Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-12-27
For the Enquire
GOVERNOR FLoYp,s SPECIAL M NE .iciE

Me.srs Ed,ors- perceive that yourselves and the Edi
Of the Examiner have stepped forth as champions IN
Of Gov Floyd TO the Legislature OF Virginia trust you
will excuse me for saying that fear the two Democratic
papers of Richmond nave taken position which will not
and should not be supported the which they would
not themselves have assumed upon more mature reflection
For the present will not trouble your columns with an ar
gument against the message, were capable OF making
one But cannot refrain from entering my protest against
the proposed Baltimore Convention In my opinion II Is
calculated distract still more the divided South, and
10 again revive agitation more perllous TO the
Union than any it has ever before encountered, and
which may end in more deplorable Illumination OF inc
South than that under which she IL now winning ABOVE
ALL object tho recommendation OF National ConVen
ton the slavery question: because II would remove Inc
slave States mpsgnabc position hitherto occupied
by hem viz that slavery is an institution local to the
States In which it exists and under their absolute controls
and that any exraneous interference win II shouo De re-
gaded as an impairment meddng with our domestic con-
Germs Now if we go into National Convention do we
not recognise the right of Vermont and Massachusetts
those lawloying paragons Of constitutional hdey-to IN
erfere with and deliberate @ upon an institution Of which
they have practical knowledge and which is only viewed
by them through the distorted medium OF abolition IN
doubtedy we would be making such acknowledgements
acknowledgment ioo of principle that we have always
mos. denied and the assumption and attempted
Of which by the free States we have ever TO
resist even force of and disruption of the confede
racy For myself srs am for taking no such step back
ward and would fain hope that those who have followed
the Governor and taken it, will upon second sober
thought return 10 the old doctrine.
There is another feature of the message 10 which am en-
rey opposed II the proposition to make the repeal or
modification, notification OF the Fugitive Slave Law
Of the existence of the Union None-at least ewcan
doubt that of those three things will DO done; and then
will again have disgracey retract from our position as
we have Just DONE else seced from the Union; an alterna
tive which for one boldly ayow my opposition TO- Tor mat
cause alone and which would not be sufficient justification
in the eyes Of the world nor in the judgment OF those
who are to come after What if the Fugitive Slave Law
stollbe repealed, nuihed2 Would we not occupy the
same ground that we have occupied for the last fifteen
twenty years Have not been utterly unable 10 recover
ueves for that space of tme2 And yet when has 1t ever
hu I'pin hpn1n nf
inability procure from the free States an observance OF the
article of the Federal Constitution requiring the exradton
Of fugves from servce such proposition has ever been
seriously made of and it meets now with
INV unqualified reputation The slave States have hitherto
regarded surrender fugtivesas slight grievance
and have exhibited excitement on the subject To make
such test now after have submitted 10 the abolition Of
the alave trade in the District Of Columbia, TO the
dismemberment of q sovereign slave State (no matter
how procured) add 10 the dominion OF free soil
TO the exclusion of southern men, with their pro-
perty, from the magnificent domain acquired by the
common blood and treasure Of all the States-save and
ee-on the shores of the Pacific, would be most lame and
mpotent conclusion Verify II Is strange how some men
can strain gnats, and yet swallow camels cannot
do it declare my opposition 10 the dissolution
enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law.
Indeed, believe true Southern policy, as things now
briefly examine the question. The territory acquired
from Mexico having been made think nnalteraby free
territory slavery is forever restricted TO tho States In which
II exists There will be nothing TO draw on annually
surplus slave population and letting remain upon
u.s. Increasing Ii Does in far greater ratio than the
white population no man who looks Into the future cam tof
moment reconcile himself to such idea In some por-
lions of Alabama and Mississippi the colored population
numbers about to each whts person. and with
outlet at all for natural increase Of this class of popua
ton may regard the Southern States as henceorth ap
preaching with locomotive speed the deporablo condition
of Jamaica 1t will take but eighty years TO reach It, and
tho child is now born who may live IL. Again: ono
of my slaves escape free State and pursue and arrest
him would be unsafe take him back because he would
have gained knowledge by travelling and would with
out doubt nsl into the minda of my remaining slaves
desire for freedom "a little eaven leayeneth the whole
mated and plots instructions would inevitably be the
result Consequently say that sure, but that
repeal Of all laws both State and federal regard to the
prehenson of fugitive slaves ia now required BY the sound
southern policy.
i have, Messrs. Editors occupied much more Of your
space than had designed and you friends OF free dis
cussion ask place for these remarks in your paper
A RICHMOND DEMOCRAT.