Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-27

wards them believe there is nothing upon earth tina
could induce them to desert the in her great
est extremity.
While upon this branch of the subject, l will sa
that at one period did doubt the soundncss OF POI
ton of the northwest upon the slave question though
owing to their conguity with the abolitIonsts of tn
North, they light be somewhat Infected with thel
principles But tho of events in the last two
three years has satisfied that did them the rankes
Injustice. Their course CT conduct has satisfied me
that they are uucompromsing in their opposition I
the accused system Of aggression upon slave proper
which is maintained by the north, as any portion Q
people that to be found in any part Of Virginia II
convcrsing with gentlemen from that section Of tn
country expressed my establishment III this fact ant
they gave me the reasons at once for it. 1t was tia
they were nearer to these abolitionsts than wer
and subject daily to their dcprcdatons upon their prop
ery, and therefore s.nartng under OF the wrong
inflicted upon them, they more uncorlpromsin:
in their hostility TO them than the people OF east
ern Virginia themselves. But the Valley has much
stake upon tho amicablc adjustment of this question
Sir, we occupy as it WERE the conservative portion o.
Virginia. We occupy section Of country lying in til,
middle of the State. We have friends in the east anc
i'll the west. We have free and unresraned intercourse
with the people Of the east and the west Our syMpa
thies strongly enlisted with western rans-Al
leg!iany friends from OF common wrong, and
from having engaged i'll the common struggle for jus.
tice which has been wagcd by the west for the last hail
listed, in favor Of western brethren from the homo
gcHous character OF our eopc.
About a century ago, my paternal ancestors cmgra.
ted to that part of the valley in which was born and
reared and it was about that time the savage Indians
driven from its fields and forests IN the beauti-
full language Of the gentleman from Rockingham, Mr..
kESSEY they went there with their rifles III one hand
their in the other and their bibles in their pockets
The present generation deeply attached t" the west
people from the traditions which they have heard in
their nurseries OF the trials and dangers which
incurred in the settlement of that country 1t
is therefore natural that the whole west should feel
common sympathy for each other for ancestors
Gucrcd that country without the aid Of our eastern
friends At that period the western people Were scarce
~ known their eastern brethren. The blue ridge of
mountains had scarcely been passed Emigration did
not then come from the east of the Blue Ridge, and
thence to trans Allegheny; but it crossed the Potomac
1T Harpcrs Ferry, and from thence proceeded up the
valley, and thence to Trans-Alleghanv. With their
sturdy and stout hearts ancestors conquered
that country. and drove out the savage foe ana their
exploits have been handed down to their children By
tradition, aud deeply engraved their hearts Is it.
then, rclar.:be that the western people should have
common sympathy for each other! They have
counterc>! common dangers, they have had common
trials and they expect to have common destiny but
nevertheless they not the less attached TO their
eastern brethren. They love Virginia Tor the sake OF
Frsnla-they love every part OF it. The reverence
resting place in her bosom They claim co:.lrnon
property in her Washington her Mason, her jefferson
her Hcary, her Madison. aud her Marshall and that
right they never will be willing to rcnquisll
said that the valley had much Mt stake in the pre-
servaon Of the integrity Of Virginia. 4 severencr of
the State would not only sundcr the strongest ties which
can bind men together, but it would divert the western
trade To markets. Suppose you divide the State
by line Of the Blue Ridge what must be the necessary
consequence! Do you suppose the valley, any part
OF western Virginia. under such state of things,
would look any longer to the east for market The
Baltimore and Ohio railroad company would then be
permitted construct branch their road along the
valley To connect with the Virginia and Tennessee
railroad thus naSin, Baltimore their market. But q
small portion Of the western produce could reach the
stern markets Of Virginia and nearly all of it would
70 to Baltimore. have no !ea that this could be
the only injury which would be inflicted Men gener-
ally follow the dictates Of their interests and the
moment you create State out of the west having but
few slaves. it will become great ob get clear Of
these slaves. The great advantages which the western
people would have as Il manufacturing State, would
naturally lead them to dispose of their slaves to induce
he white I5orers OF the north to in among them
with their capital and in all probability the result would
that there would be free State formed extending
Ilong the whole length Of the western border Such Il
csut would not only be the ruinaton of eastern Fir
5lna, but perhaps be the means of destroying this con-
cderacy and in any view Of this subject feel most I'M
rn. that slcha catastrophe should occur shall do
Ill in my power to avoid it. believe shall remain
oval to Virginia rs long rs any of her citizens: but
lee there j. hanger at hand and warn gentlemen to
beware of 1t. do not make these remarks with view
If intisudating any one. do not address myself to
he fears of Tirginans, for know that they cannot be
but address myself to their good aud
o their patriotism
1t is most remarkable to me that the delegation from
his metropolitan district. with exception should
manifest such decided opposition to any compromise
tb,S sub plit fn th.r
heir calm elaboration and reflection if they believe it
possible for this question to be settled satisfactorily to
III except by compromise. cannot propose any com.
PROMISE myself. am here in minority, and will
propose none for am authorized to propose Bat
sc have hal Indications from some quarters that
compromise would BIZ proposed and was struck with
he utmost astoismsnt to find that the suggestion
he mere intimation of compromise from this metro |
,olitan district should have met with such decided o-
POSITION We find that before the gentleman who init
mated disposition t" otter compromise had proposed
before its provisions could be knuwl mectin. Was
allied III the limits Of this city resolutions were adopted
MI sent to this Convention, and, therefore. have
light speak OF them for the last man to inter-
ere between any gentleman and his constituents But
portion Of the constituents Of the Richmond dele.
atiun have thought proper to send their resolutions
ere for consideration, have right to speak OF
hem. These resolutions have been presented to th. |
'2d; condemnlng any attempt to compromise ques |
ion which II not compromised, must inevitably DESTROY
he future prospects Of Richmond. Suppose that
GU do not compromise this question. The eastern del
gates have majority, and they have the power il they
re disposed to exercise that power force Upon the
PEOPLE of Virginia any terms they ma; choose Sup
that YOU exercise TINT power and that this prnpo
ition contained in letter y, obnoxious rs have sho
to be- is forced upon the people Do you suppose that
he people, the freemen of Virginia will submit to it
{ it does not have the effect of su,erg the State il
will DO that which will be equally us disastrous to
richmond and the other eastern cities forever ALLEVIATE
lc affections Of the people OF the and e wet am!
Is consequences upon these cities will he f:H ii
his State were divided. | submit then IT, the deiaga-
ion OF this city to wegh we'll this question OF compro
Mise before YOU reject it, In your hot haste in op-
losing compromise of this kind you know not what
ou do
was grieved to hear one of the gentlemen from tbs
ity, (lr Lyons one whom lake pride in recognizing
3 frieni-,ot friend in formal SENSE but IL
ricnd whom have admired and loved for msay years
,as having had the honor Of scrvin, with him in an
her body was pancd to hear him declare 10 wcs:-
IN gentlemen that if they within. TO divide the
state if they would bring forward their propositions he
voald vote for it. SHOULD have expected to have heard
UGH declaration that from any other gentleman in
his body sooner than from that gentleman What, a
representative from the city of Richmond to .el this
rave BODY of men that he ready To dissolve this
State-to comi, act Of suicde-Lo do an act which
must forever PROSTATE this city should ike to know
What was to become of the city of Richmond If you
iivic ErriGiat All the great ADVANTAGES In h. 40