Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-29

..,,. ", acknnu letge lhalihe grave issue may
| s..,,eJ and il is one which weitar me peo-
i. mi, STATE NAV be cal ed upon 10 decide,
MID the tree States OF The Moth persist 10 'ne''
! DESIGNS Fur ourselves VIC are free 10 pre-
n our views, TO whatever weigh, they may be
! ,.ed as TO the course which we think The Soutn
W. ,sb, 10 pursue, in case The attempt at oppressive
E,,siation By Congress on The subiecl OF slavery
f,sll be successful, frankly, fully, explicitly Al
~ such mature and deliberate reelection az The
li,gortance oi The subject demands, we have
,..aIe 10 The conclusion. that lheIe are CERTAIN
laws. TO which, il they should be enacted by Con-
i,,sss the South under no circumstances ousn'
,.,ucnsnay 10 submit, We enumerate them as
J ;iooas:
a law in any manner interfering with the
institution OF slavery in the States.
> A law prohibiting the slave trade between
I lie states.
3. A law abolshins slavery or Inc save ''aue
IA the District OF Columbia
4. A law prohibiting slavery in The teff"ofies
We are mol The advocates OF immediate ans
S,ron mon he passage OF any Of these objection
,ble laws. We yield TO no one in ardent at'ach-
linen, and devotion 10 This Union; and never will
Ina, attachment and devotion cease until Inc
Union shall become curse instead OF blessing.
I've should wish, therefore, TO see every imaslna-
,a means resort ed 10 in order 10 avert so dread
al a catastrophe We should be in favor OF
J, General convention Of the South and OF The
,t,ye holding States. LIT such convention
il wha, can be effected by e1postulalion, re-
,aon>lIance, iorewarnins OF The fearful con-
,ouences of such oppressive lesislalion.-
il. hem remind our Northern brethren OF
j. difficulties which this sabjec; OF slavery
secuted 10 The illuslTous trainers oi The Con-
,.la.ion; OF The compromises then soemnly
,ssred inlo; lei Them remind them Of our past
..usses Tor our common Liberties, when The
mod OF the STAKEHOLDER mingled with theirs
,ssinst a common foe; OF the past slories Of the
I-nion; OF The fidelity 10 the Constitution and a.
a,bm,nl TO he Union always manifested by The
soult; ami, finally lei them tell them, in Ian
ccacc which cannot b. misunderstood, that the
South can never submit TO injustice, oppression
and dshorcr. and tina; severance OF the Union
wil b. inevitable, unless immediate reparaton
,tall h made, by repeal Of the law complained
a..
Should these aud similar means fail in heal
M the breach whatever others may thnk-
tcwever much we may be denounced as disu-
nionis,s-we say, in the strong and emphatic Ian
,qage of Mr.. Stanards resolution: "virginia can
have DO difficulty in choosing between the only OIL
,;srnatYe that will then remain, of abjcct subnis
E,ioa 10 aggression and outage on the one hand,
sor determined resistance, on the other, at al ka:
Ears and to The LIST extremity"
: Very few, if any, Southern men would be will.
Fling to submit to The three first forms Of interfe-
trtnce ty Congress with the institution of Sla-
Every enumerated by Us. We are aware that
s,here are many who think that quiet submis-
sson 10 the w ilmot Proviso is far preferable 10
"a dissolution of the Union Ii such be the gen.
eral sentiment of the people of the South, far
lie Il from US 10 endeayor to change tina: senti
lneni If those who are better capable Of judg-
ing o. her interests than ourselves, particular
/, il those who have the management Of affairs,
SAiuA bHdS suC Gu Ictiedl WIN win
!, ',.y from the position which she has so SOL
leaply taken, we will be the last 10 interpose
a.. objection. We hope, however, that we
ialy be pardoned or stating briefly why we
Ihl,k she ought NOT 10 retrea, from that position.
|. However strong the probabilities may be
hhai slavery will never exist in New Mexico
and California, it is yet impossible to say that
The stakeholder may not desire To osrry his
slaves 10 that region; and every State is bound
10 protect its citizens in the enjoyment Of all
Their rights.
., If we submit in this instance, the North
twill claill to exclude US from all future terri
Etory which may be acquired, and may acquire
territory for that very purpose.
Lastly, and above all, it is absolutely
iasssrous TO retreat. AS we have seen, so soon
asre wilmo; Proviso first passed the House Of
representatives. the General Assembly passed
resolutions denouncing it as fragrant usurpa-
ton and as an attack Oh the dearest rights Of
the south; declaring that Virginia would resist
such a law at all hazards, and to the last extre-
nifty; and urging every Slave State to oppose its
passage, as they valued "the Union,' "their
deare., privileges, their independence, their So
'ereisn!y, their rights of property Similar
resolutions were passed BY the Legislatures Of
Georgia and Of South Caro- ina, and probably
O Tie other Sayeholding States. The Wilmot
Pr'Slso was denounced throughout the South in
The most unmeasured terms by all parties. The
question was considered one Of such magnitude
ana Importance, that The late Presidential Elec
''pa was made 10 turn upon it. Even admitting
n't We have been contendng for mere abstrac
lion, viii Il not be absolutely fatal for us to
yied 10 This instance, when by so doing we
wal certainly acquire the reputation of DULLES
aGd bravadoesl
WI our r.monstrance. be heededsanv more
tnah he 'ils wind, when The North shall attempt
any in'n'e agstessions upon "uur sovereignty.
on nd pendeGce, and our dearest rights and pri
S'esesF l'iSas not the tr;aing value OF the du.
y % lea and on stamps which drove our ances.
of' INTO rebellion against British rule. Ii was a
''"ip'e for which they commended and which
" 'nFs hai Welded would have bound them hand
~, forever aicf TO The oppressor.
We we're 10 make catalogue oil The wrongs
"ui'rs aud ou'rases which we have received a.
- aahi' = he No'ih, since they commenced
y twenty years ago, their ceaseess war upon
" "'''u''oh OF slavery. il would be as long and
imposing as the list Of grievances enumerated
'.oe cec'aTaion Of independence.
waist smartins under the thousand wrongs
~ Northern oppTessors we feel surprised
~ We 10 ~ forget every dictate Of prudence
''. q iofoea'ance. We believe that we have
a''''ri al crisis in our history, and that now,
",'sF NE State should speak out in tones which
~ oe oead 10 The farthest end OF the confedera-
= u language which will neither be misappre-
ruled nor miscons,rued. Let US use no threats,
= 0a'aao, no bluster; but let Us manifest all the
ma -. M