Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-12-03


ceplion the North little if ALL short Of open rebe 10
utter defiance This state OF things has grown GU, of an INV
warantaee Interference on the part OF Congress- with h
subject OF slavery and Is another proof of the peo,
which must follow any attempt on the part of ,b
dy 10 transcend the clear and we'll defined limits 20, h.
constitution TO govern and control their action - ie
That restless spirit Of anlticsm which for the las EN-,
years has been iosIered in the free States and dirr.
against Southern slavery has last grown TO sinb a
nl thar now threatens seriously disruption 80
The Union. II will require calnest deberation ana "
coolest but determined resolution to Withstand Ut
shock II has Produced 10 save honor and our rs,
which il involves and the Union which il itseE now nm
IN the strife To act with rasness or precipitation i, n
Vei al once the bonds which unite u.s. 10 iacr in ~
occupation OF ground we have assumed in the man
hhnce oi me principles often avowed and srenuous
IS 10 forfeit own selfrespect, the respect !,
tfe nation and 10 bring about of things which u;
ultimately ead TO the inevitable overthrow Of slavery ;
me resolutions pissed by the last Legislature ayowjn,
alSlhc"y TIC grounds Virginia intended maintain h,ys
not been explicitly violated by any action of CONGRESS. |
!ttHie legislation intended 10 remove the dsb
ance is much 10 be npprhcnaed has failed of its .c
cannot TAIL 10 " sensible Of the great sacrifices nc
by The South Tor oil all the priceless domain won from "
chiefly 10y tine valor Of Southern men, there is NOT l
open at that worth having square foot for the nccr
ton oi The STAKEHOLDER. |, would be- idle atemp, 10 n,
gnse the fact that this injustice rnkle in the bosom Of b
South and nolrg bnt the earnest hope that this action q,
Congress has settled forever all agitation of the slavery oe
ton could, ough, reconcile its course RI, !,
peace and quiet be restored if the constitution shall -
respected, and The Union preserved a regard ria
sacrifices great they are, light comparison with IN. M
lects attain. Should this reasonable n,,
ial1clons and the abolition agitation BE- still continued in
the halls OF Congress- il will furnish proof convincing pni
conclusive Of that fixed and settled hostility slavery on
the part Of the North which should md will satisfy every
reasonable that peace between inpossb r nni
then necessity than all law the necessity of sell
preservation, viii demand al our hands separation from
those who The relationship u Brotherhood ony Tor tb
purpose OF nictn. upon W tie worst acts Of malignant
hostility
There has been cprchensibe supIneness at the Sout
upon this slavery agitation and 10 this in great measure
is owing the present alarming posture Of affairs We find an
excuse for this alone in one point Of view have been n
bic 10 realize the fact that injustice monsrous and
folly great could find advocates in majority Of ~
Northern people. We known the value of the Union :,
them and have always believed it be too apparent "A
themselves, 10 warrant the thought Tor tia, hcy
would espousc the 81 analcS, leading them as
does the violation OF every principle dear The hearts f
patriots and men, We have been unable 10 how
The sound discriminating judgment OF the Northern people
could be warped by the pursuit OF delusive phanom as
proclpatc themselves into gulf d. !rrcparable ruin in
the vain hope attaining by the laws OF Congress an OH
Icc which mountains o treasure and of blood would
be inadequate accomplish few amongst rs DO sure
been persuaded and have endcayose 10 Der
suade Others OF The dangers which bcsot paths but until
recently they not much needed. The procedure OF the
slavery agitation attracted but little general notice darng,s
progress and the history 0f presents OF the ost
remarkable chapters in The chronicles O. nation.
To those familiar with the peculiar form ot govern.
know ths IN al! matters directly embraced
within the provisions OF tie federal constitution tho separate
States distinct aud disunlted, the Kingdoms Of
France and Gcrmany-the gratnitous interference The
free States with slavery must appear 10 be the arrogant
unjust and niiuous outrage ever perp.
tracd by civilized people upon another All the auho.
rity given 10 Congress- directly Indirectly 10 speak Upon
thc subject slavery il single clause the Consi.
ton which imposes upon them the duty OF providing means
the reclamation Of slaves who abscondng from ihe.
masters find their way into free States And the ,k,
has been claimed by uetators in Congress abolish slavery
in The District o Columbia in all the otts and arsenal,
il omehon the slavcodng States, prohibit the citizen oi
one State selling his slave the another
State and 10 declare that owning slaves shall lee al
owc IL cmsrac with them territories the pro
perry of all tllc States.
These movements in Congress are results OF hostility
amongst the citizens vi the STATES slavery Ell
amongst which has exhibited itself in them in
much more offensive than that displayed in
The halls OF Congress Some .! them have by law prolb.
tied their officers of kind under heavy penalties from
rendering assistance III arrrstng fugitive slaves they
have refused the their las for the confinement VI
descending slaves though they often imprSon the
!ong in pursui, them They have passed Laws which put
very atiompn. rccaptuate his runaway negro
within their borders, in imminent danger ri being tried
con and sentenced 10 imprisonment, III their pcnltc 1liaes
The chief authorities ot these States
lavc in direct d-obedence the provisions oil The United
States Constitution refused deliver up iutves from lus
upon legal and proper demand because the offence with
which they stood chatg that o negro stealing Slaves
themselves charged with felony and escaping into the
States have, upon demand hsino made for their deli
very uglilres fr" justice been refused the groun!
Ina: our laws constituting certain offences felony
recognized ly the tree States which the slave Ind nd
II thing OF constant occurrence 10 See the master
pursuit Of his slave openly asu,rd and outraged
with c0ntumev and contempt than If r were himself
fugitive from justice fleeing for the crime OF murder.
Every device which parliamentary law would allow.
IN the halls ot congress. and countless rNpecn,s the
state have bccn resortcl for the purpose vi II
ri.anS insulting and njurin, the South |; is long
cr matter o surprise that excitement and cXa-pcra-
ton both now cAi-t To alarming, amongst us,
in .c,l:ci,cc of these acts.
But the spirit which the law for the reclamation of
Of fugitive savcs ha- bc. in the free state. l. emf.
ncny calculated To cmbtcr stll more the feeling of ca.
Lptt-
only one Of congrt.s Tor many years, directly
y bearing upon the subject Of slavery wlch la; even
Appropriated toward, justice to the South and il has been
met there would meet disorr.nlxuis rrocama-
"f invading foe Public meetings have been called
t" dcnouncc 1t the newspaper press has assaulted it with
unusual bitterness the preachers OF the gospel have
Weighed against it from the pup, opposition has
III many places obtrratcd party lines and men "f every
rink and condition OF life OF every degree of intelligence
ai influence have banded themselves together with the
arowrd determination of resisting the law willis. upon
the statue book and OF ultimately clccting It's repeal
Virginia and tini all the Sllvelol,lins states can
aud ought calmly bu: explicitly To declare that the
peal o the fugitive slave law any essential nioli(a.
I;nn oi it. virtual repeal ot the Unra Tie faithful
execution Of this la~ is, III my Judgment tho only in"ans
now left, bv which the Union be preserved with non.
or to "urscyc. and peace hr country. Such dcca.
ration the part oi the South will give strength and
great moral weight the conservative patriots at tho
Eorth now Struggling for the constitution and the suprc
macy of the law who are ruth fighting the battle
of the Union IN the bosom OF the nonslayrhodng states
There We're never more important trusts committed 10
the hand. OF any men. Their triumph the victory OF
order anarchy Of peace bIooi,lcd and fire
Their dcca; i the kncIl ui the Cnon for if the fiatic
III the North come mi; the hall Of congress with power
10 c"nr" the action o II, lew years July will cap.e
before they will throw as;!e cverr appearance OF
srant. and abolish slavery in the stc,c- With the al.
tentative presented 10 :" submission 10 this action
dissolution ut the Union. there would be- one voice
raised in favor nf that Union for which there are now 90
Many thousand. yho wo;l she'd their blood
surely after the SACRIFICES the South :is made i.
asking little when she demands OF congress 10 be faithful
to the pied res II has giyen AMI Of the -lavehoins
states, Ia abide bY the constitution OF the country and
the a"s made decdratory OF II, Obligations
II, however no consideration OF pru.,ic or patriotism
can restrain the minority from tc slaychoilng
states III their aong OF i-ur patton nd wrong
and should they repeal essentially modify tie fugitive
slave law the ino>t prompt AMI dcciy: action viii be
required m yonr hml-. in either oven:, would cam
c-tiy recommend tha. convention Of tho people be
called at once, take consideration the moi. anil
measure OF rcrcs' We. the n:u,4 Of prof. ling or
our future sccluit; and peace
Virginia, in til, will have nothing 10 rcproach
herself with however much III. haze regret. She
has advocated the principles Of free and constitutional
government, w!;lI uhw'aycrns iirmnc-s Neither the
meuaces rae al Great Britain could cxngii,l
the love oil liberty III her bosom and when the federal
government usurrc an authority. which threncncd
independence" he stood t" champion Of popular -uprc-