Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-02

illustration of that right claimed and asserted in both
sets oil resolutions, and mataned by al the soe and
exclusive right OF this State TO control the subject of
slavery within her borders and iur dction-a do
mesllc conference among ourselves upon an impor-
ant question OF domeetc policy. We had looked into
the EVIL complained Of for ourselves alone had the
right 10 do, and the result of the examination had sa
lis ned the people OF Virginia that any change of that
policy was mpractcable 1t ought SO to have satisfied
those who having ne other interest in the question
than that begoten by sicky and msapplied philan-
thropy, should have been content to have left its de-
els'on to the only authority competent to make it,
Without reracing anything which he himself miph;
have said or done on the occasion alluded to- he would
not hesitate to say, that in his op non the misguided
improper an nexcusabIe interference OF others with
this question had eftectually postponed to an indefinite
period all prospect OF action here and had properly
rallied against even its attempt all classes OF citizens
1t this could furnish any consolation the pous en-
huslasts oil The north, they were welcome to its enjoy
meat.
Mr.. S. said that he feared that gentlemen made a
great mistake when they said there was no occasion
Tor uneasiness or for strong measures our part
We ought not, said he. to hater ourselves that all
was well, because the sounds which so lately disturb
ed us are for the moment silent. The roar of the
tempest may be hushed for little while, but II is
sometimes only TO gather wrath and fury for the sue
ceeding blast. The message OF Gov Marcy, he did
not regard so full of promise some gentlemen had
supposed. AS to measures on the part OF New York
was perfectly no,s-co'nttal. He himself could not
forget other indication in the Northern States and
as he though, much more to be relied He remem
bered when the Utica convention was prevented from
assembling In hat town asst summer by the disappro-
baton and resistance of its citizens. The members
OF the proposed convention were invited by Gerrlt
Smith to assemble in the town where he resides
mat portion of them having convened there, in
pursuance Of this invitation, they addressed by
N.Y. Smith, gentleman OF great intelligence and PR
vate worth, possessing unusual wealth and influence
In his State. He is the same gentleman, said MIR. S
who has heretofore been distinguished friend and
supporter of the Colonization Society, but is now
found contributing to the strength and responsibility
OF the immediate Abolltionlss In his address to the
convention he gave what Mr.. Summers said he fear.
ed was the true character OF the movements which
had taken place among the Northern people, favour
able to the interests Of the South, and which are so
much relied on here as The opponents Of Northern
opinions.
Mr. Summers distinctly declared that those meetings
had been gotten up and mainly sustained by the
politicians interested in the support of the Southern
country Tor POLITICAL PURPOSES, and by the MERCAN-
TILE interests deeply concerned in preserving the rich
commerce supplied BY tho slave labor of the South
that the real people, the yeomanrv Of the country had
nothing TO do with hen-and that this class was gene
rally, il not entirely, for Abolition. These are the
men who conrolspoIiilcians and whose opinions are
to be regarded as the voice ofthe State. Northern ia
naticism may be checked for season, and probably
has been n part by tho determined attitude promptly
assumed by the Southern people; but it will rally again
and in more formidable power unless we follow up
the victory achieved in the Call the non.
slavehoding Stoes for penal enactmen!s, for such
measures as will efisctuay and forever put it down.
Shall wait, he asked, until the Governments Of the
States have lost the power to cortro -until The abo.
tionsts themselves in the majority? What said he
s the attitude in which we place Virginia by this delay?
She who had been the foremost to proclaim the exclu
sive rights OF the Southern States over this subjeet
and to denounce oil foreign interference from whatever
quarter, presented to the world hestating to
declare what is the true character of the ncendiary
conduct OF the abolition societies of the non-slavehod-
ing States, and 10 demand those measures which alone
are adequate 10 suppress them.
Can this hesitation, said he, be attributed to any
thing else than to the pernlcous influence of party
feeling! And the vital interests of the State 10
be surrendered for party purposesl Are the lives and
property of people to be left less secure, because
IN the effort e1ecualy them we may by pos
sisllly weaken the claims of New York candidate
for the Presidency In adopting that course the par
ty who seek the elevation OF Mr. Van Buren, give the
strongest grounds to question the propriey of his sue
cess If that success is to be attained by surrender
of one Jot or title OF the rights which belong to Vir-
gnla, connected with this vital interest surely pre-
sens an insnperablc objection to her support. He
prayed gentlemen not to expose themselves even 10
the suspicion OF connecting the interests of party
with the interests of this Commonwealth He spoke
in the sincerity of his heart when he declared that
it had not entered INTO his Imagination that this
question, OF all others the most deeply concerning the
interest OF the State and upon which more than any
other her sentiments had been fully and unanimously
expressed TO be used tor the purpose of advancing
protecting any political party in this country He
conjured me mbers all sides to lift themselves INTO
higher and purer atmosphere, beyond the reach of
those poisoned exhaations engendered and thrown
out by party strife. Let u.s. he said, dispose of this
good Of this ancient Commonwealth regardless of
the interests OF party and the pary squabbes for pow
er which threaten to engulph every other considera-
ton.