Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-10-18
THE TEST QUESTION.

We ask attention 10 the following remarkable article from
the N. Y Herald which rings terrible warning in the
ears of the agtator the Nor that persist in breaking
up the most sacred threaten defeat the
cuon of law framed after the panesl provisions Of JUS
tce and the Constitution Wo agree thoroughly with our
neighbor of the Times when he "As to the carrying
out of the Fugitive Slave Bill deliberately repeat that,
in our Judgment will supply the true test of the question
whether the people Of the Northern and Southern States
live together under common government
"We do no, mean 10 aay that single instance Of dsre
gard to the law will be proper for dissolution of the
Union but do say that its repeal by the North
en majority in Congress- the refusal Of Northern States
to obey It, SO that il shu be practically dead letter. ought
10 satisfy the Southern people that the hostility OF Northern
sentiment slavery intense that the institution can
not be maintained whilst remain in the Confedcracy-
AS yet happy to believe that the law VIII be gener
ally respected and that 1t will have the important effect
greatly diminishing the number of escapes. The best
pect of the subject L. that The law throws the onns of null
6caiion upon the North. Northern States must now say
whether they will resist law Of that Congress which they
have long held TO be supreme. II they either nuy Oh
repeal the law they will satisfy the South that the Union
no longer tolerabe. But let not contemplate the neces
sy of coming tha, grave conclusion because Of the few
negro mcbs which have dared threaten the federal officers
at different points in the North So far from the commits
offered for the service would raise the requisite number
men In the most rabd neighborhood In the Western Re
serve of Ohio.
1--WE ore happy find that many of The leading Northern
papers boldly battling with the spurious philanthropy
the agators who striving excite spirit of resist
unce TO the law"
tFrom the New York Herald oci. Ill
MORE OF THE SLAVERY AGITATloN-APPEAL
OF THE NEGROES OF THE NORTH-On Tuesday
he of Of
meeting in the High church. in reference TO the Flu
gitive Slave bill AT that meeting appeal of the people
of color the whites Of the free States unanimously
adoa.ei and Will doubt be published in the abolition
Journals Immediately.
we have carefully read this appeal and IL such nsru
ment the Constitution of the United States In exist
ence might perhaps be entitled to consideration; bu
as long that instrument remains the law of the land
shall abide by it, and ardeny hopo that ts PROVISIONS
and a will be faithfully carried out without fear fuvor.
In this appeal the Constitution s extensively quoted FROM
and the question asked Can the whites Of the North obey
the Fugitive Slave BILL permit s provisions 10 be carried
ont when that declares certain seevidrnt truths
that all men created equal that all men have inaien
able right TO freedom &c., &c2 Now, this is sophstry II
is very well known that negroes or coored people OF any
character were not recognised in that instrument at all
cept as slaves AZ such they were referred to- and TO say
TINT they alluded to in the preamble that all men ara
created equal and have naienable right TO liberty, &c.
is 10 say false and what cannot be sustained BY facts
The appeal resting, as it docs, on this assumption therefore
falls the ground and is deprived of all Tho force which II
would otherwise have Instead of being termed appeal
TO the whites of the free States should be termed
peal to the anaticsm of the free States and an attempt to
destroy the Constitution, and with 1t the integrity OF this
Republic.
When our ancestors entered into the federal they
made solemn agreement that certain rights OF the South
would be respected and guaranteed Without such guaa-
tee the Southern States would have entered the
That compact became the law of the land and as long as II
exists II must be supported and adhered to by every good
citizen The duty Of uphodng II is as obligatory on the
American people the present day as It was on those Of
the time at which il founded II cannot be violated
without dissolution of the Unon and the question arises
whether we are leopard fnot Destroy not only the Union
but the happiness of the slaves themselves by violating that
law and thereby refusing carry out the constitution
That necessary to pass such bill in order TO carry
obligations 10 the South, none but fanatics WIN
deny, and such bill would be entirely supehuons Inc
North had acted good faith towards the South II Is use
less to appeal to the constitution therefore, to vndcae op
position TO the fugitive slave law; for our conduct De tes
ted by that instrument we are bound by every consoeia
ton to take exactly opposite course and support 70
the letter.
there is any serious intention the part of the public
either black white to dsobey this law the result is easily
Boodshed and civil will be the consequence for
they may assured that will be enforced whenever oc'