Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-10-30
territories. willis. il has enboldened The Norm 10

territories, whist II hds ehiooiocuea W. -, ~
perss, 10 lis efforts. l, has caused one parry "
believe that il was rishi, and 20 other to iear
that il was wrong. From position. 4. has ma'e
'lhe worse appear The better Cause" - NOV
true that slavery dues mol exist in California, al
though il may have been prohibited by inc laws
OF Mexico. True the corqdering county may
permit The municipal laws oil The cobqueie1
country To remain in force, but this Is only line
OF private or strictly municipal laws IS 10.
True as regards political laws. BY elementary
writer's laws are divided into public and private, 81
POLITICAL or municipal Political laws ate such
as are organic, and Confer power and form Oh HE
government. They give il vitality as an organ
izsi body. These political laws ale sometimes
reduced 10 The fern Of a Constitution, which be.
comes supreme and param 10 all other laws,
rirh.r public or private Our constitution is The
law Of our belng--it is the essence VI our
government; il is The combination Of certain
great principles, between each one Of which
there is connexion ard dependency, and The
aggregate constitutes UNI. 10 Withdraw VI
destroy any one OF them would break The entire
fabric. Ii would lop Oh an essential paI o.
our political power When We acquired Cali.
lornia, il became subject 10 our Constitution n
our whole CO.'S itulion- or consliiuion as an
entire thing. The territory did mol become sub
jet 10 part OF our government only, but every
principle OF The constitution prevailed there as all
active principle, AID superseded oi necessity
whatever was repugnanl 10 any one Of them. No
abIidgemenl OF The rights oil The new coneis could
be permitted. The vested rights ot the citizens
there al The lime we acquired II, may be protected
by principle not Inconsistent win lhs position.
The consequence is, that we have RICH: 10 take
our slaves there, because they are our properly.
secured 10 US as such by The principles OF our
paramount political law /, il were true that
slavery was then prohibited by The laws VI Mex
leo, and could not be established there without
positive law; then the constitution went here
mere cripple. But not So. Wherever The stripes
and stars 11at over Territory, as an emblem o
political dominion, they rest upon perfect Pc
des.al formed BY every principle in The Col siiiu,
lion ndssolub!y cemened together. AS well
may il BE- said that our constitution must give
place 10 The esla blshed religion Of Mexico
How strange i! is, that whilst Congress has no
power over the subject OF slavery, in consequence
VI an Inhibition, that il should be cohiened that
The laws OF The conquered counlry should secure
prohibition, aud thus triumph over our coEs:i-
lu;ional rights. -
Thus, as l conceive, stands The question OF
right; but il il were question OF expectancy
merely how ungenerous lhe conduct Vi thu North.
We are united as family OF nations. We may
have different local interests, but our Obligations
10 each other require an Observance "t good lahh,
OF good feeling, VI mutual support and toIbcar
ance. With them, II IS matter oil feeling only
With US, il is a question Of interest. Are they
mol prepared TO yield heir feelings AMI their pre-
Judicrs Tor the sake OF protecting our inrrest3 q
II MOI, they have forgotten The objec.s Of the Uni
on mutual safely, prosperity, and happiness
dictated II. Are they willing 10 risk all these
i0r The sraiihca lou oi mere imaginary phllan-
lhropEy2 Ii would Seem ST. The Wimol Pro
viso is but The entering wedge. That accom-
plisheI, and The rest will follow. Emancipation
IN the States is doubtless The ultimate object,
and We have reason 10 lear that ii no point sn1rl
Of this will the effort cease. The Union must
be dissolved, and The blessings which W ENJOY
under our government must become sacIince
on the a!lar ui fanaicsm. We must become a
degraded people, or abandon our country 10 he
African race. We would say 10 lhem beware
You but rush On 10 your own d suuc ION.
Il IL subject Of deep regret that the powerful
engine 81 prejudice is arraytd against us Eaor-
miles are falsely ascIibed 10 Us, with view 10
excite Indignation. They add insult 10 injury
We are held out as desiule OF common mercy |
degraded al home ard abroad. The means en.
ployei are alcnacd TO excite orr save pupa.!
lion and endanser our lives We hope ard be-
lIeve Iha. there are sill ftw al the Moth, who
value ihe Uaion, and do mol engage in this IN
natural warfare. Our Union shonid be suciai -
we'll as political; amiy should prevail between
lhr cifietebt divisions Gul The ties lha; blnl u
are being daily weakened, AMI The love T.! The
Union dmihi b d. We have demonstrated, Lui
in vain. We yield 10 none in deep add abid
ing love for lhr Union We wish mol 10 sever i,
bu. 10 Ie.cemenl it, VEGA yindicale il only nv
xrepns il inviuae. We would preserve II in
all It's purity. We want il as our fathers gave il
10 US, and must defend il against ihirdctlun as
sacred duty we owe 10 their memory. The South
has borne with these encIoachmenls, under
hope that sense Of justice would ultimately cor
rect the evil but oil this there seems now 10 be
bul lille hope. We must lake our stand Let
Us survey the ground well add occupy that po-i,
tion on which We can sand within thr pale II The
cons.i,nlion AID when taken, lei us maintain il,
like men who know their rights and arc deter
mined 10 protect Them We are mol III assres,
sors, and il lie result should Prove dis. l"s, let
the blame rest On those who have provoked the
quarrel.
Thus, gentlemen Of The convention | have
endeayored TO pon! out what regard a. our
constitutional rights The evils you know -
The great and serious inquiry IS. shall We sub
init TO further degradation, or shall we seek re
dres.' If the latter, how is it TO BE- cbtainca:
Let me again allnde 10 the importance Of The
subject-again enlreat you 10 weigh it vol,
calmly and dispassionatey. We meet not here
10 discuss an ordinary topic. Here We eau have
no party preferences. We arc joint owners Of
this great estate. II is our birthrght-our in
herlIance. We may have our honest diferen>
ces Of opinion about its management by our
agents. but when the VIII lie is about 10 be swept
from Us, we cannot differ as TO the necessity Of
lis preservation Let US confer together as pa
lrio,s Cur country is above cur party such
feelings | trust and believe you all entertain
and hope tina, they may load you 10 wise aud
hhnnv