Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-05
From the .Ntu York Obserrer.]
THE PROVlSOES AND THE UNION.
fContinued. |

Continued.
The foregoing seem 10 be the most important
inquiries which claim our atteGt on, when we
are considering whether the Wimot Provso
ought to be urged at the hazard Of dissolyIEg
the Union. They do not appear to admit oil an
swcTs which would demand or even Justify such
action in such circumstances IL IS atmhtcu
that the measure would be dangerous, although
some make lgnt of The danger. The peril Is
greater than many people suppose. lhl' IS evi-
dent from the tone which may now be percei'eu
al the South ia relation to the subject II IS TO be
hoped that the attachment OF Southern men 10
the Union will lead them 10 adhere TO II, even
when they think themselves unJustly treated
But we should not presume too much upon TINS
attachment. Whether true or false, The I'M
preston is very general among the southern
people that the adoption of the Wllmot proTiso
would be an instance of gross injury and indis-
nifty TO them; and they are the very last people
in The world quietly TO submit TO treatment when
they so regard. There seems, indeed, TO be too
much ground for the impression. II the ques-
tion had been left to the people oil Oregon ana
Of The Mexican territories, It IS certain that
slavery would not be established in all of these
territories; It ia doubtful whether il would lie es-
tablshed in any one of hem. Even in that case
Wilmot Proviso shall be applied 10 all The terri
tories, the North will add the whole OF them -
lis own side of the exciting question And The
South has good reason 10 dread the multiplication
of free States, so long al they manifest an IN
lermeddiug dispositions; for il they should
amount to three .fourlhs of the whole number
of states, they could change the Constitution,
submit the whole system Of slavery to the General
Government and do whatever they pleased with
| il, provided the South we're tame enough 10 sub
init 10 them. A smaller increase OF the number
| OF free States, without corresponding increase
| of the slave States, would enable the former 10
| encroach on the latter in manner which would
| be very prejudcial to their welfare. But the
grand reason why the Southern people so siren
uously oppose the Wilmot Proviso, is because
| they look upon il as part and parcel OF the
| great Northern abolition movement" Ii is in
| vain to tell them that abolition has nothing to
| do with il 3" They can never be made to believe
| that. No; nor can al Northern men be made 10
believe it, The effort which was recently made
to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia
| was acknowledged to be an abolition move
| ment, and as such il has most signally failed.
Northern people in general abhor ianatcal abo-
Iilionism most intensely, when they see II in lis
true colors. A Northern man al the South once
| remarked that some Northern men abhor IT more
than Southern men do, for the very reason that
| they know it better. Ii is, therefore matter Of
tie utmost importance for the success Of any
measure, even at the North, that il should be
considered as having no connexon with aboll-
| tion. Hence il was 10 be expected that the ad
| vocates Of the Wimot Proyiso should disclaim
any such connection. Many of them are, doubt
| less, sincere in this disclaimer But any man
who does not see that this movement, II not
| identical with fanacal aboltionsm, is in the
very first degree of kindred TO it, must take a
very partial or very superficial view Of the
SUBJECT The primary objects aimed al are
/ similar. The abolItionists called upon Con.
gress for a hostile demonstration towards
slavery in the District Of Columbia. The
Wimot men called upon Congress for a
| hostile demonstration towards slavery in the
territories. Is the demand Of the latter any
| more proper than that of the former} Is the
constitutional right Of Congress TO interfere vi h
the subject any more questionable in regard to
the district, than in regard 10 the terrtories}-
| For among the express powers enumerated as
belonging TO Congress is that-"tn exercise ex
elusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over
such district while il is merely SAID in another
part Of the Constitution, among miscellaneous
matters, that Congress shall have power 10 dis
pose Of, and TO make all needfol rules and regu
latiOns respecting the territory or other property
be longing TO The United Statss.'
| The principles OF The ahOliiionists and 81 tho
/ proviso men are tunda msnlaliy the same ihonsh
| the former carry them out more fully and openly.
| Bcih parties have radical principles respecting
! human rights, e3iTavagalt views oil the evils ui
/ slavery, disposition 70 asae the sufj~c \ pas
i iniar II
be employed Tor so doing, and determination 10
| push their schemes al the hazard OF destroying
/ the Union the whole crowned by an assumption
| Of great superiority 10 moral principe over all
| who dfIer from them. The chici difference is
that the same principles are advocated ny more
| rcspeca uie party, and IN more decent manner
| il, one case than in The Other. Bnt for this very
reason The movement noc 10 progress IS by TAI
The mos dangerous Il is not The ca'alihss the
B rgias, the Arnolds and Inc Garrsons who are
The mos! dangerous enemies OF The human race.
| Their excess II wickedGess recoils upon them.
! selves and'deslroys their power 10 Go evil. inuch
| greater mischief IS 10 he feared from crafty anf
plausible knaves, . ming the CO operation ..
worthy aud well meaning bat misguided men,
| lie, lhr Wilmol Proviso now b. applied . all
| the territories Al'er such precedent, aud suc';
4 triumph what will hin!rr lhr all ? ion q ht
less questionable measure OF abolition in the Dis
| tricl2 TIL. next oIirF o the day, onr which ha.
been already strongly urged. might b. the sun
preston By Congress u he Domestic slave trade
From this Il might seem INT shon SEP = pro
hibi,iun ol all transfer 81 slaves ID oftr rersun
.uiing he lives Of heir masters; and aictaei
snort step 10 Inc emancipaiian OF all slaves Al tn
drah Of their present owners. Will Il he >ai,:
| lhat the great body ol those who favor the VIII
mot Proyiso have moi the remnc>t idea Of ani
l.I. a -,
much OF ahoirlcni m 10 lrns; any man whe'
| once fairly Drawn INFO is vortex. Iii. Tor noftb-
ern patriots now 10 81. m The risin, torrent and 4
save nc country. Let every man who has cn'
spark 0. generous tr"rg in his soul come TO III
rescue. Tn Nurh alb unds with noble mlndcF
| AMI pauioiic citizens Tncv only need 10 see n,
true ra'h in order Il pursue i. The sons q New
| England as body, are the MODEST are upoL
earth II some trW Il hem have become IL
ve.l II fanatics il ons vcrifes lhc oil prGy"ih
ihst he 81 things corrupted are The worst. -
The larger and bet ef part OF them have already
| hownei Garrispnism a imo,l on u existence, an
when hey shall fully comprehend the real char
ac'er Of The monster which is now irving 10 rcal
his head, which is only the same spirit emoodlea
in a new form, they sill Withstand his proere>:
| as firmly as their own rock bound coasts With
stand the Atlantic pillows.
not be pressed without incurrug danger which
would far more than counter balance all the ben
eff, which could possibly accrue from The mea
sure. Some persons apprehend that simila
danger is threatened from IN opposite qnafler.-
The South is in iavor Of n proviso IL &c appicf
10 part or all OF the Mexican territory which has
been acquired, en- ct,ns that 81 very shall be tc
Grated. This, il is said, would i. IN inlolefah!t
encroach,nen; and the Ncrh rather than submit
to il would dissolve the Union. What, nov, i
the origin Of This "inloicrable encroachmen a.
There can be bu !i.,l. REASONABLE. duuh',
that Inc South l. aducei 10 advocate his msa
sure by what is regarded IS ne encfoachmen
Of ae Wilmo, Proviso. Such an encroach
ment must almost inevitably be the conse
quence 81 real or supposed aggression
This Southern Proyiso is urged ss a necessary
means Of defence against what is considered a
an improper interference with Southern rights
This fac, would be no justification for tht