Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-02-19
THE ENQUIRER.
Thursday Morning, Feb. uary ls. ls4'
MOND., VA

RICHMOND, VA
Thursday Morning, Feb. uary ls. ls47.
THE WILMOT PROvISO!
The tocsin, "lhe fire bell at night" is now
sounding in our ears; the madlnen oil the Norm
and North West have, we fear, cast the DIE, ana
numbered the days Of this glorious Union.
Founded in The wise and inevitable necessity VI
concession and compromise, as this Conleoeraey
was, we had moi conceived il possible ior The aia-
bolcal enemies of the South so tar 10 have DIS
regarded The rights guaranteed by II, as, IN our
day al least TO take step which is bul the aiaruh
OF its dissolution d. The wicked men Of Inc
North imagine that we will be silent or inactive
when enactmenls are proposed Incompatible WIN
our existence as fleemenl II surh be their dell
sion, The sooner il is removed the better. twice
have The North pledged themselves TO The SCUM
upon the subject OF domestic slavery, anu twice
have they violated their faith. By the Consli'u-
ton. rights were conceded TO the South, oh The
basis Of This institution; and, by The missouri
compromise, limits were prescribed, NORM o.
which il should not exist. Now, when the Union
can obtain no other indemnity from Mexico than
in territory, for the third time do the infatuated
men rush with despoing hands on the ark oil our
common happiness and common glory Let 'hem'
however, beware thai they pass moi The RuDicon
that they bring not upon us the necessity oil
ing ourselves from all connexion with mem, anu
holding them as We do The rest of mankind, enc
mics in war, in peace as friends" we lear 'ha'
The wa rnings Of the South have been so ol'eh re-
pealed tina, they have lost their force; but lei hem
moi misconceyc our devotion 10 The Union 10 be
sentiment OF lameness under injury. we again
repeat 10 them, that this hitherto blessed Union
cannot and will moi stand but on principles which
guarantee alike both Northern and Southern
rights.
We have long feared that The North, blinded
TO the benefits she has in peculiar manner &C.
rived from her connection with the South, thinks
10 weaken us by her assan,s on the institution OF
slavery Shallow lhinkers-lhere is not blow al
tempted that does not give birth TO some new e.
for, in the South 10 develope her capacity 10 sup
ply herself with all she wants Compelled BY
the madmen, whose hands are upliited against the
Union, 10 estimate its value, The conclusion may
be reached that we should be, in all the material
and elements of prosperous and powerful pee
Pile, far greater and happier without than in con-
neclion with them. But we will pursue this
painful topic no farther Men Of the South early
friends Of the Union the danger which threatens
you is Imminent! Speak forth, then, and warn
those who would violate your rights and raise their
parricidal arms against this proud and happy
and glorious Union, oil The fate which will await
them.
Led on by The feelings Of indignation aroused
| in our bosoms by The vote OF majority in The
House of Representatives on the motion of MIR.
Wilmo,, declaring that neither slavery nor in
voluntary servitude shall ever exist in any terrific
nv 10 be ACQUIRED Of Mexico, we have only
headed this article with the title given 10 This
daring assault on The rights Of The South.
Our engagements have been so pressing, and
our paper so much pre-occupied, that we are
forced TO postpone the consideration of several i'm
portant matters we had purposed noticing this
morning To our neiehbors, both OF The Wing
and the Times, we had designed paying our
| respects
We cannot, however, permit the occasion 10
pass without calling The particular attention Of
our readers to The action OF the Democratic meet
ing on Tuesday night, and ofthe Legislature on
yesterday. 1t will be perceived that The only dill
ference of opinion that existed in The meeting
was as to The prorriely OF Democratic meeting,
alone, taking action upon The Wilmot proviso, and
whether time should not be given for The assem-
bling OF all parties, to consult upon his momen-
,ous subject From the proceedings OF the meet
ing, in another column, il will be seen thai,
in acting upon the Wimot proviso, the Democra-
tic party were Influenced by none other than
Southern feelings the preservation oftheir rights,
and Just regard to The compromises oil The Con-
s,i,ution. They have, as means OF ensur-
ing full expression Of public opinion, invited
meeting of ALL parties on Saturday evening next,
10 consider and adopt such measures as may be
deemed proper The resolutions condemning the
Wilmol provlso were unanimously agreed 10.
They also adopted strong resolution asserting
the liberty of The press, and denouncing the re-
cent action OF the Senale. Our relations with
The party so grievously wronged, shall not pre-
vent our speaking OF thai mos, abomnable act as
il deserves. We do mol regard il as an individual
question, but as one which involves The dearest
rights OF feemen-as one which our forefa,hers
esteemed so highly that they made i: part OF
our Bill OF Rights. We are rejoiced 'hala meet
ing So large and respectable as hat held on Tues
day night should have taken suchdecided ground.
Blu! we have no lime to pursue This mailer
farther al present. We will content ourselves
with stating that This resolution was opposed by
MIR. Harvie, Of Amelia, ard adop'ed blythe meet
ing with only lour dissenting voices.
The resolutions unanimously adopted in The
House OF Delegates Yesterday, will show the
Northern fanatics that they need not expect
clumb OF comfort from the people OF Old Virsi-
mia. That although her citizens may and do
differ upon matters both u Stale and Federal po-
licy YET they are not dispt sed 10 tolerate any in
teferance with their domestic relations and are
determined 10 punish every inracion Of their
Just tights Upon this subject they stand united,
there being no difference Of opinion, Tor il is one
common ground upon which We can all meet,
and which We have resolved 10 defend 10 The last.
NEW BOOKS.
The literary presents Of our friends, the pub
fishers, have for some lime accumulated on our
| - ,,o ho,o ooa rcsIy ruo,p n, prarent Ia