Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-03-26
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
,,,r1r, MORNING, MARCH &c, 1880.

TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 26, Ie"o'
- .nncI ro ,rt1c DEMOCRACY OF VIRGINIA.
In about month you will be called upon to record you,
~ oo rcnhcrs If the General Assembly -and impressed
with the importance OF the approaching Spring
ro,son 10 believe that the course Of The Dehocia"c
hers NJ the Legislature, during the session Jus CON
ucd will be more or involved in the canvass
oar du,v respcctfly TO submit brief feSie" anu 'iiu''
ton Of that course , ,,;r IA
r mbroce all the subjects which have engaged their dc
uhers,ions would open wide field ana oe "
the occasion Many of these were matters y, 49,
;mno,auce or incident all meetings OF the ieslsE'e
~, ,hore are some prominent points, rising above
Others in dignity anu Importance anu " ~
now to invite your attention
II ia unnecessary fellow citizens, 10 renihn you oi "e
snnrcbensons which have prevailed throughout 'he
norton of the conedeacy in relation to the oposea nc
ion o the Federal Government on The slavery SuJe' "
a,n,rently determined majority sufficiently po"efiu ~ ~
,ro the action OF the Government annouhceu' III aa
their purpose to exclude the peopco The saschoui '
san, Tho endowment Of any portion Of the common ter
;,ov to the acquisition Of which The latter had co''lou
M ooc Than their just proportion OF men ana means lnS
.aa,na oor;or act of injustice justified on the
l If = proiesscd parental regard for The future eohai-
o hnse territories which were, insisted ny our "Ppo
want, atony cost 10 saved from The biot anu cuiS
a. they uleged we would bring upon ihch py car ing
,o,cr,v there The general prevalence oil th' purpose ''
If tbis sentiment, throughout the nonsa'eh''oi's
,,;,g indication OF the deep hostility which had
been excited against the institution Oh sit''i'' ~ - 49,
nndeouacy Of constitutional obligations 'r LIS 3roec'"
Tho boh constitutional law upon which wo relied Tor the ae
fence Of our rights and our property, was no'" 10
operative because believed that no penalty ""u'a -
h ~ ia violation To DISGUISE tie minds Of Inc people
&c the non sayehoine States of this IMPRESSION ana 10 con-
vince Them that our constitutional rights could not pe ihVau-
"A with IMMUNITY the duty OF every Southern Hah WHO
loved his country and wished 10 preserve the Union az
cordinnls The Legislature Of Virginia. IN March, io7'' ny
unanimous vote announced the purpose oil Virginia "
i, H., threatened aggression "ai all hazards and to the last
xtremyn AMI again reaffnIcd the .aic purpose IN Inc
session Of iS'i9 by nearly unanimous. oel ''o"
ern States pursued similar course
So Violent however the agitation upon this subject
~ The Norh that all these movements passed there unheed
%, bv the hubble mnd While Affairs in The last year
in this condition. convention OF the people OF Mississippi
yas assembled To consider this stecl Thar convention
yss counosed of an equal delegation from both the political
parties that divided that State and embraced her abest
statesmen In Ibis grave controversy that State occupied
position precisely similar 10 orr own Her interests were
like cure her like her determination to re-
sist Injustice and degradation were like ours That cohsen
ton representing the feelings and views OF the people oil
Mississippi with unanimous voice. proposed 10 the people
Virginia, and the uther SouNcIn ee' ''
friendly conference The General Assembly thought tina,
ough, to be respected and they have according
~ recommended 10 the people Of the Stale 10 take mea-
srres 10 have themselves represented in The proposed
Convention al Nashville This recommendation though it
received the almost undivided o zoe members oi
,r own party and the min body Of the Wings in the den-
raj Assembly, Jeer assad with open clalor on the part
Of some and with much secret hostility by others "ie'her
this course has proceeded from corrupt ee-ign or an Ill
founded tiniiy That starts AT shadows lime VIII best ds
close WHY should YOU iowctizens be afraid to meet IN
convention and consult those who a'c common interest
w,b voul Can no means short of treason disunon be
devised for your defence against unprovoked hssau are
the views OF shareholders abhoant 10 the principles oil
the government under which live that We cannot give
them public and formal expression without preach OIL ae
,once' Those holding views upon every other
uh.rf Of however trivial interest, assemble IN convention
and concert measures advance their common purposes
This mode of organising public Sediment ny popular con-
vcntons il characteristic AMI cherished privilege oi ue
ocopl Of this country which is emncn'iv conservative oil
nopuar ryhs Opinions there nterchanaei, confctng
views are oconccl and something oil executive ioFee Is
rven 10 what before feeble end nnearded Wherever
concert Of action sentiment desired ~ oc ehsasea
in common cause this is the safe and elcacious means
approved by the general OF the country IL concert
anono the people of tho South is desirable at this time,
urv no sound objection be urged ag.!ns! the Mssis-
s,n nan for obtaining it, This brings back TO the en-
ov whether concert and union among ourselves On ms
important subject ought 10 be desired! very brlei cons
deraon will be sufficient place this question beyond ia
onal controversy
Feow-ctizens you close your eyes upon tho fact
ba feeling of determined hostility towards the Institution
slavery prevails generally in the nonsavehodlng States
| Of the Union The Wimo Proviso is merely one Of the
,os in which this feeling manIes,s itself We would be
ndnlu la fnr
the moment by the cry Of peace when know there is No
oeace II may safely asserted that there is Of
annoyine or inuring the slave property Of This country,
within the power of the Northern people, which they do mol
employ for purposes and the utter folly trusting to the
orbearance Of the nonsavehoding States for defence
or,ins arresson cannot be more strongly illustrated thai
hy reference the Of the North in connection with
or fugitive slaves What constitutional guarantee can BE-
more solemn and imposing thn that which he federal con
s,ution gives this subject Yet by the action of the
State Legislatures which under the undsputed control
Of the people of the nonsavehodng States this provision
has been deliberately annued. Here witnesa conflict
between the antislavery spirit Of tho North and the plain
provisions of the Federal Constitution When these
people control the Federal Legislature, we eN
pect hem respect constitutional restraints any more than
hey have done in their State Legislatures In the very
lace of constitutional prohibitions they the powers OF
their State for the purpose of assang
property. Must we not expect hen tnat TIE powers
the Federal GoYcrnment will be employed for the pur
pose when these pass under their unlimited CONTROL!
They now have minority OF fifty in the lower House Of
Congress and OF ytwo the electoral college The Sen
ate our last defence and shall be driven from that il;
California il admitted with her present constitution. The
sayehodng States will then hold undispued control
over every branch Of the Federal Government Can any in
egcnt Southern look 10 this state OF things without
apprehension and alarm3
But, feow.ctizcns while we believe there Is ground for
apprehension yet think there occasion for despair
We still believe that constitutional rights can be main
tanned BY constitutional The South exercises
powerful influence the commercial and manufacturing
interests of the North. BY wise aud sk.lu craftsmanship
that influence be made Tie sword ana The shield Of the
constitution Ii is idle expect that this be done BY
the isolated operations of the separate States This great
object can only be effected by thoroughly concerted and well
considered measures
Viewing the subject in this light, candidly you
that in our opinion the Constitution and the Union
DC preserved without perfect and union among the
States As an important agency in bringing about
this desirable state affairs We look with confident hope
,l, ~