Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-08-27
FOT ne EHqNHp'
THE WILMOT PROVISO.


the affairs OF the nation, which no true lover Oh
his country or her political institutions can con-
template without feelings of regre, mingled with
alarm. Religious fanalicism, coupled with abo-
liouism, is raising It's fiery head under The SEM
blapce OF philanthropy, and, collecting all its M
fineDce is ready 10 wage crusade against Inc
freedom and domestic institutions OF The South.
Acis of oppression and daring usurpalion are al
WAYS made 10 veal The gaib OF justice; even in
The most debascd and lawless mohocracY there Is
an nnae and living principle which makes hem
seek some apology or justification Tor deeds OF
cruelty The Reign Of Terror in Ffance-ihe
most horrd page in The history oil the world
boasts not one lyrant who did not seek 10 pTopi-
tale that public opinion which ultimately cast
him, loaded with crimes, in The sea OF blood
which flooded that country; and the propagation
| of freedom vas the bold, sacrligious and infa
NOUS pretext by which those actors sought 10 jus
ity The bloody crimes peIperaIed in that awful
drama. Democracy was the watchword Of Ro-
| bespierre; DAMON, as he waded through the CO.
nv streets OF Paris, holding in one hand The blaz-
ing torch, ienitins The taggot OF persecution by
which persisted the dearest rights of The populace
he, too, wept "wheD the people cried" Reli-
sion has often been the means OF inficting the
mos, direla calamlies. upon mankind, when its
grea, ends have been perverted; and in no case
| is this more strkingly eIempifled than when
connected with abolitonst. in certain portion
OF the country, who, being the prime movers in
the slave trade, mainly instrumental in ndicing
| this wofu sin upon us-having grown wealthy
and influential by the proceeds arising from This
| traffic in thurman fesh"-ater having unbuTden-
ed their ships oil this "a fican produce" upon our
| Southern shore-besn 10 feel conscientious scru-
pies. After getting the money in their posses
sion. they clamor loud for them 10 lberate and 10
ca Sc themselves OF that which was so graciously
bestowed upon them in the inciriency Of this not
ed lrafic. And here, iMessrs. Editors, we would
beg leave 10 say, that there is an error in The
South in supposng that this class are in small
| minority; that the abolitionis,s compose small
yor.;o. OF ,ha North who have no influence &c.
| But recent manifestations prove the contrary -
We know the most intelligent and influential
the Governors oil non-slnr eh"idIus otdies,
The Senators, nay, even an cy.Prcsideni, are
minpling in The lhrong, and using all their n6u-
encc 10 ian the flame and FIRE the fanatic against
our Southern domestic institutions. All classes
and protessons-ihe Grceeys and Garrisons, the
( Corwns and Adamses-are vieing with each
other in their denunciaons against those rights
| guaranteed TO US by the Constitution, but which
secmdesned 10 be oyerrun and down.trodden By
this ruthless band OF pseudo-patrols and philan-
thropists.
Amid their onward progress and mad career,
the question comes home 10 every Souherner-
Shall we of the South submit 10 the ipsc di1it
of This class, who, actuaed by the motto that
| Hmieh, makes right" are,steadily cndeavoring 10
take from US that which, in all laws both divine
and human, is properly our own? Shall we 60
into a second Missouri compromise about this
Wilmo, Proviso, and there compromise our nde-
pcndcncc, compromise our dignity and import
ance and finally compromise The liberty oil lbe
Suuill Shall We be willing 10 yield This matter,
over which the trainers oil the Constitution gave
us Of the South exclusive jurisdiction into the
hands of The Federal Government, controlling as
that Government does fixed local majority p
Shall We Of the South permit subjects which be-
long peculiarly 10 the States guaranteed 10 them
by the Consliiu,ion-to be torn away from usby
the giant arm of The Federal Government, till
frs, one and then another barrier has been swep!
away BIZ the onward, deep, resis!lesS, swelling
waves OF federal usurpalions and encfoachments2
In the language of another, that solemn and admo-
nishins voice as it speaks 10 US pow from beyond
that horizon that binds mortal eyes, and points
us 10 The fearful rents that have been made in the
mantle which once sheltered he tights and liberties
of The S,alts, is heard in distinct and mourniui
accents, like the tollins note for some departed
friend, repeating sill the great truth which he
dctect Of po,yer may be supplied, bat an c1cess Of
Yower naDcr can be recalled. There is sacred
obligation upon every Southern constituent 10
warn his representative 10 resist Ibis daring mea-
sure, aiming IS it does an effective blow at their
deares; rights, to oppose openly and boldly any
attempt 10 NEEDLE with their own property. Lei
the Southern representative, when he enters the
CAPITOL remember that he is The representa-
tive oil that portion Of The Union which has
been mainly Instrumental in building up our
ualional honor and influence; that he goes there
with instructions 10 cherish The union ofthe States,
and 10 look TO its dismemberment as The last re.
sort. But, al the same time, lei him remember,
that he represents. a people, who, though loyal,
will not suffer their rights, handed down 10 them
by proud ancestry, and guaranteed BY The Con-
siuiyn, 10 be squandered away; and that any
a',emp. To encroach upon those rights will be
nagranl, open and palpable violation OF The Fc-
dc,al compact. Let us make our representative
accountable 10 his constituency. As regards his
vote on this Wilnut Proviso or any thing per-
laning thereto, question him and hear his an.
swers, II is line that The whole South should
act upon this vital point-ac,ion, prompt and en-
eree,ic should commence, and give he North
some expression 81 Southern feeling against this
wicked design. Let US, in the language Of one
OF Virginia's brighles' jewels, have union, union
Of The whole South nprn lie Constitution and its
guarantees. Then, and not ill then, will this in-
iquious spirit be queed, which may dismember
The Union. destroy her interests, and ultimately
trampe under foot The dearest rights Of the South
erner:
Hoping that the Richmond Enquirer will sill
denounce this measure, and defend the SouhIas
il ever has done,
Iremain yours, egain, BEPPo.