Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-07

Fcdcrass. has been in this spirit They cannot afford
10 lose their Abolition votes; yet they hope 10 retain
the,o under cover and in form that shall not cXn-
hi I'm, association the annoyance OF their political
friends at the South At the last session, II was un-
drrs.nod that the promise Of direct legislative action
in relation 10 several public questions had been held
or Ia the Abutionsis previous to the election hui,
G.arur lis effect a; tic South, the Fcdcrasts induced
them TO remain satisfied with expression in c"ndcn-
. nation If The Aiberton resolutions. With few eS-
crpi;ons thew were 60 Again the pledges and secret
or omen promises secured them the Abolition votes,
with few exceptions at the last election; and the de-
sire ia retain them for the next campaign, induces
thcm to carry ont bg Legislature action all that shall
, be necessary for that purpose now. The game IS
TO be sufficiently Abolition for the Abolition votes,
bn, in terms that shall enable them TO dsclaim the
idea Of being in fact. Hence the fierce dcnun-
cations by the Eve Journal nfthe Northern Democrats
who voted for Mr.. Waddy Thompson's and Mr.. Cost
ohrsons resolutions against the reception of the Abo-
litinn petitions. Hence its noisy and empty, because
wholly insiuccre defamation about the ''great right OF
nntition Hence the resolutions of Mr.. John A. King
in similar spirit although in less offensive terms 80
much was deemed necessary to secure, It not to APP
pcasc the Abo,onIsts 1t was the rcsnl. OF party
arrecr,cnt concnclcd at the Eagle Tavern, for party
ci;.c, and 10 he taken BY the Aboltonsts in lieu of
speciic LEGISLATION touching the 'micdiatc and I'M
conditional abolition of slavery in the District of Co.
lup,bia and elsewhere. And as such it was forced
throrrh The Legislature, by the arbitrary fiat OF the
Sneaker and his party abcttos, without allowing an OPP
porunitv to members who approved in par. and differed
in part to divide Tie question, agrecaby to the rules Of
the House and the equitable and undoubted claims OF
the minority
Arhorrh unwilling 10 70 farther, for the sake of APP
pcaranccs and party effect at the South; yet when the
Republicans the House brought them to the test they
preferred to vote putty against Mr. Mann reso,!-
ton rather than hnzard an outbreak with the Adolf
tionss But having voted in this manner in order 10
retain the Aho!!tionss of the North, they forthwith sci
about the labor for party effect at the South, ct 4iSt-
jy;ag e ground hich the rate scds gtccn The re-
solution rs follows: .
"Rcsoired, That this Legislature has seen win deep
rcuret and decidedly dsapproves and condemns the e.
forts of many misguided individuals in the Northern
States to interfere without right and IN violation OF me
principles on which the Constitution OF the T. D was
Established with the domestic institutions OF our sister
States at the South; thereby disturbing the domestic
peace of the States, weakening the bonds oil our hio
and sowing the seeds al liz dissolution
Every Democratic member voted Tor TINS resolution
and every Federal member, unc, against IT, we
arc not surprised that the Eve Journal and I's paT
7ans attempt escape from tins vote, i"r eject "u'
oH the State By pretending that they gave II, because
{ Their object was allay prevent Abolition excite
.cn. and because nohing woa'd harc hccn more mp
gorirnc ar 1-riroc ire CART SH'is6a" trim ser"
arts RI Gwr S;0;e than Gc passage d Jr id0h SrtSo'h
tGa' Tkc design Of The EY. J and the Fcdcralisis
was not TO retain the favor and votes Of The Abolition
ss--O no! but to prevent your Iicr.it Smhs and Al
van Stewards from increasing Their number. But let
that print speak for sr!s:
| "Thc Assembly decided, in accordance with mani
fest proo-ictv and Justice not 70 AID ir. Van Rnrrn :
game 81 maxim" capital the South b" ta'ming the
atE-s of Abolition til" North The Wing nlnj"rty
cf that body did No, IL TO initiate any o the d""ces
and twisting, Of the Artlul Dudrcr, but directly met
the question On MIR. Mann's resolution, d,nonnc ng
the ib"onists without amending il, and voted II
j. down, by 81 to Al.
at will be impossible TO n'srcprcscnt or rcrvrrt
this decision 10 Federal the face 81 an ncIli
,IgF ~
aaony Msscics IN their estimates Of dc measures RI
the 7boopS, but they do moi differ 10 III" yran-
meal and ut,crlv ujus!abic character OF an attempt
n 20 rcpccss ovcrawe, b. Legislative inm'naon III"
free opinions ard lawful actions of the people. On
his point trust there be difference OF sen.
4 tilncn; among Northern irccmcn.
/. !But this is only nf the dark phases Of Mr..
i Manns resolution The effect cf lis passage would
most u nubcdly aud necessarily have been the cx-
citrmcnt Of Clrbitcrcd fee and The bursting forth Of
& fierce flames Of contention anong people Every
: Ahon:I:st would have Eel: himself branded ;;Iaf,
doomed bear tie Of Cain his forehead while
q he struggled 10 tear il off He would Justly regard
q every man his deadly cn"ny vino aided t. allx or
! who would not aid to remove it And thousands who
i are n"w indifferent moderately hostile tn Abolition,
would rally moment to reiriany "gression' IN
q der The pretcyi of Grnouncing them, upon the right OF
INC whole people. Settling .rrnid haec brca MARI G'-
Grgac 'rHroWt t1Es firrrh SmitS ami irf" N'ir-
eis IF State co tie passage el .r. Eia Sccso"
J. Hoa
;, Again: lIr D. s Dickinson, Democratic r,c:n.
~ her 81 the cuatc, offered in that hcdy the following
-csoluiions which rejected, By the negative voia
oi every Federal member:
"Rcsoirrd, ifthc Assembly concur) Thatby the Con
10 sti.u,on OF the United States, Congress has power
r. l"gsatc upon the institution Of slavery in the Srvc
IS raj States Of The Concdcacv TINT the territory OF the
d Disrc, Of! Columbia having been ccdrd for the Of
n the General Government b. States IN which slavery
y existed at the time g such and slil exists any
20 attempt 10 abolish slavery in SAID district, or 10 agai'
the with view procure IT'S abolition III the scrc
. raj States, against the will of said States, is must and
,r arxpcdcnt, violation of the meaning and spirit
Of the Constitution adverse 10 the principles by winch
TIC several States united and breach of the all
l. upon which they entered into the political compact
n "Rcs0iscd, That the right to petition dues not
l., say carry with it the right TO have the prayer OF the
10 petition granted and that is violation Of either the
- cttc. or the spirit Of the Constitution for Congress t.
decline action upon petitions relating to the abolition OF
% slayerya domestic institution of the States, within t!s
r. control othc several State Legislatures and over ~c
at Congress has no Jurisdictions.
Can be said that these would have been ''opporunc
N md welcome to the GcTrit Smiths and AlvaG Stewards,
D. and McrCcre they voted down by the Federal ma
H. orty: VIII tic sh.criuge deceive even the tFgc IL
N politics.
~ The great mass nf cur citizens viewed this whole
matter in very different light few years since, when
r the movement, and ahorS OF the Abolon'stS had pro
duccd high state OF excitement, throughout the c"un
~ try. They assembled IN public meeting, without DIS
n ,natica Of party, and expressed themselves in very
C. strong terms o rcproation Of the of the Abo
I !i;oMiss and Of any interference from the North il
ID the domestic Of tho South Governor Mar
s. cy presided assisted b. wen;y-four Vice Presidents
n The highest character and an equal number of tho
d. the two political parties, (lhc late Stephen Van Rcns
nj scacr, Erastus Corning Abm. Van Vcchien Ambrose
~ Spencer, A. c. FagG James Stevenson, &. +. bud
I'd ley, Rufus H. King, Peter Wendell, John Townsend
O. Thomas W. Ocott, Jared L. Rathbonc James Wander
e poc, &c, &c)
is Gen. Dix reported series Of rcsolutions from
J. mcrous committee, embracing citizens Of both po!itca
g parties, (Ja, McKown, G"icon Ilawlry, Greene {
nj Bronson, D. d. barnard. VIVA. F. Van Rensselaer,
= Trunis Van Vcch;cn, T. H. Beck, Henry l.. Web,
he john Taylor Cooper, Geo W. Stanton, VIM. Seymour
NJ &c. &c and addressed the meeting able speccI
n IN favor OF their adoption. Amongst the resolutions
!. were the following
strseirc! Tint Union of the St'tc which, under Prnv
snc: conferred Tn richest blessings the people, In
- r">ni and cnncli'iDr that oH hope