Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-07-04
VOLUME 42---NO. II.

we are sure, however, that appeals OF this
Kind will be in vain 80 long as the peculiar in
stitutlonS, OF which she is tenacious shall con.
linue 10 paralyze and suppress all The native ener-
Sles OF The people. Does not the Editor Of The
wing know that the apathy OF which he com
plains IS the natural result If those institutions
ii he does not II IS high time that he should learn
IT, II, knowing it, he fails 10 proclaim The I'm.
cause, he does not fulfil his duty 10 his Stale. 10
his country, and 10 his race
Let him call upon Virginia 10 throw on he
nightmare OF slavery, which now holds her spell
bound. and she would rouse her latent energies al
once, and would be able 10 compete with The free
labor OF The North which she can now only gaze
al and envy"
Go loo. al our files Of 1872 and sec il We
require 10 be schooled in our duty. Blame your
own cut-ihroat Aboionsts Your own Tappan
who proclaimed that he would disinherit his son
II he did not bear arms 10 aid HE slaves 10 de-
sroy their masters, but blame not Us, or Viz
ginia.
Here, then, the Wing seems 10 have forgotten
all It's former assertions abou, The whitening ct-
tects Of Democratic rule" upon the des,inies OF
Virginia. In endorsing the arguments OF the
Cincinnati Atlas, that The peculiar institutions
OF Virginia "paralyzc and suppress all The native
energies OF The people, and that "lhe apathy Of
which he complains is The natural result OF those
institutions, the Wing surrenders its former is
sue, aud lays the whole blame upon the might
mare OF slavery, which now holds Virginia spell
bound
We agree with the Wing, tina, the violent
bearing OF The tanatical abolilionis,s has ONLY
served TO rivet The chains OF slavery, and 10 deter
I fp n sill late r,I ~, l.
The modification OF our domestic system. We shall
| not now enter into 4 discussion of the relative
merits OF our peculiar institutions. and The Tree
labor Of The North. No one, who has travelled
through The Union, can deny that there is more
apparent prosperity and vigor in the free than IN
The slave Stales-more canals and railroads in
opeIation-moIc fields enriched BY cultivation.
and tecmins with lruiIs-more manufactures.
filled with The hum ana animation OF active bus-
ness. But, after all, il is questionable whether,
amid all the apathy that covers the slave States,
and seems destined 10 wear oul their energies
there are not rich blessings which, in the eyes al
The people OF those States oulbalancc the appa-
I rent superiority OF our Free neiehbors II is
evident 10 passenger on The Ohio river, that the
picture presented BY The free State of Ohio on The
one bank, and The slave States OF Virginia and
Kentucky on the Other is greatly in favor of the
former, as far as physical Improvements and
prosperity are concerned-but it is extremely
questionable, whether one brought up under The
peculiar institutions of the South would es-
change the scenes of his youth and manhood ior
the manners and customs OF The free States, 50
little consonani 10 his feelings and education.
But il ia not our intention 10 discuss this deli
cate question. All will admit, that Mis is not the
proper time, when the madmen Of The North by
their mischievous and reasonable course, have
checked for many long years the investigation ii
The proper means, winch our own citizens may
think necessary To advance the fortunes oil the
South, by a modification Of its domestic DO
Icy. No Southern man. however enlightened
OF courageous, would venture 10 introduce before
The public question Taught with mischief rs
long as the Northern fanatics hurl their fire brands
into our borders.
II was but Just the Democratic party OF Vir-
gina that We should present the evidence oil lhe
Wing, in order 10 eSonerale that party from the
charges Of want Of public spirit and regard lor
the welfare Of The Stale, which that journal had
laid exclusively attheir door.