Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-02
To the Editors Of the Enquirer: 900
KING WILLIAM, December 70, 1870

GOTT'S RESOLUIlON.
Messrs Editors: Your very timely and spirit.
ed editorial, upon the unprecedented sPlrit oil
fanatcsm recently exhibited in the House OF he
representatives., has produced general satisfaction
10 this counly-one Of the most patriotic and IN
teligent in Virginia. Even before your paper
of Yesterday reached US, the intelligence nao
been disseminated among the people that announcer
blow, deadly 10 its character, had been aimed al
our rights Of property. That within The short
period Of one month, insults, wanton anu unPro,
yoked have been heaped upon US. Emooidened
BY our forbearance, unprincipled incendiaries
have, at the very earliest opportunity afforded
them, pressed the question Of violating Southern
rights upon Congress- Under such c'rcums,an-
ces, one of the largest meetings We have ever
known Of the people was called together on
Monday, at King William Court House, for the
purpose of expressing the full sentiments OIL
citizens Of large slave-holding country, with
out distinction of party.
The able and bold resolutions of the commit
tee, and the speech of Mr. Ayett, who was
invited TO address the melting fully expressed
the determination of portion OF the people of
Virginia to go to extremities for the maintenance
of their constitutional rights and the preservation
of the Union.
NJ
tons and geberailies have ceased TO be useful OF
even honorable Such uiaing menaces and com.
plants have been sent up loo often by the people oil
Virginia Tor them now TO be respected, unless en-
forced BY the display OF spirit Of determination,
about The meaning of which there can be no mis-
take The idea OF impressing the extent OF our
in, uries upon Northern men by argument has be-
come obsolete Il is useless 10 attempt 10 check
fanatics with reason They suppose that the
nc plus ultra OF our orbearance will never be
reached. They hope still 10 strip us OF our rights
and give the robbery The name OF Compromise. !"
Compromise Rather call ii The unreqniled sur
render of Southern rights 10 the ever encroachng
tanaticism OF New England.
Look back over the last forty years OF the his.
tory of our national Legislature and what do we
fnd7 The almost perpetual agitation OF The ques
ton OF slavery, and, in every instance the South
acting on the defensive. Where has there been
an instance of Southern men dragging into de-
bate the question OF negro slavery and inviting
attack from Northern menl Whathaye we done
10 deserve the constant and violent invasion OF
those privileges which the founders Of he COnsli-
luton vOuchsafet 10 usi
The Ordinance OF 81 was The first assault upon
us. and the resolution of Got The last, In his
long interval OF time, how much has The South
conceded, and with what returns IN the shape ol
Justice from Northern men2 The lands Of Viz
sinia and other slave-hoding States, won 5y Inc
expenditure OF our blood and treasure, Torn from
US by he ordinance OF '87-the offspring OF an
expiring Congress. The Missouri Compromise;
the Wilmo, Provlso and the innumerabe resp
lutions Of Adams, Gddings, Paltrey, arc addition
nj insults heaprd upon us. With each concession,
we were promised peace and the unmulc>ted en-
ioymenl OF our property and our rights. But ARE
OUR RIoHrs MORE RESPECTED NOW THAN THEY
WE'RE FORTY YEARS LGoi
n moi. then what in The name oil sense have we
pained2 Securiry2 No. Peace2 No. Strength
and poinica power2 No. no! The scepre Of pow
er has departed from our hands. The increasing
majority in the House Of Representatives against
US IS each year becoming more lnsoent, nnlIl
The proud old States, South Carolina, Virginia,
and their Younger sisters OF the chvalrous South,
have become he objects OF daily assault from such
creatures as Giddings, Got, Paifey and Hale.
Whal does this teach us7 To yield still more}
To again seryilely ruckle 10 Northern anati-
cism2 To surrender New Mexico, California
and also The District OF Columbia, 10 complete
the matter? Does any man urge such course
in Virginia. We imagine moi. Wha', then, IS
10 be donel The answer Il our MIND is plain
enough Submit no longer Call upon our Con-
sres>men 10 stand by The Union and The South
fa.ruct our faithful Senators TO sanction no COM
promise-sac our claims, our rights and pTiyile-
ges, and stand by hem. Have this question OF
slavery seuled permanently. If they are over
come by maloriliss, let our representatives with
draw from a body where the rights Of their con-
siiluenls have been violated. There sui fingers
in Virginia some OF her old spirit Of independ
ence. She may stand no, among The first in Po-
pniaton and wealth, but in indcmiIabe courage,
and in the respect with which she IS regarded by
The Southern States. she stands where she has al
way. done-in the foremost rank. We have
written warmly, and we have felt deeply Inc i'm
porance OF The subject upon which thus much
has been wrilten-but il has not been without due
consideration and reflection. We have more
Than once deprecated harsh aud bold expressions
OF the opinion OF Inc people upon The question OF
slavery, believing that it was better 10 temporise.
This we believe no longer. Our experience of
the efficacy OF such course has been alreadyde-
clared. No time should be lost by the people in
acting promptly, and placing their views, with
out distinction OF party, before their members OF
Congress
Yon will receive in few days. We imagine,
The admirable resolutions OF the citizens Of King
William, which WILL we feel assured, meet the
appreciation oil every citizen OF Virginia.
A DEMOCRAT.