Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-04-20

Massrs Editors: Old Accomac, who IS never
g, nah;nd but often in The lead in all great ana
oyen,ful actions, vindicated her ancient reno"h
IN The last Monday Of March most gloriousiy.-
Che never won more enduring laurels than on
ina, day, By the action of her citizens upon Tue
Abolition question, and the resolutions Passeu
unon ,he Address OF Southern delegates in Con-
ores, to their constituents. II was Court DAY.
The candidates of the Congressional DISTRICT
were present, urging their respective claims.
There was, as The Western people Woulo say,
"tall speaking" and noble battling; and 70 az y
was peculiarly gratifying TO observe ,h1 wv
bearing and geDlemanly courtesy exlenoeu ea.u
to the other. But OF those gentlemen, VINO ac-
Quilted themselves with their wen Known
ABILITY. il is not my design 10 speak al present.
Their reputation requires no tribute ilon any
pen, much less mine; for, as Judge bayiy eo ap-
propriately remarked, however imPof'aus 'ne
politics of the day might be, (and their impor-
lance no one will question: there was anolner
and infinitely more important mal'er .''a' ue-
| handed the attention OF not one mere anu llere'
but of all in every station, oil every snaue oi po-
litical faith, throughout the length aEo ofead'h
| of our Southern country; OF all VINO are INFER.
ested in, or Identified win the happiness Peacc
| and prosperity Of our beloved, time honoreo,
| Heavea.susg sted and God sanctioned lHSt'futton
Won know. Messrs Editors, | refer to that
| large and enthusiastic meeting which was as
sembIed for the purpose Of depising means 10
| arrest the encroachments of Northern Aboli-
tionists and unprincipled fanatics. After the
| organization of the meeting, the Hon. Henry
A Wise called attention to the Address OF
| Southern delegates in Congress 10 th'ir consti-
! tuents. and made some comments and remarks,
| which did most efectually iniuse deeper, no.
| lier and more immoveable determination 10
sustain the spirit Of said Address at all hazards
and by all means. Ii would have done you
good 10 have heard him. Always bold, ener-
getic full Of lofty thought and expressive ac-
! tion-he at this time went beyond ana aoo'e
himself The magnitude of the subject, the evil
that surrounds us, The dangers that threaten,
nut can never appall the momentous imPor,
lance Of the present action, for veal or "o, all
| pressed upon him, and carried him Ike Tue seer
| of olden time, when the Spirit OF Inc no.
liest breathed his inspiration into his soul,
until il burst forth in irrepresslole tor.
| rents ot suul-subduiEg, spifi.>iifrnei anu
heart-auimalius elcauence. Do not think il was
an effort Of oratory. No, he thought pol oil eio-
ouence; he forgot sell, forgot politics, forgot par
~ names, parry pTejudces and parry principles;
| forgot all all lhinss,-buI me OVERWHELMINGLY
| slupendous subject which filled and expanded
| his prea, soul beyond its accustomed lar2eness.
lie carried The people with him; moi their passions
| only but their judgment also. lnGeed u was no.
| one passion or faculty which was addressed an
carried-il vas lhr whole man, in all me ca
paciousness Of his intellect, his reason, ms luoS-
ment and his passions; yes MS passlohs-ou'
| passions tempered with Judgment and controlled
| by reason; ard thus il was The whole became
| armed al all points, resist he nnprinciplcd en-
| cruaCnmenls OF those who recognise no conslltu-
lion but their passions, no law bu; their prendi-
| ces, and whom truth compels US TO aVow are
alike ready to sacrifice humanity, justice, mercy
| and truth laun their goddess alta! 81 iana'Icai
pride anc muTderou> policy. would not eulo-
| eise lie speaker. No. Henry A. Wise requires
| not one eu!oeslic line from any pen, much Less
mine; neither would | indulge in inyec'ives
against those who dissent from The address oi
southern delegates 10 Congress TO their consItn-
| EMS, and The resolutions offered and adopted
| with such earnest nd delightful unanImily al Tue
| late meeting But would earnestly contend fof
| he political iaih If our lore-ialhers and our
| own, upon the true and faithful observance oil
| which they entered into the original compact
| and became part and parcel OF This Republic;
| and l. as one oil their descendants am Tree TO aver
publicly, lhouehfully and soemniy, that for US
| 10 remain moment longer in this conieoetacy
tnan that This faith is preserved lnVlolate IS 10
| shame he memory OF our noble ancestors 10 CO.
yer ourselves with burning infamy and 10 entail
| disgrace and ruin upon our descendants. II IS
| unooes,ionably certain, that our own safety yea
| our very existence depends upon our prompt ana
! decisive action A wavering, line-serVlng, tim.
i'd policy will inevitably involve US IN rum ultef
and hopeless ruin, equalied only BY The deplh Oh
thai disgrace and infa my with which we VIII ana
| ought 10 be regarded in all futurc ages
| o! 10 sacrifice this fair inheritance, transmit
!, ted 10 us al such expense Of treasure anG
| OF blood, is enough 10 trouble the Iepose 81 The
1 revolutionary dead, and 10 ill their pure SOUS
with grief unullerabe a! The deseneracy oil us,
| their sons Yes, | repeat it-snd would To God
! hat il might find response in every Southern
heart, and stir the spirit of every Southern man,
W man and child until The South, the whole
South, should rise in her awful majesty and IN
| equalled strength, and pu' 10 Iesl, at once and
| forever, this question. Action prompt, decided
! and universal action is all that is now LEFT TO
u. However painful il may be 10 look Inc pre-
scot state OF things lu in The lace however ma
zaious 10 speak out, plainly, boldly and al once,
il must b. done Upon This subjec', indifference
is dealh-a closed or aversi eye, snicide-a 81
len, tongue, ircascn;-lfeascn 10 our country
suicide TO ourselves--dealh 10 The sancll!y OF our
h-arihs and home. | am mol an advocate for the
1
| racy; mo- would deprecate il az Calamity
lraught to every Stale-morc especially the
Northern ones-with untold We. But it may
| not be concealed that, great as would be The evil
| OF such step, greater evils NAV be ccnceivcd-
greater evils NAV be approximately are now
| threatening us-lhan even Inc dissolution oil thus
| Un,on. And il should be spoken boldly, urged
! earnestly, proclaimed upon The mountain top
| until lis echo fills every valley, and is caught up
| by The breath OF the sea board and waited 10 all
lands, that, rather Than lamcly submit, or cring-
| ingly bend or servilely yield our constitutional
rights and give up our domestic policy, lei Us dc.
clare 'ha, no longer belong 10 this once COME
derated, bur now dissolved Republic. Better, in
fnilely better ST, Than struggle feebly, resist IL
| mildly, and finally WELD slavshly. Bu,, w0 10
| that hand that would sever this iair fabric, rear
ed by our oreiahers, and cemenled b. their b,oot
On lhenl-Ihe Abolition parry, and their allies At
! the Souh il allies they have, (Which God Tor
| bic )--nol on rs, be the curse OF this more than
sacrllcsiuus murder We arc suil;le>s, and So
! ever will remain, OF The blood OF This unnatural
crime Never will We put forth our hand TO de-
| molish this fair ediice, which should afford
shelter 10 its hundreds Of millions Even now
are there among US couatless number Of
swords, that, at TIE bidding OF necessity, would
| leap from The scabbards, and immediate upon
| the altar OF liberty the wretch who would begin
the work OF death. Bul, l., il not be forgot
| ten, tina, we may. BY a imid policy, emboldtn
them in their aggressive movements until We
have no choice LETT but either 10 yield our rights
and become slaves, (and such is even now the
case) Or avert what may, by timely and uni
ted action, be avered. Bat if we are civi-
ded-i say il advisedly, ! speak il knowingly,
| proclaim it solemDly, before the great God OF
all nallons, and 10 this peope,-it divided npon
this subject, we mus either yield up our proper
y, give up our rights. relinqlis our freedom,
and become slaves, or withdraw from this
contederaied URion. Let no one ,hink this is The
dark side Of things; there is no brighter side to The
| picture; view il al all points and il will be
| that The gloom momcntariy thlckehs; 50 that
even now, there is scarce one CLEAN OF light 10
relieve the uller darkness Of ou political horizon.
II Is enough to make The heart bleed 10 admit the
existing lac,s; bui il were worse IMAM vain 10 ex.
clude them RON the mind, AMI 10 soolhe ourselves