Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-12-04

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of God himself, and who aspres to teach morality
purer than that OF our Redeemer.
We plant ourselves upon the constitution itself
and rest our claims to protection upon its solemn
guarantees We desire no more power for slavery
than is conferred by it, we ask greater security
The auerulous complaints which the fanatics make
continually against the aggressive spirit OF 'the
slave power, are calculated only to deceive their deu-
ded followers. The slave power dictated the terms OF
the present Union and gave up voluntarily that auhori-
ty and CONTROL WHICH the agitatos say is now STRIVING
to lay hold on. The surrender of the Northwestern
territory, under the ordinance OF 1887, rendered 1t I'M
possible that the slave power should ever alter have
the ascendency in the Union. We ask tor no supe-
riory; but equality of rights, privileges and imnunl-
ties, not only ask for but are resolved to nave.
There can be nothing more monstrous than the power
claimed Tor congress to exclude slavery from the terri,
tories Congress has no powers except those conferred
on by the express terms of the constitution such
are necessary to carry into effect those expressly grant
ed. There is clause in that instrument comforting
upon congress authority to eglsate upon the subject Of
slavery in the territories elsewhere; will it be
pretended that the exercise of this necessary to
carry into effect any expressly granted. To touch the
subject at all them is pap able and direct inracton OF
the constitution. The safeguards, which were thrown
around the Liberties OF the people by the wisdom OF those
who framed the constitution, are demolished; Nothing
is so simple republican government founded upon
written organic law, fixed and nlexible, to which all
legislative action must conform; 10 this invention
America owes its greatness and its liberty. 1t Is how
ever in vain to talk OF the supremacy OF the people,
idle 10 teach that they the source OF all power,
less the law which fixes the authority OF the Legislature
shall be written and Interchangeable. But allow the
authorized action OF the Legislature to-day to be given
as reason for the exercise OF the power to-mor-
row, and the rights of the people will be already
usurped and their bertiesn danger Such precisely,
is the condition OF things at this moment in the
gress of the United States The only shadow of justi
caon they pretend TO for the prohibition of slavery in
the territories is, that the Missouri compromise, as is
termed excluded from all territory north OF 81 deg
30 min of N. latitude. Without pretence OF
constitutional right for this action, they now urge as
precedent giving authority to violate that compromise
and to exclude slavery from all territory peonglng 10
stution as the only OF authority they point with
triumph to the Missouri compromise Ii we then insist
upon the limits fixed by that agreement they laugh at
the creduty which attempts to define authority de-
rived from precedent alone. Even now, by virtue OF
this single precedent, congress claims the power OF
aboshing slavery in the District OF Columbia and in all
the forts and arsenas belonging to the federal govern
ment in the South well as TO prohibit the trans
poration and sale OF slaves from one state TO anot
er So we are not left to speculate upon the pro-
babe consequences OF submitting TO the unauthorized
exercise OF power in given case. The fruits
of it are plan they are runous and never-endmg ag-
gresslons
The LOYALTY and devotion of Virginia to the Union are
known to the world. They written upon the endur-
ing pages Of countrys history. She amongst
the first strike Tor constitutional liberty she will be
the last to abandon it. The great compromises upon
upon which rests she offered and she herself suffered
the chief sacrifices 10 secure its pemanencyshe has
given with lberaty, which at this day can scarcely
be reconced with the dictates OF wisdom. In all things
touching the honor and glory of the coniederacy her
hand has never been closed except upon the sword.
She cannot submit to this usrpaon OF authority; this
violation OF her rights this wanton degradation Let us
insist that the question be settled now and forever. Let
us have no pallatiyes, no deceptive truces delays
which only give strength oe spirit of aggression;
compromises which leave the question open for future
adjustment Let it be settled as to every foot of terri
tory belonging to the United States or which may here
after be hers by compact as solemn and involable
the constitution itself Any thing short OF this is certain
ruin to the soulful annhilation. Ii conflict must
come let it We strong in reaity-stron-
ger still in comparison with those whose hands are
already raised against us A few more years of
acquiescence and supneness will bring about necessity
OF an absolute submission to every wrong which oppres
sion contempt might heap upon our country.
Submission to the proposed action OF congress is a
virtual surrender OF the entire South to the African
If slavery be confined to its present limits, with
gdle of free states surrounding us, from the Atlantic
to the Gulf OF Mexico, very few years. in nations
history will be sufficient to drive the white beyond
its limits The sturdy aborer the stay and support OF
every community would leave the country swarm
ing with negroes for residence in another land The
master, too would presently follow, finding impossible
to remain. This view is no matter OF conjecture mere
ly simple rule OF arithmetic will fix the tact and the
time Of its taxing ki Y as sas nc 1
the fruits which the northern ianatlcism, viewed in its
most favorable aspect, must produce to the South
The consequences the North will be little less dsas
trous The great American staples must be cut short
the foreign sustained by them will disappear
from the seaports OF enerprsng neighbors-their
manufactures, should they be continued must find a
labor of Europe The thrift and prosperity which now
so e-eminenty characterize the working classes OF
New England and the North would vanish away and
the mechanic and laborer would discover, when too
Late that, whilst striking the manaces OF legal slavery
from the hands of the African, he had ryeted upon
the necks of his children the bondage OF necessity
which no earthly power could ever again remove.
Engands experiment with her West India colonies
has proved failure this is admitted by ALL 1t has not
elevated the character oil the negro man. nor has it
contributed to his happiness But the fatal consequences
Nkhicb ENGLAND
supendous folly will in the round of years. take from
that colossal power the supremacy OF the seas 1t has
struck deadly blow at her colonial trade; and this
was one of the chief elements OF her maritime superb
GRITTY. Shall examples of this sort teach us nothing I!
Is a blind tanatcism to overwhelm all things in its
course
This, [ soemv believe is the most favourable view
which can be taken OF the subject if Congress persists
in its present course OF aggression towards US
But the widest visionary would hardly expect to
see these results brought peaceaby about Humanity
itself must shudder at the bare contemplation OF the
slaughter most certainly to follow prosecution ofhese
niqutous schemes We cannot leave our homes: the
ashes of ashingon, Henry and Jefferson, may not DO
desecrated by the tread OF the Africans loot The
men of the South will not remain passive: the sword
will in the scabbard, whilst lanatcism is erecting
our hearth-stones altar upon which the victims
of sacrifice are to be daughters ana our wives
The almost unanimous sentiment OF the slayehodlng
country upon this subject is not the result OF political
agitation seeking TOR party ascendancy 1t IS the spon-
taneou5 outburs OF whole people, upon the conviction
that their dearest rights menaced Party preudces
and animoses buried; every tenet and shade
of political opinion, agree perfectly and the novel
spectacle presented of eight millions opeople actuated
by and obedient to a single determination, arising as
one man to stay the hand OF usurpation and wrong;
Let trust that our brethren at the North will
understand before is forever 90 late, that feeling OF
self preservation and not one OF silly bravado acuates
our course Let us hope still that our common suffer-
ings and common triumphs, the memories Of the past
and the bright hopes of the future which offer to all
mankind may stay the madness which sprecpitang
into ruin from which no human power can ever grant
us even the hope rescue. -
December g. l949. JOHN B. FLOYD.