Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-05

If then Congress shall ordain that slavery shall
be permitted 10 terri orr, viii Northern men
then have good reason for separating IRON Inc
Union, on the ground that il no lonDr answers
the purpose for which it was formed! AS II
the sole obec. OF the Union was the mere d'S-
ribution Of slavery. This threat OF disunion
from The North is new and strange thing II
mas not been heard at all until within very
few years past; and within these years il has
come generally from those of whom the North
has good reason to be ashamed. May the day
never be seen when such language shall De Ire
ouenl in respectable circles; il is contrary to
sentiments, which, but a few years ago, we
rcioiced TO think were universally diiiusci and
deeply implanted. When short time before
the rise OF the fanaticism, which now RACES, the
ablest Of New England's sons proclaimed, as
the appropriate motto 10 be borne amid The
stars and stripes Of our national banner, not
the sentiment, liberty first, union afsrrards,
but that other sentiment, Liberty aud Union
non and forever, one and ms PARABLE those
thrilling words seemed TO meet hearty re
sponse from every Northern bosom. But now
Northern men can sit coldly down ITO figure out
the value of the Union" "1o figure out the
pakue of the Union!' Why should be ashamed
10 own any man Tor a brother Yankee who
could moi tell, by rough guess, that the oenc-
fits Of the Union arc 10 each section oil TIC
country a hundred lold greater than lis dlsat-
yantases Some one may ask shall the North
tamely bear all that the South may choose o
put upon il II will be time enough TO answer
that question when the North shall receive from
he South one-half as much abuse as has been
layished upon the latter
We have considered the dangers which may
threaten The Union from the operation Of each
e The prosiso,, which are urged By the parties
who are on the extremes OF The slavery qaos
ton; and we have seen that all these dangers
may lie avoided if the North will refrain from
urging extreme measures, and will yield To mo-
derate demands. We could say: with the great
est confidence, that the North would do both Of
| these things in relation 10 any other subject
than slavery; and il is to be hoped that the ma
ority Of the Northern people viii DC disposed
TO do them in relation 10 this subject But
there IS iarge and respectable class oil people
in the Northern States who highly disapprose
The mo, ements and spirit Of the ianatlcal abo-
liliouists; who yet entertain very erroneous
ideas respecting slavery and their own duty
with regard to it, They err in regard 10 The
facts OF The case, particularly those relating 10
the condition Of Southern slaves and the char
acter Of their masters. They err in the views
which they take of the abstract principles oil
slavery, maintaining positions which are con-
lrary to Scriptur. and subversiye Of civil Go.
rernment. They err likewise with respect to
the propriety and utility of Northern interie
renee with the institution. Thsse errors Of OPT
MON lead TO corresponding mproprie;ies OF
conduct and henc. large portion OF the difi-
Guilty which has occurred between The Norm
and the South. These mistaken views have IN
duced those who entertained them to advocate
measures which were in reality Injurious and
insulting 10 the Southern people, while such
measures were verify thought TO be perfectly
Just and even indulgent; for many of them seen
10 think that towards STAKEHOLDER every thing
is indulgence which stops short Of divestlns
him Of all power over his slaves. II is this
class of people which is mainly instrumental in
urging forward The free soil movement. Now
the most eff; ctual mode of arre,ting this move
meD!, and at The same time preventing all ia
ture movements in regard 10 slavery which
would endanger the Union would be to correct
the oJini ms of these people. do not despair
Of this object being eventually accomplished
The class referred 10 is composed chiefly Of per-
sons Of intelligence, Of judgment and Of integ-
rity-they are y open 10 conviction As any
their convictions into practice. |, IS true that
they are much prejudiced on the subject Of
slavery; but this prejudice has been much al
layed by The disgust which has been excited BY
Garrison's exhibitions of anti-savery. That
worthy has also done another important service
10 the cause o: truth He has carried ont tie
principles of ultra anti-slavery, and has demon
,trated their fallacy by reduetio al absurdum.
The time is propilious for attempting 10 cor
rect the erroneous views to which alluson has
been made; AMI il some Northern men, Of cor
rect opinions and Of sufficient abilities and in
formation would now undertake the task, they
might confer lasting benefit upon the whole
country, by destroying the very seeds Of that
fanatcism which has already wrought so much
mischief, and which threatens 10 work 50 much
more. My limits will not permit me 10 60 at
length into this subject, much less would they
permit me TO do justice to it even were quail.
fed But il space should be hereafter afforded
me in the columns OF the Observer, or Of any
other respectable Northern paper, and should
lime ard other circumstances permit | would
contribute my mite towards the desired object
by maintaining the following propositions:
l. 'rhe Southern slaves are TO all appearance,
as free from suffering as any other class Il the
human race. 2. They enjoy as much positive
happiness, and that of a, high tint, az any
other known class Of the African race, except
ing the inhabitants Of Liberia. 3 The intel
lectual and moral character OF Southern slave
hold rs is as high US that of any other class of
men, with the exception Of the New Eng land
IA e, and perhaps OF the Scottish race 4. The
sou rem people generally feel secure, ond
wiih good reason, against all danger from the
slaves. The difficulties and dangers atten
dant upon slavery III The southern States, are not
increasing with the lapse Of TIM. As &c
neral thing, the slaves rec i've tolerably fair
compensation for their labor, at least in Virsi-
mia. Z. The general aspect OF the southern
State. seems 10 show that slavery is unproha-
Bile 10 the white people 8. The Old Testament
contains an express, and the New, an implied,
permission of slavery. 9 Domestic slavery
comprises only two essential elements; namely,
the right of the master TO the Dor Of the slave;
and the authority of The former over tire latter
confer ed by law. 10 To deny that one man
can have righ,fu claim upon the Dor OF an
other is TO annlhilate all associated industry. H..
TO deny that the law can rishtluly give one
man authority over another, without the con-
sent Of that other, is 10 annihilate all human CO.
yerUment IL Although some abuses exist in
cDnncSion with slavery, yet being 'eparable
from il, they do not prove that it ought TO be
be abolished, but only that it ought to be
reformed. l3 From the four preceding pro-
positions, il may he fairly Inferred that slave
holding is not in itself siufal. IA. Domestic
slavery in any community an evil, the exis
tence Of which cannot be justified except from
lhe necessity of the case. ID necessity for
| the existence Of slavery is created in the south
ern States by the presence Of The multitude Of
negroes. 16. The institution is, and ought &
be, entirely under the control of The States il
which il exists. II. The South dem,nds ant
| righlfully, that the North shall not attempt I,
interfere with southern slavery. l5 Man,
southern people are fully aware of the evils Of
slavery, and desire its Immediate moderation
and its ultimate extinction. 10. The bcnero
| lent designs of these people are in great inca
sure frustrated by northern inlerfe ence. 30
| The idea Of men who have never seen slave
instructing the South on the subject Of SLAYER,