Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-12-24

States In order form more perfect uhlo establish Jus
lice insure domestic tranqay rorvde Vr Inc common
nce nronote the general welfare and the bless
nps of liberty ourselves and our Potey Co ofuain ah
establish this constitution for the ned states OF Aec.
The people OF each State becoming party 10 mat nsru-
ment are entitled oil the benefits therein dlsuncy emu
merasd and under the most solemn obligation TO abstain
from all practices inconsistent with their enjoyment By inc
other parties at nominated in the bond that the PEG
nile Of no one State shall disturb the domestic traniuy
Of any other. Georgia lays open the volume OF her ms
ory and proudly challenges her coniederates 10 me
abduction of q single incident yiola,ve of this ool-
cation She does more. In all kindness, compatible
With the assertion of right she charges upon the non
sayehoding States nhdey 10 this stipulation In the COM
pact She instances the existence within their borders OF
orranzed societies avnwedy devoted 10 the annhlaon oil
an institution inwrought with the Homework OF her social
sysen and in way modifying or affecting the'r own
societies employing missionaries, and substituting the press
70 their destructive doctrines and even TO excite
within her own limits spirit of Justification among her c
zens and of nsubordnation her saves-soceties
which have boldly entered the political seized upon
the balance of power and obrudcd their tanacs into the
halls Of our federal Legislature There measures Oh Hostility
Of the legitimate business of legsationdenunciao tons day
by day uttered against slavery and Shareholders against CON
federates and their institutions In this state OF things the
remedy be applied by those States is apparent IL WAS
forshadowed in the able and patriotic message roceenh
from the executive the legislative department. oil me oae
OF New York in the year 1896 1t is By the active later
position of conservative public opinion and II hat be
insufficient then by legislative enactment II the onward
of this insane crusade Is ever 10 De sayeo Is
time that measures of resistance be put in progress there
Desiring be distinctly understood IN order ihat lncacu
liable evils may be arrested by timely return 10 the early po
Icy nj the country rest no, this early nor
yenerates The practical results aimed az by these nElta
to are FIRST abolition slavery In the District Of Column
bn Maryand would have ceded part nj her terrific
ny, transferred the jurisdiction over portion t her c
gems had she supposed their social would be revolt
,unized against their WILL and State policy esaoshec In
the heart territory, materially varaa from and hostile
to her own Such act therefore, cannot re consrmnaed
without bad faith her. and Virginia, whose territory IS
cotemnous in the determined resistance oil whlch hep
entitled the operation OF their Southern coieceate
Secondly that kindred measure, sometimes Threatened OF
aboshing slavery In the military posts dockyMas, nnc
freehods of the general government lying within TIE
boundaries slaveholdng States These possessions
ceded TO the United States for purposes OF uty and
convenience In the generous confidence that they would
be used the detrimen VI the ceng States Thirdly an
amendment organizing territorial governments
for New Mexico and Utah, whereby slavery shall be proh
Territorlee Fonrthv The passage c! an acf
for the suppression of slave trade between the people OF
the eavcholcing States which regard olcons ahc
unconstitutional interference with State policy Inc reec-
ton of some OF the recent session OF Con
gress within the scheme of adjustment and nuetia
" influences the decision Of Georgia.
One subject challenges our especial notice IL IS
the threatened repeal The act for the reclamation Of
fugitive slaves. That tena.ded IS an un1Les-
onaLe constitutional right. and as remedy Tor e'ev'
and growing evil and therefore cana0t &c surrendered
History bears testimony importance oil the subject
Il mingled In the earliest discussions the formation 81
the American Union II commanded the profound ceibea-
ton OF the trainers Of the Constitution who assigned u
prominent place In that instrument They ordained mat
person held labor In one state under III"
thereof cecapng into another as III consequence
any law regulation therein be discharged from such ser
vice labor shll delivered claim OF the party
u whom such service or llbor may be due"
Iis universally conceded that this provision was Inserted
to meet of fugitive slaves, and that without
the savehoding States would have entered into the
Union No candid will conrover the proposition,
is binding alike upon the States as soveregns; upon
their Offices executive Judicial and mnisera upon vol
unary associations pesons and upon each Individual
citizen OF the United States Hence obstruction 10 the
recovery of fugitive slaves emana,ng from any OF those
fS
history of the confederation the Congress OF the United
States believing that the character OF our people furnished
abundant guarantee of fidelity the compact, enacted law
devoving upon the several State authorities the duty OF car
ryng Into effect and the event justified the confidence
repossd Those were the Purer days OF The repuSc when
patriotism stronger than anatcism 1afn the const
tuition OF the United States, II il in theory the tunda'rn-
la law of The land recognised as the paramount oo
CATION between States and individuals. Eat new schoo
Of political ethics has arisen in the linda school affecting
morality purer than that Of the Apostle Paul who sent
back the Ascending Onesinus his nater-a phanhro-
by more submnted than that Of the Angel, who meeting
the fugitive Hagar in the wilderness said unto her return
thy mistress, and sabm, myself under her hand ln-
auspices Of 's school, doctrines have csen pro-
muged, public opinion perverted or overawec inc arm
the Law yzeG and the records OF certain States c
honorcd by enactmens prohibiting that 70 be done which
the constitution commands.
The act of 1893 passed in good faith has long ceased to
Le eecua The South patient under this gevous wrong
and still with deferred hope clinging to the Union was CON
demand such additional legislation as would devove
upon federal officers and agents. responsible to federal an
thorities the enforcement OF her right The present Con-
gess responded TO this demand in tardy but fn nea
Of justice. AT length all Of practical detail and OF pc
nal sanction necessary the execution OF constitutional
law is to be found In the statute book Nop Is the grand
test TO be applied whether not, In this of advanced
civilization and in this boosted model republic law Is potent
for the protection of right clearly Defined and soenny
guaranteed by written constitution mot the experiment
has failed
against this by the wicked authors of the mischief il
intended to remedy; not yet from their snow OF iocloe
resistance TO its execution We will predicate no extreme
action upon their OF repeal of modification
From such anticipated such demonstrations
We hail with unaffected pleasure growing indications ha
where the greatest opposition exists conservative men
worthy OF patriot sesae organizing against these
OF law and ordsr-arc ralyng 10 the rescue OF
the mpeed Union. There exists the real hishecton 10
and there the struggle for ;s preservation De made
Calmly awaiting the issue its friends at the South will re-
cognisc brethren its true defenders al the North
But let them give heed the warning voice OF one Of the
Old Thirteen. She would say them BE not deceived
The destiny of the Union is in hnnds Awake from
your fatal dream of security In integrity of your pa
irios and the strength OF united action rise up against
this disorganzng heresy. Assemble In the yeneatei hi
wherein your foeathers and oefahes together signed
the constitution and redeem Inc CITY Of LOVE
from the reproach vi nousing its Toe TO ~ 10 lamha
nv and the Tabernacle and expel from the NATIONAL
EMPORIUM the genius of dscod. Convene In tmehonoed
Faneu and in the of Washington, else the evil
spirit from the CRADLE AMERICAN LIBERTY. EVERYWHERE
East North and West decree It's punishment from Inc hah
place of power. You ore tie country me iGstrcton As
for Georgia. her choice Is fraternity and Union with con-
sutiona rights-her alternative s' preservation by ai
the which lavoring Providence may place al no
disposal.
To the end therefore tina: the position Of this State may
BIZ clearly appshendd BY her conedetss of the SCUM and
of the Norta and that she be oEeless OF all future
Consequences
"Be reoirea by the people If Georgia in Conrenton as
sn,bed First thai hold III, American Union secondary
in importance only the rights ami principles was design
ed 10 perpetua that assocaons preseni ifon ano
future prospects, will bind il long rs /; continues 10
be the safeguard Of those ghs md ?.iacipiea
SECONDLY mat il the Is parties TO me contract
bordering Atlantic in belt while their separate
interests embryo their peculiar tendencies scarcely
developed their revolutionary trials snd tiuphs sill green
In memory found union impossible without COMPROMISE the
81 of this day may we'll yield somewna, in M conflict OF
opinion and policy tina, Union which has extend
ed the sway Of republican government over vast Wilderness
10 another ocean and poporiionay ADVANCED their cvi!za
ton and national greatness
"Thirdly that in this spirit the State Of Georgia has ma
u-ey considered action o Congress- embracing series
of measures for the admission OF California into The CEion
the organization Of territorial governments for tail and New
Mexico the establishment OF boundary between Inc latter
and State OF Texas the suppression OF the slave trace IN
the District of Coum5ia and the eAtraGiiion OF fugitive
slaves and connected win ihem the rejection OF PROPOSE
lions 10 exc uds slavery from Mexican Territories ana 10
abolish IL in the District of Columbia and while she does
not wholly approve will abide by il permanent ADJUST
ment OF this sectional controversy.
"Fourhly that State Of Georgia in the Judgment OF
this Convention will and ought 10 resist even las last
re.orn 10 disruption every tie which binds her 10 tie