeguard nj liberty among mankind Twice did the
Holy Alliance impose legitimate Monarch on France.
but alter witnessing the devotion of her people dur
ny the tire. glorious days ot l-D they dared no;
tempt Ia repeat the experiment.
By the Revolution OF i71C, each Of the United States
acquired rgh, to separate and absolute independence
natlon and right 10 mould It's institutions accord.
na 10 the Will OF It's people And this all
that It acquired. Virginia did not acquire a rwht To
dictate Constitution laws Massachusetts, nor
N!assa hIscits 10 Virginia. The peofc OF Virginia did
become responsive, for the institutions OF Ml>sach
the people of Massachusetts for those OF Nr
gina. Each was separate and independent State,
aud Tie people Of each acquired the right 10 control
their institutions, and became alone repSons bic tor
their justice and eXpcdency.
Some OF the States abolished slavery, and others did
not. From this circumstance OF those diver
sites in human society which pcrvade the earth. Whc
Their this diversity was great as to forbid Conirdc
racy any sort of union among the States, 4
question which the patriots Of that day considered
and decided They considered, that, noiwlthsand-
mr. tins and other divcr>es there were other
grcn; points upon which the whole had sympa
thy and interest All had interest preserving
peace between each other protection against To-
reign aggeS>ion III freedom OF commerce among them
currency III the preservation OF the public faith and
IN other general measures and principles conducive
to the prosperity and happiness OF man IN all SCOT
etles aud under all circumstances. To refuse 10
unite with their brethren under benign authority
embracing only these points OF common interest, ray
ing all else absolutely The several States, appeared 10
the oiihat day foolish to repudnte the go
vcrumrut Of their great Creator because ii embraces
the tyrant and S victim, the freeman and the slave,
nations where half society are in bondage, well as
nations where all irccas ridiculous To hide from
the light Of the sun, and reject the genial RAIN because
they descend alike upon the evil aud the good on the
unjust well the just Nor did they that,
by entering INTO CouIrdrracy with nrd powers,
they made their several co-S,atcs, the people there
Of responsible for the institutions and laws of other
States, growing out Of their reserved rights and powers,
any than they responsible for the institutions
aud laws of the nations Of Europe, Asa, or Africa.
with whom they united by the laws oi Heaven and
the laws oInallons If not BY treaties Of commerce or
alliance.
The power 10 rennlare or abolish the institution of
slavery the States winch represent, reserved
5y them absolutely when they entered INTO the Federal
compact. The other States and the people thereof,
have rght to interfere with ii than they have
wi,h the same institution II the nations oj Africa or
Asa. Nay. more: they cannot interfere with II with
on, violating their national faith plghtcd IN the com.
pact winch, Ia a certain extent, makes people
rh. Constitution of the United States rrcnrnrz,s the
thereof 10 project It, in the same manner they
bound to protect every other institution which
isis under the legitimate authority OF the State Co
vcrnucnis. In attacking the institution of slavery
in ASA or Africa, the people of the United States
would be guilty of unwarrantable interfere nee
with the affairs of other narons-in attacking that
institution II exists IN any of these c"nirdrracd
States, they not only guilty OF an unwarranabe m
reference, but conmlta pal pabI breach of their plight.
ed faith Yet these attacks have been made aud
praed with zeal and perseverance worthy oil better
cause Vast associations have been formed. extending
larg" portion of the Union, and having connec
tons in foreign countries for the avowed purpose of at
lacking the institution of slavery, not the States
where the associations exist bat IN other States whose
local affair. and Institutions they have no interest
concern. Ih, 81 associations have become powerful N
money and III men, and comr" n considerable number
presses, which Jealous in disseminating their doc
triTr> and strrng hen M their organization.
The duty ui all friends Ut the rights of the states,
well the union of the States relation 10 ts fanatr
cal Sect obvious to be mistaken. 1t IS I" have no
connection with them, having reference to the adm.
nsratron OF the Government: but TO leave them holly
10 themselves Separated from the great parties winch
DIVIDE iii" country, and acting without c"uncnance or
encouragement from either their extravaganza and the
unsoundncss of their principles would check their m
and obvrat all danger from their assaults upon
Southern society and the principles of the Constitution
Unfortunately, this has not been pursued On
the contrary, their aid has been sought and their sup
port secured in the party struggles Of the times they
have beer courted, encouraged, and by these means
ghrnrc until they aspire Ia the high places IN the
General Government and expect At no distant day to
weld It's power.
1t IS a matter of the highest importance TO the slave
holding States know and mark the party and the in
dvduals who thus encouraging the hopes, strength
ening the hands, and administering to the designs of
the Abolitioniss. IL hehooves people they
ue their property, their liberty, and their lives, to look
at this matter unnucnccd By party considerations, de-
ternlned only 10 know the TRUTH and do their dutv
themselves. OF what importance IL it to them whether
have National Bank or not protective Tariff or
not Internal Improvement not if a faction /,
shall obtain controlling power in the Govern.
men winch shall rob them of their property, de-
ISOLATE their fields, destroy their dwellings, and mas.
sacre their families, This subject transcends and
suPercedes all others; and the first question Southern
man ought to ask, when he is solicited to attach hun
self 10 any party vote for any candidate IS, VIII II
IN any way encourage the hopes, or increase the
strength of the Abotonists: We request each one
of you, to whatever party you may have heretofore be-
onged, TO ask yourself this question, and determine
10 be governed by the answer which truth shall give
to IT,.
Tha, Northern men, generally, entertain opinions