Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-06

inc acted under the impulses OF their peiS, hey "ou
have placed the institution III JEOPARDY: from WIN
th.v could not have affected escape. If they had
that time succeeded in their principles ana had ENJOY
that strength in the legislative councils which Tn
would have enjoyed under the white basis win the
sstance OF those eastern gentlemen aliuaeo TO py
member from Accomac CIR. WlsE) their doctrin
would have prevailed and they themselves might ha
lived TO mourn over the melancholy consequences
their own rashness They could have given US no
lief-the deed would have been done-no event cou
haye occurred in which they could come to our ASST
apce The evil would have been done, and there wou
have been no escape. 1t that principle OF proper
which was infused into the Constitution Of 1879 VIM
saved the property OF the state anu "heh can new
be withdrawn without exposing the State to those evi
which must ever result from those wild aud frghtf
princpes which stepped France in misery and wretc
.duess ut the close of the last century.
Government like all things, must obey the law Of il
beng-he principle of creation. Lift be founded on til
prnc pie of property, will protect property If it
founded in disregard of that principle. it will disregar
and destroy property. There is furnished by hisor
memorable exempliication OF this great truth. TIL
government of revolutionary France, in its strucur
and organization, wildly and scornully repudated tn
principle of the sanctity Of PROPERTY Property wa
accordingly subjected to general conScation and anon.
the first examples of lis liccntious fury the nbol
ton of slavery N the French Vest Indies Slavery wa
aboliehed-the property the STAKEHOLDER unscrupu
louslv coutscated without making the slightest compen
.ution and the world is called TO mark the disastrous
suit in the present condition Of the French est Indies
The British government in its structure has respect tn
tho principle Of property. The mighty fabric of Eng
.lsh jurisprudence is supported on the broad and so
basis Of the sanctity of private property. Even the
British government however, has far Welded to the
:ckly scnsbity of ,tliiced philanthropy, to abol
18Th slavery in the British West Indies But the genius
Of the government prevailed and the principle OF pro
perty efficient, at least, TO secure the Shareholder
rom the phrrsr of RIGHTEOUSNESS and he ras allowed
ONE compensation Jorhs property By the British nation"
dad the British government been founded on the doc
riue uf numbers is il reasonable to infer that II
would have accomplished the very cnormity which dis
invushed the advent of French RIGHTEOUSNESS and the
reign If French Jacoblnlsn.
1t was in this conrexiou that the eloquent gentleman
rom kanawha lMr. SuMMeRs) Submitted those beauti
ul remarks which l;lvorabsy received by the
Convention and which awakened III my own heart those
yeastrcable eno,ion- which manly cnquence never
.,.!s to iuspire-it was in connection with The SUBJECT
If slavrry-with the policy hlch the state pursued III
reference to TIL, subject through al the past III our con
ruvcrscs with the federal government. II Is not NY
lrposc bv anv mean. whatever to connect this discus
i,n with the delicate and important topics which have
en- settled BY the general IN name
un matter how | hope it will sink int" utter OBJ
jyion. | WAS happy 10 listen TO those strains OF
.Ioounncs not only because Of the emotions which
they inspired but because 1t implied an argument found
d upon interests, when the gentleman IRON hahawha
red an increased representation as necessary to pro-
.c him from the dangers of dlsunon 1t Is an acknow-
lpmcnt of the validity of Our great argument
n,i,d on interest He desires increased representa-
ion and influence in the legislature OF the State to en-
lille him and his constituents to defend themselves
.ainst the dangers which ensue from what lie calls
he nervous exctabtv of the eastern representatives.
N connection with the sub ect OF slavery thahk inc
Gentlemen for his acknowledgment II Is acknoWledg
.l.,,., 6 pu
Sir, claim the full lcnetit Of that acknowledgment
ut controvert the position which he has assumed
cth respect to the superiority Of interests III the
Inion That he has the greatest interest III 'he
,re-ervation Of the Union. True, he may be ex-
,,scd to invasion and aggression from the neghoorns
,,nm,n wealth, from which he would be shielded by
he powers of the union But are exposed to the
me or to equal dangers in connection with the CON-
aderate members of this coufederacy, and we have
dual necessity for, and derive equal benefit from the
nion We have in my Judgment, perhaps a greater
repod-ating interest in the preservation OF TIE union
staining as we DO upon the coast OF the Atlantic
kir. out upon the broad expanse of waters, with me
ations of the civilized world for Our neishbors-with
,r maratimc and commercial Interest dlifused through
III the qualifications of domestic and foreign trade-wh
he ports and harbors Of eastern Virginia ever exposed
., foreign INVASION we have the highest necessity ioi
he strength of the general government TO protect us
.ganst intestine broil and foreign war deny that
me gentleman from Kanawha establish any superb
rty of interests in the maintenance OF our ledcratfr
.ompact-and then in this eastern country ol ours
here is feeling of Devotion to the institutions OF ogi
4t part Of this broad land How often the union
painted in the the palladium of our Liberties.
rs the last kew stone Of political arch. Sir, II l.
hat arch ITSELF decorated and adorned with the rich
st and most gorgeous garlands of national happiness
md prosperity here il stands in the beauty and vast
rss Of its proportions, sustaining on It's own great
Strength the magnificent cdiiice OF our nalioDal
r..l
c ,Erlnns. Those columns the free, Independent,
sovereign States of this copfcderacy Strike them down.
the arch and the cdcc fall together into ruin, and
crush in their fall the happiness Of continent and the
hope of 4 world.
~ moment, | act under the principle of scfshness.
Long as have imposed the patience of this body
,evcre.y as have taxed my own strength cannot
,onscnt to take scat, without making br!et al'l-
ion to myself. Sir, canuot hope, dare not hope,
hat all which have said, can lind hearty response
n every bosom, by whom am surrounded.
Personal offence, ! have given zone. No feeling
which could prompt it, has found & lodsment in my
leart. Personal offence, have given nonc-but my
,pinons-my sentiments will stand condemned b. very
argc portion OF those whom it has been my fortune TO
address,. know they must and Ill be condemned as
title, narrow and contracted | cheerfuy and unre
iiningly submit TO the criticism. Perhaps il Is just
erhaps il is true. ! acknowledge that do not rise
SUPERIOR to local atachmcns-locai paralitcs My pre-
udices hone are all innoXlouS nut plead guilty. Ii
lie charge Of local attachments and Partialtics Home,
amIy children ncighbors, friends, servants, the COM
nunity in which have so long lived, the communl-
V from whom have received so many tokens ol
inincss and regard-the sacred memories, the halow-
ID associations OF the pas-thcsc dc nand and receive
~ warmest affections. am not ashamed TO express
y am not ashamed OF the sentiment. believe 1t is
he foundation of true patriotism tits the love OF Home
Inch expands into the noble sentiment OF patriotism.
nd sir trust have heart capable o.! that expansion
shch shalt comprehend, at least, the limits OF tins com
aonwcallh. Let man suppose that cherish senti-
uent Of hostility 10 the westof oppos ii N to the west
of resentment against the west. You, Mr.. Chairman
snow full we'll that have been too long, too pleas
1ntly too proitaby associated with many OF the gene
Gus, enlightened and eloquent sons OF the west-y"u
snow that have too just appreciation OF their NOR
worth and public usefulness to feel indifferent to their
.eeards Sir, have no feeling of opposition to the
vest You know that have roamed too long over
heir hills that have fingered too long mid their Wales,
hat have contemplated With feeling OF too rapturous
lcght their marvellous beauties and granite greatness,
feel indifferent TO their connection. Sir, If ever
elt the sentiment Of patriotism with greater intensity
han at anv other moment Of my tc, il has been when
oournInc amidst the elevated ranges of Statc-yes
sir saw our State found myself on the summit ofsome
ofv emnencc looking out upon the ntnltldc of space,
md contemplating with rapture the splendid and mag
afcent scenery with which was surrounded. 1t WIS
IT such time and such place, gazing on the noun