Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-03-27
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.

from experience Than they did, that security ana
strength and lie Itself, lay IN theif nos'
md closes, union with one another; that II ST pa
rated and di.unitcd, they would not only De less
capabe by lar both for internal prosperity ana eA-
lerpa defence but must, sooner OF ia'eI, sihh uH-
der The grasp Of some foreign usnIpef, OF uhueI
iealousies asgressions, and copnlct WIN one
another. UNIcH, then, was The WISDOM OF oul
revolutionary day: UNION will continue TO be me
wisdom of every day that is yet come until Inc
nations Of the earth have no rapaci'ies and no
ambition to crafty; and This poor hear oil ours
that world of iniquity within ilseli-has no loui
passions TO intlamc 10 misdirecl, or dehls IL.
The well-advised and cordial faith with winch
The trainers Of GU! Constitution COMMITTED iheni-
selves 10 this great historic truth, and The POM
cal consequences 10 which il led The way-.n :,
our highest wisdom was IN closest union " M
one another, is sIikingly exemplihed ~ 'ne cha'-
acle. OF The constitutional concessions WHICH
they devised 10 secure it, Look, Tor example, al
The representation in The Senate There you see
every actual, and allnos, every possible ihe quainy
between the associated States dis:esaiceu, AZ" ~"
States items Ives made politically eq,lai 10 each
mo, Tb.,e van see Delaware and New Yoik.
lhe p,emy ahc The COLOSSUS OF Inc Unioni si'''s
side hy size. The equal oil each other In ai2hi'y,
and sharing alike IN The power anu me couhsris
nv winch Inc affairs Of each ami all are cohlrol''
I'd. Having representation IN us houae
founded upon numbers, The smaH oiates hi's"'
reasonably have entertained some aPPfrhensi"us
Tor their security, unless suppnea WIN inc ehech
If unit or rolllicaI representation IN t1e Sen
ale. They. therefore, demanced this PEI sisins-
IL and yehemeatly demanded II, declaring mat
tbey could not surrender II Wilhou; sut]FcuIS
themselves 10 The mere mercy Of their crnsi'u-
,ioual associates, which they would mol do
This demand. 30 perfectly suhversivc OF inc uo-
mIuion, and 20 revolving 10 the natural love Of
consequence and power in The larger : 'a'eS' wa
finally acauivsced in. Is clear justice N ie'
csfst.ve government, backed { forced by
rha, evo'uinnafy spirit, not then exlihct, which
paliouaizei every hing, 'riumphed over every
DIRECTION, ana ,hu, secured is ADOPTION as one "
M. most marked and conservative features u lhe
whole Constitution
Bul il is mol 50 much 10 the extent Of he com.
proIniSe in this particular mater 10 Whicn
would direct Your attention, Mr.. Chairman, as
! il is Ia The principle On which il j. made-ihe
rrincip.e namely, ul defending the weak against
The encIoaciments and ag9re>slons oil Inc s'iohs.
| Il will lut have" said lsocraies, Whcn t,ed'i"s
with certain Grecian States about inc dHdis VI
| Anens--"l will mol have, SAID ne any guar
| an;ee that you eau Offer Us hui ihis ,na' ~"
shat, MOI he able 10 hurt US If yon would" Iais
stnu,ior: The weak were 10 be so protected by II
maj the strong shuut not hur' them u they
would. Il was mol enough 10 The equitable ahd
ius, and pcovidenl spirit Of DER Cunsiiu!oh
makers tat The Sac should, in all respects, be
As safe and as well of under he Constitution
then ,or,nin. as they were before; they l"okeo
and labolei !rf something beyond this, dh1 -
ter than ,hi.. Determined oriace every Sia;e
ir a sorncer ard saier condition than ever ~
lor they MT only leh il sovereignty sum
Client for ali local warts but they so lab'ea as 10
possess il, Al he same lime, with central heaa
which should b. perfectly capable Il defending u
from all external aggression, and yei pcliectIy
inca pabe OF committing upon II any aggression
OF lis own.
Aner This bret and imperfect sketch Of the
compromise character OF he Cons iIuinn, feel
my>cl. more al liberty 10 insist upon The repre-
sentative duties which that character erjoins,
and lurtau.re on behalf o; the South. and as one
81 lis representatives here, that IS high authori-
lies lie executed Tor The broad and paliuna ends
!of which thew we're g,vei. Our situation IN The
South, 20 Jar as any OF tie rights or inicresis
which attach 10 il can be subjected even result
insly 10 lhe acton o. Congress. is Jusl that which
some III The COM premises spoken II were iDend-
&c 10 provide Tor. We are minority IN num-
hers; wc arc a minority in Interest; we are thus
laborln2 under double incapaci'y 10 defend our
selves, repre>entauvsly here, and have no other
rcialce 10. tain he Constitution, Tor the protec-
ton oil rur rights and neres's, when questioned
or assailed except in the faithful and righteous
administration Of hat instrument, uIGer me lmi-
talons for the object, and in The ifaernal spirit,
in which il was formed. This is our re lance I;
II may be VIA. we expect Il TO be--a sale and
solid reliance, II may be worthless and rCt
I hp *
all, and we ar Geterminedo siant upon IL whilst
il lass Should il tail us-which Heaven forbid!
and We as consequence, be thrown of, I'M
protected and acg,cved, then, sir, in that dread
hour We snail lock Tor such reiiei iaT ourselves,
uuslde al the Constitution as cur whole case OF
exisency and Of duiy saall suggest Meanwhile,
and as the wise anc III preventive OF any such ul-
innate resort, we invoke he earnest and instant
u,e Of all the safeguards and protecting energies
al hc Constitution. An, This W. DO with con-
tdence mace stronger and deeper, by Inc TACT that
our own Southern States we're ain0nssI the lore
most 10 surrender The p"wels upon when hese
very af,guards were established. What Stale,
for instance, ever sacrificed IS Virginia sacri-
feed. in constituting the co-equaity Of the Sc
nate2-n admitting TO an equal participation
with herself, even in ie adjustment ot questions
affecting her own rights, some STA which
would no. have figured as handhcath nroI The
map Of her immense domiGiOn'} When his
was done, (lTSS,) Virginia was the mGst power
lul OF ali the states ID the UMion; the most
powerful in population, in wealth, in physical
capabili,y, in prospective growth, and Immea
surabiy The most 80 IN pcli'ieal influence and
control. Yet she surrendered these great ad-
vaniases, generously and without mufmur,
that she nient cooperate %iih her sis'er States
in building up permane and, as Lar as pcssi-
al -, ir- mo.
protection OF The deienceless and the weak. The
lrebe in iaicres,, or in numbers, wee never T.
be ,ra,nnlsd on hy he strong in either or in both
This was The immunity which she laboied, a nj
which she sacrificed IL establish; and this. there
tore, win special aud emphatic justice, she i
tn tiled TO crmand Give 10 her, wherever lhe
action ui The Government touches hei rl,h.s, TIA
safety which She Con.ribu e. So I9uch and -
freely 10 secure iuf he b.acii Of others aid Il
all; give LEI 'hi>, and So ~ her experience, an
50 STOW on your part, thai national gener0si y
such as hers. is moi IN al! cases simple ard IN
adul Grated na;on.l Jolly.
But MIR. Chairman, when | Tins speak q
comrromisc desire 10 be understood as doing
II wnn reference only 10 tae general reprrscr
lative auty which il imposes, but with ntnr
uhaleyer 10 The measure which ] have heen
endeavoring 10 support-that o allowing our
Mexican lie rllories H. lake upon themselves in
medlairiy The !unciiuls and the Independence
OF State. So lar from referring 10 that,
would be extremely difficult, as IT seems 10 mr.,
10 present any measure, upon any great or great
ly conlrove;;ed snhjcc,oi national policy, when,
eaher cons!utionaliy or Otherwise involves So
liule III compromise IN !. a h3t measure does
Const,iuliunaly considered j; scarcely afiulIs
ground enough urln which the sub lest EXPOSE
Tor could support The most shad'wy ai's!rac-
tiou, whilst, as a practical measure, coming into
competition with other measures II demands
only that II should he taken as choice, and j.
10 that extent. and that only, compromise |.
calls upon no one 10 disayow his ayoWais. IL
asks not lnat any member should repadiale ~
reiracl lis opinions. The an'i-p'oviso man and
the proviso nan .aa both support it in perfect
CONSISTENCY Tilh what each OF them has SAID o!
his own opinions, and what each has said against
the opinions al II" offer. The antl-pfuyisu
mems or capnu. ana will no; vie ior or support
any at Il mig Gave, nment, by which he into