Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-03-08

may be their opinion oi the original abolition party, whic
still preserves Its distinctive organization, hardly ever fail
when IL 10 acting 10 cooperate in carrylng out incl
measures With the increase Of their influence they extend
cd the sphere of their action In short time after The com
mencenent their first movement they had acquired sul
ccnt influence 10 induce the Legislatures "l most oil IN
Northern States pass which in effect abroehted TIT
provision of the Constitution that provides for the delivery
up ot fugitive slaves Not long after petitions followed
abolish slavery in forts magazines and dock yads and al
other places where Congress had exclusive power III esa
tion. This followed by petitions and resolutions OF lie
gsatures Of the Northern States and popular meetings.
exclude the Southern States from all territories acquired
TO be acquired and prevent the admission of any STATE
hereafter into the Union which, by IT'S does
prohibit slavery. And Congress is invoked 10 do all th
expressly with the view 10 the final abolition OF slavery
the States That has been avowed 10 be the ultimate ooec
from the beginning of the agitation until the present time
and yet the great body of both parties OF the North with IN
full knowledge of the fact although disavowinp the ahoi
tionists have cooperatcd with them in almost all their nea
sures
Such is brief history of the agitation far has
advanced Now ask Senators, what is there preyen
its further progress until tnfs the ultimate end proposed
unless decisive should be adopted prevent
it, Has any Of the causes which has added its in
from its original small and contemplate beginning
until il has attained its present magnitude diminished In
force! Is the original the movement that slavery
is SIM and ought 10 be suppressed weaker than al
the commencement? Or is the Abolition party less nume
influential or have they less influence over or con
troll the two great parties OF the North In eectons
Or has The South greater means ofnuencng controlling
the movements of this Government than II had when
the agitation commenced? To all these questions but ono
answer cnn be- given No, no. The verv reverse IL true
Instead u" being weaker all the elements in favor ol asita
,on stronger than they in 1885, when il first
commenced while all the elements OF influence the part
OF the South weaker Unless something decisive is
DONE again ask what is Ia stop this agitation before The
great and final object al which il amsthe abolition OF sla-
very the Staesis consunmated! Is IT, then not certain
that If something decisive is not now done H. the
South will be forced to choose between abolition and seces
sion! Indeed as events are now moving II VIII NOT require
the South 10 secede Ia dissolve the tnon Agitation will
Of itself effect it, of which ita past history furnishes abun-
dant proof, rs shall next proceed 10 show.
| L q
ected by single blow. The chords which bind these States
together in one common Union are numerous aud
powerful for that Disnnon must be the work Of Time. II
il only through long process and successfully, that the
chords be snapped until the whole fabric falls asnndcr
Already the agitation Of The slavery question has snapped
of the most important, and has greatly weakened all
the others. as shall proceed Ia show.
The cords that bind the States together not oniy many
bui various in character Some spiritual eccrsas
cal; polcal; Others social some apprrain 10 the
benefit conferred by the nion and others 10 r feeling o
duty and obligation.
The strongest Of those of a spiritual and ecclesiastical ma
consisted in the unity of the great religious dnona
tons al OF which originally embraced the whole Union All
these denominations with the exception perhaps Of the Ca
ihoics were organized much upon The principle OF ON
political institutions beginning with smaller meetings
ponding with the political divisions Of the country, their
ganZaiion terminated in great general assombngc
responding very much with the character oi Congress- Al
these meetings the principal clergyman and lay members
The re specrivc from all parts tie Union
to business relating to their couNnoI coIccns Ii
confined 10 what appea;Ecd The doctrines and
discipline ri the respective denominations but extended "a
distributing tracts and of establishing for the publ
cation of tracts, newspapers and periodicals., with view o
diilusne religious nfomaon and for The support Of the
doctrines and ceeds OF the denomination All this combined
contributed greatly To strengthen the bonds of the Union
The strong ties which held each denomination together form
ed strong cord hold the whole Union together but
powerful they wcre They have not been able Ia resist the
explosive effect ot slavery agitation.
The first oi these cords which snapped under s explosive
force that Of the powerful Methodist Episcopal Church
The and strong lies which held together all
broke and its unity They form separate churches
and instead Of that feeling Of attachment and devotion the
interest of the whole church. which formerly they
arrayed into hostile bodies engaged pa;ion
about what was formerly their common property.
The next cord tha, snuppe was that oi he Raps's one
That of the Presbyterian is not entirely snapped but
| of lis strands have given way. That Of the Episcopal
Church is the only of the four great Protestant deno
| nations which remains unbroken and entire.
The strongest cord of political character consists Of tho
many and strong lies that have held together the great
parties which have with notifications, existed from
the beginning of The Government They both extended to
every portion OF the Union and strongly contributed Ia hold
all it, parts together But this powerful cord has iarc
better than the spiritual II resisted ir long ,lsc The
esve tendency OF the agitation bu, has finally snapped
under its ioceif entirely, In great Nor il
y weakened To this extent the Union has already been
DESTROYED by agitation in the only way can be- by snap
ping asunder and weakening the cords which bind ,oee
| ther.
ii The agitation goes Or the force acting with in
creased intensity as has been shown will finally snap every
cord when nothing will be left hold the States together
guagr be called unon when the only means by which ht
weaker is held connected with the stronger portion is force
will purtake much Of the character Of subluga,on
the part of the weaker to the stronger, than the union
free independent and sovereign States in confederation
as they stood in the early stages of the Governea,
which only ia worthy of the sacred Eaic of union.
Having now Senators explained what IL il TIN. cnanrer
the Union and traced IL 10 lis cause and explained its
re and character the question again rccurs How m
Union be saved To this answer there is but way by
which it can be- and thai by adopting such measures
will satisfy the States belonging the Sopihera section
they remain in the Union consistently with their memo
and their safety. There is, again, only way by which
that be effected and that is BY removing the BY
which this belief has been produced Do that and dsconcn
will cease harmony and kind feelings between the sections
be restored and every apprehension of danger the Unor
removed The question then is BY what can this doEc
But before undertake TO answer this question propose
| show by what the Union cannot be saved.
cannot, then be saved by eu"gles the Unon how
ever splendid numerous The cry of "Unon Union th
glorious Union can dsunion than The
of Health health glorious health the part Of the ply
scan can save patient lying dangerously ILL., So long
the Union, instead of being regarded protector is
gardcd in the opposite character by much less than
oy Of the States it will he in vain attempt concia
them by pronouncing eulogics on H.
Besides this cry of Union commonly from thost
whom cannot believe Ia be sincere II usually comes
from assaans But believe them 10 be sin
for, If they loved the Union, they would necessarily
be devoted TO the Constitution Ii made the Union and
destroy the Constitution would be destroy the Union
Blu, the only reliable and certain evidence Of devotion tn
Constitution Is, 10 abstain the hand from violating
it, and TO repel the other all attempts violate IT, Ii il
only By faithfully performing these high duties that Con
| sitution can be preserved and with il the Union.
But how stands the profession Of devotion the Union oy
our sssaans when brought TO the test Have they ab
stained from violating the Constitution Let the many
passed by the Northern States aside and annul ih
clause of the Constitution providing for The delivery up
fugitive slaves, cite this that il is the on,
instance o there many ohers but because the violation
in this particular is notorious and apabc 10 be denied
Again. have they stood forth faithfully rope violations
the Constitution Let their in reference the aga
ton of the slavery question: which commenced and ha
been carried for fifteen years. avowey for the purpose
aboishing slavery in the Saiesan object all acknowledged
TO be Unconstitutional Let them show single in
during this long period in which they have denounced
the agitaors their attempts effect what s admitted
be unconstitutional single which they hny
brought forward for that purpse How Nc, with al
these before u.s. believe that they in the
profession oil devotion 10 the Unon avoid believing ihe
profession hut intended increase the vgor OF cir
saus and To weaken the force of our resistance
Nor regard the profession of devotion the Union
on the part of those who our assaans as sincere
when they pronounce euogies upon tile Union, eyiden,
with the intent Of charging with disunon without utter
ing word of dennnciation against our assaiaEis.
friends of the Union their should be unite with
in repeng these assaults and dcnouncing the authors
enemies of the Union. Why they avoid This and pusu
| the course they do il is for them 10 explain.
Nor can the Union BE- saved BY invoking The name of ia,