Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-02


These men now resist lie Wilmot Proyiso, be-
cause they regard it as part and parcel OF the
great abolition movement which has distracted
The country for several years. They VIII, IN
some cases, even advocate The Southern Provl-
so as a defensive measure. But there is no
need of endangerlng the Union TO prevent such
men when associated with Northern emisrah's
from establishing slavery 10 regions, WHOA as
has been well remarked Shave been "iimo'
provisoed by the laws OF nature themselves. =
Two important additional considerations are
brought 10 view in the following extract from
letter of Secretary Walker, quoted and approx
cd by General Cass: beyond the Del Nortc
slavery will never pass, not only because y Is
forbidden by law, but because the coiored race
there preponderates, III the ratio oil ten 10 one,
over the whites; ard holding rs they do me 10
yernment and most Of the offices III their pcs
session, they will not permit the enslavemeht
Of any portion of the coored race, which makes
and executes the laws OF the country" This
view of the prospects OF slavery in the newly
acquired territory will appear inconsistent with
the idea that the war with Mexico had the ex-
tension Of the slave power as lis ultimate end.
II IS, indeed, inconsistent. The truth is, the
war has been severely denounced BY large
portion of the Southern people as being the
cause Of the present controversy.
2. Surprising slavery TO be extended to the
new territories, would its evils be thereby in
reality increased It is rlain that such an
event would increase The number Of slaves IN
our country. No negroes would be imported;
no free negroes would be enslavedi there would
be no slaves in the territories who would not
therwise have been slaves in other parts oil The
country. The question At issue has no relation
TO the increase or the diminuton Of the slave
population but only 10 its distribution. Would,
then, The condition Of The negroes be worse ~
the new territories than in the older parts OIL
the countryl A correct view OF the subject VIII
show that il would be better. We have already
seen that if they are 10 be introduced into those
regions al all, their number must be small III
compar ison with that OF the white population.
Every one who knows anything of tie subject,
knows that such situation would be advanta
geous 10 them. This may be easily seen by
looking at the condition Of this class in Western
Virginia. Here they enjoy degree OIL Tree
dom, which could not be allowed 10 The same
class in Eastern Virginia, consistently with
either their own good or the safety OF the com
munily. Here they are rs abundantly supplied
with the comforts and even with the luxuries
Of life as perhaps one-half Of the white popu-
laiion. Such would probably be the situation
OF the slaves who might be found in the new
territories. But If their number should be
considerable, then the number of those loft be
hind would he sensibly diminished, and their
condition proporticna5ly improved; while those
who were removed, even if bearing the same
proportion 10 the whites as in their residence,
would receive benefit from the fact OF their
being settled in the new country, where tho
means of subsistence are easily procured aud
where there is little distinction in the classes Of
society. The paucity Of their numbers, whe-
Their in The newer or the older parts OF
the country, would not only ameioralc
their condition, but would also facilitate
their emancipation. There has been no dlffi-
Guilty in manumitting The slaves Of the North
ern States, because they were so few; while no
person possessing the leas, grain OF reason and
OF information on The subject, would ihink oil
liberaing upon the soil such masses OF slaves a
80 fn""1 = no. pats &c the 'o-:hctn Ss.:@..
But il may he thought that the introduction oil
slaves into the new territory may be injurious
10 the territories if not TO the slaves them.
selves II might be 50 il large numbers should
be introduced. But we have seen that out teT
would be likely 10 be taken 10 them and the IN
furious effect produced by these would be
scarcely perceplibe. As far as slavery IS con.
cerned, the mountainous parts of Virginia are
not in condition which is materially worse
than that Of similar portions Of the free States.
Suppo.inp, even, that large numbers OF slaves
should be introduced The addition to slavery
there would be counter balanced by subtraction
from it elsewhere; SO that the sum total oil The
evils produced BY the system, SO far as they at
feet The general prosperity of our country,
would not be thereby increased
2. Is the Wimot Proyiso necessary TO stay
the progress Of southern aggression" On this
point Justice requires US to admit that the South
has far more cause than the North 10 complain
of aggression in The past, and 10 aPprehend il in
the future. The aboiilionisls, not content with
seeing their principles in full operation at home
have endeavored 10 impose them upon the south
ern States. The avowed object oil their efforts
has been The immediate, unconditional, and uni
ycrsal emancipation OF the slaves throughout
the country. Have the most ultra pro-slavery
men OF The South ever undertaken 10 impose
their policy upon the northern Statcsl Have
they endeavorcd TO introduce slavery into Mas
sachusctts or Vermont, or 10 prevent It's ex-
linction in Connecticut or Rhode lslanl.-
Have they formed societies, employed agents,
and established periodicals Tor the purpose
Of extending slavery over the North Have
they loaded he northern mails with pubi'ca-
lions advocating their pro-slavery principles: :
Have they convused The nation year alter year
BY inundatng the Halls Of Congress with petI-
lions for the extension of their own Institutions,
Have any southern church members demanded
he expulsion of abolition lecturers az term OF
communion with northern churchesi AND yel
il is al least as easy 10 prove that the Biolc re
quiies their expulsion as TO prove that II re
o,lires the expulsion o Shareholders see I'm.
6: l-51 Abolilionists Will say the cases are
no. parallel, for We are right and they are wroh..
The people Of South Carolina can say the
same thing with equal sincerity, and can ueiepu
their positions by arguments which though ~
suficien, to sustain them are certainly as soou
as those Of the Garrisonites, if not oe''el, No"
although the whole North is not Responsible ior
,b..e appressjons. except go far as II has iaiieo
10 use propcr measures for preventing them, YET
Tho fact that they have been made by northern
IN while no equal aggressions have been
made on Inc other side, shows that Inc Souin
has more reason for mistrust than the North
And with respect to those aggressions which
have been charged upon the South, candid
view OF them will show that, in general the,
have been either necessary measures oil defence
or measures which were provoked by the as
saulls of adversaries. In their natural dispose
ton the soulherners are not an intermeddlint
people. They possess a trait of character whici
some of us of the north, might copy with adyan
tage that which dispo5es til m to attend 10 thclI
own business, and 10 let that Of others alone
No person VINO has had much acquaintance with
southsrncrs will hesitate 10 say-if you Will lei
them alone, they vii let you alone. But If any
person should deny that they have this trait and
should say the only reason why they have not
a,,cmo,ed TO extend slavery to the north, is De
cause the case is hopeless this assertion Of IL
self shows that the north has nothing 10
fear. The case is indeed, hopeless; and
in the natural course of events is constantly De-
coming more 50. The whoe progress OF opln'
ion and OF action in our country Tor century
mast has been in the direction Of anti-s.avery
with the exception Of the short time that North
ern fana,icism has produced reaction. The
importation Of slaves has been prohibited, Sc
yerai ,,a.es have abolished slavery, IN other
-. ,,,,, ,a,raes have been emanCipatCd