Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-02-22
FRIGHT SIGN AT THE NORTH.

|
On the 22d great meeting is to be held IN rhiaaephia
BY the Democrats who opposed TO the "imo foVso
lists and other fanatics and favor of the compromises oil
tho Constitution and the preservation of the Union The
Pennsylvania says:
The manner in which the call for the Democratic union
meeting has been greeted by the MASSES oil the Democracy
in this city and county shows now anv letter,
IN the subject zealousy and urgently uppauoing the
men and the alacrity with which the call mas oeen se
how truly reflects the Sosbwn1E ssVs he got the
name of every Democrat he spoke to- ana hat inc ee
approval cordial and unequivocai IN tne extreme @
have no doubt that II will be one OF the largest MOS
,hnsastic and most unanimous oupourings OF the Democ
racy ever held in this or any other city
~ "'e '>N'''' WasHISoroN Cry, FEB. IT, 1850.
Gentlemen observe in your paper OF the lZth lnsl Inc
structures YOU have thought proper make upon my etei
10 the people of the l4h Congressional District OF virginia
"A soft answer pateth away wrath Iintena 70 answer
in this spirit although might justly complain that insteae
Of combating my opinions your OBSERVATIONS nave u''
You say that "hundreds of my letters sent 10 my
constituents before stray copy fell into the hands OF one
my colleagues two days after il was published NOV" the
facts attending the distribution of those letters are a.
follows The evening which this letter was struck IRON
he press obtained few copies and sent ten or Twelve
them 10 Richmond and five 10 my District; on the nex
morning handed them to the virginia aeega'ion III ooh
gross. ,,,.,,.,oa lnou.r
in Richmond before could possibly reach my constituents
You ask Also show of her sons trusted WIN ner hono
abroad could have put forth such paper unless II was
counsel alien to his own State" Again. hear the acs-l
counseed no one-neither Wing nor Democrat Northern
man or Southern knew that such ieter was
written intended TO be written Now, ss permit me !.
make this observation cannot attribute 10 you mat YOU
would hazard your reputation for justice and fairness IN mus
charging upon me crooked and fahless policy unless yor
had soe grounds make those charges and as from YOU
noson YOU could know nothing Of YOURSELF come 10 hf
only conclusion left that you acted from erroneous hioia
ton received from Washington
In the same spirit Of personal reproac you ooserve-o
say that il is tho result Of his own reflections Is TO say ha
Nj Beale is wiser than oil his party ms Is an argnmea
against the man. and against his opinions Are You mol
unchaabe and somewhat rude in attroutng 10 me oiy
because upon question OF deep national concern
and in discharge high duty with which was entrusted
have ventured differ with you and with many oil my
counrymen 10 whom accord all patriotic merritt Can you
make no mercu abatement for this independent mode o.
action of old man. who from the mere force
of habit brought up and living in the secislon OF country
farm where consultation often excluded had acquired
the habit Of thinking for himself, and saying what nc
thought As my gross ignorance OF the laws OF virginia
in relation the slave trade all that Is necessary TO my
npose 10 know is that il true that the transportation
of slaves into the State for the purpose OF SALE prohibited
by her laws and that therefore in BILL to Settle possioie
this slavery question: would be no gea, matter o way
of concession TO agree that tho District OF Columbia In re-
on 10 that matter should be placed In the same condition
OF nanv of the slave States OF the Union
In the short period intervening between the puoea'oh
of nv letter and the receipt Of your sctes upon H. seve-
raj events have happened going 10 show the truth OF INC
marks made in that letter First the Legislature OF Ng-
mia has stricken of her resolutions that part relating
the abolition of the slave trade in this District by Congress-
nc rvin Virginia lust cause of resortng TO Convention
and devising modes of redress In this the action OF the
Legislature Is in accordance 10 the opinions " my
! letter. =, :, u
3D. In the same interval have received the account
convention held In North Carolina growing out OF the az
ton of the slavery question: In Wnc so
nounced as being hostile 10 Southern rights This IS inc
identical course apprehended would be taken at Nashville
| Convention Comment is unnecessary
| Convention Ot
held Mt Buffalo antagoniscal 10 Nashville Convention
Thus leading step by STEP TO excitement OF the pup
lie mind and thereby endangeng and more the sta
biy OF the Union Let u.s. pray you keep COOL until 10
which there is no prospec both branches OF the Naona
Legislature shall have passed law and the President nav
signed il invading the rights OF the South Then we sna
determine first upon the best modes of obtaining restitution
under the Constitution and the Laws and lastly upon the
policy oil independent p'''"''' ]. NJ. II. BEALE
In publishing the above take occasion 10 say that Il
"a, far from our intention To crude descend into
any pcrsona attack upon the representative OF the latr
Congressional District of Virginia. We confess that we
were somewhat excited rather mortified that represen
atvc of Virginia. standing the ouposts should have SC
far arayed himself agans, his colleagues at Washington
and the almost unanimous voice OF tho Legislature OF Vg
MIA as to rcpudae the action Of his State and impress oui
opponents at tho North with belief that Virginia was al
the present time marked by divided councils Towards Mr.
Beae we feelings Of personal kindness Against
heavy odds he had carried flag in triumph, and we hac
I hoped 10 see him uniting with his State in the mea
sures, devised with the utmost elaboration and care
10 yindcate Southern rights and cave the Union
The resolutions in favor of Southern Convention hao
been sed in every possible fornl-hrst through selec
committee OF the House-then through legislative caucus
then through join, committee of both Housesand finally
by the House ITSELF Was this sufficient guarantee
that they had been considered and that they spoke the
deliberate voice of those who knew how speak The sen
ment of the Sate7 We regret that Mr. Beale's first card
furnishes internal evidence that he had given the sub
ect the consideration 1t deserved He must have known
that the subject be acted by the Legislature and
as vgant sentinel should have watched the development
| Of events.
But what are the facts On the 9TH of February the
solutions passed the House Of Delegates modified he
points in his letter above They were published next
morning-but through accident to the Potomac Steamer
did not reach Washington until the evening of the th Feb
uary We were there that single night and kno that the
resolutions that CITY, Mr. Beaes card dated Feb
sh the merit day. and bears its face evidence that he did
NOT understand the action of the House of Delegates Why
his hot haste condemn the Legislature of his State before
he exactly knew what they had done Again. his
position OF the laws of his own State, regret state
that Mr. B. has not well considered subject upon which
he should have spoken without thorough understanding
and conviction We have reviewed former statement
this point have submitted the Judgment Of those learned
in the law and find opinion is fully sustained. Ii
self justification submit the result of our careful examna
tion Before the Revsal of 1919 there provision de-
carng that slaves which shall hereafter be brought into this
Commonwealth and kept therein whole year together
so long al different times shall amount year. shall be
free" Many notifications were made by subsequent laws
until the act of 1919 An essential change in the policy
the State made the revisa Of 1872 by the act Rov
Code page 42l The provision there made is as follows:
thereafter it shall be lawful bring into this State and
TO hold therein slave slaves born within the T.
or any territory thereof within the District of Columbia
except such slaves the time Of their removal resi-
dent of the limits aforesaid and such shall have been
convicted of any offence and transported therefor under the
laws Of this State of any other State territory district
There is further provision imposing penalty Of 81 O0C
for each slave brought and sod purchased held contrary
10 the said law. There is also further provision relieving
parties from penalties incurred under the lave in force prior
TO 1879 The law OF 1919 has continued In force without
change the present ne and has been embodied in the
Code of Virginia revised during the last year. The
tons in this cs follows:
Page 457 section a." Slaves born within the limits Of the
United States may be brought into this State and held
therein president in those limits the time removal and
not heretofore convicted Of and transported for crimc
Pace TAO section 4aproyI6es hat apy free person vho