Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-10-17
: EXCEPT the AboIi,ionists of Grea, Britain

arises whose right and whose duty IS IL 10 pro
vide Tor their comfort and happiness. The slaves
do not belong TO the Northern people, nor idFs
the slaveholding States ever dives,rd themselves
of the right 10 control and regulate their own mu
nicipal concerns. The institution OF slavery !:
one appertanins 10 the States in which 1t exists
in the language OF Mr. Webster. il IS cnphali
calIy "lheir affair" Heaven will not hold The
descendants OF The pilgrims and purilans rcSpon
sibe for The conduct of the Southern people, who
We trust, will in due season, render good ac-
count of their stewardship before The great search
er of hearts The citizens oil The slaveholding
States are entitled to whatever advantages slave
ry may afford, and must submit 10 any evils
which The system may entail nron them. Wine
Their they ought 10 abolish slavery-at what Time
and in what mode, are grave questions, winch
they, AMI they only, must decide. The abolition
of slavery in the Northern States was an easy
task involving no risk of peace, and but slight
loss of properly, as The number Of slaves in those
Staes was not considerable The Southern States
are differently situated. They hold u millions oil
slaves, valued al twelve hundred millions OF dol
lars. The ipatiun OF these slaves would
not only involve great pecuniary sacrifices, but
cause commuion and boodshed. When increas-
ed density of population shall have lowered wa
res, when The slaves bccome more improved and
better qualified 10 enjoy freedom when they have
| gradually emigratcd 10 warmer and more con-
| genial part OF this continent, emancipation may
| and probably will ensue. In The mean time il
will become the citizens of the non-sIaveholding
States TO abstain from agitaling The immediate
| abolition of slavery. The continued discussion
Of this subject will tend 10 diminish The privileges
now allowed 10 The slaves, besides endangering
| the friendly relations OF the several States.
| So far, The war waged against the institutions
Of The South has been one OF denuncialon.-
Were the abotionists TO excite and conduct
crusade against the Southern States il ght be
bloody persecution, allhoughnot the first under
taken by men protesting great devotion and phi
lanlhropy. Godfrey of Bouillon and the Chris
tan warriors murdered forty thousand unIesist-
ing citizens al The s,orming OF Jerusalem. Throw
ing aside their arms still streaming with blood,
and wading ankle deep in human gore, they went
with naked leet and uncovered heads to The Holy
Sepulchre, and there offered their thanks 10 Hea
ven, and sung anthems in praise olhe Saviour ii
The World In Spain, during the reign OF Ferdi-
nand and Isabella, 10000 persons were burned
alive bv the orders OF The lnqusiton, and 100000
others subjected to gross dienities and unmerit-
ed punishment Fifty thousand persons were de-
stroyed in France at The massacre OF 81. Bar
lhoIomew II later period, when religion was
! condemned and ridiculed liberty extoiled, and
human reason deiied, more than million OF per-
sons fell victims 10 the fury OF the French Revo-
luton. AT different epochs, nations have laid
aside their reason ard conscience, turned away
with scorn and contempt from the saluiary les
sons OF experience, and surrendered themselves
10 the sway of unbridled passions. limitations,
as with individuals one deviation from reclude
prepares The mind and heart for other sins ami
enormilies. The prupensites OF our nature are
mol easily restrained when once INDUCED, and
hence The danger oil yielding TOO readily 10 the
.,.y h,,, tbnir
and The sovereign people have theirs. Dcma
gogues, fanatics, military chieains,-in short,
all who intend mischief and misrule, profess
10 be governed by none other than The most liber-
al and pbilanlhropic views II was under the
garh of philanthropy that The spirit OF innova-
lion became The exciting cause olthe French Re-
yolution. "Who,' said Segur, "could have anti
cips,ed the terrible Hood Of passions and crimes
which was about 10 be lei loose on the world al
time when all writings, all thoughts all ac
lions seemed 10 have but one end, the extirpation
OF abuses, the propagation Of virtue, The tt'cf ~
he people the establishment IT frcedom? IL is thus
thai the most terrible commissions are ushered in
10 Inc world; the night is serene the sunset tair.
which pTacedcS the fury of the tornado"
Nations, like individuals, are prone 10 strive
after unaliainable blessings, and by llattering
,hispropensity Of the human heart, the ambitious
and unprincipled have often succeeded in raising
storms which they subsequently endeavcred in
vain 10 arrest or control. Few were louder a.
vocaes OF liberty and equality than RobesrierTc.
II we Judge him BIZ his words, he appears 10 have
been patriot, but when Judged BY the unerring
test OF actions, The blood-thilsy tyrant stands
out in bold relief. The history Of the French
Revelation demonstrates the power which
an inconsidcrablc number OF men may ac-
Gure when acting in concert and fired hy en- |
ihusiasm. Such body will accomplish less BY |
argument and address than By intimidation. The
larger portion OF the agilators who brought on |
The Revolution were destitute OF property, and, |
hence, more inclined 10 become reckless. The |
great mass OF The Partisan population had wives, |
children AMI shops, and were friendly 10 gradual
ana moderate REFORM but they permitted them
selves 10 he oyerawe and ovcrrnleJ b. The lana /
teal advocates OF innovation. The agltaOrS |
gained strength and Influence from The apathy, |
the neutrality and tmijiiy oil The masses. Lrl
such Of the people OF The Tree States as condemn
The coarse of the Aboliionisls profit BY the les
son which those memorable times incnlcae Let
all who are opposed 10 interference with Inc inst'u'
tons OF the South, remember that opinions, when
zeaously propagaicd, tend 10 diffusion and that il
is more easy 10 counteract dangerous doctrines
when first plomui gated, than 10 overthrow them
when they have once obtained The ascendancy.-
Great is the espousibilily which now rests upon
the majority OF the people inhabiiins the Tree
States Let them remember, that The Abolition
lists have increased 10 a number not TO he disre-
car!cd, and acquired power not 10 be despised,
and that il is the duty Of all Northern patrols no
longer 10 submit in silence, nor indulge IN neu-
ralily, nor yield to sluggishness, but 10 arouse
themselves. and cuunteract the dissemination oil
doctrines, which, if made very prevalent through
oul the free States, will render the Union "A rope
of sand" and involve The country in civil war
and lis concomilant evils. The times require The
deyelopment and exercise Of that latent patriot
ism, which yet abides and ahounds in The great
majority OF Northern hearts.
I>erhaps The Abolitonisls are inca able oil Being
iDlucncedb y anv argument which can be adifes-
sed 10 their undeislan ;ings, or any appear "aich
NAV be made 10 their love oil country. ticreto-
fore lhey have treated with contempt and IldIchr,
all The admon,ons and all The reasoning urged
bv III. Southern people, whose interests, Tie Abo-
iIionis,s assert, have warped their Judgment and
obscured their perceptions. Such objections can.
no, be urged 10 weaken the force oil any views OF
this subject, which may be presented 10 me hbo-
iiiioniss by the other citizens OF The Tree States.
Awakening from their letharey, and animated by
a true LOYALTY to their country lei ihen undertake
and vigorously prosecute the great ana noble
work Of disabusin2 the minds OF their Northern
f,low-ciiiZens Let them enlishlen The Adolf
ionsts in respect 10 their constitutional oDiisa-
tions, the character aho extent VI VIC i"".'' ~
fded 10 The Federal Government the reserved
r;ghis of The States, and the disastrous conse-
onences which must result from any interference
With The rights OF Southern property. Let these
things he done faithfully and perseverngy, and
The clouds which are beginning 10 dar;en our po-
Ii,ical horizon will dspcrsc, confidence viii be
invigora,ed, harmony will be restored and the
bonds OF the Union greatly strengthened.
All The great and beneficial changes made BY
Nature aie slowly developed; sudden change, |
are almost invariably succeeded BY rio.ent an.
Injurious shocks. 1t is doubtless The viii OF pfo-
vidence that nations Should advance n c's,' "a
nennls should augment rs society improves; but /
I'M changes destined 10 be salutary or permanent,
must he gradual and made with due circumspec-
i'm The nennlr OF different nations have ollen |