Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-12-31
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
1ssD.I MORNING. DECEMBER 81. 1850
THE FLAG SHIP, VIRGINIA.

or
things which Editors of that paper never have seen ana
intend 10 see if shutting their eyes will prevent it,
We have Editors as "plenty bIackberes afflicted with
This same species Of blindness But that any reason why
The great body Of the people of the United States shall not
see and feel the full force Of the propositions we nave seen
Conventions almost innumerable gotten up In inc Not
and the South for the express purpose Of destroying Tue
nnon and tranquility Of the country and none can more
duly appreciate the progress made by such tha
the National Integencer These Conventions nave oeeh
gotten nm for the concentration of sectional opinions enter
tanned In derogaton of the principles OF the CONSTITUTION
and aws on the one hand for measures OF redress on Tue
,b. an admit the power Of these Conventions, if d.
rc,ed for purposes of mischief Why then should we doubt
The efficiency of one gotten up expressly for purposes OF
pood2 If many small Conventions have been introduced
into the machinery of Governments 10 throw 'he no
disorder and check destroy the harmony OF tner acon
The ,ku Engineer would naturally suggest one great Con
yenon simple in its organization comprehensive IN lis
designs and every way capable Of reproducing the og
nal unity and simplicity of action designed by the Consnu
ZION This we think is we'll suggested by the Governor
But the National Inteigencer thinks the plan singular
" because is proposed that the Convention
b he of delegates TO represent the whole peo-
ME but those only are invited who care in favor OF
the Fugitive Slave bill honestly and cordially entorced-"ho
are opposed 10 its repeal essential modification inns IS
precisely what intended If there be not majority Oh
the whole people in favor Of the faithful execution OF the
Fugitive Slave law without notification who and will
stand according system of govenmen as and Tor
the choe people, why then indeed unon or tranquility
remains for the country Does the National lntegencer
or any one suppose that Governor Floyd or the Legislature
of Virginia. would be weak and silly as TO call Naonai
Convention of Abolitonists and Disunonss, to consult
upon measures of union and tranquility? Has such an idea
ever entered into the head OF reasonable human being
Have we not enough of that representation and con-
xuaton in Congress2 And what does il produce! Like
the opening of Pandoras box, it has afflicted The nation
with all kinds of evil The object emphatcay 49, to call
from It's hidden recesses that mighty sovereign power which
resides in the of the patriotic mutitude who can
and will control the destiny of once happy country
These multudes have been swallowed up by wicked Ia
pa,cal meetings and conventions the hand seeking
10 subvert principles Of the Constitution, for selfish pur
poses while the other the strong and volen, have over
eaped moderation and by their meetings and conventions
have sought immediate dissolution of the Union the only
hope for their safety In this posture of Affairs any
thing be prudent proper, than appeal directly TO
the great controlling power of tho hoe people, 10 come for
ward and speak the point If there be such abiding
patriotism no such controlling power public opinion Of
the whole people capable of subdung and hushng silence
the factions which seek the overthrow Of the Constitution
and dissolution of the Union, why then all should prepare
for the worst This Union long stand the shocks
OSCILLATIONS cOntO0n8 10 winch II ID expos
ed by these factions. Human endurance has its period
hope it's limit cowardice itself may be kndled into
ry.
Why is it that all (who willing to take the Union the
Constitution and the laws they forward
form public opinion, and adopt measures TO carry
tina, opinion in fuure2 IL will not be necessary into
discussion Of slavery other great question Of
troversy like President making. The plain and simple
question would be upon the best for the preserya
of the Union in tranquility. Some good measure may
be adoped-nothng than the present Of things
can be!
1t is hoped tina, all virgnlans will unite in Gov Floyds
plan and the Legislature will promptly take it upf
and rig 1t our, as becomes the Flag Ship pirginia-ha
all true men among will take passage this vessel
To our true friends OF the South should not be
faithful but we have right, have already suggested
insist upon their uniting with us in this voyage Let
reserve their vessel the life boa and if should be
stranded scuted by the Black Pirales Of the North all
will resort the life boat for safety None then refuse
TO take passage with Southern allies But we have
come that point yet If there be majority of voices
in of the whole Unonand those voices be made
10 speak through great national Convention in
and in bear upon fanacsm and hush il to silence
shall have performed noble and triumphant voyage.
The OF Henry Long. tho fugitive slave from
Richmond In New York.
We give to-day full details OF the extraordinary proceed
ings in this Friday, and up to IL P. NJ. on
Saturday-the latest information have. telegraph
ic despatch dated Thursday, published Satur-
day. that everything going right-but Friday and
Saturday seems three habea corpus issued from the
State Courts which properly disregarded illegally
conflicting with the over-rulng power of the u s. Commits
sioner. The merits of the being examined on
Saturday afternoon before the u S. Commissioner, and
we write we cannot say with what result The conespon-
den, of the Union writes
1.-THE man. Henry Long, has been positively proved TO be
the property of Dr. Smith Of Virginia. and the delay in the
decision is caused BY efforts of host of lawyers headed
by Tappan aboonis his freedom and evade
the by enticacies of legal action Should they
coed in this the same course will be pursued in all 9TH
ers The commissioner disposed allow the law to
be tested its fullest extent and perhaps well that II
should be-"
Isit not little strange, while the malignant abooniss
volunteer aid and employ counsel to defeat the law that the
Union-iovng Of New York. with oil their wealth and
with 50 much stake in the execution Of the laws and the
Of the Union should MOI step forward to assist
the cause OF justice and law7
We ask attention the following just comments Of the n
York Herald of Saturday If the results successfully
as we hope and are inclined believe will exert mighty
influence quoting absurd peudces and crushing the abo.
i,onsts They have had all the they could have de-
street.-The benefit Of every imaginable technically of the
aw-and should they hang themselves presume they
will It win be all with them. Should they succeed in
their nefarious designs serious blow, fear will be
struck a, confidence In Northern honesty and fidelity which
will endanger the Union:
The FualrIvE SLAVE Bit TIE HABEAs CoRPus.-
The great objection which the abolition ind free soil dema
gosues Of the North had to the Fugitive Slave bill, was
that virtually suspended the writ of hGbecs and
,h carrying ts provisions into operation fugitive slaves
would be deprived of the benefit of that bulwark of liberty
This haped upon much that many persons not aoo-
onsts, opposed the bill on that account and denounced,
In the violent all who took pari intro
ducing or passing IT, those people had learned for them
selves and acted upon the information which they acquired
for themselves instead of listening and credng what
was poured their by the fanatics who surrounded
Them they would not only have formed different opinion
but instead opposing the BILL would themselves
see that properly and faithfully carried out It being
nothing declaatory of Congress, in keeping with
the requirement of the constitution.
Now what 10 the fact in reference to this bill in
on with the writ Of hdbeas corpus? Has the writ been
aboshed-s denied that the fugitive is not entitled to its
benefits? Let the facts speak In the of Henry Long
which 10 engaging the attention Of courts the fu
giive as In the first place. taken out of the hands Of
the United States Commissioner by writ OF haoeas
corpus issuing from Of State courts, after the
claimant had made full and complete case and proved
beyond the shadow OF doubt the fugiives dentty that