Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-08-07
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.

q.
wno has Just SO euquenty addressed u.s., on cc-
count O. The extraordinary services rendered by
him TO The South and the Union, by his ocld, ell
ficient and most triumphant vindlcation oil our
domestic in-tutioIs, against The herce ana nniIr-
irg hoslililes Of malignant and nnscluPulous
auyersaIies have come into your midsl win
a glad aacfity that have seldom experienced;
and rejoced, very specially, in The opportunity
which | enjoy Oh declaring my CONVICTION, tnat
The high e>Imaie which you seem 10 nave iurmeu
OF he value OF Mr.. Fishers exertions, is only
with his actual merits. The glC-
ry v hich our noble champion has earned, as
controversial writer and speaker, in the last IL
months, has been won in fields almost wholly
unknown 10 Southern enterprise heretofore. lie
has been concndins win mcrciless and
ierocious foe, atjudsed, until within a year
or Two past, 10 be altogether TOO coniemr-
lible for serious notice, and whose very
mode OF warfare was emphatical!y such
as appeared moro or less ',o menace with
much discredit any one who might undertake
the work of chaslisement But this foe has
gained recently so much in numerical strength,
and has assumed of late demeanor and aiti-
tude so marked with audacious eiirontery, that
the longer poslponsmen, Of punishment, il would
seem, would be almost criminal The gentle
man, in honor Of whom we have now assem-.
bled, has dared 10 do in our behalf what no man
has ever undertaken 10 TO before be has carried
the war into the heart of Africa itself; he has
bearded the lion Of Abolition in bis very den;
no has gone beyond our own confines, and as
saulIed The strong holds Of our adversarles Put
ting on the armour Of Justice and The Constitution,
with the broad-sword of argument upra'sed in
his heroic hand, he has dealt such sturdy ami
resislIess blows upon our presumptuous aud
Wanting enemies, that doubt whether whole
generations will not roll away ere they will
lose all remembrance Of their disastrous over
throw. We'll may Virginia BE- proud OF her
ilus,rious son, who returns 10 her bosom once
more, adorned with the trophies Of an uadcnia
BILE aud glorious victory; but who is yel ready
and eager 10 go forth again whenever il shall
be necessary 10 do battle in defence of T,u,t and
Pr,n.ip.e.
Aud now, perhaps, il would be expedient that
! should cease 10 occupy the attention OF this
company but cannot we'll refrain hee amidst
The assembled legislative wisdom CT Virginia,
with so many OF her patriots, her orators ard
sages around me ard in hearing, 10 give exprcs.
sion 10 the high satisfaction which leel al OBJ
serving, throughout his multitude, The prevalence
OF a spir! OF ia;ernal amiiy ard tru. concord
which cannot bur be productive OF important aud
lasting consequences. Let bur similar spirit
pelvade The uh,ie Srutt-lft il be 6r<ath.d by
sreJy Sou:hern S.nalor and Representa- re in
Congress next Winner, and ven urr tu predict,
that before the first day Of January, 1850 The
dangers which now beset The Union and the
South will have disappeared forever. The out
ragged Constitution will have been signally vitdi-
cacd, and The fierce, maraujins faclonis's, who
have 50 long disturbed our peace and harmony,
will have grown quiet and powe!less briore he
embodied Indignation Of patriotic people. II :
my confident belief gentlemen indeed. there
is now NO room al all 10 doubr, that every South
ern Stale will follow The lead Of Virginia now
as in SO. cannot suppose il possible that
single Stale OF the South, when the moment Of
trial shall come, will tail 10 do her duty TO The
Constitution and The Union; and when The Abo.
lilionists and Free Soilers OF The North shall
once ascertain that they will not be permitted
longer, 9Th impunily, 10 prosecute their fell
schemes OF usurpa.ion and tyranny, my life on
il they will recoil from their execution al once,
and abandon them entirely and forever. For
one sovereign State, al least, leel authorized
explicitly 10 speak Never will The valorous
State OF Mississippi ioTsake Virginia and SouIh
Carolina, in The grand struggle now amos al
hand. She holds within her limits not one re-.
creant spiril-no son of hers has ever thought u
pr0Uing lreGcber0us 10 the prosecuted South.
All men, Of All parties lhe;e, are prepared fol
the impending crisis; and The Convention OF our
noble Stale, which is 10 assemble in October,
will speak upon this subject in voice that the
whole Republic will be able 10 understand.
ttlere Senator Focte received a note from some
friend al the table, suggesting desire that he
should particularly notice The late concucl ol
Colonel Benton; after reading which, Senator
Fooie proceeded l!us:I
wish il were in my power, without violating
my own sense Of judgment, 10 execute the wish
OF my unknown trend in relation 10 Colonel
Benton, b3t really, | could not, al this imc, &C.
view his course, III such language As would be ex-
pressiyc OF Inc views " hich eE'rltain IN :egard
10 u, without in some degree initiating his "En
lac example and assailins a membsr oil The lie.
s,sIaIve body, 10 which belong, when ABSENT
WHAT ha ye u say oi The senior Senator Of Mis-
souri,, Except in necessary seit-deience,) pre-
Ter saving 10 his hearing; but teIcer this reason
Tor fotbearance. There is another still more I'M
perious. have long cherished SIM
cere respect for the principle embodied in
the iami lar Latin ierms, M de no'tais
,is bonum; and am authenlically informed,
that the distinguished Senator from Missouri IS
acluaily al this lime no longer in political cx.
islencs. A few days since, when least expecting
fate 50 woful, he fell victim TO certain
mortal flows inflicted upon him by valiant
the reception Of which he has been regarded BY
all who knew anything Of his actual condition,
as dead, even beyond all hope Of resurrection
| therefore, beg leave to conclude, by Offering q
sentiment, :9hich some present will recognise as
parody upon ono which originated with dis
linguished son of Virginia some ninc OF len
years since:
TIL. unio, of the South for The mks Of The
Uhis3.
by COMMITTEE 10 I3rited Guats)
Er- Gov. Hm. Sm:M-Tne extra sword OF {
South.
Gov Smith replied in his usual happy style.
RI had hoped 70 give sketch Of The excellent
speech of e1.Goy Smi.h-bn! am compelled
10 defer ill.,
Coaray Rotiason-A learned Councillor and
vIluous mana worthy representative OF that
profession which has given to jurisprudence a
Writ, Wickham, Johnson and Leigh.
Mr. Robinson responded 10 The following in
teresiing terms:
You have already had, Mr. President, one dis
course from gentleman who has fully inveslisa
ted The relations OF the North and The South
another from gentleman, who, al here Can See,
has very clear heat-and Then something -, O
from Smith, who can manufacture well. After
three speeches, such rs these you might, think,
be content to let me pass unnoiced. am SEN
s,ble, Mr. President, thai am cut Of place here.
To such a scene as this, am no; accustomed,
and isel wholly unable 10 make any sui able
return for The Kindness which dictated your r..
marks, and The seuimen; jus! offered. 1t is but
poor return, for me 10 take up lime which can
be SO much better occupied by others here. To
but very small part oi what has been asc;ibed
TO the can lay any claim. Far, very far, nut
ever be behind lie NAMES that you have men.
,ioned-names 10 he ever hohored in Virginia,
and which deserve to be respected, wherever in-
risprudence is respected. Something, Mf Eresi-
dem, may have attempted Tor the improvement
OF the jurisprudence OF my native S;ate; some
thing | have endcayored TO do, Tor The improve
menl OF the Code Of Vrgintq-bpt 10 this work
have had, orlhree year, and more, efficient and
constant co.operaiion on the part Of The able
gentleman win whom il pleased The General As