Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-08-24
THE ENQUIRER.
Morning, August 81. Is47.
THE WILMOT PROVISO.
RICH MOND, VA.

THE WILMOT PROVISO.
The Philadelphia North American charges
the Democrats Of the North with having defeat
ed the Wilmol Proviso, and says The papers in
that interest have taken ground, in advance,
against its principles. We are glad 10 have this
evidence from the pen OF an opponent OF The 10y
ally OF our party in The Northern States 10 right
and justice. We are rejoiced to see that they
stand by The South and The Union on this great
question. But The same paper which gives us
this pleasing intelligence also gives US some OF
an opposite character. Illeiis Us that the Wing
party, though "deprecating The necessity OF such
Proyiso, will, il circumstances require, support
it and the principles it involves with all the vgor
which comes from the consciousness Of tight and
the persuasion of duly" We hope that the N.
American is mol authorized 10 speak Tor the Wing
party in This matler-ihat il has mol been truly
represented. II not a majority OF the Wings, We
trust that The Southern Hhlgs will not make
parry question of such momentous subject, but
| will be found BY the side Of The Democrats doing
bae for the rights of the South and The safety oil
the Union. On the Bank, Tariff and AnneSa-
tion questions, they went with their party against
Southern interests. Southern rights ale now as.
sailed, and We hope they will pause before they
60 further.
MOI only is The proposition OF MIR. Wilmo an
outrage in itself, but The time Tor bringing This
great question forward seems 10 have been so Sc
ecled that no circumstance OF wrong should be
| he OF n
was involved in war, with all the Disadvantages
which long peace occasions 10 military opera
lions. The honor Of our flag, the glory Of our
arms, and The safely Of our soldiers, depended up
on prompt and energetic action on the part OF The
Government, while The good name and charac-
ter Of that Government required that every homo
rable effort should be made 10 obtain speedy
peace. Al this moment, with vast public and
private interests a. stake, il is proposed that The
means voted The President 10 bring about peace
are not TO be used unless slavery is prohibited in
advance BY CONGRESS in any territory 10 be ac-
qured by arms or negotiation. We doubt whe-
Their The history Of the world can present para-
lei case 10 This. No question involving slave in
terests in The most remote degree had arisen, nor
could one arise, until treaty OF peace had g-
ven US a title 10 some portion Of The Mexican
territory. But fana,icism could not await The
natural course Of events. These who espoused
the cause OF their Country, and Stood by her when
hosliies were waging with foreign power,
must not only Withstand the opposition OF such
as sided with The enemy, and bear upthe burthen
OF the war, but must be called upon TO settle those
questions which peace alone could produce.
Fortunately for The country, We have been
saved The humlia,ins spectacle which would
have been presented by the United States, had
the Wimot Provso given law 10 our relations
with Mexico. Although thus much has been
achieved, yet The decision OF the principle oil the
provso is only delayed. II sill hangs like
black cloud over the future. We trust that The
people of the save-holding States will be ready
to meet with ifmness the tempest il contains
While we are moi disposed to disturb arrange
mcns which have been long made when good
faith is at allsinvolved, We respectfully submit
that we have yielded as much as safety would
allow-more, perhaps, than honor could permit
We contend, in The language al The Virginia re-
tory OF the United States, no matter how acquired,
is open 10 every citizen OF each and every Stale
with whatever property he may possess, without
lei or hindrance from any. IL is vain 10 talk Of
compromise in this matter. The nature OF the
case does not admit il. The people OF The South
must be permitted 10 exercise This right or the
right itself is destroyed exiinguished- annihiated
IN IL
cerned. This right is yielded up and gone from |
them without ,quvalent-ior the other parry sur
renders nolhinS-nothins bu, The privilege 10 de-
prve them OF their participation in all or any leHi-
tory Of the government. And This, The people OF
the South cheat hemselvesor are cheated by others
into The belief, is compromise. There can be no
compromise unless both parties yield something |
What did the North yield by The Missouri Com
promise Have not The citizens ofthe North The
same right they ever had, 10 60 with their pro-
perry into any Territory OF The Uned States they |
may see fit 10 nhabiil Is there square foot Of
our soil which was ever open 10 them that is no
open 10 Them now with all their worldly goods ot
every descriptions There can be but one an.
swer lu these questions and that scalters 10 the
winds all idea Of mutual concession.
We repeat, that We are mol disposed 10 disturb |
the Missouri Compromise. The representations
Of both great parties, the slave-holdins and ron-
save-holding, met in Congress. Alter struggle
which shook the whole Union parallel OF lali |
tude was selected, which was intended 10 be rer-
manent barrier 10 The spread Of slavery TO The |
North. Bo,h parties acquiesced in The arrangement |
made in Consress-an arrangement which yielded
the rights OF The Souh in all The Territory beyond
.hirly-si1 and half degrees Of Moth latitude
Blu, the South has hitherto scrupulonsy adhered |
10 this compromise; and after the lapse Of more |
than quarter OF century, il would be breach |
OF good faith TO annu The compact while The peo-
pie of the North respect il. All we wish is that |
our people may look 10 this matter, .ha. they may
know their rights and understand what they have
conceded in times past Tor the sake oil peace, and
the preservation OF The Union. When they
have done lha, we feel confident that They
will not again be deludei into any concessions
with regard 10 slavery, Tor they will see there can
be no mutually in any concession on that sub
ject. We hope they will visit with uuer con- |
domination such a principle as that commended for
by he Richmond Wing Of yesterday, viz: 'Mot
Congress has al It's disposal Tie irhoie question u
Tic admission of ne,c States; and hat IL can pro-
scribe Ms terms on 1rhih hty shall became eonsi-
tuent paris 81 the Union in that capacity" For
ourselves, we utterly deny this doctrine, even
should we stand alone. But we will not stand
alone. The people cannot fail 10 see The mon
slrous results Of such principle. The Union
is confsderacy of sovereign Stales how, then,
can they be fetlered by Congress- II Congress
has right TO impose conditions, ii may well
claim the right TO enforce them. When territory
is admitted as Stale, it is sovereign body
Yet how can ii be sovereign il it is fetleIed by
conditions. which Congress has imposed and